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Send Starbucks lattes to your lover with iMessage
Saying "I love you" with a Grande Soy Latte just got a little easier. Starbucks updated its iOS app with its first iMessages offering which allows you to send anyone you chat with a Starbucks gift card without interrupting the flow of your conversation. The Starbucks app update also includes enhanced push notifications, a new mobile ordering interface and new filtering options for locating a nearby location.
Samsung Pay stores your gift cards, lets you buy new ones
Samsung Pay was already handy for using the company's line of Galaxy phones to take care of mobile payments via credit and debit cards. Making good on its promise ahead of the holidays, Samsung added the ability for you to use those gift cards you're sure to receive in the weeks to come. Similar to the bank and credit card methods that Samsung Pay already employs, the app will allow you to load those gift cards to keep your pockets free of extra clutter on your next shopping trip.
Square merchants can now make their own gift cards
It's simple: Square arms small-business owners with an arsenal of weapons they need to do battle with larger (chain) competitors. In turn, you, the consumer, reap a variety of benefits. Now, the company's furthering that entrepreneurial spirit with its own Square Register-integrated gift cards program. Starting today, any Square merchant can order custom-designed cards at $1.50 apiece, without having to worry about future subscription, redemption or transaction fees. What's more, when a customer buys a gift card, the funds are immediately transferred into the seller's back account, rather than sitting in limbo until they're redeemed. For shopkeepers, it's a simple, inexpensive way to entice customers.
Apple gets ready for the holiday shopping season with new gift cards and uniforms
With the holiday buying season just around the corner, Apple is making a few minor changes to its retail stores to get ready. According to Kelly Hodgkins of MacRumors (and TUAW) the company will be introducing new holiday-colored shirts for employees at the stores for the season. The announcement was made via retail head Angela Ahrendts in a recent internal company video. You should start seeing the red holiday-themed t-shirts instead of Apple's normal blue ones in the near future. In addition, employees will reportedly not be wearing their name badge lanyards during the holiday season. It isn't just the uniforms that are getting a makeover. The company has also introduced new gift cards modeled after the color schemes of the iPhone and iPad. Gift cards can be used online or in stores, and can have a value of up to US$2,000. You'll probably need to get a few if you want one of the new Retina 5K iMacs. You can find Apple's new gift cards online here, and will be able to check out the new uniforms in person at Apple Stores soon.
Facebook is killing its Gifts service, still wants you to buy stuff
Mark Zuckerberg's experiment in social network retail has finally come to an end: on August 12th, Facebook Gifts will close forever. The company's gift feature grew from its acquisition of the social gifting app Karma, selling teddy bears, socks and chocolates drop shipped directly to your Facebook friends. Eventually Facebook discovered that gift cards took the lion's share of sales and discontinued physical gifts altogether. Now the company says it's refocusing its resources on programs that help businesses increase sales through Facebook, rather than selling product themselves. So, in short, the "Buy" button is here to stay, but you'll have to enable your friends' Starbucks habit elsewhere.
Google's Wallet apps now handle your gift cards
Gift cards are supposed to be pleasant surprises, but they can frequently be headaches; assuming you remember to bring them in the first place, you have to keep tabs on any leftover credit. They should be easier to manage after today, though. Google has just rolled gift card support into the Wallet apps for both Android and iOS. All you have to do is either snap a photo of a card or type in its info. After that, you can safely leave the plastic at home. Some merchants, such as AMC, Best Buy and Whole Foods, will also show the remaining balance on their cards.
Apple gives Europeans Black Friday discounts, US settles for gift cards
If you've been mulling the latest Apple gizmo but wince at the prices, today could be the day to act. That's because Cupertino's offering UK discounts of up to £81 on the latest and greatest iMac or MacBook models and £31 off of the iPad Air. Other iPad models are discounted too, and you can score a deal on the iPod Touch or accessories like the Parrot AR drone. As for the US and Canada, gift cards are being handed out in lieu of cash off, including $75 offerings on the iPad Air, $150 for iMacs and MacBooks and $50 for an iPod Touch. As for the rest of the EU, other countries like France and Germany are seeing similar cash discounts to their UK counterparts on the same products. Not everything is on sale, though. For instance, the iPad Mini with Retina display is still full price. Still, if your iProduct trigger finger's been feeling itchy lately, hit the source.
Facebook kills physical Gifts in favor of digital redemption codes
Not even a year after its inception, Facebook is killing physical Gifts. According to TechCrunch, the social media giant is ending its intermediary role for sending teddy bears, wine and chocolate (sounds romantic, no?) from its partners. Instead, it's focusing on its own gift card, as well as redemption codes for iTunes credits and the like. Why? Well, aside from the cash the company will save, users simply weren't buying physical Gifts all that much. The new Gift page will begin rolling out to ten percent of the site's US userbase over the weekend, and the entire stateside population should see it within two weeks. It's a little less personal, sure, but at least you won't have to worry about getting your loved ones gift receipts.
Google hiring gift card marketer, must speak Canadian and Australian
Google wants to up its gift card game both in The Great White North and Down Under. To help this effort, the search giant recently posted a job listing for a marketing manager based out of its Mountain View HQ. Becoming as ubiquitous as iTunes or Amazon gift cards is probably the goal, but we're wondering why it isn't looking home, first. Play gift cards are available from Target, Walmart and others but are curiously absent from Best Buy's shelves. Regardless, if you want to be the one who breaks the big G into JB HiFi's stock room, hurry up and click the source link. We've already applied.
Retailers' growing relationship with Passbook
Apple's Passbook has had a rocky road. When it was first introduced in iOS 6, it seemed like an excellent idea. You could store all of your loyalty cards, tickets, and other mobile payment items all in one place. But in practice, Passbook hasn't been all that helpful. Not many retailers' loyalty programs are included in the app, and getting information in there is harder than it has to be most of the time. But Apple isn't giving up, and neither are retailers. GigaOm has a few good examples of how certain retailers are using the app. Gift cards are now a big deal within the app, and CashStar (which sells digital gift cards for big brands) says one third of its cards are opened on a smartphone, usually an iPhone. The app is also easier to use, as more companies build an actual workflow into it. And customers are not only learning how Passbook can help them, but they're growing accustomed to the idea of digital gift cards and currency. Passbook is still around in the upcoming iOS 7, though it's only gotten a new icon and a barcode scanner (which itself might help with ease of use). The dream of keeping all of those loyalty cards, gift cards, and ticket stubs on your phone instead of in that drawer at home is still alive, and hopefully someday Apple will make it happen with Passbook.
Gyft opens up to developers, offers sign-up page for APIs
Gyft, the mobile platform that lets users buy, send and store virtual gift cards, is now giving developers a crack at its APIs. Launched late last year on Android and iOS, the service currently counts its retail partnerships in the hundreds and is looking to extend its reach to other applications, websites and, most importantly, the realm of mobile gaming. Gyft CEO Vinny Lingham, hopes mobile game devs will embrace the platform as a means of facilitating in-app purchases -- a move that would help to eliminate external charges from other billing services. Already, devs are lining up to use Gyft's APIs, with the first integration live on Yappem, a B2B social network, and "about 10 more" planned to go live next month.
Skype update adds 'e-gifting' to Mac app
There's a new update for Mac users of Skype today. The new update brings two key features: eGifting, allowing you to send a gift of Skype credit to any of your Skype or Facebook friends on their birthday, and one-way SMS without the hassle of verifying your mobile number first. The update also resolves some previously known issues. It's possible to gift someone Skype credit through Skype's website, but the eGifting feature / reminder on birthdays is a nice addition, especially if you've connected Skype to your Facebook account, since Skype credit seems more meaningful than a generic greeting on a friend's timeline. At least with gifting Skype credit, you're likely to have a face-to-face conversation, if they choose to call you with the credit you've sent them! You can download the latest version of Skype for Mac from here or, with Skype open, click on the Skype menu bar and select Check for updates. [Via TechCrunch]
Facebook introduces 'a new type of gift card,' is a lot like the old types
If you're still desperate to get that Facebook acquaintance something for their birthday or some kind of anniversary, the Social Network has instituted a new way to take your money give. You'll be able to pick up gift credit for the likes of Jamba Juice, Olive Garden, Sephora and Target, plucking what you'd like from the "gift cards and digital" category inside the existing Gifts tab, and stating an amount and the name of the lucky gift-getter. The friend will be immediately notified and a lovingly Facebook-branded card will be sent to their residence. The credit can be used immediately, reused and even hold multiple balances for the differing providers -- ideal for the times you need fragrances, electronics and ... olives. Balances can be monitored direct from your Facebook page or app, even updating and sending notifications when credit is being used. Facebook says the cards will roll-out gradually across the US, though wasn't specific on any launch regions. Expect to hear more in the next few days.
Gyft and its guilt-free gift cards now available on Android
Gift cards sure are convenient, but who likes futzing with all those useless, environmentally-unfriendly plastic rectangles? Certainly not us, which is why we dig free iOS application Gyft, an application that not only aggregates our gift cards, but allows us to buy and gift others with gift cards from a variety of major retailers (Gap and Sephora, among many others). And today, our Android-inclined brethren can get on board the Gyft train, as its headed to the Google Play store. To incentivize your use of the free app, Gyft's doling out $10 in free cards, so head over to the Google Play store and snag your free money.
Square now offers Passbook integration and gift cards
On Sunday, Square CEO Jack Dorsey announced via Twitter that Square now offers the ability to give and use gift cards via iOS's Passbook. The gift card announcement is a unique approach to the industry. Traditional gift cards (electronic or physical) require stores to actually offer a gift card. However, Square's implementation lets any Square Wallet user create a gift card for any retailer that uses Square Register to process payments. To create the gift card, the user simply selects a business that uses Square Register from the Square Wallet app, taps the "Gift Card" button, selects the amount of the gift card and sends it to anyone in their contact book. The recipient will get an email with a link to add it to iOS 6's Passbook. The advantage to consumers is the ability to buy and send gift cards right from their phone. However, the biggest advantage is for businesses. Traditionally it was costly and time consuming for small businesses to offer gift cards. Now any small business that uses Square Register will be able to do so, thus increasing its sales and potential customer base. The Square gift card system can be used on iOS or Android via Google Wallet. Square Wallet and Square Register are free downloads.
Square starts offering gift cards, ties them into Passbook for iOS 6 recipients (video)
Square payments have so far been self-centered affairs that won't let us share the wealth with others. In rather convenient timing for the season, updates to Square Register and Square Wallet for Android and iOS have made a little of that sought-after generosity possible through the introduction of gift cards. Americans can now give and receive credit for any location that uses Square Register to process payments: if friends would like nothing more than to treat themselves to triple-shot espressos at the local indie coffee shop, you can make their day. The update also brings a treat for the Apple-inclined who've kept up-to-date with iOS 6, letting them redeem their cards quickly through Passbook instead of diving into Square Wallet or QR codes printed on old-fashioned paper. We're still waiting on word of gift card availability for our Canadian friends, but most everyone in the US just hast to check for the relevant app updates to spread some affection.
Redeem iTunes gift cards with iTunes 11 and your Mac's camera
One of the coolest iTunes 11 features has got to be the new redemption system. It allows you to scan gift codes using your Mac's camera system. As the screen shot above shows, all you have to do is hold up your iTunes barcode and let your camera do the work. No more laborious typing of barcode-supported gift cards is needed any more. Click Use Camera and then use the interactive camera feed to hold up and scan your card. You can only redeem cards that have a box around the code letters, as you see in the screenshot above. Here is Steve Sande redeeming himself. He isn't actually a gift card, but he pretends to be one on alternative Sundays. TUAW first noticed Mountain Lion's Core Recognition framework early this year and suggested that it might be used for this kind of redemption through the "CRCodeRedeemer" class. We're gratified to learn we were right on the money. Mike Rose pointed out in his original write-up that there's even more this tech could be capable of. As he wrote back in Feburary, "This technology would be even more interesting if Apple's 2011 patent application for 'digital handshakes' ever sees daylight. With barcodes or data embeds printed on your devices with invisible ink, you could log into your Mac just by waving your iPhone at it -- which would require that your Mac have some barcode-reading savvy."
Skype launches gift cards, lets parents drop hints to distant kids
Many empty-nester parents would like nothing more than to hear from their kids every now and then. For them, Skype's new gift cards might be the perfect not-so-subtle clue: both digital and physical cards are going on sale today that offer $10 or more in credit, either for the company's time-honored VoIP calling or (if need be) some Skype WiFi at the airport. Only online versions are customizable, although Americans who want something tangible can swing by the Microsoft Store, OfficeMax or Target. Skype's already brought prepaid credit to Mexico and the UK, but the cards should be more than welcome gift options for anyone who would otherwise have to spring for a prepaid phone card -- just be prepared for more heart-to-heart chats than usual if you're on the receiving end.
'Tis the season: Amazon now offering customizable video gift cards from JibJab
Amazon announced a partnership with digital media company JibJab on Friday that will introduce free, personalized video gift cards to its customers. This new feature gives you the option to attach pictures to over 50 pre-themed videos, which includes holidays, birthdays and other special occasions. Customers can load up to $2,000 on a video gift card, which can be sent instantly or at a scheduled date and time via email or a Facebook wall post. The cards never expire and recipients can share their videos through Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or email, while keeping the gift's cash value private. So, if gift cards from the people with the smile on the box rank high on your holiday wish list, get ready to have your inbox hit with a barrage of disco grannies and snowball-throwing elf cat videos.
Gyft for iOS now compatible with Passbook, adds gift cards from more than 200 retailers
With Apple having recently introduced its novel Passbook feature in the latest version of iOS, it's only natural for app makers to try and take advantage of such miscellaneous hub. With that in mind, Gyft -- a 2012 TechCrunch Disrupt finalist -- has made its application fully compatible with Cupertino's newfangled iOS 6, adding support for the iPhone 5's 4-inch screen and, most importantly, the ability to add gift cards from many retailers to Passbook; some of which include Amazon, Target, Lowe's, GAP, American Eagle and Starbucks. You can grab the Gyft (v1.2) application now directly from your iDevice, or there's always the link below if that makes it slightly easier for you.
