QR Codes Still Popping Up Everywhere, But Are They Being Scanned?

Daily Axioms is no stranger to covering QR codes, but it's been hard to show how much they're being utilized because it's still relatively new and the numbers just haven't been there.

However, I stumbled across an infographic from QR code startup JumpScan that revealed some pretty interesting statistics:

• 1200% increase in QR code scanning from July to December 2010: While a significant increase was expected (considering QR codes are everywhere these days), a 1200% increase is a massive jump in scanning.
• 52% have heard about or seen QR codes, 28% have scanned: Obviously a 28% scan rate isn't overwhelming, but according to those stats a little more than half of the QR codes that are seen are being scanned. That's important because the biggest obstacle with any call to action, like scanning a QR code, is getting people to actually use it.
• 57% Facebook/Twitter users scanned at least one QR code last year, 40% scanned 4 or more: This is a very telling statistic because it shows that social media integration is very important is having your QR codes gain traction. Based on these numbers, social media users are twice as likely to scan a code, and about 40% more likely to scan 4 or more codes than the general public.

So although it's always hard to tell just how accurate these stats actually are, it seems like QR codes are more prolific and being scanned more than ever before.

Facebook Friday: Social Commentary

Despite all of the iPad 2 buzz dominating the news headlines, Facebook has still had a pretty good week. Not only are the latest rumors claiming that the social networking giant is valued at $65 billion dollars, but Facebook also released a massive third-party applicable commenting plugin earlier this week as well.

The commenting plugin closely resembles what you would see on a user's wall, with threaded comments that can be liked and voted on. The comments can also be synced to the user's Facebook page, leading to two primary advantages:

1. If you're already signed in on Facebook you don't need to re-sign in to access the commenting feature, making it easier for people to comment on articles.
2. The use of people's real names should theoretically cut down on the trolling that usually plagues the blogosphere.

The system is far from perfect however, with a few major issues still in need of tweaking.

1. Because the system requires a Facebook login, anyone who works somewhere that blocks Facebook will have to wait until they're out of the office.
2. Another downside of profile syncing is that if people reply to a comment in the Facebook News Feed it could end up on other sites. This could lead to a lot of non-sensical inside jokes in commenting streams.

The other question still looming is what this move means for Disqus, the commenting plugin startup that has been very popular the last couple of years. My guess is that it will be very similar to what happened to Foursquare after the launch of Facebook Places. In that scenario, many flocked to Facebook Places because of its huge built-in user base. 

However, in the end both services have managed to coexist, and I think we'll see the same thing with Facebook Comments and Disqus within a month or two.

Apple's iPad 2 Announcement Spoiled by iPad 3 Rumors

Apple revolutionized and dominated the tablet market with the iPad, prompting a wave of competitors trying (unsuccessfully) to knock Apple off its tablet throne.

And despite the fact that no one has created that "iPad killing" device, Apple still announced out an improved iPad 2 yesterday. With Android Honeycomb-enabled tablets like the Motorola Xoom right around the corner, it was definitely time for Apple to step up their game.

But did they maybe step up too much?

The iPad 2 does answer some of the complaints people had about the iPad, and does show marked improvement of its predecessor:

• The iPad 2 is 33% thinner, and only weighs 1.3 lbs.
• It sports a custom A5 dual-core system that should make it twice as fast (with graphics speeds up to 9 times faster)
• It features built-in front and rear cameras
• The iPad 2 also has a pretty cool magnetic case available.
• It's HDMI compatible.

However, those specs aside many tech bloggers are saying they're holding off. That's because even though the iPad was just announced yesterday, there's already rumors of an iPad 3 being released as early by the end of this year or early 2012.

Those tech pundits are claiming that the iPad 3 will address some of the issues that neither the iPad or iPad 2 addressed:

• No SD card slot available
• No USB port
• It lacks the Retina Screen that was such a big hit with the iPhone 4.
• No Gorilla Glass like most competing tablets.

So while it makes no sense to me why Apple would release the iPad 3 so soon after the iPad 2 (essentially cannibalizing the iPad 2 unless there's a steep price difference between the the iPad 2 and iPad 3), they have successfully refocused the tablet spotlight back on the original poster-boy for this emerging tech market.

The New Journalism

I'm lucky enough to have gone through the Watergate era of investigative journalism as a young reporter. I remember going to junior high schools in Augusta, GA, where I worked, and explaining to the youngsters not much older than I how our government almost collapsed due to the corruption of a few individuals.

Fast forward to today, and I'm interviewing candidates for our Social Media Manager position. It's fascinating to witness the transition from traditional 'third estate' journalism to today's mom and dad bloggers, who are basically trying to live off their words through their websites, blogs, Twitter and Facebook accounts. Not an easy task.

I had been enjoying The Daily on my iPad until my free subscription ran out last week. Unfortunately, the content was less than compelling and available through other sources, although it was packaged in a very entertaining way. Although I chose not to subscribe, I hope this business model works. We need citizen journalists, but we also need professional reporters and editors who don't have to worry about where their next paycheck is coming from.

What If Foursquare Check-ins Determined Oscar Winners?

Now that Oscar night has come and gone, the tidal wave of movie-related articles from around the blogosphere should start to subside. Of course, that will be after everyone posts their Academy Awards reactions to the online masses.

And while I'm glad that there were no surprise winners (longtime front-runners The King's Speech, Black Swan, and The Social Network deservedly took home a lot of the Oscar gold), I found an interesting infographic on TechCrunch this morning.

The infographic shows the movies with the most check-ins during their opening weekend, as well as the movies with the most check-ins by males, females and couples. This begs the question:

What if Foursquare check-ins determined Oscar winners?

Simply put: it would be different. Very different.

The top three checked-in movies last year for males were:

• Iron Man 2
• Kick-Ass
• Inception

For females, the top three checked-in movies last year were:

• Twilight: Eclipse
• Harry Potter
• Sex and the City 2

And lastly, the top three checked-in movies last year for couples were:

• The Social Network
• The King's Speech
• Gulliver's Travels

Notice anything peculiar about that list? Aside from the surprisingly stereotypical gender skew, only 1/3 of the movies on that list won any Oscars at all. And whether these results are do to the age demographic using Foursquare or statistical anomaly, this list is exactly why the have professionals choose the best movies of the year.