Oishi Bread Pan White cheddar QR code

I previously blogged about the erratic quality of QR codes in Philippine newspapers in a previous blog post. My 2 megapixel samsung galaxy Y can't recognize the codes.

Well look at this new product I bought in the supermarket. Oishi bread pan white cheddar flavor. Now made with whole wheat.

I noticed that there was a small QR code in the back. Printing quality is good although under some lighting conditions the shiny surface is not the best for getting a clear picture. Of course I tried it and it doesnt work on my cellphone. Since the quality of printing is pretty good, its the size. It only measures 1.4cm square.

Again, my suggestion stands, test your QR codes with a low end cellphone to avoid alienating a section of the market.

BTW. It tastes good. A bit gritty due to the whole wheat but thats ok.

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Better paypal exchange rates

If you buy stuff online usually there are advantages to using paypal. But paypal is not without its disadvantages. One disadvantage is its "less than optimal" exchange rate. But here's a way to use your debit card or credit card's exchange rate instead.

Here's how to do it. First when you get to Paypal, click on the  "other conversion options

then click "bill me in the currency listed on the seller's invoice"

So, how much of a savings are we talking about here?

Okay, right now if I google "us dollar to philippine peso", I get a value of php 40.58 to one. In the first screenshot above the conversion rate is 0.0237523 or 42.10118599040935 to $1. My actual conversion rate for that purchase was $1.24 converted to php 51.14. Thats 0.0242471646460696 or 41.24193548387099 to one. I save  php 0.85925050653836 per us dollar.

Small but it adds up




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Ms Office 2010 does not print

Have you ever installed MS Office and it doesnt print however other programs like browsers, notepad, etc do print?

The first thing you should do is check your printer drivers.

If that doesnt work a workaround is to install a PDF converter, preferably freeware like Cute PDF. Set cute PDF as the printer, print and save as a PDF file. Then open the PDF and print.

But a workaround is not satisfying. Here's the real fix.

For MS publisher, go to the FILE tab then click options. Click Advanced then scroll down to Print. There's only one option : Use XPS enhanced print path when available. Un check this.


For MS word, go to the FILE tab then click options. Click Advanced then scroll down to Print. There are several options. Try unchecking Print in background.

A reboot might be necessary.

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12/21/2012 or december 21 countdown timer

This is all rubbish pseudoscience superstition anyway. But if you insist, here's a coundown clock. Its set at Greenwich mean time


The Official Countdown


source

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QR code quality in the Philippine Daily Inquirer

The Philippine Daily Inquirer is a major Philippine newspaper that I read every day. A few days ago I posted a blog post about QR codes.Then a funny thing happened. I started seeing QR codes in ads in the Inquirer. Maybe 6 or so and one in real life in my local SM mall on a big sign. I dont know if its coincidence or I my consciousness is just primed to notice QR codes.

Anyway, maybe 25% of the QR codes in the Inquirer can't be read by my phone. My phone, a samsung galaxy Y, only has a fixed focus 2MP camera so it may be partially to blame. However, most of those that can't be read are either small (around 1 inch square) or are printed with low quality. HP ink cartridges have a QR code that is clearly printed but at 1cm square, my camera cannot read them.

My phone and its camera may be low spec but to include more of the reading public, advertisers should take into account that not all readers can afford a high end smartphone.


Suggestions: Advertisers should design the QR codes to be of sufficient size and they should borrow a few low end smartphones so they can test the QR codes to see if the print quality is sufficient. I dont know if the newspaper presses can do a test print before the actual issue is printed, but its always a good idea to test.

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QR codes for advertising in the Philippines

What is a QR code? Well a QR code is like a bar code but instead of lines read in one direction, there are dots arranged on a square. A bar code stores less characters than a QR code. A QR code can store lots of stuff from text to product information to a web page address to contact information.

Here is the QR code for my blog's web address





If you have a smartphone, download any one of many free QR scanners and scan the code. Many smartphones have QR scanner apps like android, iOS and blackberry. To educate the public who are not familiar with them, small text encouraging them to download QR scanning apps for their phone should be printed with any posters.

In the philippines not all people have smartphones but the number is growing. In fact the Philippines is fastest growing smartphone market in SEA. {source}

So, maybe local Philippine businesses should start to use this to their advantage. Its cheap, just some cost for printing.

• A QR code containing the contact information can be printed onto flyers, business cards and posters. 
• Maybe you can make a QR with your businesses' facebook page and ask them to like it
•  You can use them to announce specials and sales

Honestly, even in the malls of the capital Metro Manila, I have only seen a couple of QR Codes.

Generating a QR code is easy. Google for "create QR code" and you can find many. I've used http://goqr.me/ and I found it nice with lots of functions. Below is its QR code.






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which is faster: file transfer via LAN+wifi or wifi+wifi

I got one of these, a USB wifi N adapter

Source


So, I was thinking, what would be faster between my laptop and my desktop via my belkin wifi N router: the desktop connected via LAN and the laptop connected via wifi or vice versa


So i tried transferring some files from my desktop to my laptop. And here are the results

both connected via wifi = ~3 MB/s
laptop connected via wifi, desktop connected via LAN = ~8 MB/s
laptop connected via LAN, desktop connected via wifi = ~8.5 MB/s

this is unusual since wifi-N is supposed to be 150 mbps or 18.75 MB/s

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