Home Blog Page 1201

T-Mobile offers Verizon customers one year of Hulu to switch services

Scott Webster
-
1

T-Mobile today announced it will give Verizon customers one year of Hulu for free if they switch wireless providers. Worth roughly $100, it’s a limited-time deal that runs from December 11-17.

Hulu-logo-540x240

To qualify for the promotion, Verizon customers will need to port their phone number into T-Mobile and select a Simple Choice plan. As part of the rate plan, subscribers will also gain features such as Music Freedom and Binge On. The former allows for unlimited access to streaming music through more than 40 services while the latter offers up DVD video streaming from various services. Neither the music nor the video will impact the monthly data allotment.

Customers who switch are also eligible for credits up to $650 per line to cover Verizon’s early termination fees (ETFs) or any balance due on the Verizon phone with a trade-in.

In addition to the Verizon deal, T-Mobile is discounting select accessories by 50 percent.

T-Mobile

 

AudioFly announces its first ever over-ear headphones designed for audiophiles

Derrick Miyao
-
0

AudioFly is a brand we here at AndroidGuys find to be of high-quality and nothing short of impressive. Henry Wiygul recently reviewed the AudioFly AF56 and AudioFly AF78 and found them both to be fantastic. Building upon recent success, AudioFly has just announced its latest headphone set, the AF240, which is its first over-ear style. All previous models were of the in-ear variety.

aVFIpEPvmYBs5JMB493DuIX0T9pb8XbCEAQXTkT2eA0

 

Over-ear headphones offer a different sound signature because of the larger size and drivers. Almost all premiums brands have over-ear headphones, because they offer a sound-stage that sounds more true to life than the in-ear type. Many enthusiasts prefer the over-ear headphones because the sound signature is so much broader than their counterparts.

“The AF240s were designed with an honesty that reflects the sound stage we as musicians aspire to – we’re excited to finally share them with everyone,” said Audiofly CEO, Dave Thompson.

6Tg7KbmUCHA50WJygLRPBY2BTZeHlTdJoU4ycmkt0FU,7gZ6fV8inVxcKCCVLQ3zgmBWBTnGBsQeoTJvZOWGnis

AudioFly is not a household name like Beats by Dre. and they don’t intend to sell to that crowd. AudioFly designs headphones for enthusiasts and audiophiles who want rich and detailed sound versus excess bass and variety in colors.

The AF240 is designed to enjoy for multiple hours at a time with comfortable memory foam earcups, and a lightweight frame. It also comes with a braided cable for reduced background noise, and is made from CORDURA fabric to protect it from damage. An integrated microphone and remote control is built directly into the cable so users can take phone calls from the headphones. A case for travel is also included to keep the $249.99 headphones from excessive wear and tear.

K9A_J8sTTvYnmazkM2PXM6WH3vPQJvlimYneO7EKUTU vFKAk55BVvWO_EpUY9OR287JqGFnejVPBMrdA4aNQHQ

The Audiofly brand is a team of hardworking musicians and audio designers, creating quality products for musicians and passionate music lovers. You can find all the latest information on Audiofly by visiting www.audiofly.com.

Key Features/Specs:

  • Driver type: 40mm single membrane neodymium driver
  • Tough Audioflex Cable™ – Audiofly’s high spec Audioflex™ braided cable is made with a CORDURA ® fabric outer sheath for outstanding durability
  • Noise Isolating Memory Foam – Carefully selected memory foam “remembers” your shape, isolating up to 20dB of outside noise without compromising the sound
  • Self-Adjusting – Self-adjusting in three directions, these headphones do all the work for you and seamlessly adapts to your ideal fit
  • Mic & Control Button – Make calls, use voice prompts and control music playback via the microphone and button, compatible with Apple® and Android™ devices
  • Carry Bag – Waxed canvas carry bag with a soft microfiber lining for durable protection
  • Frequency range: 20-20 kHz
  • Sensitivity: 103dB at 1 kHz
  • Impedance: 16 Ohms
  • Price: $249.99

 

 

Shine Bluetooth headphones will light up your world

AndroidGuys
-
0

We at AndroidGuys don’t typically cover things on crowdfunding sites unless they are particularly interesting or we’ve been able to secure a pre-funding prototype. It helps a lot with the confidence of a crowdfunding campaign to know that the thing already exists and it helps people to know whether they want to help fund the project. Today’s instance is rather interesting in that it’s a Kickstarter campaign that is being done by an established company called IEC Technologies to do the pre-orders for the launch of their new Bluetooth headset, Shine.

The Fit/Feel

I have to admit, these are some of the best fitting/feeling Bluetooth earbuds I’ve ever used. Most of the time earbuds are really loose and they fall out of my ears, or they are really tight and become uncomfortable after a while. Even with the variable size buds, I’m never satisfied, but the Shine headset is different.

Shine not only has the regular earbuds and the hook for the inside part of your ear, it also hooks to the outside part of your ear and secures in place. You would think all of this extra equipment tacked on would make it uncomfortable, but it doesn’t and it doesn’t feel tremendously heavy, either.

 

Design

Design is actually one of the highlights of these earbuds. Admittedly, the huge rectangles protruding from the side of your head aren’t the most flattering, but the design strengths aren’t in the buds themselves, it’s in the wire that connects them. The wire that runs between the two earbuds has a clear casing, as opposed to normal black or braided casings. It then uses a colored LED to light up the wire in a spectacular of color, which is where Shine gets its name! You can set it to either surge to the rhythm of your music or your movement, which would be cool when you’re running.

shine modes

The only real problem with this is that you don’t actually see it when you’re wearing them, so the show is for everyone else. It’s also not very bright, so you are better off showing them off at night.

shine shining

Sound

My experience with these headphones is that they sound pretty good, maybe even above average. They aren’t an audiophile’s dream or nightmare, they’re just middle-of-the-road headphones, and that’s honestly what you should expect at the $60-80 price point that they’re selling it for on Kickstarter. Throughout the entire range, I would say that the sound is “good” – but it definitely favors the mid-to-high end and I would say that those are better than the sounds on the low-end.

What I would note, though, is that they do get rather loud while maintaining the same level of clarity and that’s definitely a huge plus.

Controls/Other Features

With most Bluetooth speakers, you get some sort of on-board audio controls and the case with Shine is no different. Across the top of the right ear you get four buttons: power/play/pause, vol+/music advance, vol-/music reverse, and shine control. On the side of the same earpiece there is a touch-sensitive area that also allows you to quickly play/pause music playback.

I think it’s a nice touch and I love having easy ways like that to control playback without having to feel around for the button. That’s actually the problem with this touch-sensitive area, though – it’s only a single (unmarked, not that it matters when it’s on your head) circle left of center of the earpiece and I found myself batting around trying to hit it with my finger.

shine touch spot

Pro tip: you can smack the whole thing with your open palm to activate it pretty consistently, but that’s awfully cumbersome and makes me feel like I’m starring in a V8 commercial.

They also built an app to complement the entire experience with Shine and it’s supposed to be what makes the Shine shine. Unfortunately, and I’ve tried it on multiple phones, it basically doesn’t do anything. It’s an unreleased app, so you would expect it to be buggy but I literally can’t make it do anything of value and all of the main pages are in a foreign language. The app is supposed to help you keep track of your runs like an app such as Runtastic would do and give you granular control of the lights in the headset, but it just doesn’t. I wouldn’t let that take away from the overall experience provided by the headphones, because it isn’t necessary to enjoy all of the features of the headphones, but it’s still a disappointment.

Other notes/conclusion

The battery life on these headphones seems to be really good. I never actually wore them down and I used the headphones for at least 3-4 hours. I can’t speak for the seven hours that are advertised, but as big as the earpieces are, it wouldn’t surprise me if there’s a lot of battery packed in there. The flip side of that is that you won’t have to charge it often, because getting the rubber protection cover off of the charging port is next to impossible. I ended up prying the cover off with a screwdriver and subsequently throwing it into the trash because I never wanted to deal with that again. Back to the bright side: it uses a standard micro-USB plug to charge, and you probably have about 30 of those lying around your house.

Shine appears to be a good set of headphones for a reasonable amount of money. It’s definitely cool that it lights up in the dark and if they get the app working properly before release, that’s just value added. More than anything else, these aren’t just a half-baked project that will never come to Kickstarter backers – it’s already here. The Kickstarter campaign has about two weeks left at this point and you can still nab a pair for $60 – it wouldn’t be a bad gift (and according to their timeline it might be here in time for Christmas!)

If you’re interested in Shine, take a look at their Kickstarter campaign and help them bring it to the world!
Source: Kickstarter

Secure your connection simply with Supernet VPN (Review)

AndroidGuys
-
0

Online privacy is becoming more of a priority for people every day, and they are constantly searching for ways to secure their online information. Some of these people are searching for a security solution with tons of options to tweak their experience to the fullest, but others are looking for a simple and easy to use way to keep themselves private online.

Supernet VPN from the developers at Supernet is attempting to appeal to the latter group by creating an extremely simple VPN to protect their users while they are online. [spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-android”]

Setting Up Supernet VPN

Supernet country selectionSupernet VPN’s focus is on simplicity, and the experience of setting up the app shows this. There are no strange permissions or logins to get through. Instead, there are a few screens that discuss some of Supernet VPN’s features, and then you are taken directly to the app.

The only actual step to setting up is selecting a location from the drop-down menu in the app. You are given the choice between the United States and the United Kingdom, and since the only other words on the screen were “Select Location,” I assumed that I was meant to select the country where I lived. I quickly learned that this is not the correct thing to do. I selected “United States” and could not get the app to secure my connection even after waiting for 5 minutes.

On a fluke, I switched the location over to “United Kingdom,” and my connection was secured within seconds. While the setup is fairly simple in itself, it would be nice to have some sort of instructions or steps at the beginning to let users know what location they should select.

Using Supernet VPN

Supernet appOnce I actually had Supernet VPN setup correctly, using it was extremely easy. Aside from the location selection, there is only one other button in the entire app. Tapping the shield will secure your connection within seconds and change your IP address to the country of your choosing. I checked before and after turning on the VPN, and my IP address changed from Louisiana to London so I would say it works quite well.

Aside from just changing your IP address, Supernet VPN also lets you access content blocked in your country, protects you when connecting to public WiFi hotspots, and keeps your online information private. After finding a YouTube video that was blocked in the United States, I turned on SupernetVPN and could immediately watch the same video without any problems. You are given unlimited browsing with this app so there is no need to pay extra to get more protected data.

Supernet VPN is free, but it is supported by ads. Most of the time, these ads are totally unintrusive and are only at the bottom asking you to download a sponsored app. Since I have been using this app, I have only had one video ad popup after I tapped on the shield to turn the VPN on. While the video was not bad, it started with sound already playing which was annoying since there was no way to mute it or exit until the video was done. That being said, a couple of ads here and there is a small price to pay for your online security.

[spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-android”]

I love how simple Supernet VPN is to use because there are no extra features or buttons that could cause users difficulty. In fact, there is not even a settings menu in the app. What you see is exactly what you get. The location setup was somewhat confusing, but it is no reason for me to not recommend this app. The ads are mostly unobtrusive, and the app is free with no paid version with extra features.

If you are a power user, you will probably be looking for a VPN app with more features, but for those of you who are simply looking for an easy way to gain some protection online, Supernet VPN’s simplicity is hard to beat. You can download Supernet VPN for free from the Play Store.

Motorola rolls out Marshmallow for Moto X Pure, other select devices

AndroidGuys
-
0

Got a Motorola device? Keep an eye out because a brand new update could soon be bringing some Marshmallow goodness to your phone.

As announced by Motorola’s David Schuster on Google Plus, the rollout of Android Marshmallow 6.0 has already begun for the Moto X Pure Edition on the AT&T, Sprint, US Cellular and Verizon networks.

Latin American owners of Moto X Style will also receive the Marshmallow upgrade within the coming days.

In addition, Schuster also stated that soak tests have started for Moto X Play in Brazil and India, along with the Moto X Force in Brazil. This could mean that a full rollout for these devices are not too far away.

Motorola first revealed their Android 6.0 Marshmallow plans back in October, where it was revealed that Motorola was to focus on a more “pure” experience for the new Android version, “[avoiding] bloatware and skins…[focusing] on identifying and tackling areas where we can enable more meaningful exchanges between you and your phone.”

Source: +DavidSchuster

Now you can use your smartphone to make payments at Walmart

AndroidGuys
-
0

Fret not if you forget your credit card at home the next time you visit Walmart, as you can simply pull out your smartphone and pay for groceries. Yes, the retail company is set to make your life easier with launch of ‘Walmart Pay,’ which will accept payments from Android as well as Apple devices.

The service will be launched in select Walmart stores on Thursday, and will be available throughout the nation by the first half of 2016.

In order to use Walmart Pay during checkout, you are first required to set up the Walmart app on your phone by entering your credit, debit or Walmart gift card details. Walmart Pay is a free app and it comes integrated with the retailer’s standard mobile application.

  1. Open: Visit any register, open the Walmart app and choose Walmart Pay. Activate the camera.
  2. Scan: At any time during checkout, simply scan the code displayed at the register. Walmart Pay is now connected.
  3. Done: Associate scans and bags the items… and it’s done. An eReceipt will be sent to the app and can be viewed at any time.

During the checkout, you are required to select Walmart Pay as the payment option. The app will then use your phone’s camera to scan the code displayed at the register, and then send you an e-receipt.

The company is also working on the integration of other payment options including other mobile wallets in the future. As to whether this means other retailers or partners remains unclear.

Source: Reuters | Walmart

 

10 Android phones you should consider for T-Mobile (December 2015)

AndroidGuys
-
3

Are you in the market for a new smartphone? Is T-Mobile the service provider you’re considering? You’re in luck!  We’re here to help you pick out that next handset. If you’re an existing smartphone owner, picking out an upgrade won’t be too much of a challenge. But, for others, particularly first-time buyers, the idea of buying an Android might make them nervous.

Which is the newest phone? What is the best phone? Which is the one that’s going to give me exactly what I need? We’re here to help you dig mine through the muck and pull out a few gems.

We’ve put together a list of the top 10 Android smartphones you should consider for T-Mobile this December. Here, in no particular order, are ten Android handsets that you should consider for T-Mobile if you’re currently contemplating a new device.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Galaxy-Note5_front-with-spen_White-PearlThe fifth generation of Samsung’s plus-sized smartphone experience boasts a gorgeous metal and glass design. The S Pen digital stylus is smarter than ever and works without even powering on the display. Up from previous models, storage options are now 32GB and 64GB. The battery, which comes in at a commendable 3000mAh capacity, allows for fast charging, wireless charging, and even fast wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 at T-Mobile

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+

An almost identical sibling to the aforementioned Galaxy Note 5, this one trades out the stylus for the dual curved display. If you don’t need to jot down notes or mark up documents, consider grabbing the more sexy counterpart.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ at T-Mobile

Samsung Galaxy S6

Announced in the spring, it’s hard to beat the annual Samsung flagship smartphone. The 5.1-inch Quad HD screen is a stunner and feels oh-so-right in our hands and the premium design includes glass and metal. It’s the first Galaxy S model we’ve wanted to coddle and protect in a long time. It doesn’t hurt that it runs Android 5.0 Lollipop (with an expected 6.0 update), comes with at least 32GB storage, and has 3GB RAM to boost performance.

Samsung Galaxy S6 at T-Mobile

LG G4

LG continues to impress with a steady stream of flagship models that demand attention. We long ago fell in love with the rear button layout and this year’s version has one of the best camera experiences we’ve ever seen on a smartphone. The specs are top-notch and the screen is a real looker.

LG G4 at T-Mobile

LG V10

LG-V10-Black-01

The newest phone of the bunch, this LG features two displays. Indeed, there is the 5.7-inch quad HD screen which looks gorgeous on its own. However, up at the top you will find a small secondary display which offers quick access to favorite contacts, apps, media player buttons , or an at-a-glance view of your schedule.

But, as if that were not enough, you will also find 64 gigabytes of internal storage with a microSD card that allows for another 200GB of space. The removable 3,000mAh battery is more than enough to get you a day or two of life. The rear offers up a 16-megapixel camera while the front houses a pair of 5-megapixel shooters. One works for close-ups while the other has a wide angle lens for group shots.

LG V10 at T-Mobile

HTC One M9

carousel-htc-one-m9-gunmetal-380x380-1The lone HTC model here is also one of the oldest flagship models to make this list. Don’t let that concern you, though, it’s still a kick-ass phone with a great build.  The 5-inch screen looks great and fits well in the hand while the 20-megapixel camera snaps excellent photos. The microSD card keeps media lovers content with room for up to 200GB of external storage. And, perhaps the best part, the included Uh Oh Protection will replace your water damaged or cracked screen for free inside of 12 months.

HTC One M9 at T-Mobile

Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime

Somewhat of a trimmed-down take of the Galaxy S line, this one gives new smartphone users more than enough to learn the ropes. What’s more, it comes at a fraction of the cost of the flagship brand. Specs include a 5-inch HD display, 8-megapixel rear camera, and a front-facing 5-megapixel camera. Powered by Android 5.1 Lollipop, you also get to enjoy expandable memory via microSD slot.

Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime at T-Mobile

ZTE Obsidian

Priced to move, you’ll have a hard time beating the value in the ZTE Obsidian. Those looking to get into the smartphone game should find the 4.5-inch phone meets their needs. The Android 5.1 Lollipop provides the Material Design aesthetic that’s become all the rage; the 8GB storage with microSD expansion (up to 32GB) ought to be enough to store your music, pictures, and other media.

ZTE Obsidian at T-Mobile

Kyocera Hydro Wave

carousel-kyocera-hydro-wave-all-380x380-1Does your lifestyle find you spending time around water? Plumbers, lifeguards, and parents of toddlers will enjoy the waterproof Kyocera handset. Not only that, but the Military Standard 810G rating ensures this one can take a beating. Go ahead, drop it, if you can. The non-slip finish won’t make it easy on you.

Kyocera Hydro Wave at T-Mobile

Samsung Galaxy Core Prime

When all you need is the essentials, consider picking up the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime.  It’s a pocketable 4.5-inch experience with a 5-megapixel rear camera and front-facing 2-megapixel shooter. The quad-core processor and 1GB RAM won’t set any benchmark records, but what do you expect for about one hundred dollars? Give this one to the kids for their first taste of Android.

Samsung Galaxy Core Prime at T-Mobile

TYLT ENERGI 6K Smart Charger: a neat little battery companion

Josh Noriega
-
1

In case you’ve missed our past coverage on TYLT accessories, we’re a pretty big fan of its products. They aren’t cheap, but TYLT is a sure bet if you’re willing to put more moo-lah down for quality.

Most recently, we were provided the ENERGI 6K smart charger for our thorough run-through and opinion for you guys.

DSC05080

External battery packs are aplenty in the market, overwhelmingly-so. If you know TYLT, you can probably guess that there is something unique in the design. You’d be right, and this thing isn’t called a “smart charger” for no reason. Let’s see what the ENERGI 6K is all about.

[spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-power-off”]

Design

The design of the ENERGI 6K is fairly basic. This is no surprise. How interesting can a charger be? Also, TYLT typically focuses on a solid build rather than a flashy design. Therefore, when I pick up the 6K, it feels sturdy. TYLT’s devices always have a heft to them (in a good way) that makes them feel worth the price.

DSC05089

The build is plastic, but with a very nice-feeling finish. It’s soft to the touch – a quality that gets carried throughout TYLT’s lineup.

One of the things unique about this charger is that you don’t refill it with a separate AC adapter plug; it’s internal. There are embedded prongs that flip in and out, which means that the entire unit hangs off the power outlet when it’s time to charge.

[row][double_paragraph]DSC05098[/double_paragraph][double_paragraph]DSC05097[/double_paragraph] [/row]

And for those of us who don’t like carrying around a cable in addition to the charger, the 6K fortunately has an attached cable (this unit uses microUSB, but there’s also a variant with a Lightning connector for Apple users).

DSC05082

When not in use, it is nicely concealed within a groove along the sides. There’s a cutout where the microUSB connector is housed that lets your finger easily scoop it free.

DSC05076

The cable isn’t very long – only about 3″. There is also a full USB port on the side for charging other devices you have a cable for.

On the top, we only have a subtle TYLT logo and a small button with a smaller light next to it. As you can probably guess, this gives you an indication of the battery level.

DSC05087

Functionality

Speaking of the build, I love how sturdy the ENERGI 6K feels. It’s meant to handle your travels, and the robust-feel certainly implies that it can take the inevitable abuse.

And since the prongs are on the top of the device, you don’t have to worry about it blocking the other port on the wall outlet.

DSC05107

When the 6k is on the wall, you can use it like you would AC adapter to charge a device (recall that it has a USB port for power output to a mobile device). TYLT says that it gives priority to charging the attached device before it goes to charge the battery pack.

[blockquote author=”TYLT”]The Intelligent Charging Technology prioritizes the charge to your device until your device is fully charged. It then charges the 6,000mAh battery onboard.[/blockquote]

One criticism is that I wish TYLT made the power output Quick-Charge compatible. All flagship phones these days have some form of fast charging, so when we’re reminded of the yesteryear charging rate, it’s somewhat annoying.

The 6K’s battery capacity is a modest 6,000 mAh. This is a decent amount (roughly twice the capacity of batteries in flagship phones). However, being that power banks are commonplace these days, there are tons of others with much more capacity for less money.

The battery indicator is a standard affair. An LED light essentially tells you if the charger’s battery is low (orange) or has a significant capacity (green).

[row][double_paragraph]DSC05113[/double_paragraph][double_paragraph]DSC05114[/double_paragraph] [/row]

I would’ve liked to see a more informative battery indicator. For instance, the larger ENERGI 10K uses five LED dots to give the user a better idea of the status.

[spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-power-off”]

Final Thoughts

DSC05111

I love TYLT’s little ENERGI 6K charger. It’s a no-fuss and efficient approach to a travel charger. The only issue I see is when putting the 6K up against a market that offers considerably larger batteries for less money. 6,000 mAh isn’t a lot of capacity for the asking price.

However, if you like to splurge for the extra quality and a well-thought design, I would definitely recommend this. It’s fantastic not having to deal with cables at all. Just throw this in your bag and you’re set. And being a TYLT product, it will hold up on your travels.

The ENERGI 6K comes in either a blue or gray color and goes for $69.99.

TYLT ENERGI 6K product page

Sprint MVNO Boost Mobile announces unlimited music

AndroidGuys
-
0

Sprint subsidiary Boost Mobile announced today that they are going to begin offering zero-rated music streaming on their service, very similarly to what is offered by T-Mobile’s Music Freedom program. In addition, Boost is announcing increased high-speed data allotments for all of their data plans!

This isn’t the first time that a Sprint subsidiary would be making this type of move. Virgin made a similar announcement a couple of months ago. Boost is going to join the club and will offer zero-rating with the following services:

  • Pandora
  • iHeart Radio
  • Slacker Radio
  • Samsung Milk Music
  • 8Tracks

During their original announcement, Virgin only had the former three services and today will also be adding Milk Music and 8Tracks to the mix to match their orange-colored sibling. The data plans for Boost are also increasing so that the 2GB plan will now offer 5GB and the 5GB plan will be bumped up to 8GB. You can also get a $5 credit if you sign up for “auto re-boost.” Additionally, you can get 500MB of extra high-speed monthly data after every 3 on-time payments up to 3GB additional (18 months of on-time payments) with their growing data program.

boost plan increases

All of today’s announcements sound like a great deal for anyone who is willing to get on board with the nation’s number four carrier and it appears as though they’re taking suggestions for what the next services to be added should be, so be on the lookout for that! As I said when Virgin originally announced this move, hopefully we’ll see big-brother Sprint start making these consumer-friendly policies as well!

Source: Sprint Newsroom

The full featured Starbucks app makes coffee easy to order(App review)

Derrick Miyao
-
0

I know almost all of you have heard of Starbucks. I love coffee and drink it on a regular basis, and one can argue that there are many coffee shops with better brew, but Starbucks is always there for you no matter where you go around the world. And its coffee is always reliable and its mixed drinks are second to none.

There have been 5,000,000-10,000,000 installs of the Starbucks app from the Google Play Store, but many people still don’t know the latest features in the app. Let’s check it out.

[spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-coffee”]

Starbucks Pay

Before Android Pay and Samsung Pay were released, Starbucks already had an easy way to pay using your smartphone. All you need to do is set up a credit card or PayPal account to fund your Starbucks account. Once sufficient funds are added to your account, you could just generate a barcode and place your device in front of a scanner after you place an order. You will hear a beep, and the record of your purchase would be logged in your history. It’s very simple to pay this way and you don’t need to bring an ID or wallet with you.

I happen to walk to my nearby Starbucks at night with my dog and grab a hot chocolate or eggnog latte for dessert. It’s really convenient not to have to carry my wallet around with me late at night.

Even though Starbucks doesn’t use Android Pay, I wish other places I frequent, like the grocery store, would allow me to make purchases the same way. Wallets are usually filled with back-up cards, reward cards, receipts, insurance cards, etc. It’s nice to leave my chunky wallet behind.

[spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-coffee”]

 

Mobile Order and Pay

From the Starbucks app you can look over the entire menu from your phone, and place an order before you pick it up. The menu at Starbucks is HUGE. Who knew you could order a strawberries & creme Frappuccino? There are teas, Refreshers, fresh juice, iced teas, iced coffees, espressos, Frappuccinos, hand-crafted sodas, smoothies, oh yeah, and fresh brewed coffee.

Screenshot_20151209-005202

Rather than being rushed in line to pick what you want, you are free to take your time from the privacy of your own home or car to peruse the entire menu from the app. It’s worth looking over the entire menu because you might want to try something new. The strawberries & creme Frappuccino could be your new favorite drink that you never knew existed. Or if you’re in a rush and on a road trip, just place an order at a Starbucks on your route, run in and grab your order, and get back on your merry way.

Again, this is another feature I would love to see in more apps for other restaurants I frequent so I don’t have to wait in line.

Screenshot_20151209-005217

[spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-coffee”]

Rewards – from the reward page

More than great drinks. Great rewards.

Enjoy all this and more with your membership to our Loyalty Program:

  • Free drink or food rewards (some restrictions apply)
  • Custom offers on items you enjoy when you opt in to receive My Starbucks Rewards email
  • Early access to new products
  • Easy payment with our mobile app

Screenshot_20151209-005057

Here’s how it works

To enjoy free drink and food rewards, you’ll need to earn Stars. Get Stars when:

  • You pay at a participating store with your registered Starbucks, Teavana or La Boulange Card or the mobile app
  • You buy specially marked Starbucks products where you buy groceries
  • You buy coffee or tea products at Starbucks Store online

Most of you frequent Starbucks already so why not take advantage of the free reward program? You can get free refills on coffee for a year just for earning five stars. If you earn 30 stars within 12 months you’re promoted to the Gold Level where you can earn a free drink or food item. You’ll also get a personalized Gold Card so your barista will know you are special.

[spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-coffee”]

App Usage

Using the app is as simple as it gets. Once you load credit onto your Starbucks app, ordering, paying and earning rewards are simple. Starbucks left out annoying advertisements, and click bait from within the app, and made a clean and simple user interface. Simplicity wins in this case. There’s nothing you don’t need to make the app more confusing than it really needs to be. You can even send gift cards through the app for your friends and family.

Screenshot_20151209-005344

[spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-coffee”]

Summary

If you haven’t tried the Starbucks app yet, or if you haven’t used it in awhile, now is the time to download it again and start earning rewards. You don’t have to expose your credit/debit cards with the automated barcode generator within the app, and you don’t need your chunky wallet when you walk into the coffee shop. Better yet, you can order and pay in advance from the app so you can avoid waiting in line for your order.

The loyalty system is a great way to earn free food and coffee from Starbucks as well. I highly recommend the Starbucks app for you coffee lovers.

Download the Starbucks app at the Google Play Store.

 

1...1,2001,2011,202...1,315Page 1,201 of 1,315