Tag - Starbucks
Hands On: Starbucks Keyboard 1.0 (iOS)
Er, so there's this keyboard, right, and it's an on-screen iPhone one, except it doesn't entirely let you type anything. Plus, what it wants you to type is an emoji that says coffee is quite nice. The kindest thing we could say is that if you are the sort of person who would enjoy Starbucks Keyboard 1.0, then you already know it and are possibly employed by the company.
Apple Pay: 66 more partner banks, BJs Wholesale Club added
Another 66 banks, credit unions, and financial institutions have been added to Apple's US Apple Pay partners list, bringing the total (including two store-issued cards, Kohl's and the newly-added BJ's Wholesale Club) to 857 partners listed on the Apple Pay site. Starbucks and some other merchants have already announced plans to add their virtual loyalty or discount cards to Apple Pay and the Wallet app for iOS sometime next year, and American Express has recently begun expanding support for its cards to other countries.
Briefly: Canada Starbucks app takes Apple Pay, Apple TV gains shuffle
The Starbucks iOS app available in the Canadian App Store can now be reloaded using Apple Pay, and the virtual card can also be added to Wallet on the iPhone 6 or later, including the Apple Watch. Users in Canada can simply open the app and use the Reload button, choosing Apple Pay as the method of payment. Presently, Canadians must use either an Amex card or a US-based card that is supported by Apple Pay to take advantage of the feature, but the Starbucks virtual card itself can be loaded into Wallet or used directly from the app to pay in stores, using a barcode reader.
Apple Pay coming to KFC, Chili's, Starbucks, more in 2016
Apple VP of Apple Pay Jennifer Bailey announced at the Code/Mobile conference on Thursday that direct Apple Pay payments would begin to be supported at Starbucks and other restaurant chains such as KFC and Chili's in pilot programs beginning later this year, with a full rollout for all 7,500 of Starbucks' company-owned stores happening across 2016. The coffee chain, which has supported online Apple Pay for reloading its virtual loyalty card app but not direct payment, will now be able to take Apple Pay without a loyalty card or app if desired.
Briefly: Sprint raises plan price, Starbucks Mobile Order & Pay in UK
Sprint is preparing to increase the cost of its unlimited plan for a single line. While it is currently priced at $60 per month for unlimited calls, texts, and data, the carrier will be raising the plan's monthly charge to $70 from October 16 for new customers. Existing customers on the plan will continue to pay the $60 monthly rate, with Sprint advising they can also activate a new phone and remain on the same $60 Unlimited Plan, as long as they still meet the plan requirements and are either purchasing or financing a phone.
Briefly: Starbucks rolls out app-based ordering, Amazon prime discount
Starbucks has made its Mobile Order & Pay system available to all customers across the United States, following tests in a number of US markets. The feature, available in both iOS and Android versions of the Starbucks app, lets customers place their order from within the app, with the estimated time for order completion provided once it has been placed. There is also the ability to pre-pay within the app itself, saving customers more time. Starbucks is aiming to bring the same feature to select company-owned stores in the United States and Canada next month.
Briefly: Starbucks makes NYT deal, BT tests 500Mbps broadband
Starbucks is expanding its rewards program to allow patrons increased access to the New York Times, on top of the 15 free pages already provided through the Starbucks Digital Network. Starting in the first half of 2016, My Starbucks Rewards members will be able to view the top news of the day from the publication, as well as a selection of other articles, via the Starbucks mobile app.
Starbucks teams up with Spotify for in-store music
Starbucks employees will be able to have more control over in-store music provided by Spotify, the two companies have revealed. A multi-year deal struck between the coffee chain and the music streaming service will also do more than provide music, with it opening up the Starbucks loyalty program to allow Spotify subscribers to increase their rewards balance and eventually earn free drinks.
Briefly: Starbucks app, JetBlue Air now both accepting Apple Pay
JetBlue has announced that, starting next week, passengers will be able to pay for items such as food and beverages in-flight using Apple Pay. Items range from amenities like headsets and food items, to upgrading to a premium seat. The service will begin with cross-country flights between New York and California, then expand to other routes. Flight attendants will use Apple's iPad mini, which will be specially encased to take credit cards as well.
Square, Starbucks launch new iOS options for food orders
Two companies, Square and Starbucks, have launched new iOS options for food orders. Square has introduced a free app for Caviar, the delivery service it bought out in August. Caviar users can have food delivered from partner restaurants in select areas. So far the list of regions includes San Francisco and the Bay Area, plus Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Washington DC.
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Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit
Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj
Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket
The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]
Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera
Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94
Apple employees testing wheelchair features
New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa
SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards
SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If
Apple's third-quarter results due July 26
Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm
Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users
Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE
