About 30 minutes ago, I tried the Starbucks app to pay for coffee. I keep seeing all cool dudes (in SoHo starbux) take out their shiny phones to point & pay. So I gave it a try today and it definitely was not a better experience (may be worse) than just handing over my credit card. Below are specifics:
1. While standing in line, I searched the app and had it on, but the phone kept turning auto-off till my turn (I re-opened it 3 times atleast)
2. The app would not scan as the screen brightness was low. I frantically went to settings to change brightness then re-trying and all this time there were people standing behind me pissed.
I think using phones as "keys" or "payment cards" is not the best interface. Ideally there should be a separate device (like a credit card) to do payments and a "Key" device to open all my locks.
As I understand it the key (phone) stays in your pocket and the door is unlocked by touching the door handle while you (the key/your phone) are in a proximity of the door.
It is similar how https://lockitron.com/ is advertised to work except you are required to touch the handle.
No UI means that if the phone is in your pocket the door behaves as though it is always unlocked.
If the app app was corrected to not allow phone to turn off screen, and if the app automaticall adjusted the screen brightness while it's running, what would be your objection then? (Sloppy/buggy programming can be corrected.)
1. While standing in line, I searched the app and had it on, but the phone kept turning auto-off till my turn (I re-opened it 3 times atleast)
2. The app would not scan as the screen brightness was low. I frantically went to settings to change brightness then re-trying and all this time there were people standing behind me pissed.
I think using phones as "keys" or "payment cards" is not the best interface. Ideally there should be a separate device (like a credit card) to do payments and a "Key" device to open all my locks.