Introduction:

A QR Code is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. The "QR" is derived from "Quick Response", as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.

Usefulness:

Use your Android phone to scan the bar code and it will give you the information it contains. Sometimes the information is a URL to a website, product information or it can be instructions on how to use something.

You will start to see these QR Codes on websites, movie posters, ads, products and even Facebook. There are already many websites that have these codes for downloading Android apps.

You can scan the bar code to the right with your android phone for an example of how it works.

Which Android scanner do I use?

ZXing's Barcode Scanner is a free Android app that lets you scan bar codes just by focusing your camera on the bar code in real time. 

There are other scanning programs out there, but ZXing Barcode Scanner is the fastest. You can use Google Goggles as well but you have to actually take a picture of the bar code and let it scan a few times before it will tell you what it is.

It seems that on Android firmware version 2.0.1, and some earlier versions, it is possible that when a program crashes or closes it could make the icons on the desktop disappear. Instead of turning your phone on and off you can just restart the desktop aka home service.

I'm not to sure if this is caused by a bad 3rd party application or widget that has been downloaded, the screen rotating when closing a game or app, or if the memory of the unit has become full and it just "dumps" the icons. The bug has been reported to the Android team and should be fixed in an upcoming firmware update.

To restore the icons just follow these steps:

1. Click on Menu and then Settings
2. Choose Applications from the list
3. Choose Manage Applications
4. Click on Menu again and select Filter
5. Choose All from the option list
6. Find Home in the list of applications
7. Choose Force Stop. This will cause the service to restart, which will restore your icons. Don't delete the cache.

This is a list of apps for Android that I highly recommend. Almost all of them are available as free versions, but the paid versions are worth it.

All of these apps can be downloaded from the Android Store. 

Must Have Apps

• MSN Droid - Lets you chat on Windows Live Messenger/MSN service. Best MSN interface out there for Android. Plenty of options and settings. Ad supported.
• Network Monitor - Keeps track of the amount of data you are using on both dataplan and Wifi. Paid version comes with graphs and no ads.
• Google Maps - If it's not already installed you have to get it!
• Google Sky - It's a map of the sky!
• G-Strings - Chromatic guitar tuner that works really well.
• Ring Droid - Lets you cut up music files to use them as ring tones.
• Google Shopper & Barcode Scanner - Both programs let you scan barcodes of books, cds and other items to get prices, reviews and information from the web.
• Key Ring Reward Cards - Get the cards out of your wallet. Scan in your grocery or point cards (Air Miles, Safeway) and then use the laser scanner at the store to scan the bar code on your phone.

• Super List - Great as a to-do list or grocery list.
• Weather Eye - Better weather app and widget for Canadian android users. Nice interface.
• Newspapers - Get newspapers right on your phone.
• Dock Simulator - Lets you view your phone in both car and media dock modes.

There are a few places where you can clear the search history on a Android phone.

Clear Web Browser History

1. Open the web browser
2. Click the Menu button
3. Click on More
4. Choose Settings
5. Scroll down to the Privacy Settings section and this is where you will find the options to delete cache, history, cookies, form and location data.

Clear Phone Search History

1. Click the Menu button
2. Click Settings
3. Choose Applications
4. Choose Manage Applications
5. Click on Menu and then choose Filter
6. Select All in the filter options list
7. Find Quick Search Box in the list and choose it
8. Tap the Clear Data box

Clear Google Market Place History

At this time there is no convinent way to clear the store history. Which is bad because the amount of search terms can really start to add up. If you really need to get it cleared you have to factory reset your phone.