These seemed to be big a few years ago, but I haven't heard much about QR codes recently. What is the preferred way of sharing a link in the physical world? NFC?
Ask HN: Does anyone still use QR codes?
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Re: Ask HN: Does anyone still use QR codes?
#2I don't use them. I have no reason to use them. Having said that, I still think that they are a great idea, there's just not a "killer" use case for them for the general public in everyday use.
Re: Ask HN: Does anyone still use QR codes?
#3For bitcoin on occasion, but that's it.
It is odd though, I always imagine QR codes to be this magical static method to share information, but then I rarely ever use it. I believe that since it took so long to be developed as a native feature in phones, people never really adapted to scanning all the time.
I saw a well meaning nonprofit put a QR on their bumpersticker. Most dangerous QR in history.
Re: Ask HN: Does anyone still use QR codes?
#4Whatsapp web and Google Authenticator spring to mind. They both use QR codes to associate a mobile device with a web app. Definitely nicer than typing in a long token, and avoids an extra step of (e.g.) emailing it to you.
I never understood the point of using them to share links, it's almost always faster to just type in the URL or Google it (unless, I suppose, you wanted to share a very long or unique URL)
Re: Ask HN: Does anyone still use QR codes?
#5I don't use them. I have no reason to use them. Having said that, I still think that they are a great idea, there's just not a "killer" use case for them for the general public in everyday use.
You're right, they never found that killer use case. The use case I'm interested in is something like a purchase receipt from a store or restaurant, and you want the customer to go to a page or open an app to write a review. A QR code printed on a paper receipt would be perfect, if people actually used them.
I found this article[1] that talks about alternatives, namely augmented reality, NFC, iBeacons, clickable paper, Google Goggles, and SnapTags. Nothing seems as straightforward as QR codes promised to be.
1. https://econsultancy.com/blog/64891-six-mobile-marketing-alt...
Re: Ask HN: Does anyone still use QR codes?
#6Recently when visiting Norway I found them everywhere, and they were brilliant. Extra information, links to facilities, just everything.
In the UK they are here and there in a half-hearted and desultory fashion. When they are on something that looks interesting I scan them, and about half the time they lead to useful things, the rest of the time it just duplicates stuff already there.
As with so many other things, the technology is divorced from everyday design. The designers of the visuals don't know what to do with a QR code, and the people who do know what's possible aren't involved in the design of the objects we see. Complete disconnect, and so the technology - which could see so much imaginative use - languishes.
Re: Ask HN: Does anyone still use QR codes?
#7Conference posters
Re: Ask HN: Does anyone still use QR codes?
#8I always found this funny:
http://picturesofpeoplescanningqrcodes.tumblr.com/
Re: Ask HN: Does anyone still use QR codes?
#9QR codes are legitimately great for what they're good at: barcode replacements.
And in answer to your question, yes, their usage has grown and expanded. While traditional barcodes remain for basic UPCs, a lot of manufacturers are utilising QR codes for expanded product information.
The way that QR codes failed is that marketers and technologists wanted to use them for everything. Website URLs, business cards, phone numbers, etc. You name it, they wanted to QR-codify it.
This failed because: (A) nobody wanted that information regardless, (B) QR codes were never well integrated into smartphones, (C) they abused them too soon and everyone got distrustful.
I'm glad "social" QR codes are dead. I'm also glad to have QR codes as a better barcode alternative for the medium to long term.
Re: Ask HN: Does anyone still use QR codes?
#10They turned out to be a less than optimal way to publish a book.