So these articles seem to imply that they are completely doing away with QR codes. This makes zero sense because these are two completely different technologies. A QR code can be printed IRL or posted on the internet and thus can be viewed and accessed easily. This NFC business would not only require everyone to have a device that is ready to accept NFC communications but also require an emitter at each location. The ability to put a QR code in something as simple as a magazine or put it on a sticker that can be placed anywhere is just being tossed into the oblivion. I am all for technological advances but sometimes bridging the gap between the analog and digital worlds is an important feature.

Wow, this was unexpected. Since NFC and QR codes have some overlap but in general fill two very different roles (unless you're talking about a putting RFID chips into magazine adverts I guess), there is a missing piece of information.

I'm going to speculate that the missing piece is related to Microsoft patents or other patents around 2d bar codes.

That was my first reaction too. I guess I have to go back to my CueCat.

For QR-code companies it means one competitor less: http://servletsuite.blogspot.com/2011/03/no-more-qr-codes-fr... How to put NFC chip on screen for example ...

Same story from gizmodo, but no discussion there. Link provided for the different POV:

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2391971

If this is true, this is lame.

I don't see this going over well at all...