Microsoft introduces 2nd iPhone app

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Microsoft has unveiled its next iPhone app, Microsoft Tag.

The idea behind the Microsoft Tag application is that you just aim your camera phone at a Tag and instantly access mobile content, videos, music, contact information, maps, social networks, promotions, and more.

Tag is similar to QR Codes, however Microsoft is using HCCB bar codes so instead of storing the data using square pixels it uses triangle shapes and colours. The difference is that Microsoft Tags don't actually store the information. All it stores is a unique ID which it then sends to Microsoft's servers. This way, you can include much more information, and more variety of information, then if it was just on the tag itself.

Tech Flash reporter Todd Bishop recently interviewed Microsoft's Mac chief Eric Wilfrid about iPhone app plans. Wilfrid didn't reveal Microsoft's app plans but if todays announcements are anything to go by we may see more Microsoft apps hitting the iPhone this year. Microsoft introduced its first iPhone application, Seadragon, in December last year.

Below you can see the app running on an iPhone:

Tag is available for iPhone, Windows Mobile, J2ME, Blackberry, and Symbian S60 phones. In order to get the application just visit http://gettag.mobi on your mobile phone browser. Checkout the video below for a demonstration on how it works.

#1 ermax on 08 Jan 2009 - 14:14

Has anyone seen a HCCB on a product before. It sounds like a cool concept if no one really uses these bar codes then it is useless. I am going to keep an eye out for these HCCBs.

(2 replies) #2 Rob on 08 Jan 2009 - 14:18

Have had a play and it's remarkably good! We've seen 2D barcodes around for this purpose but they've never entered the consumer sphere particularly successfully - I'm interested to see the outcome of this. Works nicely on the iPhone's blurry camera too :p

#2.1 tiagosilva29 on 08 Jan 2009 - 16:18

Rob said,

We've seen 2D barcodes around for this purpose but they've never entered the consumer sphere particularly successfully - I'm interested to see the outcome of this. Works nicely on the iPhone's blurry camera too :p

There are a bunch of data matrices around, no actual success. And this is the second time Microsoft pumps something like this (first real try, anyways).

Funny how this news got to be an iPhone news...
"Symbian S60 platform coming January 7th" && "Microsoft Tag Product Support coming January 7th 2009" -> Fail

#2.2 tiagosilva29 on 09 Jan 2009 - 16:50

tiagosilva29 said,

"Symbian S60 platform coming January 7th" && "Microsoft Tag Product Support coming January 7th 2009" -> Fail

January 9th update: Sorry Symbian Seried 60 2nd Edition Devices are not supported -> ****ING FAIL

(3 replies) #3 DomZ on 08 Jan 2009 - 14:25

ROFL @ the end of that video. Cheese.com. Also why would she want Vista as a present?

#3.1 Rob on 08 Jan 2009 - 14:26

It's a horrific video - something straight from the 80s, truly.

#3.2 Nauge on 08 Jan 2009 - 18:17

lol... must of took you weeks to plan

#3.3 plastikaa on 08 Jan 2009 - 18:49

If you own an iPhone you surely have enough money to pay for a butler... which can do exactly the same thing, so the end of the video would be no different to before he had the app.

(3 replies) #4 cJr. on 08 Jan 2009 - 14:41

I don't think I've seen any of these tags around in the UK?

#4.1 +kraized on 08 Jan 2009 - 14:57

cJr. said,

Nor me.

#4.2 plastikaa on 08 Jan 2009 - 18:47

I don't think they exist, I've not seen any in London or in my home city either.

#4.3 +M2Ys4U on 08 Jan 2009 - 22:24

I've seen QR codes around, but not these HCCB ones

#5 +dave164 on 08 Jan 2009 - 15:07

Nope neither me, all this kind of stuf is all well and good, if the barcode is there.

The video is **** though

#6 jim87654 on 08 Jan 2009 - 16:13

When Mircorosft's marketing budget, that is the video they produce??? And porn music went well with the video.

#7 Idea Excursion on 08 Jan 2009 - 17:37

The wide availability of phones with a camera and internet access could be a boon to tagging technology. I think it's a great time for this type of product to debut and it could prove to be a killer app.

I'm very excited about the implications and would like to see this sort of technology - Microsoft Tag or other - prevail.

#8 lylesback2 on 08 Jan 2009 - 17:56

That video was brutal, but that seems to have a lot of possibilities in the future. I hope it catches on

(1 reply) #9 roadwarrior on 08 Jan 2009 - 18:40

Companies just keep rehashing the same ideas over and over again. Anyone else here remember the CueCat? Same basic concept, different implementation.

#9.1 jafoman on 08 Jan 2009 - 18:52

It's not the same as CueCat. That was something you hooked up to your computer, and only worked with product packaging bar codes. This is a more universal concept, and if it ever catches on will be very cool.

(1 reply) #10 rbet on 08 Jan 2009 - 22:16

Christ, that is farking genius. Who said innovation died at MSFT a long time ago? Brilliant concept. Kudos.

#10.1 kizzaaa on 09 Jan 2009 - 07:45

rbet said,

Telstra Corporation has been using their own 'smart barcodes' for a little over twelve months?

Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of Telstra! However I was pointing out that Microsoft was not the first company to bring out something like this.

#11 +chconline on 09 Jan 2009 - 00:52

That's awesome. But the video is, well, even I could make something better

Literally.

#12 wrack on 09 Jan 2009 - 04:08

Wow...if only Microsoft was so keen to release apps like this for their own Windows Mobile platform! Way to go...

P.S. I know they have released it for WM too but they would have never done it if not for the latest trend of iStore!

#13 necrosis on 09 Jan 2009 - 13:45

Go go Microsoft making something completely different when there is an existing code (QR) that is already developed and wildly in use (at least in Japan).

(1 reply) #14 este on 09 Jan 2009 - 14:10

What was the name of the first Microsoft iPhone app?

#14.1 Idea Excursion on 09 Jan 2009 - 14:27

Seadragon Mobile

#15 Quikboy on 10 Jan 2009 - 06:50

It works on other phones too! Sheesh.

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Microsoft introduces 2nd iPhone app - Microsoft Tag

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Microsoft introduces 2nd iPhone app - Microsoft Tag

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