starbucks

Apple Pay finally overtakes Starbucks in mobile payments

By

Apple Pay finally overtakes Starbucks in mobile payments
Starbucks' mobile app was previously the no. 1 mobile payments app.
Photo: Nicky Colman/Flickr CC

Apple Pay is the most popular mobile payment system in the U.S., finally overtaking the Starbucks mobile app to take the crown.

According to eMarketer, 30.3 million users are currently using Apple Pay. Meanwhile, Starbucks’ mobile payment system has around 25.2 million customers.

Starbucks’ tax hearing in Europe gives hope for Apple’s own tax battle

By

Apple Pay finally overtakes Starbucks in mobile payments
Starbucks case could offer a clue concerning Apple's own $14.4 billion tax battle.
Photo: Nicky Colman/Flickr

Apple has received a glimpse of hope in its giant $14.4 billion tax battle against the EU. On Tuesday, the European Commission’s similar tax case against Starbucks collapsed. The EC claimed that Starbucks had received an unfair sweetheart tax deal in the Netherlands. The European Commission’s General Court overturned this earlier 2015 decision.

But another case against Fiat Chrysler concluded with the European court saying that it had enjoyed preferential tax treatment in Luxembourg.

Apple will get an early indication of its EU tax case outcome this week

By

International governments plan to rethink tax rules for the ‘digital age’
Fiat and Starbucks cases will offer Apple advance warning (or good news) about its ongoing EU tax battle.
Photo: Pexels

Apple could get an early indication about the likely outcome of its giant European Union (EU) tax case early this week.

Apple was in court last week protesting its 13 billion ($14.4 billion) tax bill from the EU. Although the case is likely to drag on for months, two related cases will be ruled on this week. They may offer Apple some clues about its chances of success.

Starbucks is beating Apple, Google and Samsung at mobile payments

By

Apple Pay finally overtakes Starbucks in mobile payments
Starbucks is doing a great job of persuading customers to use its mobile app.
Photo: Nicky Colman/Flickr

Apple and Google may be two of the biggest companies in the tech industry, but they’re both losing to Starbucks when it comes to one important metric.

No, we’re not talking about numbers of coffees made per year, but rather the success of their respective mobile payment services. According to a new report, the Starbucks mobile payments app is currently outperforming Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay to cement its place as the most successful mobile payments app.

App Store redesign gives (some) downloads a big boost

By

bookmark wish list
The App Store looks all-new in iOS 11.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The redesigned App Store has been a boon for developers, based on new third-party data that shows getting a little promotion goes a long way when it comes to downloads.

With the launch of iOS 11, Apple made some big changes to how iPhone and iPad users browse apps in the App Store. App Store shoppers are now greeted by big promotions for the App of the Day and Game of the Day which has become worth a lot of money to developers if you’re lucky enough to be selected.

Concept app shows how Apple Watch would let you skip Starbucks line

By

starbucks
Your skinny non-fat latte is just wrist tap away. Photo: Impekable

We’re months away from being able to shackle our wrists to the Apple Watch, but the UI designers at Impekable have been busy dreaming up new app experiences that will delight wearers once the timepiece is finally available.

“Our concept was to re-envision how Apple Watch could enhance the Starbucks customer experience by providing an even better way to order rather than standing in a long line,” Impekable’s founder Pek Pongpaet told Cult of Mac. “Wouldn’t it be cool if I could just go grab a table, order one of my usual drinks, pay for it using Apple Pay or my Starbucks card and get notified when my drink is ready – all from my phone without leaving the comfort of my seat?”

Check out the slick concept below:

Starbucks praises Apple Pay, but you still can’t use it for your grande macchiato

By

Apple Pay finally overtakes Starbucks in mobile payments
Starbucks Photo: Nicky Colman/Flickr
Photo: Nicky Colman/Flickr CC

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says we are witnessing a huge shift in the way people buy things in America, and even though his brick and mortar Starbucks stores aren’t supporting Apple Pay right now, he still thinks it’s great for business.

Schultz appeared on CNBC this morning to talk about Starbucks’ mobile payments where he was taken to quipped by Jim Cramer for bragging in March that Starbucks had a big lead in mobile payments with its Starbucks app, only to get leap frogged by Apple Pay this month.

The Java King was adamant Stars’ currency would be relevant ‘at some point in the future’ but admitted there’s no other company that can get shoppers to change their behavior like Apple.

Addictive card-sliding game Threes! is Starbucks’ free app of the week

By

Screen Shot 2014-07-08 at 8.39.35 AM

One of the great things Starbucks does for its customers is its Pick of the Week promotion. By just wandering into your local coffee shop and ordering a cup of joe, you can pick up a killer app or iBook, all for free. And it’s been going strong since 2011.

The Pick of the Week has given out some great apps in its time, but this week’s giveaway is a real winner: Starbucks is giving away Threes!, the killer side-swiping game that Apple declared one of the best-designed apps of 2014.

Starbucks For iPhone Gets Redesign With Digital Tipping

By

Screen Shot 2014-03-20 at 4.24.31 PM

Today Starbucks released the big iPhone app redesign we previously told you about. The interface has been completely redone down to the icon, and the overall aesthetic improvement is drastic.

The main addition in today’s update is the ability to digitally tip baristas, which is currently available in about two-thirds of U.S. stores. Other new features include shake-to-pay, sharing options for rewards milestones, and integrated account history.

Here’s the full list of changes, including some more screenshots:

Worried About Security? Don’t Use The Starbucks App

By

sbux

If you’re particularly concerned about the security of your passwords, you might want to stay away from Starbucks’ official iOS app: the Seattle-based coffee maker has just confirmed that passwords, credentials and location in the company’s app are stored in plain text, and are not hashed or encrypted at all.

Google: All Your Starbucks WiFi Are Belong To Us

By

post-237982-image-506fb9740adba2cc1f5a5218b85e75c3-jpg

Starbucks has always been a last-ditch sanctuary for the connected in a largely-still-wireless world, but the free WiFi you can get there is often bloated with dozens of slackers, choking up the pipe with inappropriate Netflix streaming and large downloads.

But WiFi at Starbucks is about to get orders of magnitude better. Google has just announced that they are taking over WiFi at Starbucks, and will be the new exclusive provider of sweet, sweet Internet at over 7,000 Starbucks locations in the United States.

Drive Awake Is The First iOS App That Will Keep You From Falling Asleep At The Wheel

By

driveawake

There’s nothing worse on a road trip than battling the ZZZ’s while driving (except maybe a jack rabbit destroying your vehicle), so a chain of coffee shops has created an app called Drive Awake that tracks a drivers’ drowsiness and directs them to the closest coffee shop whenever they nod off.

Drive Awake works by using the iPhone’s front-facing camera to monitor a drivers eyes. You simply mount your iPhone to your windshield and it tracks your retinas to see if they’re open. Once the app determines you’re falling asleep it emits a loud and annoying parrot squawk to get your attention and help you find some coffee.

Here’s a video of the app in action:

Here’s Where Your iPhone Got Lost Or Stolen [Feature]

By

lostiphone4

I am not a psychic, but I have a good idea where you and your iPhone parted ways.

If you’re desperately seeking it on Craigslist, chances are you lost your device – or had it stolen – over the weekend, especially at night. And probably at some fun destination – shopping, the beach, a bar – or heading there on your usual means of transportation (the car, a gas station or parking lot, or bus).

San Francisco Starbucks Still Haunted By The Ghost Of Steve Jobs’s 2007 Prank iPhone Call

By

post-218267-image-fa0fb32e2c531de971f7404c0fa12a90-jpg

During the historic 2007 iPhone keynote, Steve Jobs famously called a local Starbucks and made a prank order for 4,000 lattes… enough for everyone at the Moscone Center to enjoy. He then said, “Just kidding. Wrong number. Goodbye!”

Amusingly, that quick prank call to demonstrate the iPhone’s Maps and Phone apps is still resulting in prank calls six years later. And even more incredibly, the barista who originally took the call still works at that Starbucks!

‘Tis The Season: Apple And Starbucks Partner With (RED) To Donate Gift Card Proceeds Towards AIDS Research

By

Screen Shot 2012-11-29 at 7.19.55 PM

Apple and Starbucks have parted with (RED) to help give a little back this holiday season. Buy a $15 iTunes + $15 Starbucks gift card combo online, and both companies will donate 5% of proceeds to help fund AIDS research.

(RED) has been a longtime partner with Apple. If you buy a red colored iPod from Apple, a small percentage of the sale also goes towards the fight to end AIDS. You can order a holiday gift card basket from Apple, Starbucks and (RED) now.

Square Mobile Payments Now Accepted At Starbucks Locations In The U.S.

By

Screen Shot 2012-11-08 at 11.50.08 AM

Back in August, Square partnered with Starbucks to bring mobile payments to the coffee giant’s thousands of stores nationwide. Starbucks said that Square would be integrated into 7,000 of its stores across the U.S. by early November, and now the time has come.

Square has the ability to open a virtual tab with a merchant so you don’t have to scan your iPhone at the register, but Starbucks isn’t adopting this functionality. You’ll have to scan your iPhone after you order, like Passbook.

Square Mobile Payments Headed To Your Local Starbucks In Early November

By

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz (left) and Square guru Jack Dorsey (right) are helping shape the future of mobile payments.
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz (left) and Square guru Jack Dorsey (right) are helping shape the future of mobile payments.

Back in August, Square announced a huge partnership with Starbucks. The coffee chain giant will be integrating Square’s mobile payment system into many of its U.S. stores this fall, and Starbucks has also invested $25 million in Square.

While we knew that Square was coming to Starbucks sometime later this year, it’s now been revealed that the partnership is launching in early November. Instead of having to use your credit card or cash, you’ll be able to use the free Square app to pay for your skinny vanilla latte.

Starbucks Coming To iOS 6’s Passbook By The End Of The Month

By

shanghai starbucks-sign

If you installed iOS 6 last week, you probably expected to be able to use your Starbucks rewards card in Passbook. For some unknown reason, Starbucks has not yet updated its iOS app with Passbook integration, but the company has confirmed that the update is coming “at the end of this month.”

Passbook, Apple’s approach to a virtual wallet in iOS 6, allows merchants to store coupons, tickets, passes and rewards cards in barcode form on an iOS device. Starbucks cardholders will be able to pay for their drinks and earn rewards with Passbook when the update comes out.

Steve Jobs Widow Joins Forbes Rich List, Is Now The Richest Woman In Silicon Valley

By

Laurene Powell with husband Steve Jobs.
Laurene Powell with husband Steve Jobs.

Forbes released their list of the richest people in the world today, and among the newcomers making the list is Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs.

Powell inherited Steve Jobs’ massive fortune, which Forbes estimates to be $11 billion, making her the wealthiest woman in Silicon Valley, and 28th richest person in the world.