Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What are these fuzzy little squares which are now appearing on everything?

28 replies

CJ2010 · 20/07/2011 14:45

Has anyone else noticed these? There is one on my cereal box, my gas bill, my magazine...basically all products now seem to have them. Can anyone please explain what they are and their purpose. Thanks.

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 20/07/2011 14:46

no?? tell us more.....what colour? size?

HoneyPablo · 20/07/2011 14:46

For your smartphone, I think.

Sirzy · 20/07/2011 14:47

Do you mean the ones which connect smart phones straight to a website?

Scootergrrrl · 20/07/2011 14:47

I asked this yesterday! They are called QRs or something and you can get an app for your phone which lets you snap them and be taken straight to a web address.

CJ2010 · 20/07/2011 14:48

It's a small square, filled with fuzzy greyness! Sorry that's the best way I can explain them! They are suddenly appearing on everything! Ok, I've got an iphone, what should I do now?

OP posts:
ChocolateTeacup · 20/07/2011 14:48

All about it here

HoneyPablo · 20/07/2011 14:48

wikipedia

TheBossofMe · 20/07/2011 14:48

Do you mean qr codes? Box with funny b&w pattern?

If so, it's for your phone, if it has a qr reader you can scan it and it will give you info, eg nutritional info, recipes, games, whatever really.

GypsyMoth · 20/07/2011 14:49

i will look out for them as i honestly have not noticed!!

thesurgeonsmate · 20/07/2011 14:49

You scan them with a phone designed to scan these things and stuff happens. As you can tell, I don't have such a phone. So I imagine that the stuff that happens is not essential stuff.

CJ2010 · 20/07/2011 14:49

Thanks for posting link, it's a QR code.

OP posts:
TattyDevine · 20/07/2011 14:49

Yep they are great.

StrandedBear · 20/07/2011 14:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lovesicecream · 20/07/2011 14:50

Don't you use them so you know that you need to get more of whatever the product is? Something about scanning it in your phone when you've ran out there's an advert think it's for tesco or something

ShoutyHamster · 20/07/2011 15:11

'Filled with fuzzy greyness'

That is so poetic!

Seriously, what a lovely image Grin

AMumInScotland · 20/07/2011 15:41

Oh and if they really do seem just 'Filled with fuzzy greyness' you might want to pop your glasses on / get an eye test - they do have a clear pattern, though it's not comprehensible to humans!

SleepySuzy · 20/07/2011 15:48

It is a qr code or 2 dimensional (2d) barcode. Just means instead of the normal stripy barcodes, information is stored vertically as well as horizontally. So it can carry hundreds of times more info than standard barcodes. Geeky or what?

Andrewofgg · 20/07/2011 15:55

They are the secret method by which the government watches your every move and then tells the Martians about it. It's a backup for when you turn off your TV.

But ssh! don't tell anyone . . .

farewellfigure · 20/07/2011 16:08

It's for cats. They can read them, but humans can't. My cat studies them for hours. I think she's getting messages from the cat version of MI5. Goodness knows what she's up to all night but she never tells us!

Andrewofgg · 20/07/2011 16:52

farewellfigure Which of us is bonkers?

kenobi · 20/07/2011 16:59

Actually Andrew, those squares actually ARE the martians. They Walk Among Us and collect data from our phones so that one day they can take over the world.

Doom! DOOOOM!

Fimbo · 20/07/2011 17:02

Does it work with Iphone?

lovesicecream · 20/07/2011 17:07

Cats with thumbs I bet, their going to take over the world, with the martians of course!

AMumInScotland · 20/07/2011 17:13

Fimbo - yes you just have to download an iPhone app for it

Andrewofgg · 20/07/2011 17:13

Sorry kenobi, I should have remembered. But I fear it's too late and that they have taken over the world. Using MN.