I grow tired of Starbucks’ wifi pollution
Posted By Mike Orren in Square Pegs on August 22, 2008
I think it's great that Starbucks now has AT&T wifi because as an
home customer I can log in for free.
But what is annoying as hell is that because I've logged into one Starbucks hotspot on my iPhone, it picks up every Starbucks hotspot as a recognized location because they are all named the same.
So, when I am safely stopped at a long stoplight in the car and trying to check my email, it often fails to work because instead of operating on EDGE or 3G, it has connected to the nearest Starbucks wifi and doesn't work because a browser-based login is required to start every session.
Starbucks / AT&T, please name your hotspots uniquely. I and all other obsessive iPhone users thank you.
Andrew Laska, says:
I don't think Starbucks is at fault. Its the iPhone.
There are several non-iPhones with wifi, 3G and so on and so forth that were available before the iPhone was ever released and at cheaper prices. Mine, for example, has both a hardware and software switch for wifi.
Verified
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
So, when I am safely stopped at a long stoplight...
Uh huh.
Noted. Pls update if/when they assign unique names.
Verified
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
Andrew, the iPhone has a software switch, but I wouldn't want to distract myself on the road by navigating those menus. ;-)
All easily fixed by the stores including their store number in the wifi ID.
Staff
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
Ok - I have to ask since I am in the midst of yet another phone malfunction; Is the iPhone really worth all the cost/time/effort it takes to get one (and understand one)? Are you all happy with your purchases?
Anonymous
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Very happy! And I'm as frugal as they come. Not so sure it's the best idea for someone who runs through phones every few months, though.
Definitely get a case that fits a smaller case and cover it in bubble wrap. =p
Verified
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Michael Davis, says:
And to think my buddy Mike Orren recommended I get an iPhone. I just got my Tilt in the mail homie!
Seriously though, update us when they get this fixed. I've been curious w/r/t how the whole ATT/Starbucks thing will work out.
Verified
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
Bubble wrap! Excellent idea!
Michael - I was looking at the Tilt also. Do you like?
Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread and make it all about me.
Ok - Yes I did.
Anonymous
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Rachel Skinner, says:
P.S: Just in case you didn't know, if you get a Starbucks giftcard and register it online, all you have to do is keep it active every 30 days and you get two free hours of wifi every day at any Starbucks. <br>Heck freaking yes!!! <br>And I didn't think the iPhone was worth the At&T fees so I just got the iPod Touch and it still blows me away.
Verified
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Doyle hates moving parts on phones. Didn't trust flip phones and sure enough, first one I get (razr) eventually craps out at the hinges and screen was no longer viewable. =( I certainly don't trust the Tilt's longevity (friends had issues with the Sidekick, seems relatively similar).
Then again, I'm pretty much hosed if the touchscreen goes out on the iPhone. le sigh
I'm not sure why people bitch about the iPhone monthly service costs, though. It's no more expensive than <a href="http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?device=AT%26T+Tilt(TM)&q_sku=sku1060009">the Tilt</a> or any other smartphone that I've seen. Feel free to show me up on that - I'd definitely like to know what's comparatively better.
Verified
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Not implying Rachel's bitching, btw. If she smiles like that all the time, she's pretty much high on life!
Verified
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Pavel Lishin, says:
My flip phone works just fine. Then again, it's thicker than a business card and not made out of used bubble gum and dreams.
Verified
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
The little text bubbles are really cute on the iPhone. I hate to make a decision based on something so frivolous but then I did buy my Razor because it was a really cool pink.
I think you're right Doyle, the upgrade price for the Tilt was up there.
Anybody have a Vu?
Anonymous
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Well, that too. Was referencing their monthly service plans - <a href="http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?device=AT%26T+Tilt(TM)&q_sku=sku1060009">Tilt </a> looks same as <a href="http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/specials/iphone-info.jsp">iPhone</a>, if not higher for various bundled stuff.
Verified
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Oudekerk, says:
Ninety-five percent of the world is scrambling to find their next meal, and you folks are fretting about whether an iPhone is oversynching to Starbucks' free WiFi hotspot. Good to know this pack has its priorities in order.
Anonymous
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Alex Bentley, says:
Geez, Oudekerk, way to be a buzzkill. So, just so I'm understanding you correctly, are you saying that because much of the world has problems, we're not allowed to talk about anything frivolous?
Staff
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Is Oudekerk taking an internet break from the soup kitchen in Somalia? Wtf?
Verified
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Pavel Lishin, says:
Oudekerk - are you spoon-feeding a starving African child right now, while pedaling a bike hooked up to an electrical generator? Because if not, how dare you waste your time commenting on the internet - which 95% of the world can't afford?
<center><img alt="Yeah, I went there." src="http://uploads.postfarm.net/public/postfarm/uploads-1.0/highhorse.jpg"></center>
Verified
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
The whole office just saw Pavel's comment and groaned in unison.
Well played, sir.
Staff
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
Pavel - I love you more and more every day.
Anonymous
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Michael Davis, says:
Sidenote: The tilt rocks - it has a real keyboard which is easier to type on than an iphone. Learning all of the features is taking a while, since i've never used a PDA. There's an update coming out next week so you can stream live video and something called Microsoft Voice Command (Dial any number in your phone book without recording a voice tag and open programs with your voice), among other stuff.
Verified
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Pavel Lishin, says:
Enabling drunk-dialers everywhere. Brilliant!@
Verified
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal