Bark Codes

Aunt Paula swung by the office this week and mad artist that she is, she couldn't help but leave her mark on our white board.



And we're glad she did.

Human Beings Barcoded: World Doesn't End

This one I can get behind.

Of course now our Faceless Evil Overlords can track our every move but it's worth it if it means getting the correct meds, doncha' think?

Barcode Art Contest Winners

Because I run an online gallery of barcode-inspired artwork I see a lot of barcodes incorporated into larger pieces. It's my belief that barcodes have become a visual meme and are infused with connotations and implied meanings (www.jetcityorange.com/barcodes/BarcodesJargonSlang.pdf).

I was unprepared for and pleasantly surprised by the entrants in photoshopcontest.com barcode competition. Fine art, thoughtful work within the theme, and pieces that made me sit up and take notice.

All entrants will receive Azalea Software's 4th annual calendar when printed. All feature photographs centered around a particular theme. This year's is a surprise but not flowers or stencil graffiti as in the past.

First prize goes to IDentification by dabdi56. Layers of meaning in a well put together piece. Sophisticated and emotional.

Second prize is to Sliver's Stop Violence! I'm a big fan of Adbusters and while I've been in the barcode business for 18 years, that doesn't mean I've comprised my politics or beliefs.

Third prize is to Phase [GIF] EDITED by Granulated. I've always wanted to see barcodes animated and loved seeing multiple entries do so. The grace and finesse in this effort is refreshing and complete.

A special shout out goes to two other entries: Fore! and T'E(r)R0R' in CAP1TAL15M. The former made me look twice and put a smile on my face. The latter is almost too good to be true.

Azalea Software t-shirts and goodie bags go out to the three winners. Again, all entrants will receive 2008 calendars when printed. Thanks to all who participated. The work is wonderful!

Jerry Whiting
Azalea Software, Inc.

They're heeeere...

No, the Whole Foods cash register couldn't scan it. Yet.

RFID Still Crap, Says Dublin Firm

So maybe they're a little more diplomatic than that but Heavey RF knows what time it is.

RFID is still just a whizbang technology that may mutate into a practical product some day. Perhaps. Possibly. At some point. Maybe. (I'm in for $50 on March 12, 2016, if anyone's starting a pool).

Until every kitchen-table home business can afford to produce them, and every corner bodega can afford to read them, it's just another shiny whatsit.

Barcoding critters

Taxonomists are considering barcodes as a tool in the struggle to create names for newly discovered plants and animals. Can a number encompass a being's beingness? Is 123,452,677 qualitatively worse than Brad, Thad, Tiffany or Chuck?

Now even cabs have barcodes

Riding a cab in New York is exciting enough. Riding a cab from the East Side to Union Square during the day during the week is an added thrill. Getting one of the new cabs with a video screen showing TV, ads, and a a moving map is pretty cool too. But nothing, and I mean nothing beats getting in a cab and finding a barcode staring at you. Know what I mean?

Nothing to do with barcodes

This probably has nothing to do with barcodes but here in Seattle one of the 7-Elevens has been transformed into a Kwik E Mart. This is a promotion for the upcoming Simpsons movie.

They're selling Simpsons tie-in merchandise so I guess there's a good chance that these items will have their own barcode. I wonder what company prefix they'll use?

Wait. There's more bad news!

Yesterday I recounted the story of a fugly barcode on a poor child's birthday present. Today I present another insult at said birthday soiree: an EAN in the USA. Yes, a foreign barcode on these here 'merican shores. I certainly hope WalMart isn't behind this. Gray market bastards...

Am I the only one who notices these things?

Little Audrey turned 4, had a party, and found this horrible barcode on one of her presents. The shame, and in front of all her little friends no less. What parent would knowingly foist this off on an unsuspecting pre-schooler? Why??

Believe it or not, Azalea Software is sponsoring golf. Yes, "golf".

Azalea Software Sponsors Hope Heart Classic Golf Tournament
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 03jul07

SEATTLE - Azalea Software is sponsoring a hole at this year’s 10th Annual Hope Heart Classic, July 30, 2007. While this is consistent with Azalea’s ongoing commitment to tithing and giving back to the community it’s noteworthy in that no one at Azalea has any interest in golf whatsoever.


The Hope Heart Classic has raised over $1 million over the years and has provided support for the Hope Heart Institute’s research and education programs. Founded in 1959 by Dr. Lester R. Sauvage, Hope Heart’s mission is preventing and treating heart and blood vessel disease, and improving the physical, emotional, and spiritual quality of life for millions.

In addition to sponsoring one of the holes at this year’s tournament, Azalea is providing golf tees to all participants.

Azalea Software publishes barcode software and is located in West Seattle. Azalea is dedicated to supporting efforts like Doctors Without Borders, the Tibetan Technology Center, the Eliza Bryant Village, Stephen Shames Foundation, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, among other causes.

For further information please visit this web page.

UPCTools gets the nod

We know our Mom's are proud of us and what we do. It's always nice when someone else notices and speaks out too.

UPCTools, our UPC barcode software, just got good marks from Top 10 Reviews.

Wait til I tell Mom!

Busted by the barcode

Hey, we've all thought of this scam before. It was the first joke my friends made when I started writing barcode software years ago. "Yeah, I'm gonna go shopping with you. You can make new barcodes and get everything for free!"

Let's set aside the moral, ethical, and spiritual issues for a moment. I can make more money selling barcode software than I can steal using barcodes to rip stores off. Big Fat Duh.

Another questionable barcode "innovation"

Like we need this barcode gadget in our kitchens. Read the freakin' label and then push the freakin' buttons. Sheesh...

barcodes & cell phones

I've been more than a little skeptical about cell phones being used to scan barcodes. I just don't see the usefullness of it beyond the gee-whiz geek factor. Besides, if it was such a great idea the market would have matured to the point where there'd be one or two dominent players by now.

Well, I'm rethinking it all. For one, I don't think that there's any one implementation. In fact, it may evolve into something as varied as the different ways people use the camera in their cell phone. And most of those uses are different than what folks do with their stand-alone cameras. So assumption #1 is that cell phones as barcode scanners won't be one-for-one equivalents to barcode scanners as barcode scanners.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, I think that cell phones as barcode scanners will be different in Japan than in Europe. And the US will be different than either. No duh; this mimics the cutural differences between cell phone useage in each country.

Lastly, I'm starting to hear uses that even I might embrace. Like scanning a barcode at a subway stop or landmark and getting a map pushed to me. Not an ad but a tidbit of localized information.

Like I said, I'm rethinking the whole thing. Film at 11...

Barcode Tattoo

The police in Northern Ireland are looking for a man with a barcode tattoo. Have they checked my gallery of barcode tattoos yet?

The arm is atypical. The back of the neck seems to be the de facto standard location. Me? I'm decidedly un-inked.

Netflix, POSTNET barcodes, and I don't know what all.

Odd. I noticed that two Netflix envelopes ready to go back had different addressing and FIM bars. POSTNET barcodes are in two different places as well. Anyone else out there seeing this too?

Stamp Collecting: the beginning of the end

Dear Santa...

I confess to sporting a "Got beer?" doormat myself. Indicative of what will find within. But Santa, please oh please, bring me this barcode doormat.

I promise to be a good boy this year. And not like last year's "good boy" either. We all agreed certain bounds and protocols were broken. But this year, I'm gonna shine!

No, really.

OK, OK. Some what if I'm sorta good this year? Can I have a barcode rug instead?

Barcode, the game!

Well barcodes are everywhere, from tattoos to street art, but a barcode game???

Things get weirder every day, now don't they?