QR Reader Rankings
After not having much luck with turning up standards for QR readers, I am going to start conducting my own testing and ranking for iphone reader apps. IF you have information that would help me out, please shoot me an email. Especially if you are on RIMM or Android platforms. note: mark if apps are free.
The logic behind this is that I want to assure clients about quality control of User Experience, however, if everyone is using a different app (algorithm) to decode QRs, this results in some codes working, and others not. So, We decided to reach out to the QR community and see whos using what.
In no order ( except how they are displayed ) – Note, this just reflects my personal results, and a a few people I have reached out to. There is no scientific testing of results to justify these.
Iphone testing off of Scrabble QR post. 6 total that I am going to consistently test out more.
green indicates Paid app
i-nigma – my favorite – autoscans, free (seconded @IDshirt) (third: TagMotion.de)
optiscan- ok so far, autoscans, paid
quickmark– ok , paid, autoscan- always says my records are full (seconded by QrazyStuff) ( QRable – allows for decoding of multiple marks post individual scaning- “batch”)
BeeTagg Pro – had trouble with few
Logiprint- VERY fast, but all in german, autoscan, free
NeoReader- VERY fast, free, great.. Good sound effects too , autoscan
QR App, good
QR Code, Asia, cant get to work properly, no
QR love code- Not a reader
QRooOORQ – foreign, login required. dont know whats going on. NO
ScanMee- free- took a while, autoscan. Maybe pile
UN 2d- Spanish, couldnt get to work, need to take picture to decode
ZBar- free, fast, good, autoscans, like that it keeps thumbnails ofpicturesnon QR/ Other systems-
QYOO – closed system- non QR
microsoft tag- closed system, non qr
color code- closed system, non qr
Snaptell- closed system- non qrnext screen
2dcodeme- didnt work, had to take photo too
bleepr- asks for location (annoying), must take picture, long time to decode and then not work. nope
code scan- free- took a while to scan, worked at strange distance. opens up URL as text rather then link.
icandymobile – good, free, quick, like that you can scan pictures from your library too
iDecoder- confusing UI. didnt work on first scan
QRBrowser- creates QRs, doesnt scan them
Barcodes (google) – had issue here. surpised.
Semacode – Favorite of QrazyStuff (seconded by @IDShirt)
Qui QR– paid – (@IDShirt))
HTC phone- win mobile ( twittter @aejnarr)
my fav #qrcode reader currently is i-nigma: Reliable and fast! BeeTag often ok.Platform=HTC Touch Pro 2 (winmob)
Blackberry
Blackberry messenger is preinstalled on new phones
BeeTag
NeoReader – @QrazyStuff
Scanlife – @QrazyStuff
QR Arts 
There’s a problem of privacy with i-nigma ; the only anonymous reader on the market is quickmarck
Please explain, you have peaked my interest.
When you analyze the log, there’s an redirection through i-nigma servers, even if the data encoded in the barcode is a direct link… It is although the same with all barcode reader on the market, except with quickmark
I’ve notice the redirect, but I never considered it a privacy issue. Is the privacy related to someone being able to track where I have been on my mobile? Like how firefox or IE tracks my web traffic as well – or am I missing the point.
Isn’t part of what makes QR appealing to advertisers is the ability to track impressions? Or are you saying that tracking should only be URL focused rather then app reader focused?
Thank you for being patient with me. I am sure a lot of other people are going to be interested in this thread as well.
love to hear other thoughts on this with regard to privacy via QR.
-pd
Is the privacy related to someone being able to track where I have been on my mobile?
-> technically, yes. Each barcode reader has an ID. Each barcode that you decode is tracked. So it is possible to merge your ID with your traffic. How long these data are retained ? What are they going to do with my profile ? how ? nobody knows.
Isn’t part of what makes QR appealing to advertisers is the ability to track impressions?
-> Of course, but you have to know that and decide if you want to be tracked or not. And by whom ? The advertiser for one campaign ? the barcode reader company each time you are using their software ? This is very different.
I know that it’s a little bit theoric because you are always tracked, whatever you do on the web. But because one barcode reader is neutral, you can ask yourself what non neutral barcode reader do with your personnal information.
Everything is opaque and there are many questions !
I hope that you understand what I mean.
JA
Thank you JA for sharing your expertise.
Hi there,
I think you miss in the list one of latest and most rated 2D/1D reader on several mobile OS: “Lynkee”. It’s multilingual and multitag: http://www.lynkee.com …please test it and I think/hope you enjoy it.
Thanks Mauro – Since you are recommending your own product as a vendor, I will have to take that with a grain of salt. I am sure you understand my hestitation. But, on first glance it looks good. I had trouble scanning a few of the more complex codes. But, you are correct that my list is incomplete. I need to update this, and I will include lynkee when I do more in depth testing. Also, I do like that once it scans it says an easy “yes” or “no” as a prompt. nice UI attention.
-patrick