DAM software has long accept a “day exclusion” date field, which allows events to be declared as only happening on a certain day of the week. For example, you may have a “Celebrate Mobile Apps” event (why not!) that runs from Jan 1 through Dec 31, 2011 but only happens on Wednesday or Fridays.

In previous versions of our software, we’d display that the event only happens on Wednesdays and Fridays, but we wouldn’t prevent the event from showing up as today.

We’ve now fixed that and future versions of all apps (and all current .mobi and BlackBerry apps have it) will properly respect the day exclusion rule: if it’s Thursday, that event will list as starting Friday (tomorrow) and never as today.

.Mobi Date

The Mobile (and BlackBerry) events calendar now break up the events calendar by day with headers. For example: San Luis Obispo County’s Farmer Market Calendar (also showing date exclusions).

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David
Joanne
Julie
Jen
Tim

Well, it’s done. This:

Becomes this:

This feature is available only on the iPhone right now, but we’ll be moving it to the .mobi, BlackBerry and Android versions soon.

When this setting is turned “on”, the application will only download data updates when the user is connected to a WiFi network. This isn’t so important for domestic visitors, but international visitors will appreciate being able to keep their roaming charges down. By default, the app ships with this option off but we can selectively turn this on for any destination.

This feature is only available on the iPhone version, but we’ll be moving it to the Android and iPad applications soon.

Here are a few ways that you can use QR codes to spruce up your small business marketing strategies.

On business cards: …
On marketing materials: …
In storefront windows: …
For freebies: …

Things to Remember
If you’re going to use QR codes for small business marketing, you’ll want to keep in mind that QR codes — and the apps that scan them — are still foreign to most people.

Yes, more and more people are starting to associate the codes with action, but never assume your customers will know what to do. Make it a point to spell out how to scan the QR code, and help instruct customers on where they can grab scanner apps.

Go read the whole thing – I’ve cut a lot there.

We’ll be providing a subscription form for this on the sidebar very shortly, but in the meantime if you want to be on the list, contact us in the usual way!

Mosaics of black-and-white squares, like tiny crossword puzzles, seem to have cropped up everywhere, from bus stop ads to newspapers to stickers on bananas.

The two-dimensional matrix codes are a way to encode information in print in a way that can be quickly scanned by a computer. The codes come in various forms, most of them using black and white squares, but some using hexagons or multi-coloured triangles.

One of the most popular is the QR Code, distinguished by the large squares in three of the code’s corners.

[...]

The most common use is to encode the address of a website in print so that cellphone users can quickly visit the site without typing in a complicated URL.

A QR Code used in this way becomes, in essence, a real-world hyperlink, a way to connect physical space to the virtual one. Tech giant Google has embraced the technology andFacebook has begun experimenting with using the codes as a way to link to user profiles.

The codes are especially popular in Japan where they’re often used in advertising — in magazines, on posters and even billboards — so consumers can learn more about a product or enter a contest. A movie poster might have a code that links to the movie’s trailer, for example. A for-sale sign on a house could link to its online listing.

Mail-order catalogues include codes for individual items, so customers can quickly order them through their phones. QR Codes on McDonald’s hamburger wrappers and soft drink cups link to nutritional information.

If you’re interested in QR Codes (and you probably should be), go read the whole thing.