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Apple Announces Starbucks Partnership

Welcome to the world of consumerism and cross branding.

This Starbucks thing has been floating around the ether for a while.

No big deal, I think some folks will find some use in it. At least the icon doesn't stick around permanently...
 
slffl said:
Wow, people who vote negative for added features are SOO lame.
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Exactly.
awatiker said:
I agree with the consensus this is a lame "feature" however this project maybe be serving as a means to an end. Using this technology,walk in to a store and your iPod or Phone could display information on specials, walk into a theme park and the device could display the wait times on the various rides or walk into a restaurant and see images of all of the dishes before you order. I'm sure their are better uses that these, but the point is that there are ways to take advantage of this ability.
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I agree wholeheartedly. Who hasn't heard music they like while out and about? Having the ability to pull out the iPod and download the song I just heard is great. This feature definitely has the possibility of expanding well beyond Starbucks...and should.
 
I think that Starbucks WIFI is not free here in Berlin. Don't remember if they require a T-Online subscription or AOL (does AOL still exist?), but I think you can't just log in.

So I won't be enjoying this feature there because when I sit I have to connect to another network that some nice neighbor keeps free for all to use. If I remember well when I was there the open network was names "****starbucks". I can't write the full name here.

It would be nice if Starbucks in Germany would offer free wifi like they do in the US and like most cafes and restaurants do here.
 
Phew! At least is not a partnership with Abercrombie & Fitch.

Partnership with A&F:
Why 5% of Americans can locate the country in a map?
I personally believe... that 5% of US Americans are unable to do so... because they own a mac.

Arghhhhh!! never do that!!!
 
All part of the colourful tapestry of consumerism, with a pinch of impulse buying thrown in. I always take a flask of coffee out with me, so I'm protected from it all. :cool:
 
princigalli said:
I think that Starbucks WIFI is not free here in Berlin. Don't remember if they require a T-Online subscription or AOL (does AOL still exist?), but I think you can't just log in.

So I won't be enjoying this feature there because when I sit I have to connect to another network that some nice neighbor keeps free for all to use. If I remember well when I was there the open network was names "****starbucks". I can't write the full name here.

It would be nice if Starbucks in Germany would offer free wifi like they do in the US and like most cafes and restaurants do here.
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Not Free in the US either. I believe it said that the network would be Free for this purpose only. Not full internet access.
 
NEWS JUST IN! Apple announces partnership with the Devil.

Seriously, partnering with Starbucks? That's low. It has certainly put me off buying a new iPod.
 
I don't know why other people are upset about this, but I know why I am. Starbucks represents everything that I hate about the growing breed of corporations. In many ways they're the anti-Apple. If Apple's tagline was "Think Different", Starbucks would be "Think Identical".

I hate the fact that not only is Starbucks the same from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even city to city, but everywhere I go in the world they're absolutely identical. If I walk into a Japanese Starbucks, I want to feel like I'm in Japan not some brushed aluminum purgatory I could just as easily find in New York.

But that's not it-- the same could be said for McDonalds and I don't have the same feelings of hatred for them... Starbucks is predatory. They seek out local neighborhood coffeshops, the kind that have culture, set up next door, run at a loss for as long as it takes, and drive out the competition. They aren't successful because of their quality product (their coffee is awful), or their style, they're successful because they're bankrolled better than any local competition can be.

I'll be curious to see if Starbucks gets preferential treatment on the iPhone maps once this kicks in. Will I even be able to find my local cafe by search? What bland, soulless company will Apple dilute their brand with next?
 
Nope, he is right

frankly said:
You have a bad starbucks near you then. And BTW, McDonalds has decent coffee now. They changed a year or two ago ;)
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Starbucks makes horrid coffee. They do a lousy job of roasting (actually they do burn it).

Starbucks has to cover up the taste of their coffee with excessive cream, sugars, and other flavorings. Go to a gourmet shop that sells whole beans, get yourself a grinder, and make a fresh cup for yourself and you will see the difference. Plus you will save enough money to buy a tune off of iTunes for every cup you drink.
 
BoyBach said:
I think this is a great development.

Give it five years and this will be ubiquitous. You're in any shop/cinema/airport/whatever and like the song being played, whip out your iPhone/iPod and find out what it is and buy it there and then.

Sounds great to me.

:)
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Yep. This has huge potential. And I got the feeling the digital radio thing will be next and one of the missing icons. Tune into any digital radio station over the WiFi. Like a song you hear? Click the buy button.
 
This is just stupid.

I used to get annoyed walking into a Starbuck's, now I will be getting annoyed with that stupid button when I walk by one.

Really I could care less what starbuck's is playing, it's crap anyway.:(
 
What is needed is a Apple device that a store can order, install locally with minimal skill, provision according to a variety of provided methods, and offer free wifi to all customers and neighbors.

If enough stores and other places ordered and installed such hardware, access for all those iPhone and iPod Touch users would be rapidly and widely improved. Good for product uptake and good for sales on the devices themselves.

Simply doing a tech note on how it can be done then publicizing it through traditional retailer channels and corporate retailers would be a good start.

Rocketman
 
Big deal. . .

Remember the CEO of cingular spouting about nothing? This is much of the same.
 
Horseface said:
No, I've tried plenty of Starbucks as a reality check. There are plenty here in LA. And they're all crap. It's poor quality. It's burnt. It's well documented. I suggest you go and refine your silly fast food palate.

;)
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Well, let me put it this way, I take my coffee seriously. I use a burr grinder and a french press at home. I usually don't get the brewed coffee at Starbucks but not because it is burnt. I skip it because they insist on brewing a different type every time I come into the store. Everyone has a different type of coffee that suits their taste buds best. If you do not choose the right type of coffee for your taste buds then it may taste burnt or some other variation of that. It is not the coffee or the way it is made, just that it is not your type. The reason I defend Starbucks is because I enjoy their beans and they make a good latte (espresso is in the flavor category of coffee that I like). I'm not saying they are the best or the only place I go but that their coffee doesn't suck as some people make it sound.

Check out this test to see what type of coffee you would prefer:

http://www.cariboucoffee.com/ourcoffee/tastetest.asp
 
syklee26 said:
some people here will pick on you for anything. I say IPT and someone argues that it should be iPT?

the point of the language is to communicate, just to let you know. if you know that iPT and IPT and iPod Touch are all same thing, there is no point of arguing.
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Look, I was joking, hence the smiley. However, if you want to pursue your line of though then you failed at communicating. I had to look at your IPT twice to realize what the heck you were talking about . That is not good communication. I shouldn't have to stop at something and think about it while reading. An example of that is right here:

http://www.funny-potato.com/read-this.html

Frank
 
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