Ok. I have been using the Android platform for quite a while, so I'm pretty familiar with it. I used to have the Motorola Droid, and well, HTC EVO 4G caught my attention so I left the droid. Which without a doubt, was a damn good choice
The Barcode Scanner: Under your apps menu, you will see an app called "Barcode Scanner". If you dont have it, head over to the marketplace and search for barcode scanner. This application does what it says, it scans bar codes. Any items with a barcode can be scanned, and the phone will generate a price. But, that is not the only purpose the barcode scanner serves for! It can also read URL's!!
The Basics: I see a lot of people in this forum referring others to download applications in the marketplace. People then have to get their phone, head over to the marketplace, and search for that specific application. When it comes to custom wallpapers, users have to download the wallpaper from the forum, sync the phone to the computer, and then set the wallpaper up. Well, you don't have to go trough that hassle anymore! I'll show what you can do so your phone can take you directly to the URL by scanning picture code called "QR-Code"
QR-Code: A QR Code (“Quick Response”) is a 2D barcode that can store much more information than a standard UPC. Inside a QR Code you can find text, hyperlinks, contact information, geo location, and more. They are capable of storing up to 250 characters. QR Codes have become common in Japan, but have yet to take off in the United States. (Source Wikipedia).
Basically what this means is that the barcode scanner integrated in the 4G is capable of reading a coded picture that will tell the phone to follow a set of instructions.
How to create a QR-Code: No one is able to create a QR-Code on their own. They are all computer generated.
A good QR-Code generator website: http://qrcode.kaywa.com/How to use this generator: *The content type: ALWAYS use the URL selection
*The content tab: This is where you will type or paste the URL of where ever you want the phone to be directed to.
*** IMPORTANT NOTE *** - If you are referring a user to download an app from the market place this will be the url:
market.android.com/search?q=<substring> (where substring will be replace with the name of the application you are trying to refer)
Ex. A member advices another user that "Pandora" is a good radio program. What the member has to do is replace the <substring> with the word Pandora, and yes, it has to be spelled correctly with proper spaces. The url will look like this
market.android.com/search?q=<Pandora>
* Size - ALWAYS S for SMALL
* Generate - Hit the Generate button to generate the QR-Code
The Result:This is what you will get:
Using the Barcode Scanner Application: Pull up your application menu and select "Barcode Scanner" Once the program is open, hold your phone horizontally and aim the barcode scanner light to the picture on the computer screen. You will see that the barcode scanner will begin reading the QR-Code with yellow polka dots. After the reading is done, you will see 3 options generate : Open Browser, Share via Email, Share via SMS. Select Open Browser and you will see that I will take you directly to the market place, with Pandora information ready to download. Pretty neat right!
How Custom Wallpapers Can Play A Role: Yep, I know some people dont like the downloading and then attaching phone to the computer, and sync. Well now the user who created the custom wallpaper can use this method to provide the member with the exact URL to generate the picture right onto his EVO using QR-Code.
Example:
Ryu78 requested
svargas05 to develop a custom wallpaper using a canon camera as a logo. Well svargas05 went ahead and uploaded to the forums, and I guess Ryu78 had to download it and sync lol im not sure. But now svargas05 can refer to this method so Ryu78 can get the direct download right of from his phone! (Hope I didnt make it confuse on this part lol)
Here is the QR-Code for the wallpaper svargas05 created for Ryu78
Get that barcode scanner and give it a try Ryu78!
Oh and yea before I forget. In order to post direct picture in the forums you have to copy the image location by right clicking the image and select "copy image location" After you have done so, you need to put an html tag on your post such as [ i m g ] "copy the link here" [ / i m g] no space between the letters. For Internet Explorer, you need to right click the picture, go onto properties, and you will see the image location with a URL on the properties tab.
That's All!
Feel free to ask any questions!
