While this native app is efficient in doing a quick scan it falls short in functionality when you want to create your own smart tags. It can create QR codes its simply not as friendly as it could be with sending them elsewhere.
The alternative is the BlackBerry application QR Scanner which is a free app. It is easy to comprehend even in as I said in creating your own QR codes.
Tobias Rothe has created an extremely functional application here.
Free and easy to use, I highly recommend this for BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Playbook.
Not to be out done, Scan is one of the favorite applications available for Apple for scanning QR codes.
It also has the capability to not only scan but also to create QR codes. Scan is available for all devices except BlackBerry (Windows, Apple, and Android).
Both applications work in slightly different ways.
Of course the process of scanning does not require any real steps to follow. Start the application. Click scan. Focus camera on the QR in question.
QR Scanner BlackBerry Playbook:
BlackBerry QR Scanner will give an audio beep when the QR is successfully scanned you will then be given the option to open the location of the QR.
The Apple application Scan has a few more helpful hints on its screens.
1. Scan iPad mini:
You have the option of taping help if you are having problems scanning.
2. Scan iPad mini:
Or to help focus it prompts you to tap on the code to focus.
The Apple app Scan will automatically start the browser and navigate to the URL or display the content of the QR whereas the BlackBerry QR Scanner will ask permission:
The main difference I find between both application is that Scan requires you to register with their website in order to create your own QR codes. This is also where all created an scanned QR are stored. The advantage to that is if you scan a QR on your iPhone and you want to look at it on you iPad later that evening you can access the same QR scan through the iCloud.
In BlackBerry QR Scanner it is much less labor intensive in that you can do it all through the QR Scanner application on whatever device you are using and all scanned or created QRs are stored locally.
2. QR Scanner BlackBerry Playbook: Generate QR screen
You can create a QR code that is comprised of text, a URL, an SMS (text message), email, phone or what have you, all immediately. So let's say you wanted to create a QR of a URL.
1. Tap on URL. The keyboard will appear and you type in your URL you want to use to create the QR. Then click Generate button.
2. You will see you have the QR generated and you have the option of changing the color or background colour and then of course saving the picture.
3. Here I have changed the background colour. I also had the option of changing the colour of the Black QR code itself.
For Apple with Scan, the process is similar.
1. For Scan to create a QR you need get to settings.
2. Once you go to the Scan me site, if you haven't done so already you will have to create an account (it won't take long). Then navigate to create a code tab.
3. We are going to create a QR code for a URL again which is why we pick website.
4. Click next.
You can do some customization once again. You can't colour the background but you can change the block colour. As well you can change the block shape (Square, Rounded, or Round).
I know I put BlackBerry vs. Apple in my title but I should point out that neither of these applications directly compete with each other as Scan is not available for BlackBerry and QR Scanner is not available for anything but BlackBerry. The competition is more on the basis of devices, that is given the software available which handles QR codes better. Over all they BlackBerry vs. Apple compare favorably, and now you've all taken the first step into the QR world. Enjoy.
