codes

A treat for modders and developers, Google has released the source code for Ice Cream Sandwich.

The source code for Android 4.0--the latest version of the mobile operating system--was released today as part of the Android Open Source Project, Jean-Baptiste M. "JBQ" Queru, a software engineer in the project, said in a blog post that urged patience.

"Since this is a large push, please be aware that it will take some time to complete," Queru said. "If you sync before it's done, you'll get an incomplete copy that you won't be … Read more

It's not every day that a news item details the intelligence of the masses, lurking in the brains of unassuming passersby, just waiting to be uncovered for the greater good. But when it comes to the massively multiplayer online game Foldit, this is precisely the story, and it keeps getting better.

Launched in 2008 at the University of Washington, the protein folding game first made news for its potential to use the collective brainpower of gamers everywhere to unlock the fundamental mysteries of certain diseases. Then gamers began to prove this potential, solving various protein riddles that further our … Read more

We see QR codes everywhere these days, from advertisements to print cartridge packaging. However, you may soon find yourself biting into a QR-coded cookie.

Meet the Qkie.

The brainchild of a German food company, Juchem Gruppe, and DFKI, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, the Qkie's QR code can be scanned to open up a link to a Web site, a love note, or even a party invitation (as seen in the video below). … Read more

You know the old saying: nothing ventured, nothing discounted. Or something like that.

If you buy a lot of stuff online, you've no doubt experienced the pang of longing that occurs when faced with a Discount/Promotion Code box on an e-tailer's checkout page. If only you had a code, maybe you'd save a few bucks. Or even score free shipping.

Before you click Submit Order, it pays to spend a few minutes code-searching. There might just be one out there waiting for you to copy and paste.

For example, I recently ordered a bunch of water … Read more

Mac users have many choices when it comes to note-taking apps, and MacNote3 is a solid choice for anyone wanting one with good search capabilities and AppleScript integration (especially if you're a fan of the venerable built-in Notepad app of yore).

MacNote3 is a heavy-duty version of the original MacNote, with a good balance between simplicity and power. In addition to basic formatting and editing controls, MacNote3 lets you use links that can launch anything from URLs and files to messages in Mail, which makes this app perfect for to-do lists. You can also search for strings across multiple … Read more

I dressed up as a train engineer for a Halloween party, and it took half an hour to get the straps on my overalls adjusted right. Life would have been a lot easier if I had just gone with a QR code like Reddit user adriannezy.

She works in an IT department and wanted to participate in Halloween at an absolute minimum level. So she went with a QR code on her shirt.

The QR code links to a photo of her in a Star Trek costume that looks like a cross between Uhura and Spock. This represents geek chic on multiple levels.… Read more

QR codes are everywhere, and for good reason. They're easy to make, easier to scan, and are terrific for delivering info quickly and broadly (or narrowly, if you like). It seems likely that they're evolving, but they're still superuseful right now, and smart folks are uncovering all sorts of cool ways to make the most of them.

Before we get to the tricks, make sure you check out Nicole Cozma's great post for a smart overview and handy guide to creating your own QR codes.

Imagine sweeping your phone around a room and seeing a plethora of information about the pictures, music, and video around you. The Digimarc Discover app lets your phone read QR codes printed on products, identify tunes playing nearby, buy tickets when movies are advertised on a TV playing near you, and follow watermark links hidden in articles and product packaging.

Digital watermark purveyor Digimarc demoed the technology this spring and has now made the free app for iOS and Android available for download. The app falls somewhere between simple bar code readers and augmented-reality apps that recognize real-world objects and link information to them.

Digimarc Discover is the Swiss Army knife of real-world identification. It figures out the most appropriate identifying technologies for a given situation--QR code, watermark, audio and/or video--depending on where you are and how you've used it in the past.… Read more

We humans have clocks all over the place to tell time. But while we've been selfishly providing for ourselves, we've neglected the time-reading needs of robots, smartphones, and other machines.

The Clocks for Robots concept by London design consultancy BERG takes the needs of our future robot overlords to heart. The clock features a regular display that people can use and a constantly updated QR code for artificial eyes.

The QR code gives the time and location to portable devices. This could potentially tie in with real-world offers like coupons or signal to your smartphone what specials are currently active.

The QR codes could also help software recognize the time and date of photos for easier tagging and organization. … Read more