I tried importing the private key (the spinner backup QR code) to my BlockChain wallet but got an error message
Just to be sure, you used BitcoinSpinner's "Advanced" settings option and used "Export Private Key," right? That's not the same code as the wallet backup.
I wasn't, but I just tried that and got an error message too : " Error importing private key: Unknown Key Format " tried importing to strongcoin and got a similar message : " Error: Not a valid Private Key "
Hmm. Well, I'm stumped. Sounds like the latest update may have a bug or two, in which case you should probably wait on Jan. He might want your phone model, OS version, and version of BitcoinSpinner too for good measure.
Last attempt: try going to Blockexplorer and looking for your first BitcoinSpinner address, and see what happened to your coins after they were initially sent to the address. If they didn't move from that address at all, it sounds like they may be lost for good. OTOH, maybe, just maybe the address produced was invalid, and the original coins never left your desktop client (if Blockexplorer reports your address as never having been seen, that's a good sign.)