Nowadays there are numerous image formats but basically they all can be divided into two main groups – raster and vector images. This is it, the all-time rivalry between pixels and paths. In our contemporary world, where everything is digitalized, people often interact with computer graphics and pictures. What is the difference between raster and vector and which one is better?       Raster Images We are going to begin with raster images. They are also popular as bitmaps. These graphics are composed of groups of pixels – tiny squares, each one painted in different color. The main characteristic of raster images is the number of pixels (dots) per inch (dpi). Practically it is like a small puzzle of differently-colored parts, but they are so small that the human eye is unable to spot the slight difference between them. Practically all digital pictures or scanned images are BMP, JPEG, PNG, TIFF or GIF (bitmap formats). Vector Images Vector images adopt different technique – they use vectors instead of dots. To make it simpler for understanding, you probably know the type of games “connect the dots”. Well vector graphics work on the same principle – there are millions of dots connected, forming lines (vectors). The way these lines are curved and positioned is described with mathematical formulas. Vector drawings can be created in Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw and saved as EPS, WMF, AI, CDR or  SVG (all of these are vector formats).   Scalability If you need an image for a poster – 1.5m on 1m – it will be extremely hard to create a picture with such dimensions. The solution is to create small one and scale it before printing. Sounds easy but there is one problem – the quality could be diminished. Bitmaps consist of pixels and when you scale the picture, you actually scale the small squares. The result may be disappointing – ragged figures and a complete eyesore. There is an anti-aliased function that fixes the problem, but only partially – the picture becomes blurred and still unpleasant. Vector images, on the other side, don’t have such problems. According to some mathematical principles you can enlarge or shrink a vector by multiplying it with a number. When scaling a vector image you practically change the multiplier in the formulas of the vectors. In the end there is bigger/smaller and crystal-clear image with no issues. Perfect!     Effects and complexity Vector objects are made of curved or straight lines and this makes the borders between them very clear. Bitmaps, as I already said, are made of small squares and every square can be painted in different tint. Consequently shadows, effects or any other kind...

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All of you know what a barcode is and how it is used. I am not going to overburden your mind with technical terms and specifications. My only purpose is to simply explain you what the barcodes are used for and why they are so beneficial. The basic function of the barcodes is to make everything automatic. It provides data that can be quickly and adequately scanned by machines. The first barcodes were, and still are one dimensional, composed of straight black bars and spaces, used to encode product IDs and designating numbers. They are perfectly usable not only in the shipping or tracking procedures but at the checkout in the supermarket as well. Imagine the following situation: you are approaching the cashier desk with a trolley full of products.The cashier can serve you in 5 minutes, by sliding every item over the laser scanner and adding it to your bill. Everything goes fast, smooth and effortless. What would happen if there weren’t barcodes on the stocks and the cashier had to enter every single ID manually in order to sell it? If you have 60 items in the cart and every item takes about 25 seconds to be processed, this means that you would have to wait 20 minutes in order to have your purchases, instead of 2. Inconvenient, don’t you think?   At the moment there are numerous types of barcodes over the world but did you know that there are only two standards of barcodes that can be used at the retail point of sell – UPC (Universal Product Code) and EAN (International Article Number). Basically they function one and the same way but UPC is used mainly in the USA and EAN – in Europe. Basically the UPC is kind of predecessor of the EAN which was introduced in 1974 and was mainly adopted in North America, UK, Australia and New Zealand. It was an unprecedented breakthrough – everything became much easier and less time-consuming. Just scan and the computer will do the rest. So far so good but it turned out that the UPC was only the first step. In the 80s, the EAN standard was introduced. EAN practically is the global version of the UPC. Despite this attempt for universalization, nowadays these two standards still exist and are used. They represent one and the same information but with different numbers and methods of encryption. It is like shoe sizes – the US size may be 11 and the EU size – 45 but the dimensions of the shoe is one and the same. Different is only the way of representation. The continental distinction between the UPC and the EAN leads to many hardships...

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  Why people don’t scan my QRs? How can I create a nice-to-the-eye QR code? These are common questions nowadays, especially since QR codes have become one of the most powerful marketing tools. If you use Quick Responsive links just for fun everything is OK but if you use them in your profession, then things get serious. Below I represent you several situations in which your QR code might be unappealing to the general public and some corresponding solutions.   Scanning Results What happens after the scanning process? You should profoundly consider the case when you land the user in a web site. As long as 99% of the scans are performed with mobile devices or smartphones it is strongly advisable the site to be mobile-friendly. If not, this can be the first and the last time when a particular person tries to read your code.   Dimensions Second, but not less important are the size of your code and the density of the square modules. All QR barcode generator offer you different levels of error correction, which basically restores part of the encoded information if it is lost under unpredicted circumstances. There are four levels: Low (7%), Medium-Low (15%), Medium-High (25%) and High (30%), where the different percents show what part of the damaged codewords can still be presented during a scan. Although it sounds fantastic you should be careful because it is a double-edged knife. High levels are convenient because you can afford to lose part of your code, but at the same time the square modules become smaller and their density higher. This consequently makes the QR readable only from more sensitive cameras. My advice is carefully to decide do you really need high error correction levels because sometimes it might be more a drawback than a plus.   Custom Design Usually the first impression that something leaves in you can be crucial in the future. What I mean is that the usual QR and the visually edited QR can affect the user’s mind in a totally different way. Again I am going to refer to error correction. Choosing middle or high error correction level allows you to curve and soften the hard edges. You can even replace part of the symbols with a picture or a logo. Thus the barcode will be thematically associated with your company and will partly imply what it is connected with.   Positioning There is a kind of tendency to put QR codes on main-road billboards. I don’t know about you, but in my opinion not many people are willing, at the average speed of 60 miles/h, to drive by and scan a code. High reachability is a key factor,...

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What represents the picture on the left and how can it be useful to you? Unfortunately not many people know the answer of this question. Well this is a QR code (where QR stands for Quick Responsive). It is two-dimensional barcode that uses square grid pattern to encode data and works like the worldwide-known zebra-striped barcode, but only better. To start with its greatly expanded capacity – it can store huge amounts of all types of symbols, not only numeric. Moreover you do not need any kind of complex laser scanner to decipher it – just a mobile device with a camera and a QR reader installed on it. Developed in Japan in 1990, it was mainly used in the industry, where products had to be adequately scanned on the fast-going assembly lines. In the recent years QR code broke its industrial frame and entered our everyday life, becoming one of the most powerful marketing implements, mainly because of its ability to connect physical objects with online digital content. Despite that QR technology is innovative and has many great features it is strongly distrusted by the general public. A survey was recently conducted in 24 universities where more than 500 students were shown a simple QR code. According to the results only 20% of them knew what it is and only half of these 20% had positive impressions. Taking into account that the target group of this survey was made of people who interact with modern technologies on a daily basis, we can predict that in future the popularity of the Quick Responsive code might be strongly diminished. It is common knowledge that most of the people feel reserved to new things because it is hard to accept anything new if you are used to the old one. So what is the key? The key is in making them believe that the new thing (the QR in our case) will only alleviate their lives. Think about it. Everything that has been neglected in the past is now inevitable part of our daily routines. To start with the mobile technologies, the e-mail, social webs – all these changed the world immensely. It is the same with the QR. Recently more and more commercial titans have put the QR code in their marketing toolbox. You can see it almost everywhere – on public events, in magazines, on the TV, even on the box of cereal you bought from the market. With all this buzz around its mass adoption, people’s interest is raising. According to specialists the majority of users are getting used to the Quick Response code more and more. As a result the last will integrate in our lives deeper...

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Welcome to our fully updated website of Mobilio Development. Our esteemed team is working on updating our complete portfolio of products and the variety of services we provide. Mobilio Development is headquartered in Bulgaria, Europe. As one of the fastest growing mobile development start up companies, we develop and outsource for well-known US and Western European companies. Our current portfolio consists software and applications for iOS devices (iPhone, iPod and iPad), Android mobile devices and pads, Windows software and Mac software. Keep posted for our complete portfolio very...

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