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Starbucks now accepting payments through iPhone app
The world's largest purveyor of coffee with that just-burnt taste, Starbucks, is now accepting payments at company-owned outlets throughout the United States with their free Starbucks Card Mobile iPhone app. We've covered the green lady's apps before, and it was about eight months ago that the company expanded a small pilot program in Seattle and Silicon Valley to all of their caffeine-dispensing outlets in US Target stores. Now you can pay for your Venti Double-Shot Caramel Macchiato by simply waving your iPhone -- loaded with the Starbucks app -- at that emo teenage barista who is trying very hard to look intellectual and off-put. The payment system doesn't use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to send your bank account numbers to Starbucks headquarters. Instead, the app is linked to your Starbucks Card account, and you use it to display a barcode that is unique to your account. Point that at the scanner in your Starbucks, and your digital wallet becomes magically lighter. Starbucks Cards, whether digital or physical, are no small hill of Arabica coffee beans -- the company reported that $1.5 billion in jittery transactions were made in 2010 alone. Apple and Starbucks have had a long, happy relationship, with Starbucks offering a free iTunes "Pick of the Week" in 2008 and Phil Schiller showing off an early prototype of the Starbucks Card Mobile app on stage at an Apple event. A short, musical video touting the Starbucks digital payment option is on the next page. Now excuse me, I need to get a fresh cup of joe from my Keurig.
Starbucks lets you pay for that Trenta with the iPhone in your shaking, overcaffeinated hands
Expanding a trial that had already been underway in a few markets, Starbucks is now rolling out its Starbucks Card mobile app nationally with payment capability built-in, meaning you needn't reach into your wallet, pocketbook, or purse just because you're jonesing for that midday caffeine fix. Instead, you can fire up the app -- which supports the iPhone, iPod touch, and a number of BlackBerry models -- and hold up a barcode on the screen to a scanner in the store, at which point monies will be automagically deducted from your Starbucks Card account and transferred back to the mothership in exchange for high-octane brew. The circle of life, as it were. Follow the break for the full press release.
The Road to Mordor: You've beaten Sauron. New game? Y/N
Huh... what is there to talk about these days? Really? Such a slow news cycle for LotRO... hm. I guess there's that whole "getting rid of pesky radiance" thing that's going to save me from having to write a column on that convoluted system, so thanks Turbine! Other than that, life in Middle-earth is as quiet as... As... as a... GEEKQUAKE! RUN FOR COVER! EMPLOY EXCESSIVE CAPS LOCK STATEMENTS! LOTRO AHOY! OK, so I might have been a bit facetious there. Shocking all of us, Turbine brought up the servers with the new patch an evening early, granting access to the head start of F2P on Tuesday night. I sort of suspected the devs were up to something when they kept rubbing their hands and cackling maniacally at PAX last weekend, although they claimed it was just a nervous disorder. So it's here -- the biggest non-expansion update to the game yet and a literal game-changer to boot. F2P, wardrobe, scaled instances, Enedwaith, the LotRO store, and lots and lots of new (and returning) players have existing players giddy and twitchy. So how'd the first couple days go so far? Is LotRO F2P really all that and a bag of Shire Sweet-leaf? Read on, my short and stout brethren!
Starbucks reveals plans for a Digital Network, made up of 'exclusive and premium' digital content
Free WiFi not enough of an enticement to get you to step into a Starbucks? Don't worry, the ubiquitous frappuccino purveyor has another card up its mocha-stained sleeve. Beginning this fall, Starbucks locations will be enriched with a new Digital Network, a freely accessible portal unto exclusive content from some of the more highbrow providers. The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today will flesh out the news offering, Yahoo will pick up business and career duties, and Apple's iTunes will provide free downloads to sate entertainment needs. Curiously enough, nobody is exchanging any cash up front -- Starbucks isn't paying for this and neither are you -- but the trick is as always to try and upsell you on to even more premium goodies, in which case the coffee chain and content provider have a revenue-sharing deal in place to split the profit. Doesn't sound like the worst idea in the world to us, bring on the freebies!
Starbucks begins offering free two-click WiFi access in US and Canada
Mmm... nothing like the smell of a warm caramel macchiato in the morning being masked by the smell of fresh greenbacks being burned, right? All jesting aside, we're pretty stoked about the world's most recognized coffee joint turning off the paywall surrounding its in-house WiFi hotspots, and in case you missed the original announcement, we're here to remind you that the free-for-all begins today. As of this very moment, the next US / Canadian corporately-ran Starbucks that you enter should be offering free one two-click WiFi, meaning that no password is required and no time limits will be set. Of course, this also means that you'll never see an open chair in any Starbucks ever again, but hey -- that's why sidewalks were created, right? Update: Ha, as our good friend Dave Zatz points out, it's actually two-clicks, not one: 1) agree to terms and services, 2) connect. But let's not let the facts ruin a snappy press release.
Starbucks sets its own Independence Day: free WiFi for all starting July 1st
Starbucks has been providing gratis WiFi to iPhone users and AT&T subscribers for years now, but everyone else has been conveniently shunned. All that's fixing to change on the first of July, with the famed coffee shop announcing via Twitter that WiFi will be completely free to all patrons in around a fortnight. Show up, pop your collar, have a seat, look sexy, sip gently and initiate a single click to get online. It'll be as easy as blowing $7 for a warmed beverage that you've never been too fond of, anyway. [Thanks, Paul]
Starbucks expands pay-by-iPhone pilot
About six months ago, we wrote about two free Starbucks apps for the iPhone and iPod touch. myStarbucks got you to the nearest caffeinated outlet and let you build your coffee, and The Starbucks Card Mobile app replaced your physical card, allowing you to have a bar code scanned and pay for your purchases. When the card ran dry, it could be refilled with caffeine-free money. The Starbucks Card Mobile app was tested at 16 Seattle stores in the Silicon Valley. Apparently, paying for coffee with an iPhone was a big success. Starbucks has expanded their test to all 1,002 outlets inside Target stores. The company is taking it one step at a time and currently has no plans to further expand it to the 11,000 Starbucks stores in the US -- yet. You will have to update your app to version 1.2.1 to take advantage of the expanded roll out, but if you have a Starbucks Card Mobile app, you've most likely already done that. So, the next time you find yourself at a Target, you'll have to find a way of justifying your purchase of a cup coffee that costs more than the shirt you just bought. [via Computerworld]
First Look: iDisplay
iDisplay is one of those apps that you receive as a press release in your inbox and just when you're about to move on, it suddenly hits you exactly what that app does. And you go "Oh man! Yes!" In this case, iDisplay transforms your iPad or iPhone into a second monitor for your Mac. I haven't had a chance to play with it yet (I already downloaded the software but haven't received my iPad) but I am so looking forward to using it. It works like this: you install an extension on your OS X desktop system. (A Windows version is in the works, as well.) That extension looks like a monitor to the underlying operating system, which begins to send data through the extension to any attached device. The data is sent over Wi-Fi to the iPad (or iPhone, if you're using an iPhone, as it's a universal application), which acts as an extra monitor. It's not just a one-way connection. The on-device keyboard generates shared events for OS X, and the screen allows you to treat your second monitor as a multi-touch input device.
Eye-Fi X2 series of 802.11n Class 6 cards ships today, AT&T WiFi hotspots added to the fold
The new Eye-Fi "X2" series we saw at CES is hitting store shelves and FedEx trucks today, bringing with it 802.11n radios, Class 6 SD card speeds, an "Endless Memory" mode, and expanded storage. What's perhaps even more interesting, however, is the fact that all Eye-Fi cards with an active hotspot account can now use AT&T's WiFi, which includes Starbucks and McDonald's in its ever-expanding grasp. The pricing tiers are pure Eye-Fi, of course, with the $50 Connect X2 offering JPEG uploads to sharing sites like Flickr, Facebook, and YouTube, along with 4GB of storage; the $100 Explore X2, which chews 8GB of capacity, and includes geotagging, uploading to the user's own computer over a WiFi network, and a year of free hotspot service; and finally the Eye-Fi Pro X2, with 8GB of storage, JPEG and RAW uploads, and support for creating ad hoc WiFi connections with a computer, all for the low, low price of $150. All the cards are available today at major retailers, PR is after the break. %Gallery-82032%
Apple ranks third in BusinessWeek customer service survey
Apple has nailed down the number three spot on BusinessWeek's fourth annual customer service awards, falling in right behind LL Bean and insurance company USAA, and way above companies like Amazon and Dell. The awards were based on survey results from a few different places, and Apple scored an A+ in both Quality of Staff and Efficiency of Service thanks to its Genius Bars and helpful Specialists inside Apple Stores. Of course we've heard the occasional horror story, but in general, Apple Store employees are beyond helpful, which is probably why BusinessWeek says that 66% of those surveyed would "definitely recommend" Apple products, and 58% said they would "definitely repurchase" the next time they needed something. Apple's influence is also found elsewhere on the list -- USAA, number two on the list, has had a lot of success with its iPhone application, which has also helped the company out on customer service scoring as well. And while Starbucks can't necessarily thank Apple for a big boost in its business (it probably would have done fine anyway), it's not surprising that companies that score high in customer service tend to have the same goals in mind. Congrats to Apple for yet another survey-based award. [Via Macworld's Dan Moren, not "Warren" -- sorry Dan!]
Caffeinated apps: Starbucks intros myStarbucks, Starbucks Card Mobile App
The Microsoft of the coffee biz, Starbucks, announced this morning that they've introduced two new iPhone / iPod touch apps to help customers make the most of their coffee addiction. myStarbucks and the Starbucks Card Mobile App [iTunes links] are free apps available in the iTunes App Store today.These apps were the subject of much speculation, particularly in the Mac Rumors forums, after Phil Schiller showed the myStarbucks app on the screen at the September 9th, 2009 "It's Only Rock and Roll" music event. While the company could have combined the two apps into one monster app, it's apparent that they're for two very different purposes. myStarbucks is primarily targeted at finding stores (as if there isn't one on every street corner in America...) and educating consumers about the drinks and food items available in those stores. The Starbucks Card Mobile App, on the other hand, is pointed towards the professional coffee slurper who already has a Starbucks Card in his or her quivering hand. Let's look at the two apps in a bit more detail.myStarbucks starts with a geolocation feature to find the nearest dozen or so Starbucks stores within a few miles of your present location, shown on a map or in a list. If you haven't had your morning coffee fix and need directions, the app will fire up Google Maps and provide you with driving, transit, or walking instructions. For each "official" Starbucks franchise, there are icons indicating whether or not the store is open, as well as whether or not they have Wi-Fi or oven-warmed food.
Captain Obvious reports: AT&T sees surge in WiFi use post-iPhone OS 3.0
You know, there's something to be said about making something easy: people usually take advantage. So seems to be the case with AT&T's WiFi connections after the release of iPhone OS 3.0, which finally became useful when users could seamlessly connect to one of the thousands of AT&T hotspots around the nation rather than having to stumble through a painfully long process on iPhone OS 2.x. According to an AT&T spokesperson speaking with AppleInsider, the amount of iPhone users linking up with AT&T's WiFi network tripled in June, and overall, it saw a 41 percent increase in connections compared to the prior quarter. It comes as no surprise to hear that AT&T is working feverishly to expand said network in order to relieve strain from its house of cards-styled 3G network, and while we'd definitely prefer a bit more reliability with the latter, we'll happily accept more WiFi in the meanwhile.
Easy WiFi app simplifies free AT&T WiFi access, but you still have to hang out at coffee shops
Perk up, iPhone users! Up until now, if you've wanted to enjoy all of that free AT&T WiFi that is your right (as a Starbucks customer and as a loyal American) you faced an onerous process that included registering via Safari, waiting for the appropriate SMS codes, losing track of what you were doing and finally, flirting with the barista. These days are behind you now, kiddo -- upon entering any AT&T WiFi hotspot, just fire up Devicescape's Easy WiFi app, enter your ten-digit AT&T phone number and log in. This guy is free until Friday, at which point the price gets set for an ever-so-reasonable $1.99. And while we're at it: would it hurt you to lay off the barista for once?[Via Gearfuse]
AT&T officially delivers free WiFi to BlackBerry / iPhone users
We thought we'd heard the last of this whole AT&T / Starbucks WiFi deal yesterday, but alas, we were terrifically mistaken. AT&T has come forth today with two fluffy press releases that flesh out the details, and amazingly, there are some inclusions that we weren't made aware of yesterday. For starters, all iPhone / iPhone 3G customers will now have free (and seemingly limitless) access to AT&T WiFi hotspots across the US -- we're talking Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, the whole lot. Additionally, the carrier has welcomed select BlackBerry users -- that's the Bold for now, the Pearl 8120 / 8820 "later this year" -- into the same deal, though the official verbiage mentions that an "unlimited data plan" is required. If you didn't make the cut this time, fret not -- AT&T has plans to invite "more mobile devices" into the fold here shortly.Read - Free AT&T WiFi on iPhone / iPhone 3GRead - Free AT&T WiFi on BlackBerry
AT&T sending out SMS to confirm free iPhone WiFi at Starbucks
Oh, so you know what's hot, huh AT&T? Is flipping the on / off lever back and forth a gazillion times on this finicky Starbucks iPhone WiFi plan hot? Because it feels downright cold over here. While we can only hope and pray that this is the signal to finally close the book on this ridiculous saga, AT&T users all over the US are receiving text messages from AT&T confirming that free Starbucks WiFi (for iPhone owners) is on. Reportedly, the message indicates that their iPhone purchase gives them access to two hours of gratis use per day, though we'd go in with the lowest possible expectations in order to not be let down (again). Good luck, mettlesome ones.[Thanks, Boy Genius]
iPhone customers report AT&T sending WiFi SMS reminder
Several readers are reporting that they've gotten SMS messages from AT&T reminding them of the long-awaited "free wireless at Starbucks" plan. First announced in February with a target launch of 'spring 2008,' the service has been quietly running on and off since April, including two hours of daily access at any Starbucks store or AT&T hotspot. T-Mobile users who have existing hotspot accounts are supposed to have ongoing access to the network in Starbucks stores. Although the service has been available on a spotty basis, an official "yes it's working" announcement has been long in coming. Have you gotten a reminder from AT&T? Is WiFi working at your local Starbucks? Let us know in the comments.Thanks to everyone who sent this in
Starbucks wiped from Apple's site, but what does it mean?
Fresh off an extensive corporate decaffeination downsizing and a scaling back of its foray into music sales, it's a fair question to ask: just how ironclad is Starbucks' commitment to rolling out iTunes WiFi Music Store integration across its entire chain? We just happened to notice that the Starbucks page on Apple's site is now stone-cold gone, redirecting to the standard iTunes 8 stuff. You might say "no big deal, Apple's just playing down an agreement that's now been in place for a full year," but there's some other weirdness, too -- the company's iTunes WiFi Music Store at Starbucks FAQ, for example, still references the dead link. The partnership was kinda ill-conceived to begin with; getting access to the store meant hooking up to AT&T WiFi, which you wouldn't normally have configured unless you actually had an AT&T WiFi account. We haven't heard any official word here that the deal is in danger, but really, would anyone be welling up if it fell apart?
Life.Lab's Colony brings location-specific art controller to the iPhone
Colony is a new free application that showed up on the iPhone App Store just recently, but it won't do much of anything if you download it -- unless you're hooked up to the WiFi at the Life.Lab building in Digital Harbour in Melbourne, Australia. The app is actually part of an art installation by an artist named Troy Innocent, and was developed by Stewart Haines specifically to control the setup there in Melbourne.It's a very interesting project -- while it doesn't mean much to anyone not in Digital Harbour, the idea of bringing the iPhone into a location-specific setup is intriguing. Haines has a nice page on his site that details the process of creating the app, and you get to not only see the thought behind the process, but some of the concepts and tech behind the app as well. Very cool.There are lots of location-specific applications that have yet to be explored on the iPhone, most of them commercial (putting your order in while waiting in line at Starbucks, for instance). But Colony looks like a really thoughtful take on the idea -- I would say that it's too bad you have to go all the way to Australia to use it, but then again that's kind of the point.
AT&T's free iPhone WiFi is (update: was) live at last
Despite AT&T's best attempts at completely failing its free WiFi promises eternally, iPhone owners can finally fire up Mobile Safari in their local Starbucks, or, um, that one other place we heard about with AT&T WiFi, and get browsing. Of course, that's not to say the service won't crash horribly in the next 10 minutes, but at least AT&T stuck by its word, and can now move on to more pressing issues.Update: Yeah, turns out this isn't true, and AT&T has pulled the page. Free WiFi? That's just silly.
T-Mobile, AT&T & Starbucks reach new agreement over WiFi switchover
Just when we thought things were kosher between Starbucks, T-Mobile, and AT&T over the Wi-Fi switchover, it turns out that T-Mobile isn't so happy with how the deal is playing out. They claimed Starbucks secretly colluded with AT&T to offer free WiFi access and left T-Mobile in the lurch. The lawsuit, filed last week in New York state court, alleges that AT&T and Starbucks weren't sticking to the terms of the original agreement, which would have allowed T-Mobile customers to freely roam on the new AT&T service. Now, it seems, they've all entered into a "memorandum of understanding to resolve their disputes and are committed to providing a high quality WiFi experience for customers." So far, though, we don't know any details as to what this agreement will mean for T-Mobile WiFi subscribers, but we'll keep an eye on this.
