What is a QR code?

A QR code may sound technical, but it's just a square barcode that can be read by a scanner or a phone's camera. It's mostly used for opening web pages on a phone, since scanning with a camera is usually easier than trying to type a URL. It also can be used for sending contact details, sharing events and a whole host of app-specific uses.

FixMarQR

A FixMarQR (pronounced fix-marker) is a QR code you can use to post an issue on something or in a room.

You just scan it with any QR code reader app, which will open the FixMarQ web app. There's no need to install anything, other than the QR reader, of course.

You don't even need a QR reader to use FixMarQ – just go to your FixMarQ site in a web browser and search for the issue you found. Using the QR code is makes it faster to do from your phone.

Reading QR codes on a phone

Some phones have QR scanning built-in, but most need you to install an app to scan the codes.

What kind of phone do you use?

Windows Phone

If you have a Windows Phone, you're in luck, since there's a QR code reader is built-in.

Hit the search button at the bottom of the phone ()
then press the eye icon () at the bottom of the screen – that'll turn on the camera.
Point the camera at a QR code. It'll draw a box around the code and show the link.
Just tap on the link to open it.

BlackBerry

BlackBerries have a QR code reader built into BlackBerry App World.

Open App World from the application list ()
Hit the Menu button.
Select Scan a Barcode.
Hit the Start Scanning button
and when it recognises the code, it'll prompt you to open the link.

Some older BlackBerries use BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) to scan QR codes.

iPhone

There's no built-in QR code reader on the iPhone, so you'll need to install one. There's so many to pick from, paid-for and free, so it's hard to narrow it down. You can also just search for QR in the app store, and if you find one you like, great.

To get you started here are the two best we've found:

Barcode by cocologics

Best in show

Fast and easy and does what it says on the tin. Scans the code and takes you to the URL. Currently a paid app for $1, but occasionally goes on sale for free.

i-nigma by 3gvision

Second place

Free and fast to scan, but with a big banner add on top of the screen.

Android

Most Android phones don't have a QR reader built-in. Some do come with Google Goggles, but it's relatively slow and a bit awkward to use, so we don't reccomend it. The two we do reccommend are:

QR Code Reader by Scan, Inc

Best in show

Does just what it claims – reads QR codes and opens the web site. It will even report the real URL if the QR code uses a URL shortener.

Barcoo

Second place

Very fast and works well, but always opens the web pages inside their app, rather than going to the browser. This can play badly with some of the more advanced features of FixMarQ.