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Top Alcohol Scans in Ireland

Ever wonder what Irish ShopSavvy users are scanning in liquor stores? Evidently one of the retail partners we are working with in Ireland asked Philip the question so we thought we would share the results. Here are the Top 20 Alcohol Scans in Ireland:

1 Jack Daniels 70cl
2 Blossom Hill White Zinfandel
3 Eristoff Original 70cl
4 Southern Comfort 70cl ???
5 Moet & Chandon NV
6 Baileys 70cl
7 Bacardi Superior 70cl
8 Jameson 70cl
9 Jagermeister 70cl
10 Concha y Toro Cas Diablo Cab S
11 Desperados 33cl Btl
12 Bombay Sapphire Gin 70cl
13 Absolut 1ltr
14 Veuve Clicquot Brut NV
15 Drambuie 70cl
16 Bollinger Special Cuvee
17 Tia Maria 70cl
18 Malibu 70cl
19 Gallo White Grenache
20 Smirnoff Ice 27.5cl Btl

So it blew me away to learn that the fourth most popular scan is Southern Comfort. Really? Southern Comfort in Ireland?

Why Windows Phone 7 is Important

If you were like me you would have asked why Microsoft was bothering to build yet another smartphone operating system (aka Windows Phone 7) to compete with blockbuster hits like the iPhone and Android. If you worked on WinMo 6.5 you might be even MORE jaded. But I want to suggest that, in the end, it won’t be the operating system that is relevant it will be the apps. It is ALL about the apps now. If developers embrace a platform and great apps emerge an operating system will succeed. After seeing our own team’s work on the Windows Phone 7 version of ShopSavvy and other developers work I am more and more bullish about the platform. Microsoft really has a shot at making something really great. Check out a video of the USGA app:

QR Code Scanning in Retail Stores like Best Buy?

The team here at Big in Japan has been busy working with retailers (and other groups) on various programs, but the most surprising activity is around QR Codes. Just pick up a newspaper and you will read about how QR codes are starting to take hold here in the US. Earlier this year we began supporting QR Code scanning on both the Android and iPhone versions of ShopSavvy. Of course, there were very few QR Codes to scan. I am here to tell you that is about to change.

Lots of retailers like Best Buy plan to include QR Codes in their stores to help consumers learn more about the products they are selling. Look for the strange little two dimensional barcodes near product displays. You can scan these codes with ShopSavvy and you will receive the information that the retailer is interested in providing to you. Of course, you can still scan the one dimensional barcodes (i.e. the UPC or EAN code) on products and get the standard price comparison you have come to expect from ShopSavvy.

Just as ShopSavvy can scan these QR Codes from Best Buy we can also help retailers power their own apps with 2D reading technology. Both our iPhone and Android developer SDKs offer QR Code scanning support – just drop our libraries into a retailer’s mobile app and consumers can begin scanning right away.

Of course 2D codes are popping up on websites like Facebook and in stores thanks to Google’s Favorite places program. We support both of these programs today. Perhaps the most interesting use of 2D codes is by cities. In Washington DC we now support scanning of QR codes in DC Circulator Buses. This month the city added QR Codes on all bus stops and bus shelters. Riders who have ShopSavvy can scan these codes to see a map of their route, their current location and the next bus stop.

Android Market Poised to Hit 100,000!

Ten months ago there were only 10,000 Android apps, but later this month there will be more than 100,000. Wow.

http://www.androidpolice.com/wp-content/themes/ap1/images/android1.png

HTC Sales Up 63% In 2nd Quarter

HTC is selling a LOT of Android phones. HTC has three of the top ten Android phones and has been in the game longer than anyone else. ShopSavvy’s penetration is the highest on HTC’s devices. When I met Peter Chou in 2008 at the G1 launch in Manhattan I had never heard of HTC. Peter explained to me that he was betting his company on Android. By the time we met in Germany I had a better understanding of the man and his vision for HTC. Android still wasn’t a sure thing, but it sure felt like we were on to something. I felt pretty smart throwing my hat in the ring with Peter and his team – guess he was right about HTC AND Android.

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