Steve Jobs book covered with broken Microsoft Tags?

File this one under bizarre/ironic.

While at the bookstore yesterday picking up my copy of Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, I decided to pick up the audiobook version too. And I’m talking about the unabridged, 20 CD version here.

Anyway, I’m checking out the packaging and what do I find?

A Microsoft Tag.

Some of you might not know what that is, so let me show you:

See that weird pink and yellow and black square on the book? That’s a Microsoft Tag, which is basically Microsoft’s branded and Internet-feature rich version of the QR code I love so much. Basically, you scan it with the tag app [get it here for iPhone or Android/Windows Phone/Blackberry] and it loads up a web page or rich contact info. My online editor Shy uses one on his business card—when you scan it, you can automatically add his info to your phone. So that’s pretty cool!

I’m thinking that a Microsoft Tag on the audiobook is sort of hilarious. I mean, how did it get there? Did the publisher ever stop to think that bestselling biography of the iconic Apple founder might not be the best place for a Microsoft-branded product?

But that’s not even half the story—check this out: This Microsoft Tag is broken.

When you try and scan it, you get taken to what looks like an excerpt of the book:

But when you try and hit play, THE WEBSITE IS BROKEN:

How did the publishers let this one slip through? Is this just Steve taking one last shot at Microsoft from beyond the grave?