How to create and deploy your own QR Codes

You've seen them on newspapers, business cards, websites etc. QR Codes are appearing everywhere. So what exactly is a QR Code?

A QR Code is a matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code), readable by QR scanners, mobile phones with a camera, and smartphones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on white background. The information encoded can be text, URL or other data.

QR codes are still a relatively new concept, but they have a lot of potential in the ever changing mobile world. Some uses include added nutritional information on groceries, the ability to comparison shop for textbooks, access to free giveaways and bonuses at major music festivals.

You can easily create your own for free. Visit http://qrcode.kaywa.com and you can choose to create you're own QR Code from 4 different content types: URL, Text, Phone Number and SMS.

Once you have created you QR Code, you can include it on your website / blog, print it and use it on business cards etc.

To read QR Codes, you need a QR Code Reader. Visit http://reader.kaywa.com and download the Kaywa Reader application for your preferred phone. Once you have download the application to your phone, simply start the application and point your phone camera to any QR Code and let the application do the rest.

I have created a QR Code which points to the URL of this blog. Try it.

Go ahead and have fun!

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Pixlr: An amazing free online image editor

Pixlr an amazing online image editing app allows you to edit your photos online. It has the almost all the basic features which Adobe Photoshop has to offer. Loading times and image manipulation operations are amazingly fast. Pixlr is a great alternative to many of the commercial image editing tools and requires no registration unlike other similar online apps.

Visit Pixlr here.

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Top 3 useful Facebook Apps

NetworkedBlogs

This app allows you to import your blog feed and also any blogs you wish to follow directly into Facebook in a separate neat tab. You can syndicate your blog posts to be published directly to your Wall, allow friends to vote on your posts, follow your blog, create a blog widget and more. You blog is also submitted to the NetworkedBlogs directory.

http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9953271133

UPDATE:
Facebook has currently discontinued adding tabs to personal profiles. Hence the NetworkedBlogs app is no longer displayed as a tab, though you can still post to your profile.


Static FBML

With Static FBML you can incorporate more advanced functions with your Fan Page, supporting HTML as well as FBML (Facebook Markup Language) for a more involved and engaging Fan Page on Facebook.


http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=4949752878



iLike

iLike lets you add music, playlists, and videos to your profile, dedicate songs to your friends, and see who's going to what concerts. For musicians and artists on Facebook, this application will let them create artist pages, upload music and events and get detailed statistics on their fans.

http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2413267546



Special Mention:

Promotions for Fan pages

If you need a robust tool for the creation of marketing campaigns to run on your Facebook Fan Pages, then the Promotions for Fan pages is the perfect app for you. You can create Fan Page options for contests, coupons, sweepstakes, giveaways and other types of user interactive features. These are necessary features for many brands, as they look to centralize much of their social interaction around an established network such as Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=48008362724



Signup Form for pages

From the same developers as the Promotions for Fan pages app, the Signup Form for pages app aims to provide similar functionality with a more focused set of features. Fan Page administrators looking to better connect with users outside of direct interactions on their Facebook Fan Page can allow users to sign up for a service, product, newsletter or additional information. Gathering this info from directly within the Facebook Fan Page limits a user's need to be redirected or potentially confused by having to leave the Facebook site.

http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=100986888577



UPDATE:
Family Tree

Create your family tree and include your relatives both on and off Facebook. Showcase your genealogy on your profile and use this application to find new relatives on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2359239297



Birthday Calendar

Birthday Calendar shows you the birthday's on your Friend's list in a neat calendar view. You can also get notifications, email/cellphone alerts, send ecards, virtual gifts and more.

http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=5437153164



COMMENT UPDATE:
The Fan Page Factory

A user who commented on this post, Aaron has suggested this great Facebook Fan Page that's got loads of information on Facebook Apps.

http://facebook.com/thefanpagefactory

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