iTunes 11 Store Adds Gift Card Redemption Via Camera

MacRumors · Nov 29, 2012, 12:49 PM

In Apple's just-released iTunes 11, users visiting the iTunes Store to redeem gift cards have a new option allowing them to simply take a photo of the code on the back of the card with their computer's camera in order to redeem their cards.

The option, which requires a card containing a box around the code to assist with recognition, allows users to quickly and easily redeem gift cards without having to worry about accurately typing in the unique 16-character code. Users are also still allowed to enter their codes manually for redemption.

Article Link: iTunes 11 Store Adds Gift Card Redemption Via Camera

gmanist1000 · Nov 29, 2012, 12:51 PM

Bring this functionality to the iPhone, please!

r2shyyou · Nov 29, 2012, 12:51 PM

Small but very reasonable addition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmanist1000

Bring this functionality to the iPhone, please!

Agreed. I can see this coming soon, iOS 6.1, if I had to guess.

jeremiahfelt · Nov 29, 2012, 12:54 PM

I'd love it if this applied to those '(App|Song|Book|Video) of the week' paper cards you can get at Starbucks. I usually pick one up but so seldom redeem them because the code is a pain in the tookus.

rorschach · Nov 29, 2012, 12:55 PM

Finally don't have to worry about scratching off the numbers and having to email iTunes support. (which I've had to do way too many times).

Kaibelf · Nov 29, 2012, 01:03 PM

Okay THAT is very nice.

Redbeard25 · Nov 29, 2012, 01:13 PM

HOORAY! It's finally 2012!

PracticalMac · Nov 29, 2012, 01:20 PM

LONG overdue!

Now for built-in Barcode reading!

brian017 · Nov 29, 2012, 01:30 PM

Is this only for OSX cause I don't see any "use camera" on my Windows PC?

phr0ze · Nov 29, 2012, 01:30 PM

I don't know why this took so long. Its a huge overdue feature. Such a pain to type those codes.

Strange that it goes to the Mac first, where it is much easier to scan with a phone.

lunaoso · Nov 29, 2012, 01:35 PM

I'm glad Apple has improved the iTunes gift card "system". First peel off stickers instead of scratch and now this. Very cool.

apfeljonas · Nov 29, 2012, 02:04 PM

Awesome addition! Typing gift card codes has always been very annoying, and I'm sure their customer support got lots of emails about invalid codes when people really just mis-typed.

imgonephishin · Nov 29, 2012, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremiahfelt

I'd love it if this applied to those '(App|Song|Book|Video) of the week' paper cards you can get at Starbucks. I usually pick one up but so seldom redeem them because the code is a pain in the tookus.

I know! And even though letters in the code are all the same case it's still case sensitive. I tried one last week and rather than click the shift button every letter I assumed it would work lowercase. ARGH.

wknapp0924 · Nov 29, 2012, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremiahfelt

I'd love it if this applied to those '(App|Song|Book|Video) of the week' paper cards you can get at Starbucks. I usually pick one up but so seldom redeem them because the code is a pain in the tookus.

Download the Starbucks App and all the free picks get emailed right to the app and you can click the link to download instantly.

iPhil · Nov 29, 2012, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wknapp0924

Download the Starbucks App and all the free picks get emailed right to the app and you can click the link to download instantly.

I had 6 free songs in the star bucks msg center and just click on the iTunes icon = Bam easy download- No sign in etc ...

ogee · Nov 29, 2012, 09:29 PM

is this only the USA? I cant find it on my German itunes account. Just the standard redeem box.

RMo · Nov 29, 2012, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imgonephishin

...and rather than click the shift button every letter I assumed it would work lowercase. ARGH.

Caps Lock?

(Or you can hold down shift the whole time. No need to press it again for each letter, except for those pesky numbers, I suppose.)

jalebibai · Nov 30, 2012, 12:47 AM

i have won in 2011 and i bought a camera with that money

musio · Nov 30, 2012, 01:54 AM

doesn't work. I have a 2009 mac

BJMRamage · Nov 30, 2012, 08:16 AM

can you just put a rectangle around an old card/code?

and yes, have always thought this would be a GREAT tjhing to add to the phones/pods/pads.

and mine don't seem to be case sensitive...either phone or Mac when entering codes.

anutharoundu · Nov 30, 2012, 05:42 PM

It's an interesting idea I figured theyd be pushing passbook more than this

macs4nw · Dec 1, 2012, 07:48 PM

Great new feature! Using technology to make people's lives easier.

If you scratch a bit too hard, you sometimes make the numbers/letters illegible; has that been addressed yet?

jason3w · Dec 2, 2012, 06:12 PM

I don't see the option to select "camera" either, in Australia.

----------

can confirm, after now logging into the USA store, which i also have an account for, that the camera options seems to be for the USA store only. It's showing now, where as in the australian store, it didn't give the option

why of why??

tmagman · Dec 2, 2012, 07:00 PM

this feature is legit. Just used the camera to scan two cards i got for my birthday and it blew my mind how fast it recognized them and credited my account.

benji888 · Dec 24, 2012, 05:20 PM

Camera option is NOT there

Nov 29, 2012, 12:49 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	iTunes 11 Store Adds Gift Card Redemption Via Camera In Apple's just-released iTunes 11, users visiting the iTunes Store to redeem gift cards have a new option allowing them to simply take a photo of the code on the back of the card with their computer's camera in order to redeem their cards. The option, which requires a card containing a box around the code to assist with recognition, allows users to quickly and easily redeem gift cards without having to worry about accurately typing in the unique 16-character code. Users are also still allowed to enter their codes manually for redemption. Article Link: iTunes 11 Store Adds Gift Card Redemption Via Camera
	0

Nov 29, 2012, 12:51 PM	#2
gmanist1000 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2009	Bring this functionality to the iPhone, please! __________________ Tech Reviews on YouTube http://goo.gl/3zjZP Latest Video: iOS 7: First Look & Hands On!
	12

Nov 29, 2012, 12:54 PM	#4
jeremiahfelt macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2012	Starbucks? I'd love it if this applied to those '(App\|Song\|Book\|Video) of the week' paper cards you can get at Starbucks. I usually pick one up but so seldom redeem them because the code is a pain in the tookus.
	2

Nov 29, 2012, 12:55 PM	#5
rorschach macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2003	Finally don't have to worry about scratching off the numbers and having to email iTunes support. (which I've had to do way too many times). __________________ MacBook Air 13-inch (Mid 2012), iPhone 5
	0

Nov 29, 2012, 01:13 PM	#7
Redbeard25 macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2003	HOORAY! It's finally 2012! __________________ MacBookPro9,1(work), MacBookAir4,2, iPhone 4 S⃣ 16GB, iMac7,1, iPad 3,1, iPod 80GB, iPod4,1 (8G) TV3,1 x 2, PBK 165c, 512K Mac
	4

Nov 29, 2012, 01:03 PM	#6
Kaibelf macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chicago, IL	Okay THAT is very nice.
	4

Nov 29, 2012, 01:20 PM	#8
PracticalMac macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2009	LONG overdue! Now for built-in Barcode reading! __________________ FireWire 1394 Intelligent network guaranteed data transfer, 1500mA power, Ethernet compatible Read: 160 files, 650MB total, *FW400 70% faster* then USB2** Write: 160 files, 650MB total, FW400 48% faster
	1

Nov 29, 2012, 01:30 PM	#9
brian017 macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Kilkenny, Ireland	Is this only for OSX cause I don't see any "use camera" on my Windows PC?
	0

Nov 29, 2012, 01:30 PM	#10
phr0ze macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Columbia, MD	I don't know why this took so long. Its a huge overdue feature. Such a pain to type those codes. Strange that it goes to the Mac first, where it is much easier to scan with a phone. __________________ 2012 11" MBA i7/8/256 2011 Mac Mini with 27" Thunderbolt Display Black iPad Mini 32GB Verizon Black iPhone 5 32GB ATT
	1

Nov 29, 2012, 01:35 PM	#11
lunaoso macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: New England, USA	I'm glad Apple has improved the iTunes gift card "system". First peel off stickers instead of scratch and now this. Very cool.
	1

Nov 29, 2012, 02:04 PM	#12
apfeljonas macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Germany	Awesome addition! Typing gift card codes has always been very annoying, and I'm sure their customer support got lots of emails about invalid codes when people really just mis-typed. __________________ Used Mainly MacBook Pro, Late 2011, i5 2.4 GHz iPhone 5 32 GB Black Not Used as Much iPad 1, 32 GB iPod touch 4G, 32 GB Some older stuff...
	0

Nov 29, 2012, 09:29 PM	#16
ogee macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Earth.	is this only the USA? I cant find it on my German itunes account. Just the standard redeem box.
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 12:47 AM	#18
jalebibai Banned Join Date: Nov 2012	i have won in 2011 and i bought a camera with that money
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 01:54 AM	#19
musio macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2008	doesn't work. I have a 2009 mac
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 08:16 AM	#20
BJMRamage macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2007	can you just put a rectangle around an old card/code? and yes, have always thought this would be a GREAT tjhing to add to the phones/pods/pads. and mine don't seem to be case sensitive...either phone or Mac when entering codes. __________________ My Behance Portfolio Linkedin Profile Dribbble Page
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 05:42 PM	#21
anutharoundu macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2011	It's an interesting idea I figured theyd be pushing passbook more than this
	0

Dec 1, 2012, 07:48 PM	#22
macs4nw macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2010	Great new feature! Using technology to make people's lives easier. If you scratch a bit too hard, you sometimes make the numbers/letters illegible; has that been addressed yet?
	0

Dec 2, 2012, 06:12 PM	#23
jason3w macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2009	I don't see the option to select "camera" either, in Australia. ---------- can confirm, after now logging into the USA store, which i also have an account for, that the camera options seems to be for the USA store only. It's showing now, where as in the australian store, it didn't give the option why of why??
	0

Dec 2, 2012, 07:00 PM	#24
tmagman macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Calgary AB	this feature is legit. Just used the camera to scan two cards i got for my birthday and it blew my mind how fast it recognized them and credited my account. __________________ rMBP 15" 2.7 i7, 16GB, 512GB Asus G73SW-A1 2.0Q i7, GT460M 1.5GB, 12GB iPad2 64-3G, iPhone 4S 64GB 7D, 15-85, 70-300 DO, 50 1.4, LB Composer DG, LB Scout Fisheye, Canon S100
	1

Dec 24, 2012, 05:20 PM	#25
benji888 macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Carolina	Camera option is NOT there __________________ MacBook Pro 13" (Mid 2010), 2.4GHz, 750GB HD (7200rpm), 4GB RAM, Mac OS X Mtn Lion iPad 16+3G, iOS 5.1.1 iPhone 5 16GB black
	0

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