ICYMI here is what happened this week in social media and technology:

• Microsoft flips off Apple and adds a middle finger emoji - According to Emojipedia, the Windows 10 update due in mid-2015 will include a middle finger emoji at long last — in all skin tones.
• 2016 Ford F-150 will offer propane, natural gas option - Ford announced plans to offer the 2016 F-150 full-size pickup with a package that prepares it to be powered by propane or compressed natural gas, an option that appeals to fleet buyers.
• Dave Goldberg, SurveyMonkey CEO, Dies Unexpectedly - Silicon Valley and the wider world of technology are mourning the very sudden death of Dave Goldberg, a long time entrepreneur and investor, CEO of SurveyMonkey, husband of Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, father and friend to many. The news was made public in a Facebook post from his brother Robert.

Here's what you may have missed in the world of tech and social media:

• Ford hijacks Microsoft's 'Edge' browser announcement - Microsoft has unveiled a new browser to replace Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, at its Build conference this week. Microsoft Edge will become the default browser on Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 10, and sees the tech firm moving away from the 'hated' Internet Explorer brand. Not everyone shares the hate for Explorer though, with Ford quickly giving its pun-fuelled two cents on the news. 
• Microsoft's Edge Will Let You Scribble On The Web - When Microsoft's new Internet Explorer replacement, officially dubbed Edge, arrives with Windows 10, it will offer users some new features, including the ability to annotate webpages and share notes. 
• Uber Is Quietly Testing A Massive Merchant Delivery Program - Uber is planning to launch a merchant delivery program that would allow online shoppers to get same-day delivery of goods through both UberRush couriers and Uber drivers. TechCrunch has obtained training documents for Uber drivers and couriers who are part of the merchant delivery pilot program.
• The Next Version of Google Glass Might Look like Ray-Bans - When Google announced back in January that it would stop selling Google Glass, we hoped that tech titans would keep the clunky smart frames off the shelves until they had undergone a makeover. Now it looks like those months of sending good sartorial vibes Silicon Valley’s way have paid off: WSJ reports that Google is partnering with the makers of Ray-Ban to launch a brand-new version of Glass.
• Facebook Testing New Notifications Tab - Facebook is planning to give its notifications a major makeover, converting it into a central hub for news from across the site, according to Mashable, which first reported the news this week. Facebook is currently testing the new notifications tab and will begin rolling it out to mobile users sometime in the near future, per the same report.
• Preview Instagram’s New Filters + Just-Released Emoji Update - Available this week for iOS and Android users are three modern, subtle filters and a new way to search using emoji hashtags. These features cannot be found on that third-party desktop or Instagram apps.

Lately I have been doing a lot of research for a client on QR codes and whether or not they are worth the time and money. This is a huge debate among marketers. Some love them and swear by them and others feel that their money can be better spent elsewhere. Based on my research, here is the rundown of how QR codes in marketing fair in the grand scheme of things:

What is a QR Code?

Similar to a bar code, a QR Code is a machine-readable code consisting of an array of black and white squares, typically used for storing URLs or other information for reading by the camera on a smartphone. QR Codes can hold a larger amount of information than its bar code predecessor.

When a user scans them with a specially downloaded mobile app, QR Codes will direct them to a specific place is the digital realm (to a website, document, form, etc.).

You may have seen these codes out in the wild. For example they've been used on signs at the zoo, Taco Bell cups, and by realtors to help sell homes.

Usage of QR Codes

The numbers are staggering when it comes to the statistics of QR Code usability:

(click here to read more)