Updated. Apple loves giving Starbucks customers free stuff. This week it introduced an e-book Pick of the Week to go along with the free song and app of the week programs it already has in place. Books can be redeemed through Apple iBookstore, for use with iBooks on iOS devices.

The free app program was started in August this year, and has included titles like Shazam, the music ID app, and Spy Mouse, a game from Firemint and EA. The first book for Starbucks’ Pick of the Week is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, which normally retails for $12.99 on the iBookstore. To take advantage of the deal, just pop into your local Starbucks and check near the till for cards printed with redemption codes. Update: Despite no mention of it anywhere in the official Starbucks announcement of the program, sources who’ve used the code say that it’s good for only an extended sample of the book (around 120 pages), not the whole thing.

Starbucks has also said that “TV shows and more from iTunes” will be offered in addition to music, apps and books, and the variety in my opinion makes Pick of the Week much more interesting. Plus, it could prompt more interest in the iBookstore, which I’m sure Apple would appreciate. Anyone planning on trying to pick up The Night Circus?

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The first paid app on offer from Starbucks is Shazam Encore (via CNET), which lets you tag any music you hear with your iPhone, for identification, information or sharing purposes. Shazam Encore normally retails for $5.99 in the App Store, so it’s actually a pretty good deal. No word on whether or not this will become a regular occurrence, but the design of the card seems to suggest that it’s set up to be the first of a series.

This is a great way for Apple to get paid iOS software in the hands of customers who only download free titles or who don’t really use the App Store or third-party applications. The numbers indicate that free apps still get the lion’s share of downloads on the App Store, especially among top-ranked titles. Providing users with a way to check out paid apps without spending any money could encourage them to start buying other titles if they come away suitably impressed. That is, if Apple can keep the cards in sufficient supply. They always seem to be out of stock at my local store.

Free featured apps also gives the App Store another tool in the fight with other mobile software retailers like the Android Market and Amazon Appstore. Amazon also gives away a free app on a daily basis. That arrangement hasn’t proved to be too beneficial to developers, however. It isn’t clear exactly how the revenue picture works out in this case.

Of course, this might also inspire folks to switch coffee allegiances. Anyone planning to get their next caffeine fix at Starbucks in order to take advantage of this deal?

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Among the offerings available to Starbucks customers will be music, movies and even e-books. The move is designed to draw more people in, and to provide a competitive advantage for Starbucks over low-cost competitors like McDonalds. In addition to free content, customers will also be able to purchase additional tracks, movies and books through the Starbucks launch page, a portion of the profits from which will go back to the chain.

The decision by Starbucks to offer free Wi-Fi to all customers, made in June of this year, has led to a tremendous uptick in usage. Over 30 million users accessed the web from a Starbucks store last month alone. It was a smart move by the chain, since it provided impressive numbers to shop around to content providers. No doubt the size of the potential new audience is what attracted Yahoo and Apple to the deal.

Free content will be displayed for customers via a welcome screen when they sign in to the Starbucks online portal to get Wi-Fi access. That content will also be available exclusively to Starbucks users, which is what the chain is hoping will encourage more people to walk through its doors.

Apple will be providing free music from iTunes. Its free Starbucks track of the week song directly for download using the chain’s Wi-Fi, instead of requiring users to input a code taken from a card. Other free downloads are mentioned, but no additional details are available as yet.

Other partners include The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and HarperCollins. Users browsing with Starbucks Wi-Fi will be able to read books and newspapers for free while in-store, but will have to purchase content to take it with them elsewhere. The service is designed around the idea that customers at coffee shops are compulsive browsers, making it the ideal setting for providing free samples. It’s also a natural progression of the idea of keeping newspapers available for patrons to peruse.

I think this is a partnership that will benefit everyone, including customers. It launches today, so if you happen to check your local Starbucks to see what’s on offer, let us know what you find.

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Before you head out the door with your iPhone in hand to try this out, check a map and make sure you’re currently located in Cupertino, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, or San Jose in California, or Seattle in Washington. If you’re anywhere else, you’re going to be disappointed, since those are the locations of the stores participating in the pilot test program of the new payment method.

In the 16 stores that are accepting payment via iPhone in the cities I just mentioned, it works like this: You add a Starbucks card to the app’s database using the card number and code, after which point the app will display a barcode (QR code, I think?) on the iPhone’s screen that the barista taking your order can scan in order to process payment.

It’s not a unique payment scheme, but for some reason Americans are lagging behind many of their international neighbors in the pay-for-stuff-with-your-mobile department. This Starbucks test pilot should be a good indicator of just how deep the resistance goes, since many people already use a Starbucks card, and I’m willing to bet the test areas include a high density of iPhone users.

Paying isn’t the only thing the new app can do. It can also let you check your Starbucks Card balance, reload your card with any major credit card, and see a transaction history so you can see just how much you actually spend on your overpriced fancy-pants coffee. The card management features are available across the U.S., and don’t require you to be in one of the test markets for the purchasing features. You must be using a U.S. card, though, and Duetto and Starbucks Store Credit cards aren’t supported.

Additionally, each card can only be loaded on one device at one time, in order to provide more tighter security around their usage. It’s a good feature, but it means you and your partner can’t just split one card between you on two separate iPhones. Also, if you want to check out the menu and get your orders straight before heading to Starbucks, there’s another app called myStarbucks (iTunes link) that allows you to do just that, also released today.

Let’s hope this works, because if it does, it’s possible more mobile payment and points programs will follow suit. I’d love to be able to ditch my Best Buy Rewards, Safeway, Staples, etc. cards and get a new, much slimmer wallet.

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Earlier today, AT&T Mobility sent out SMS messages to iPhone subscribers in the US reminding them that they can use free Wi-Fi provided by AT&T at locations including Starbucks shops around the country.

This free service has been a long time coming for the iPhone. The deal was originally announced back in February when Starbucks committed to partner with AT&T and kick T-Mobile to the curb. The new mobile portal started to show up on iPhones in April, but has been up and down since then. Now it appears that AT&T is ready for business.

I went through the process today at my local Starbucks just to try it out. The connection speed was definitely faster than 3G and a nice little benefit if you happen to be camped out at a Starbucks, McDonalds, etc. It should be particularly nice for those staying at hotels, if the service proves to be free to iPhone users in those locations as well.

Here’s how it works…

When you are at a Starbucks or other service location (check the AT&T map to find one nearby) you can join the network named “attwifi” and then open Safari. When you try to go to a web site outside of AT&T (more on this later) you’ll get redirected to a login page where you can enter your mobile number and agree to the AUP.

Once you do that, you’ll get an SMS message with a link that will authenticate your device and allow you access to the AT&T Wi-Fi network at that location for 24 hours.

Once you click on the link, you’ll get a confirmation screen in Safari that you have access to the AT&T Wi-Fi network.

What’s interesting is that you can browse both att.com and apple.com without going through this process. The iTunes Store also works beautifully, with the added “Now Playing at Starbucks” on your screen. Again, without any authentication.

All this free browsing begs the question, can I do any of this on my MacBook? The answer is, “kinda sorta, but not really.”

When you connect to the AT&T Wi-FI network with your laptop, you’ll be prompted to sign up for service (a 2 hour pass is $3.99 and monthly plans are $19.99 – or $9.99 if you are an AT&T DSL or Uverse subscriber).

However, the same sites that work without authentication on the iPhone work the same way on a Mac. That is, you can connect to the “attwifi” network and surf att.com and apple.com all day if you want.

You can also open iTunes and connect to the iTunes store. I was able to watch trailers and browse music, movies, etc.

This isn’t perfect, though. I got a funny message about the Starbucks Now Playing feature and I was NOT able to get to me.com, presumably because AT&T Wi-Fi filters on the URL.

Spoofing the user agent using the “Develop” menu in Safari doesn’t work to get around this. All I got was a specially formatted page that asks you to sign up for paid service.

For kicks, I tried entering the authentication URL that is sent in the text message on my Mac, but this didn’t go anywhere, perhaps because I had already used the link with my iPhone.

If you have other experiences with using the AT&T Wi-Fi service, please share details in the comments below.

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Cloud computing seems to be all the rage these days, from business collaboration tools, like Document & Spreadsheet apps, to the YouTube’s and Flickr’s of the web. Either way you look at it, it would appear that universal access is getting nearer and nearer. Eventually cloud computing will be the only computing, and the only OS you’ll need will be completely location independent. But for now, there are a few choices to get started with. Between Apple’s .Mac service and Google Apps, which is more likely for consumers to choose?

Let’s breakdown the basic features and compare the two:

Basic Features	.Mac	Google Apps
Mail	IMAP	IMAP/POP
Online Storage	10 Gigs Shared	Unknown
Web Hosting
Backup
Calendar
Address Book
Syncing

.Mac

Since the most recent update, .Mac has brought new and exciting features. The .Mac Web Gallery offers unparalleled ability to share photos and slideshows. Users now have 10 gigs at their disposal to share between Mail and storing files. One feature that has most intrigued me is “Back To My Mac.” Currently it lets .Mac users access any of their computers from outside their own network. If I’m at home, I can access my work computer and vice versa. What interests me most is my hope of one day seeing very similar features across the iPhone and iPod Touch platforms. Imagine throwing in a bit of Front Row access, and you’re streaming your favorite videos or music from wherever you are. .Mac also offers a complete Backup and Restore utility, the ability to Sync iCal and Address Book across multiple Macs, which can come in handy especially if you’re on the go. In total these features will cost you $99 a year.

Google Apps

Currently Google offers 5.6 gigs for Gmail and has announced GDrive, their answer to online storage. Currently the amount of online storage space is unknown but I imagine it to grow similar to Gmail. Knowing Google, this probably won’t be your average online storage. Perhaps online sharing and then some? Currently box.net is my choice for online storage. They offer the capability of sharing as well as document editing. With Google you know if they introduce something new, it’s going to go above and beyond what you expect.

Google also has Picasa and Blogger under their belt. With Picasa users can currently store and share one gig worth of photos online. Page Creator lets users create websites and upload them to Blogger. Google also features Google Docs & Spreadsheets for online editing. While you may not be able to cross sync computers, or access another computer, having your Calender and Documents stored online makes remote accessibility easy. Having everything edited and stored online means you never have to worry about syncing computers to get the most up to date information. Other features include Google Talk for online communicating, Google Reader, and your own personalized homepage. Naturally the most attractive feature offered by Google is having all these utilities completely mobile and completely free.

One Google to Rule Them All?

Gmail is the true gateway drug. As soon as you switch, you feel compelled to use all the other Google utilities and features available before you. Whether your poison is Google Reader or iGoogle, there’s a strong platform to expand on. With their rate of acquisitions, Google can only stand to gain more ground. So for this user, while .Mac may look pretty and be feature friendly, but I’m sticking with Google. You can’t beat free, and you can’t be mobile the way Google achieves it.

However, I think it’s interesting to note that the CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, is also on the Board of Directors for Apple. So while they may be competing for universal access, maybe they really are just be building off of one another.

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As much as it saddens me to admit this, I must say it. I’m not the fanboy I thought I was. Gary Allen has completely shown me up. His devotion for Apple compels him to attend Apple store openings globally. What is this fascination and how does it translate to Apple marketing?

Going through my RSS feeds, I came across Allen’s photos of the recently opened West 14th St. Apple Store in Manhattan. And it immediately hits me. This is why Allen goes to every opening: a beautiful descending glass spiral staircase, illuminated by a circle of lights below; glass walkways and a complete three story warehouse retrofitted with Apple simplicity in gray paneling, and beach wood accents. This is how I imagine my house to look, and it makes me want to fly to New York simply to enjoy the aesthetic presence of the store. It’s an architectural marvel, and maybe that’s just enough incentive to garner foot traffic for Apple.

Why it works

Nothing beats word of mouth marketing, and by creating a completely open environment for customers to enter and be free to play, talk or hang out is a beautiful thing. It’s like the Starbucks of the IT industry. You compare the Apple store to the Dell stands you see in malls and you realize the immediate polarization in business models as well as brand. Apple fosters community-building relationships, not only between customers and machines, but between customers and other customers. Walking into an Apple store, I feel completely open to talk to the stranger standing next to me playing with the same device. After all, we tend to share one huge interest: our devotion for Apple. It’s always interesting to see a new customer’s interaction as well, the immediate joy they gain from playing with an iPhone or Apple TV. It’s great to see the consumer-on-consumer action, where a knowledgeable customer is more than willing to share their interest and facts with others. Their enthusiasm and passion is conveyed, and the word of mouth has succeeded. Apple now has a new customer.

In that regard, Apple Stores are not about the sale. They are geared toward the special interest groups, giving rise to the Genius Bar and the kids section. These focus topics for discussion with professionals and other users. I remember when the iPhone was released. I picked up an iPhone and realized to my surprise the phone was completely activated. As other people caught on, you could see them calling friends and family right from the store. The staff was friendly, inviting and continued to cheer customers on their purchases. It struck me then that if ever I was in need of free access to the Internet, I could swing by a local Apple Store and get work done.

The Next Social

Apple continues to have a strong community presence, but imagine that spreading to local Apple Retail Stores. Apple has already taken this into consideration, what with their many workshops and one-on-one help services. Larger stores have gone so far as to have dedicated presentation rooms. Imagine being able to reserve it for meetings and more. You wouldn’t need to bring anything, the store’s already chock full of supplies. Throw in wifi, and you’re set.

So the next time you have a few hours to kill, be sure to grab a tea from the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and hang out at an Apple Store for awhile. Who knows, you might make a new friend.

P.S. I would love to see Frank Gehry get his hands on an Apple Store. That is something I would definitely make a trip for.

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Today, the “Alerts” option expanded beyond e-mail, as when logging into the iTunes Store, I saw a “New” tag on the right side under Quick Links, called “My Alerts”. By clicking on “My Alerts”, I can view all new music or music videos from artists I’ve flagged, without having to wait for the weekly e-mails from Apple.

I’ve included two partial screenshots showing the two options in “My Alerts”, for “Music” and “Music Videos”. Looking ahead in speculative mode, it’s not too farfetched to think eventually Apple could extend the alerts program to TV shows or movies and offer alerts by actor, director, or subject, much as TiVo does with its “Wish List”.

iTunes Store: My Alerts: Music

iTunes Store: My Alerts: Music Videos

The move is just one more way Apple is looking to better personalize the iTunes Store experience, as Amazon.com and TiVo have before it. From the “Just for You” feature which tries to guess at other tunes I would like and the addition of a more-embedded “My Alerts”, Apple is certainly making strides to make it even easier for me to find and buy what I want quickly. To visit your own “My Alerts” page in the iTunes Store, Visit “My Alerts”.

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