China’s beloved QR code may make a global comeback through Apple
- Shunned in the West, the QR code underpins China’s cashless economy and coronavirus tracing efforts.
- Now it could be part of Apple’s new Gobi AR app.
There have been occasional efforts to bring back the QR code over the years, but the awkward little black-and-white square remains pretty unpopular most places. Now it looks like Apple wants to give it another try.
One of the leaked QR codes opens up a Starbucks loyalty programme registration page. Programming code in the Gobi app, which contains the geographic coordinates of more than 6,000 Starbucks cafes around the world, suggests customers can receive specific discounts according to their location.
Other QR codes lead to the Mac Pro and Apple Watch websites, as well as the Star Wars: Rogue One movie on iTunes. More interestingly, there’s also a special type of Apple-branded code in a round, coloured pattern that can’t be decoded by an ordinary QR code reader.
AR, which superimposes virtual information over the real world, seems like one of the more intuitive ways to utilise QR codes. After all, using an AR app means you’ll already have the camera turned on and ready to scan your surroundings. And while a QR code may seem like an ageing and unexciting technology, it’s actually proven useful for the world’s largest internet population.
