qr codes

Given how popular QR codes are getting with beauty companies (and advertising in general) it was only a matter of time before someone had the brilliant idea to make a truly organic QR by shaving the code into someone's hair. Now, a company called Betfair is using the square codes to advertise in British soccer players' hair. It's a clever gimmick, but it remains to be seen whether or not QR haircuts will really catch on. However, what if you could provide some info about your interests and your name to that cutie across the bar just by turning your head? Or use it as a way to pick your friends out of a sea of people with similar hair? Could QR headbands be up next? Only time will tell.

You have lots of options these days when it comes to custom-printed gifts and art, but you can add one more to the list — Barcode Gallery. This company allows you to print a custom QR code on a gallery-style canvas (which range in sizes from 10 inches to 40 inches, and you can choose from 32 colors) starting at just $50.

You can customize your message as well, embedding up to a 300-character text message that will be deciphered when you scan the code with your smartphone's QR code app. If you're on a tighter budget, you can get your QR code printed on paper, which is perfect for framing.

It's no secret that I'm a wine kinda gal. My iPhone is loaded up with some handy apps that make it easy for me to choose which varietal will go with my skirt steak, and now those wine lists are getting interactive. I'll learn even more about my vino just by flicking through the virtual pages at the dinner table.

And soon, Cellar Key will make your decisions in the wine aisle go a little smoother, too. Find out what it is and how it works after the break.

I recently went on a trip to Japan and saw QR codes — which are similar to bar codes — everywhere. The difference between these codes and the barcodes you see on any product in a store is that QR codes can hold a lot more information. Companies from advertisers to magazine publishers use them to point you to websites, extra content, and special discounts, and in Japan those scannable boxes were everywhere: ads on the street, ads on TV, in the subway, in magazines. Back in the States, I've started noticing them here and there, but they are nowhere near as pervasive as they are across the Pacific.

But we may be seeing them more and more. If you are a reality TV fan, you'll recognize Bluefly's new "Closet Confessions" ad campaign airing on Bravo, where style-obsessed celebrities (like Nicky Hilton and Johnny Weir) dish about their favorite finds. Have you noticed any QR codes in the Bethenny Frankel spot? There's one that shows up on the bottom half of the screen while the ad plays. Scanning it with your phone takes you to a webpage with discounts; currently $30 off a purchase of $150 or more.

Want to know how to get your phone to read QR codes? Learn more after the break.