Starbucks trouble

Question

Level 1

10 points

Starbucks trouble

When I go into Starbucks and open iTunes and then click on the Starbucks logo on the bottom of the screen, my 3G iPhone goes on "loading" infinitely. Every now and then, it flashes and I can briefly see something on the screen like the last song played, etc. Has anybody else had this problem? there are a couple of other things wrong with my iPhone, too, and I'm starting to think I need to trade it in for another one. I've tried a new SIM card and restoring the original settings and reloading the OS. Has anybody else had these problems??

iBook G4, iMac, iPhone G3, Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Nov 4, 2008 12:48 PM

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Answer 1

roaminggnome

Level 10

106,401 points

Nov 4, 2008 12:51 PM in response to Faygelah

Have you tried tips from the manual?

"If something is not working right, restarting or resetting iPhone will likely solve the
problem.
Restart iPhone: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the red slider appears.
Slide your finger across the slider to turn off iPhone. To turn iPhone back on, press and
hold the Sleep/Wake until the Apple logo appears.
Reset iPhone: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the
same time for at least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
For more troubleshooting suggestions, see Appendix A, “Troubleshooting,” on
page 132. "

http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/iPhone_UserGuide.pdf

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Answer 2

Nov 4, 2008 3:55 PM in response to Faygelah

Are you connected to Starbucks' Wi-Fi network when trying this? That is necessary - that feature is not available from your cellular data connection.

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Answer 3

Faygelah Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 5, 2008 7:00 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Neuroanatomist:

Are you sure about that? It seems like the logo wouldn't appear in iTunes if I couldn't do something with it.

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Answer 4

Nov 5, 2008 7:14 AM in response to Faygelah

The iTunes logo (for the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store) is a default feature on the iPhone home screen. Unless disabled using Settings > General > Restrictions, it's always on one of your home screens. But, you can only use it when connected to a Wi-Fi network. So, there's a good example of something being there when you can't use it. On the other hand, within the iTunes 'app', the Starbucks button is only present if you're connected to the Starbucks hotspot (I think - I can confirm that it's not present when connected to another Wi-Fi network).

You can try these kbase articles for suggestions:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1690
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1691

One thing to note - the kbase articles above suggest that you must be using the t-mobile hotspot in a Starbucks location. Starbucks is transitioning to AT&T hotspots, but it may be that you still need to connect to the t-mobile wireless network for it to work, even if there's an AT&T network on your list. The Starbucks around here have both networks. Have you tried both?

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Answer 5

Faygelah Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 5, 2008 9:11 AM in response to neuroanatomist

OK. I just got back from Starbucks. I logged onto the ATT wifi network (a screen on my iPhone) asked me to enter my phone number and to agree to terms and conditions) and the same thing happened. When I click on the Starbucks logo in the bottom left hand corner of the screen, it says "loading" with that circular, asterisk looking icon moving around in circles and every now and then the screen flickers for a half-second and I can see a screen that says something like "Last song played" etc. I'm guessing this would let me buy whatever song I'm hearing from the iTunes Store.

This Starbucks thing is not a big deal, but there are several things that seem "buggy" about my 3G -- calls get dropped a lot, the reception is awful, programs do weird things-- and I'm hoping that somebody recognizes from this example what might be wrong.

By the way, I've already tried restoring the settings from my iTunes, a genius at the Apple Store reloaded the system from their computers, and, at the genius' suggestion, I replaced the SIM card with a new one. Nothing works and, even though none of these problems are really major, they are annoying. Especially the dropped calls and the poor reception.

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Answer 6

Nov 5, 2008 9:41 AM in response to Faygelah

Faygelah wrote:
OK. I just got back from Starbucks. I logged onto the ATT wifi network (a screen on my iPhone) asked me to enter my phone number and to agree to terms and conditions) and the same thing happened.

Right. But, did you try logging on to the t-mobile network??

Also, it just might not work. Recall from the kbase articles the statement, "participating Starbucks location" - when the iTunes Starbucks Music Store was announced, the rollout plan was, "Roll-out will start in NYC and Seattle, hitting 600 stores. By November, the SF area will have 350 stores. Apple and Starbucks plan to have all shops in major cities ready to go by end of 2008, and every Starbucks that has Wi-Fi by end of 2009." They may be ahead of schedule, maybe not. I can confirm that it worked fine last time I was in NYC.

Other users have reported similar problems, from places like Minnesota and North Dakota (which I would expect to be near the back end of the rollout). Where are you located?

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Answer 7

Faygelah Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 5, 2008 9:50 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Oh yeah, I forgot to try the t-mobile network. I'll go back to Starbucks in a bit and see if that helps.

BTW, I'm in Chicago, specifically the North Side, where the whole city is celebrating the election of our new president.

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Answer 8

Nov 5, 2008 9:59 AM in response to Faygelah

Faygelah wrote:
Oh yeah, I forgot to try the t-mobile network. I'll go back to Starbucks in a bit and see if that helps.

Let me know - if you get there first, I won't bother to try later today (unless line is long and I am bored 😉 ).

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Answer 9

Jane Knox

Level 3

691 points

Nov 5, 2008 10:20 AM in response to Faygelah

See http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/internet/accessing-wifi.jsp

Instructions from AT&T:

iPhone users, get started with Wi-Fi

-Activate Wi-Fi from the settings icon on your iPhone
-Select "attwifi" from the list of available networks
-Enter your 10-digit mobile number and check the box to agree to the Acceptable Use Policy. Tap 'continue'
-You will receive a text message from AT&T with a secure link to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot. You will not be charged for the text message.
-The SMS link will only be valid for 24 hours at the location it was requested. Another request must be submitted when using another hotspot location.
-Open the text message and tap on the link for 24-hour access to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot

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Answer 10

Nov 5, 2008 10:38 AM in response to Jane Knox

Thanks, but this thread is not about gaining access to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot at Starbucks from the iPhone.

The thread is about accessing the Starbucks area of the iTunes Music Store (which, in theory, will tell you the song currently playing in the Starbucks location, allow you to buy that song from iTunes, etc.).

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Answer 11

Jane Knox

Level 3

691 points

Nov 5, 2008 10:52 AM in response to neuroanatomist

The thread is about accessing the Starbucks area of the iTunes Music Store (which, in theory,

Yes, but the theory is not working for the OP, is it?

Since AT&T recently instituted a new - free - "full internet" connection protocol for the iPhone at the AT&T wifi locations - including Starbucks - isn't it possible that the new protocol is interfering with the theoretical limited connection to iTunes and Apple.com?

Since AT&T owns the wifi access points at Starbucks, perhaps using the connection protocol recommended by AT&T will work, especially since the theoretical connection is not working?

Worth a try before we decide that AT&T approach is "wrong" 😉

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Answer 12

Nov 5, 2008 11:53 AM in response to Faygelah

Ok, so I walked over to Starbucks. Tried 5 things, with the following results.

1. 3G - no WiFi Music Store (obviously)

2. Wi-Fi from the hospital next door to Starbucks - normal WiFi Music Store, no Starbucks tab.

3. Starbucks t-mobile WiFi - Starbucks tab present, tapping it yields a long 'loading' then intermittent flashing song list, the same (lack of) functionality described above; full, normal access to the rest of the WiFi Music Store (despite having no internet access)

4. Starbucks AT&T WiFi, before going to Safari to enter my phone number and clicking on the link in the subsequent SMS - same result as number 3

5. Starbucks AT&T WiFi, after going to Safari to enter my phone number and clicking on the link in the subsequent SMS - same result as number 3, except normal internet access as well

Conclusion: it's not you or your iPhone. It's a) crippled functionality because it has not yet been rolled out in Chicago, Boston, etc. or b) some other problem on the Starbucks/Apple end of the system.

I did enjoy my grande mocha. 😉

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Answer 13

Faygelah Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 5, 2008 1:25 PM in response to neuroanatomist

Thanks so much! I just got back from Starbucks myself, trying the t-mobile newtwork to see if there was any difference. I'm glad to hear it's not just me and my phone.

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Answer 14

Jane Knox

Level 3

691 points

Nov 5, 2008 1:29 PM in response to Faygelah

Now go to www.Starbucks.com and file a complaint with their customer service system.

They cannot fix it if they don't know it is broken. 😉

Plus that, they'll mail you a coupon for a free cup of coffee.

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