Here’s a simple idea; put a QR code on your business card, then when somebody scans it, your contact details are added to their phone all in one smooth futuristic swoop. QR codes even support embedding contact details directly into the code. This was the ideal solution for an ideal world, but in real world applications it has a number of flaws:

• The more information in a QR code, the more densely packed the “pixels” in it are. This makes it harder to read for the QR reader app. This means putting your name, phone number, email, address, pet names etc. leads to harder to read codes.
• Not every QR code reading application can read contact formatted codes. For some users a QR code could appear corrupt or a long string of text or just not work.
• If I update my contact information, I must remake the QR code. It may not happen often but if you print a 1,000 business cards then changing a small detail that isn’t printed on the actual card can be costly.

header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=my-vcard.vcf"); //Mark as download
header("Connection: close");
header("Content-Type: text/x-vCard; name=my-vcard.vcf"); //add mime-type
readfile('vcard.vcf'); //Load actual file from the server

The above code reads the vcf file on the server and sends it to the mobile browser/device with the right mime-type. It also allows me to add the name my-vcard.vcf. By using a short URL like http://mysite.com/vcf we can also keep the pixel density very low so QR reader apps can read the code more easily. Simple, elegant, easily maintained.

This method has one major flaw though in that it doesn’t work at all on iPhones or iPads as iOS and mobileSafari don’t allow you to download most files from the internet, mainly just images. This means we have to provide an alternative for the Apple fan. The initial reaction is to keep the current system and just provide an information page for iOS by testing the user agent of the browser. Browser sniffing, however, goes against the idea of responsive web design. I had also seen a solution that emailed the contact file to your phone, something that is compatible with iOS’s mail app, but convoluted for what started out as a rather elegant idea.

The end result was that the QR code leads to an HTML5 page which contains a digital version of the card (see below picture), complete with all the relevant contact details as standard HTML links. With a little CSS3 styling, the digital business card looks exactly like its real-world counterpart while using as few resources (only 1 PHP file and 1 PNG image) as possible to improve download speed on mobile data connections. The .vcf file still plays an important role on the page. While on the real-world card we have a QR code, on the digital version we have an icon that links to the PHP page that serves the contact file to your phone. The result:

Yes, the code works from the picture.

The only questions left are what to do with the small percentage of users who use the code through a computer and how can we discourage spam. For myself, I chose to redirect anything that isn’t a mobile browser to the iolo.ie homepage with the tip to try the card from a smartphone. The tip is generated via a simple WordPress shortcode function in the template.

]]> http://iolo.ie/2012/04/16/qr-codes-and-vcards/feed/ 7 http://iolo.ie/2012/02/15/the-pitfalls-of-the-cheap-tablet/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-pitfalls-of-the-cheap-tablet http://iolo.ie/2012/02/15/the-pitfalls-of-the-cheap-tablet/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:58:19 +0000 iolo http://iolo.ie/?p=70 When you’re browsing the electronics department in your local shopping centre, a tablet that will frustrate you endlessly can look just as nice on the box as a tablet that will make your couch surfing almost effortless. They will both have the same type of product picture. They will both have an impressive list of specs on the side and both will have a little green android logo on the side.

But before you go out and spend €100 on a new tablet that looks like an iPad, you should know that everything about design in modern technology is a compromise. Take cars for example, every motor from a Lamborghini to a Fiat is built on a careful balance of price vs performance. You can either splash out the cash on a high-end model or compromise on the performance in favour of saving some dough. The tablet market is no different. This isn’t to say you can’t get a good bargain though. Not everybody needs a Lamborghini.

If you have to ask, you probably can't afford it.

The problem for the consumer is the relative youth of the market and the wide variation in what different tablets are capable of when, in reality, they all look identical aesthetically. Ideally, you should always try out a tablet before buying it or at the least read a few reviews online. More often than not, when buying a cheap tablet, the best range is available online. This makes them hard to test but on the other hand, it’s easier for a merchant to sell a tablet online to customers who don’t know really know what to look out for. When buying a tablet it’s easy to fall for the cheapest one in the catalogue/website. The following are some pitfalls of cheap tablets:

Resistive vs Capacitive Touchscreens

First, lets get the science bit out of the way. Resistive screens sense the physical pressure from your finger when registering a touch, whereas capacitive screens detect the changes in the surface conductivity. This makes capacitive screens feel lighter to use as you don’t have to press down all the time. On modern phones and tablets where swiping, sliding and pinching is so crucial to navigation, easier gliding means much easier use. The difference between the two is always noticeable. Resistive screens will feel somewhat plasticky while capacitive tend to be smooth glass. Always choose a tablet with a capacitive screen. The only advantage of a resistive screen is the ability to use a stylus with it that allows for greater accuracy, however tablet interfaces are built with finger based input in mind so this is less relevant nowadays. If you really need it though, capacitive compatible stylus’ can be bought or even made at home.

Operating System

The Operating system is the main software that runs on the  tablet. It is like Windows on desktop computers. Since this is about cheap tablets and iPads aren’t that, the tablet you’re going to buy will be more than likely running a version of Android, which is made by Google. There are a number of versions to Android, much like there is with Windows:

• 2.3 (Gingerbread) – Available for both phones and tablets
• 3.0 (Honeycomb) – Available for tablets only
• 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich or ICS) – Available for phones and tablets

Obviously, newer is better and version 2.3 and older are becoming a little dated at this stage. Sometimes, tablets will be sold without the android version on the box be careful. Cheaper tablets will have older versions of Android. You may be buying something with version 1.5 (cupcake) installed. If it’s not on the box, the answer is usually just a google search away. When buying a tablet there are two important questions to ask about the Android OS:

1. What version of Android does it run?
2. Will version upgrades be released in the future?

Software Market

All the software on a tablet is installed from the market application, also known as the app market or app store. For the best choice of apps, you should choose a tablet that comes with the Android Market App. This gives you access to the broadest choice of apps.

The Android Market App Icon

3G or Wifi?

There are two types of internet connection on a tablet, 3G or Wifi. A tablet will either have 3G and WiFi or just WiFi on its own. 3G uses the same type of internet connection as your phone, while WiFi uses a local wireless connection. 3G means that buying a tablet can be similar to buying a phone with both prepay and bill pay options available to you as well as various contract options.

Outside of a contract, the 3G version of a tablet will cost more than the WiFi only version. Which one you choose depends on where you will be using it and what you will be using it for. If it’s for the kids around the house, you don’t need 3G, If you work on the road or are constantly out of the office, it may be worth the 3G.

Memory & Processor

This is straightforward. More is always better. If you’re buying for 3D gaming, then you should probably spend a little extra and get a tablet with a dual core. As a rule of thumb for general purpose use though, any processor 1Ghz or over and storage of at least 8GB will probably suffice. Check for a card slot as storage can also usually be expanded by buying a memory card for your tablet. These are currently available in sizes up to 64GB with most tablets accepting upto 32.

RAM

RAM differs from storage in that it is where tablets keep data they are currently using. It is like a nearby place where Android keeps information ready to use when its working. The more RAM you have the more information Android can keep “nearby” at once and the faster and easier it can do its job.

Connections and Ports

Android tablets aren’t limited to just the one external connection like the dock connector on the iPad. This can be a blessing for the consumer as it removes the need to buy expensive adapters for each use (*cough* Apple). Some options to look out for include:

• USB client – It is standard that any tablet you buy will connect to a computer via a usb socket. Being the client means that the computer is in charge or “hosting” the connection to the device, e.g. providing power and other functions.
• USB host – If the tablet has a normal USB socket on it then it can act as the USB host itself. This means you can plug in flash keys, digital cameras and other devices such as keyboards depending on the version of Android on the tablet.
• HDMI – This lets you plug your tablet into any HDTV and start watching videos and other content from the tablet on the TV. Be careful as some may require an adapter rather than having a standard socket.

Galaxy Tab 10.1