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.
CAM
July 1, 2008 at 10:28 AM
The mark of the beast will be a QR code. This will revolutionise the work of the devil.
Report PermalinkAdam Sweeney
July 1, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Simple yet extremely functional and i was a little excited, these will fuel the most viral phenomenon we have seen, they will be everywhere.
Report PermalinkNick
July 1, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Found coded message
Report PermalinkLife less ordinary than
A grilled cheese sandwich
Adam Sweeney
July 1, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Gives new meaning to “A picture paints a thousand words”. I envisage TV commercials with just a QR code displayed. Viva La Advertising Revolution.
Report PermalinkStew
July 1, 2008 at 10:39 AM
It’ll be somewhat strange when you ask a girl a question about herself & she just points you to a tattoo of her QR code…
Report Permalinkkieran
July 1, 2008 at 10:40 AM
this is useless if 95% of the population cannot read the damn codes due to unsupported phones for QR reader software.
Report PermalinkMichael Cox
July 1, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Quit worrying and get
Report PermalinkReady for life to
-
Change. Those
Odd and
Diminuitive barcodes
Enable our devices to make
Sense of a less ordinary world.
James
July 1, 2008 at 10:43 AM
QR codes will make competitions much more accessible and hopefully more fun to enter. Purchases with mobiles sounds fun too.
Report Permalinkrobert
July 1, 2008 at 10:46 AM
secret messages only the current select few can read, get your message to a read target audience.
Report PermalinkChris
July 1, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Jesus code.
Report PermalinkChopperuin
July 1, 2008 at 10:49 AM
QR has become the true definition of “A picture is worth a thousand words”
Report PermalinkJordan
July 1, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Because it will be fun to see everyone with their phones out pointing them at walls, signs, t-shirts, anything with pixels on it.
Report Permalinkbeattz
July 1, 2008 at 10:52 AM
They will usher in a new era of stencil graffiti, communicating urban art themes using mobile and internet technology.
Report PermalinkFelix
July 1, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Because QR Codes will make people run and get their mobile phone just to enter competitions like these, for fun.
Report PermalinkAndrew Jackson
July 1, 2008 at 10:56 AM
QR codes will revolutionise the use of black and white LEGO tiles, thereby promoting world peace.
Report PermalinkBrent
July 1, 2008 at 10:57 AM
“Because I typically only respond to codes like ‘ELLIPSIS’, this will certainly make life in the spy world a little less ordinary”
Report PermalinkTroy
July 1, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Better bar codes! For food; the usual PLU combined with info like ingredients and nutrition facts!
Report PermalinkUse a phone for a running nutrition tally while shopping.
Adam Sweeney
July 1, 2008 at 11:00 AM
For anyone having trouble with QR codes, here is a link to an excellent QR code reader. I am not sure if this was the way it was supposed to work, but it didn’t send me an sms, it just popped up with the message. This was the second one i downloaded and installed, the first one was crap but this one works really well. I have an E65, and it doesn’t even need the sim card in it.
http://mosh.nokia.com/content/375E966D27FA414FE040050AEE044270/versions/all
here is another link of a QR code which i am sure will make all of us feel very chuffed about ourselves.
http://www.chromewalker.com/cw_six/?p=558
lol, anyway i am sure this is not needed here but i thought i would add it anyway. Hope i helped.
Report PermalinkBrent
July 1, 2008 at 11:01 AM
One small learning step for techies. One giant leap on how the hell to explain how this works to non-techies
Report PermalinkKen
July 1, 2008 at 11:04 AM
A downside might be that QR codes open a new door for malicia – i.e. QR-codes that point the user to a spam site, or a trojan/virus…?
OMFG!
Report PermalinkDann
July 1, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Eliminate bogus pickup lines. People scan one anothers QR tattoo’s, read their mobiles, then decide to hookup. Placement of tatoos will make life more interesting.
Report PermalinkAndrew Beeston
July 1, 2008 at 11:06 AM
qr codes will make the world fun
Report Permalinkwith competitions and prizes won
gizmodo will rule with the playstation 3
the world will no longer be ordinary
Glenn
July 1, 2008 at 11:11 AM
because along with most of the poeple I know, I’m bone lazy and cna’t be bothered reading. Viva le QR Codes!
Report PermalinkTony D
July 1, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Too busy to stop and read that billboard or advertisement? How about scan and read on the go? No more writing little notes!
Report PermalinkRoger
July 1, 2008 at 11:13 AM
The advent of QR Codes will enhance the ability to share information or enter competitions instantly and painlessly, thereby enriching our normally ordinary lives.
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