Google Launches Goo.gl Site With QR Surprise

News
By Marcus Yam
published

Surprise!

Link shorteners are helpful to keep a link short and sweet, but they're nothing new. Even though there are plenty of link shortening options out there, Google is pressing onwards with the next step in its own service.

Previously available only through Google's software, now the Goo.gl shortening service is available through the web browser. Simply hit http://goo.gl/ and get your links done.

There's even a secret to the Google URL shortener – it can make QR codes for you simply by adding .qr at the end of the link.

For example, turning http://goo.gl/kKf0 into http://goo.gl/kKf0.qr makes this:

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
27 Comments Comment from the forums
  • the_krasno
    That is kinda neat, QR images look pretty awesome imo :)
    Reply
  • bebangs
    Hmm... i'd love to play with QR codes.

    Links - http://goo.gl/IBEO

    Create QR code. Send as postcards. I Win.
    Reply
  • micr0be
    nice! this is actually extremely useful for smartphones.
    Reply
  • JOSHSKORN
    Useless!
    bebangsLinks - http://goo.gl/IBEOOK maybe not so useless after all. :)
    Reply
  • N.Broekhuijsen
    bebangsHmm... i'd love to play with QR codes.Links - http://goo.gl/IBEOCreate QR code. Send as postcards. I Win.I am speechless! Indeed you win! :P
    Reply
  • kronos_cornelius
    QR code is pretty popular to advertise Android apps. That way you can shoot the monitor with your phone if you want to download the app.

    we'll see QR codes everywhere in the future to load up menus in restaurants, animal's info in the zoo's etc. Too bad I have not found a way to add a business plan to that wave.
    Reply
  • harth13
    so?
    Reply
  • alidan
    kronos_corneliusQR code is pretty popular to advertise Android apps. That way you can shoot the monitor with your phone if you want to download the app.we'll see QR codes everywhere in the future to load up menus in restaurants, animal's info in the zoo's etc. Too bad I have not found a way to add a business plan to that wave.
    to bad i already have, and i will start the patent process tomorrow, or copyright or something, something so that every time someone uses a qr code for that purpose I get a penny. ill probably be set for life
    Reply
  • mosu
    To alidan: Tomorrow will be too late.Sorry!
    Reply
  • vsgm
    http://goo.gl/qM4N :D
    Reply