Rant: QR Code Pages

I am a big nerd, so whenever I see a QR code I have to scan it. Even if I am not remotely interested in what it is related it. On that note here is my rant.

Why don't people understand that you will scan them with a cell phone. Only rarely do I ever get a page actually made for a mobile device. They always direct to a page that was made for a computer. People need to know their audience. If you want them to go to a site on their phone, make it a site that is relevant on a phone. That is all.

Rave: bit.ly

If any of you have not heard of this site, bit.ly is an internet URL shortener. It is a simple concept mostly invented for twitter so you can have a link in your post and still keep it under the 140 character limit. You go to their site the turn your super long link into a bit.ly/(insert random characters here). or even write your own little link. Example http://bit.ly/aboyandhistv

The reason this is a rave is for some cool features you get from logging into their page. The first is statistics. It will tell you how many people have clicked on your link, where they clicked on it from, and show some places that it is found on the internet, like twitter posts.

Here is the coolest option. The whole reason they get this rave today. If you click on the "Info Page+" for your link they even give you a QR code. A QR code (short for Quick Response) is this 2D bar code that you can scan and it will take you somewhere. If you scan this one you will go to my other blog. To scan it you do need usually and iOS device or Android device. Android comes with the bar code scanner built in. For iOS you need a program such as RedLaser or Paperlinks. Once you scan it it brings you right to the web page that you shortened on bit.ly. That is awesome.