“Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs wants to patent a process that will save customers the hassle of waiting to order a cup of coffee at a local Starbuck or a fresh burger at the nearest fast food restaurant. Even better: The technology would let you jump the line of those ordering in person,” Brian Caulfield reports for Forbes.
MacDailyNews Take: Please define “fresh” as it relates to a fast-food burger.
Caulfield continues, “In an application with the U.S. Patent Office filed on Dec. 20, the Cupertino, Calif.-based computer and gadget company described a wireless system that would allow customers to place an order at a store using a wireless device such as a media player, a wireless personal digital assistant or a cellphone.”
“Apple’s application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office describes a process for placing an order and then notifying customers when an order is ready to grab at a pick-up station. One goal, the patent application notes, is to avoid an ‘annoying wait in a long queue if the purchaser arrives before completion of the order,'” Caulfield reports.
“U.S. Patent Application #20070291710 describes a device that also would keep tabs on where a user shops and what he or she likes to buy. Computers at participating stores would keep track of regular customers and their favorite orders,” Caulfield reports.
“Customers might tap a button to order their favorite drink, say a double-shot mocha, as they stroll up to the nearest coffee shop. When the drink is ready go to, the device–such as an iPhone–would chime or blink to let the thirsty one know it’s time to scoop up the order at the counter,” Caulfield reports.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “ChrissyOne” for the heads up.]
Using Apple products has been letting us bypass frustrations faced by the riffraff for years. This would just add one more benefit to the burgeoning list.
I’m pretty sure they are western U.S. only, but In & Out Burger is served up nice and fresh. Any other recommendations out there?
I have to admit, if this comes to fruition, we’ll wonder how we ever lived without. The “old way” will seem archaic.
Good job Chrissy! I would use something like this.
The Real® Zune Tang®…
Your problems. Our privilege.
The riffraff….hilarious.
Gloating has really gained some teeth this past year. I no longer wince when I pull my gear out in a meeting.
What is this, Apple Patent Day??? Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that His Steveness has hoards of new ideas from which to make/improve the outstanding products coming from the R&D;labs, but all this teasing is making me crazy!!!
Macworld Expo can’t get here fast enough…
The goal of complete cessation of human interaction could be one step closer with this fine idea. Down with people!
I love this idea!!!
In-&-Out Burgers are great. I miss the old bumper stickers…
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*BEHOLD* as MDN uses their iMac to bypass the riffraff at McDonalds for a Big Mac (ahem).
I wish we had Carl’s Jr. in Washington. 🙁
WTF? Going out to eat is expensive. I can make a meal at home and customize it any way I want and I can play games while I eat homemade meals.
Typical Apple. Innovating expensive ways to be locked into proprietary systems.
Your potential. Our passion.™
“I can make a meal at home and customize it any way I want . . . “
It must get old having to eat crow for every meal.
Now, if we could only get a burger chain with Apple’s (or even Starbuck’s) quality and attention to the customer. But didn’t I read somewhere that The Steve was some sort of semi-vegetarian? How wrong to use this technology to order burnt cow. It would be almost like playing Solitaire on a Mac.
How about escort service, press GetAction button and iPhone (w built-in GPS) locates the nearest street corner with provider on duty and makes reservation for you… hmmm, creepy
lurker,
Over here in the UK, we have a chain called Gourmet Burger Kitchen which started to win my business merely by still using those kitsch squeezy tomatoes to dispense ketchup.
On top of that, they do great food – burgers made with organic beef, one of the few UK chains that understands that a salad is more than limp lettuce, some under-ripe tomatoes and something that almost resembles a cucumber; also, the garlic sauce is amazing.
Comes at a price, but so does anything assembled with a bit of care and expertise.
“I’m pretty sure they are western U.S. only, but In & Out Burger is served up nice and fresh. Any other recommendations out there?”
In Canada it’s definitely Harvey’s …. it’s a beautiful thing!
” . . . The Steve was some sort of semi-vegetarian?”
Pescetarian. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pescetarianism)
A semi-vegetarian only eats trucked in plants.
“In Canada it’s definitely Harvey’s . . .”
I always knew that giant rabbit could cook.
“How about escort service, press GetAction button . . .”
Then suddenly the Zune wouldn’t suck.
“Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs wants to patent..”
Is it me, or does it just seem like sloppy reporting to attribute all of Apple’s actions to Steve Jobs personally. What other company is reported this way? It’s as if he is the only guy there. Not only are all product ideas directly credited to him, all of Apple’s flaws are direct reflections of Steve’s own character flaws.
it’s bizzare.
Soon no one will be able to order any food or pay any bill without first having purchased a device from apple or a device containing hardware licensed from apple. This sounds SUPER! Very soon all people will be slaved to an apple product. This should go over well, kind of like Kristallnacht.
So you can not only get a song from StarBucks via your iPhone, but their menu will show up on screen? Cool.
I often have an “annoying wait in a long queue” – Could this technology help me?
Much more useful than a big ass table…
Isn’t that what Microsoft’s “Big Ass Table” is for?