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Starbucks' Lyft deal has you earning coffee with every ride
Starbucks isn't done lining up deals with tech-savvy companies -- not by a longshot. The coffee chain has unveiled a partnership with Lyft that will reward just about everyone. As a passenger, you'll earn points (that is, Stars) at Starbucks every time you hail a Lyft ride. Yes, you could travel to a business meeting and get a free drink when you arrive. You can even gift a cup o' joe to your driver, if you like. Those drivers will also get Starbucks' Gold perk status as a matter of course, and they'll earn Stars for every ride they offer. Baristas might see some benefits, too, as Starbucks is testing a program that would give employees Lyft rides when mass transit isn't an option. The alliance is only effective in the 65 US cities that Lyft covers, but it could prove tempting if you just can't get enough grande lattes.
Starbucks app to serve up free New York Times articles
It's clear that Starbucks aims to pull in media companies for its Rewards program: after teaming up with Spotify earlier this year, the coffeehouse chain is now partnering with The New York Times. You can already get access to 15 free articles from NYT on Starbucks' app, but this deal expands their partnership further. Starting in 2016, you'll get access to the top news of the day, daily/weekend briefings and even more timely articles "addressing key social, political and economic issues" for free.
Starbucks picks Spotify for radio, and baristas are the DJs
Starbucks and Spotify are teaming up to to build a music ecosystem across retail stores. By joining forces with the popular streaming service, the giant coffee chain hopes to create an experience that will benefit loyal customers, particularly those who are part of the My Starbucks Rewards program. If you're one of them, you'll have the chance to earn Stars as Currency points for subscribing to Spotify Premium, which offers access to millions of songs that can be played offline, ad-free and without any skip limitations. In addition to this, Starbucks will be curating a set of playlists for all Spotify users to enjoy, featuring tunes that have been popular at its coffeehouses in the past 20 years. The new partnership is set to kick off in the US later this fall, with Canada and the United Kingdom expected to follow suit soon thereafter.
Hackers are stealing money through the Starbucks app (update)
If you use the Starbucks app with a linked credit card to pay for java with your phone, now would be a good time to change your account password. The Seattle-based coffee company confirmed Wednesday that some of its customers had funds withdrawn from the credit card linked to the app without their knowledge. However, Starbucks says that the hack does not expose any personal data nor does it affect payments with the Apple Watch. The company has yet to issue a patch for the vulnerability, instead deflecting blame towards its customers (and their poor password choices) for instigating the issue. As such, app users would do well to unlink their credit card, then change the account password before relinking it. Or maybe just pay with cash next time. Update (5/18): As laid out in the statement from Starbucks, and explained by security researcher Brian Krebs, it does not appear that the Starbucks app or system has been hacked. The problem mostly stems with reusing passwords, and that one's Starbucks account is linked directly to their payment card. The coffee company claims that as long as your card is registered, the account balance is protected and you should contact the company. As always -- unique passwords are your friend.
Starbucks delivery rolls out in US cities this year
Starbucks already has locations on nearly every street corner -- even ones directly across from each other -- but now on-demand delivery service Postmates will grab your coffee and bring it directly to your office, house or basically wherever your mouth is. Postmates plans to roll out its Starbucks delivery routes in the second half of 2015, starting in Seattle. The service wants users to order through the Starbucks mobile app and then tell Postmates to pick up that iced, grande, soy-milk caramel macchiato (with whipped cream) for them.
Starbucks app lets you reload your card with Apple Pay
No, you still can't go into a Starbucks and purchase a double-blended frappuccino with Apple Pay. But if you update the company's app, you should at least be able to quickly reload a Starbucks card from within your iPhone using Apple's payment solution. The cafe has long been listed as one of Apple Pay's app partners, but it's not clear if it will ever accept the payment method in its stores. Other than giving you the ability to load your card with caffeine money, the update also adds more calorie information to the items on the menu. And trust us when we say you'd want to check it first before ordering a second venti double chocolaty chip crème frappuccino. [Image credit: Shutterstock]
Starbucks adding wireless charging points to UK stores, starting with London
Starbucks is best known for its freshly brewed coffee, but today the company's announced it's going to begin serving customers an entirely different kind of perk. Just as McDonald's is adding wireless charging points to its fast-food spots, Starbucks is doing the same, so you can recharge your phone while also re-energising your brain. Starbucks has already outfitted various stateside locations with Powermat's PMA wireless charging points, and the partnership between the two companies is extending to the UK. It's no secret that competitive wireless charging standard Qi is the more popular of the two, so if your high-end handset has wireless charging functionality, chances are it won't work with Starbucks' plates. That's why every location with the complimentary points will also have plenty of little dongles for customers to plug into their phones and tablets to make them compatible.
Starbucks beta trials new order-ahead feature in Portland, Oregon
Starbucks is shaking up the retail world with a new order-ahead feature that allows customers to order their favorite latte using their iPhone before they arrive at their local Starbucks. According to Wired, the new ordering tab will be available to iPhone owners in the test market of Portland, Oregon starting Wednesday. The feature will use geolocation to determine a customer's location and show them an ordering tab when they approach a local Starbucks cafe. Starbucks designed the feature to be an extension of the existing mobile payments option in its iPhone app, making it easy and convenient for customers to use. After a successful beta test in Portland, the "Mobile Order & Pay" feature will rollout on a city-by-city basis throughout 2015. Given Starbucks track record with mobile payments, this initiative has a reasonable chance of succeeding. The company recently confirmed that it processes approximately 47 million transactions each week with 7 million of those coming from mobile devices.
Starbucks now lets you order and pay through mobile... if you're in Portland
The Starbucks app's mobile ordering feature is finally here after months of speculation and anticipation -- and it's landed first in Portland, Oregon. Naturally. If you want to buy, say, an eggnog latte, you merely have to scroll through or search the menu, pick your items and your store of preference (you can choose an outlet elsewhere instead of the one closest to you), and then pay for it through your phone. The app even lets you customize your drinks like you would in-store, because the company knows its customers' predilection for mixing things up (triple venti soy, non-fat, half-sweet, extra foam eggnog latte with caramel drizzle, anyone?). Once that's done, just swing by the Starbucks you chose, tell the barista your name and you've effectively skipped the mile-long line.
Starbucks announces delivery service to boost mobile app usage
During Starbucks' recent Q3 2014 earnings conference call, CEO Howard Schultz announced the company's plan to offer a delivery service starting next year, reports USA Today. Schultz failed to provide details about the service, but the initiative supposedly would allow customers to place a delivery order using the Starbucks mobile app. "Imagine the ability to create a standing order of Starbucks delivered hot or iced to your desk daily," said Schultz during a conference call following the coffee giant's third quarter earnings report. "That's our version of e-commerce ... on steroids!" The delivery option was met with skepticism from analysts who noted that a delivery service was a large jump from the retailer's core business of serving hot fresh coffee, sandwiches and pastries in its cafes. Maintaining the high quality of its beverages and food items while meeting delivery deadlines will be a challenge that Starbucks will have to overcome if it wants to be successful with this on-demand service, notes critics of the service. Starbucks is looking at delivery as a way to increase the usage of its mobile app, which already is responsible for 15 percent of all purchases. While it develops its delivery service, Starbucks already is preparing a pre-order service that is being tested in Portland, Oregon. The pre-ordering option will allow customers to place an order via the mobile app before they head over to their local Starbucks. Similar to the pre-order option, the new delivery service will integrate into Starbuck's existing mobile app. It will roll out in waves with select markets testing the service ahead of a larger-scale launch. Details on where it would be available and what it would cost were not announced.
Starbucks' new app will let you skip the line and sort delivery
Love your morning coffee break, but hate having to wait in line amongst the masses? Well, Starbucks will allow you to skip the line entirely with its new app. Just place your order via that trusty smartphone, and you'll be able to walk in and pick it up. Of course, the company's mobile software sorts payments too, which certainly helps expedite the process. What's more, plans for a delivery option are in the works for folks who belong to its loyalty program -- but only in select markets. "Imagine the ability to create a standing order of Starbucks delivered hot to your desk daily," CEO Howard Schultz said. "That's our version of e-commerce on steroids." The new version of the bean-slinging mobile app is set to arrive in December, beginning with Portland, Oregon before a nation-wide rollout in 2015. [Image credit: Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Apple Pay launches Monday with support from Starbucks, Macy's and others
Apple has just kicked off the iPad extravaganza with a big piece of news about its Apple Pay initiative. It'll launch this Monday, and now has the support of 500 US banks along with major retailers like Starbucks, Macy's, McDonald's, Disney, Walgreens and Target. To remind you, Pay will make it possible to use your iPhone 6 and 6 Plus at the till (or online) instead of pulling out a credit card, since they're the first Apple handsets with contactless NFC. It'll work in conjunction with the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, and let you use any credit cards you've stored in Passbook. Meanwhile, the new iPhones' Secure Element chip encryption is fenced off from iOS and iCloud, so that even Apple itself can't see confidential purchase information. If you're good with all that, you can give it a crack starting October 20th -- a partial list of retailers is available here.
Starbucks' shake-to-pay and tips now work on Android too
Love Starbucks but hate feeling left out of the shake-to-pay fun because the device in your pocket is running Android instead of iOS? Those days are over, my caffeine-craving friend. An updated version of the titular app has hit Google Play and it's packing the aforementioned payment option as well as digital tipping. The coffee juggernaut's rewards system is now on the payment screen too -- all in time for the Seattle outfit's declaration that autumn is officially here. [Image credit: pgneto/Flickr]
Starbucks' iOS app lets you hail an Uber to get your caffè latte
Uber wants to make sure you always hail one of its cars on your way to get a pumpkin spice latte, so it has latched itself onto Starbucks for iOS. The coffee shop has just updated its app to show a special Uber button, just like the one on Google Maps, a couple of weeks after the ride-sharing service released a free API to a bunch of partner companies, including United Airlines, Hyatt Hotels and TripAdvisor. This button launches Uber from within the app, so you obviously need to have both software on your device for the scheme to work. That's not such a bad deal, though -- you might suddenly need it for a ride or to get lunch delivered to your doorstep... assuming Uber's not banned where you live.
Starbucks wants you to use its app for payments in other stores
Starbucks' mobile apps could soon let you buy much more than your next grande latte. The coffee shop's digital lead, Adam Brotman, tells Recode that the coffee shop giant is talking to companies about using its app for payments and loyalty programs in other stores. He's not naming any would-be allies, but the strategy would turn a fairly ordinary restaurant app into more of a universal digital wallet that just happens to focus on drinks. And even if that doesn't pan out, Starbucks is still committed to expanding the role of its software -- it's determined to offer coffee pre-orders across the US, regardless how long it takes to make the feature work.
Last chance to get Threes for frees at Starbucks
Threes! is available for free at Starbucks for a little while longer, maybe today and tomorrow, and it's worth grabbing. Since there are plenty of free clones like it - for example 2048 - here's the opportunity to get the premium press original at no additional cost. It's always cool to pick up an award-winning game instead of spending two bucks on it ... while grabbing a caramel macchiato for $5.95. [Image: @AsherVo]
Barely Related: Star Wars, Powerpuff Girls and Pokemon Masters
There are still a few E3 stories the soak up around here, but let's take a break from all that for a few moments, shall we? Welcome to Barely Related, a conversational Friday column that presents the non-gaming news stories that we, the Joystiq staff, have been talking about over the past week. And no, we're not stopping our focus on industry and gaming news. Think of this as your casual weekly recap of interesting (and mostly geeky) news, presented just in time to fill your brain with things to discuss at all of those weekend shindigs. Grab a fresh drink, lean back in your armchair, and get ready to talk nerdy with us.
Symantec's COO credits his WoW credentials with boosting his resume
Symantec COO Stephen Gillett is proud of his past accomplishments, including high-ranking positions at Starbucks, CNET, and Best Buy. But it may be his level 70 Paladin and Priest in World of Warcraft that got him in the door and up that ladder. Gillett believes that adding his World of Warcraft guild leadership stats to his resume has helped him land these tops jobs. "Here's my guild. Here's my ranking. Here's my biggest online achievement," Gillett said in a CNN interview. "Some people look at it and say, 'What the hell is this?' And others will be like, 'That's exactly what I'm looking for.'" "I think gamification and the way of thinking about it is applicable to any industry," Gillett continued. "Right now we get really good information on malware -- what it does, how it acts. But we have no telemetry on the human part of it -- what people were doing, thinking and believing when they encountered that particular threat."
The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for June 12, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Apple video shows off Tokyo Apple Store and more news for June 12, 2014
Apple has posted a nice, quick video promoting Tokyo's newest Apple Store. As ifoAppleStore points out, this video is unique in that it's the first to show a retail store being set up. Employees are show assembling the displays and filling the shelves with product. Rovio launches Angry Birds RPG "Angry Birds Epic." Just when you though the birds and pigs were fading from memory, they're back in an "epic" RPG. It features battles, weapon upgrades, treasure...all the stuff you'd expect from an RPG. Starbucks to roll out 100,000 wireless smartphone chargers. The company has teamed up with Duracell to install Powermats at locations across the country. The program has begun in select San Francisco and Boston locations, and those involved expect to expand significantly over the next year or so. Of course, you'll need a compatible case to use the charging stations. Apple expands European App store curation. Specifically, the productivity, photo & video, sport, music, lifestyle, health and travel categories now feature selections gathered by Apple's App Store editors.
