UPDATE: I’ve had lots of people asking if we’ve drawn this – yes we have. If you didn’t get an email from me, sadly you didn’t win. Why not try our Nokia competition this week and see if you can do better?
The image you see above this text is a QR code. You might remember them from places like Japanese graves, or Telstra’s recent announcement that their bring QR code software to NextG handsets via a free download.
But what makes this QR code special is that it’s a) Sony Australia’s very first QR code, and b) that it’s an exclusive competition to Gizmodo AU readers to win one of 10 PlayStation 3 consoles.
So how do you enter? I’m glad you asked. First of all, you’ll need a QR-code enabled mobile phone. So that means either a NextG handset from Telstra (you’ll probably have to download the software to make it work), or certain Nokia phones (with additional software) that can decrypt them as well.
Next, you boot up the software, and using the phone’s camera, you scan the picture on the screen. You’ll get sent an SMS message with a question that you need to answer in the comments section of this post.
The competition ends on Friday, July 4 at 5pm (AEST). The best 10 answers (judged by me), will get a PlayStation 3 console, courtesy of Sony.
Andrew Geary
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 8:45 AMIt will pave the way for awesome competitions and marketing ideas just like this!
Dave
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 8:52 AMI must have one of these! Can you get the software for a nokia 6500? Please say yes. PLEASE!
Ryan
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:01 AMBecause I won’t get to enter competitions like this.
RyanL
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:04 AMProblem: Tallin, Estonia, December, 0 degrees, Outside tourist attraction, Dial 1921 for information, international roaming rate, press 3 for english, cold!
Solution: QR Codes!
Tarley Cameron
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:05 AMBy integrating into mobile handsets like Google’s Android to pave the way to enhanced shopping, navigation and everyday life experiences.
Smithy
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:05 AMBecause now I can finally replace my decoder ring, with something that is socially acceptable for a 27 year old to use.
tominated
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:08 AMdamnit. why does it have to be for telstra and nokia phones only.
Wilson Cheng
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:09 AMPeople can win prize as cool as PS3 anytime anywhere!
nozlaf
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:09 AMQR Codes make life easy because they allow gadget freaks to have their own new cool language!
Peter
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:09 AMWell, it will save space, because we won’t have to look at long-winded articles like this any more. We can just scan it instead.
Tim Moreillon
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:10 AMBy giving us useful information with the click of a phone button, we will always have something new to discover no matter where we are!
Tim Moreillon
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:11 AMDave – you’re in luck!
http://reader.kaywa.com/phones
You’re phone is supported!
Dave
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:12 AMOk i got it working! Wow better come up with a good answer now!
Stuart Fisher
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:12 AMIt will be ‘our human generations’ version of hieroglyphics…when the next humans find these buried in sand, they too won’t understand what they mean!
Karl
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:13 AMQR’s integrated into advertising/hidden in other media will be fantastic for creating hype. Imagine a group of people around a billboard taking pics.
Phil
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:14 AMQR codes will make the world less ordinary by increasing the time it takes to read simple text
Timmy C
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:17 AMBy delivering alot of information in a fun & exciting new way, QR Codes will we big. Opening the door for exciting new promotional opertunities.
Dude
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:18 AMWhat is we are not with Telstra?
This ain’t a fair competiition!
Adz
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:26 AMSo its a Sony Australia competition, but it won’t work with my Sony Ericsson phone.
Nice one Sony.
Jeremy
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:27 AMHave you ever tried to surf the web on a mobile, whith gloves on, out side, in a hurry Qr code = WIN!
Jonny B
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:29 AMuser friendly, quick information, no more searching, the lazy mans best friend, the other carriers worst nightmare! A smart Telco Carrier – now that’s less ordinary!
Dave
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:30 AMOk i have my entry…i hope its good enough!
“Everyone will run around looking for codes, like a giant easter egg hunt with the whole world involved and then we will have world peace!”
What a world that would be! Thanks Nick!
Jeremy
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:31 AMFat fingers, small buttons = Epic Fail :(
Qr codes, Fat lazy bastard = WIN!
Qr Making a fat mans life less ordinary
echelon
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:32 AMEncoded wedding proposals! Job ads! Business cards! Tatoos! Not having a QR reader will be similar to English being your second language.
http://echelon.ugbox.net/qrcode.png
Joshua Broad
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 9:36 AMQR codes allow devices to quickly read information, thus allowing the ever increasing demand for information to be much easier to transfer from paper to device.