CardStar (Free)
Version 1.4
REVIEW – “An app that conveniently stores all of your card information in one place is definitely a winner with me.”
It’s sometimes hard to tell what a specific app does just by the app name – for me, CardStar was one of these. The icon looked cool – bright, colorful, nice to look at, but what did it actually do? Once I looked closely at the picture, I noticed that the cute picture was actually a key chain of rewards cards, hmmmm, I though to myself, this could be interesting.
Previous apps that I have downloaded have been the direct result of Apple commercials showing exactly what the app does, why you need it and what the app count is – I think we’re at 80,000 and counting. Let’s be honest, with those numbers, how are you possibly supposed to keep up? Although majority of my friends have iPhones and “Do you have that new app…” is a common topic, things get overlooked. So when I am in the mood to download a new app, it’s off to the App Store on my iPhone or apple.com
The recent discovery of CardStar on my App Store led to a lot of research – is this real? How clever! and Why didn’t I think of this? The app is very easy to use and is very straightforward in holding the information. After I downloaded the free app, a + sign allows you to add your rewards card by searching through categories or typing in the store or company name. The categories are small enough that there isn’t any overlap and they consist of things like: gas, grocery, entertainment, retail, etc. After searching through the many categories, I all but sprinted to find my wallet and start adding my own cards.
The break down of categories makes this already easy app, even easier to work with. It had all of the major companies that I searched and even some that I didn’t think of. It is literally as simple as typing your member/rewards card number into the application and pressing save. The company name and logo will save along with a bar code that makes for easy scanning when you are checking out. No more fumbling
through your wallet, no more carrying tiny plastic cards on your key ring. Let’s face it, if you have an iPhone, chances are you have it handy anyway. Personally, I carry my phone more often than I carry my wallet.
Other than the nifty barcode, CardStar stores your information in the form of the small blue “i” in the bottom, right corner of your bar code. Tapping this icon gives you your membership number, a telephone number to contact the company, the web address that automatically opens in safari, a store locator that also opens in safari and bases the search off of your location and the option of logging onto your account, which also opens in safari.
An app that conveniently stores all of your card information in one place is definitely a winner with me. Even if I’m not checking out a grocery store, if I want to buy something online and Borders.com asks for my rewards number, I know that I have it, even if my purse or keys aren’t handy. It’s a free app, but even if it wasn’t, I think I would pay ninety-nine cents for it. It is definitely worth downloading as there is absolutely nothing to lose and only your savings to gain.
angelina r
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Developer – Mesa Dynamics, LLC
URL: http://www.mycardstar.com
DEVELOPERS NOTES
CardStar features SyncScan™, our advanced system for rendering barcodes. This new technology allows for successful barcode scanning with most merchants using handheld scanning guns. Some difficulties may still arise when attempting to use flatbed scanners, but these models typically come with a side scanner that we recommend be used when available.
Welcome to CardStar, your very own personal card manager.
Leave those bulky plastic “reward cards” and “club cards” at home! CardStar lets you easily store and quickly retrieve your rewards, club, and loyalty membership cards on your iPhone or iPod touch, where they can be scanned directly from your screen at most merchants*.
Use CardStar to store your membership card information for numerous national and regional merchants (including CVS/pharmacy, Blockbuster, PetSmart and more). And when needed, effortlessly access your cards on-the-fly with a single touch from the CardStar home screen.
Whether you’re at the grocery store, making your travel plans online, or visiting your local gym, don’t get caught without your membership cards again.
CardStar features:
• A merchant list of over 350 companies in 19 categories -– just enter your membership number and you’re ready to go!
• Merchants from the US, Canada, the UK and Australia.
• Advanced options for adding cards not included in the CardStar merchant list.
• Quick access to additional merchant information and store locator.
• Coming soon: access to merchant coupons and promotional content.
Lighten your load and get rid of all that plastic baggage in your wallet or keychain — scan your cards from your mobile device with CardStar!
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR SCANNING:
1) Make sure the screen is free of dust and fingerprints — the SCREEN MUST BE CLEAN. If you use a screen protector and have had problems scanning, remove it and try again.
2) Keep the screen just shy of perpendicular to the scanner and hold the barcode image steady (don’t wave around).
3) Hold the screen approximately 5-7 inches from the scanning device.
4) Keep the screen in a vertical (portrait) orientation. Only use horizontal (landscape) orientation when the barcode is too wide to display otherwise.
QUESTIONS? Please see the FAQ on our web site or contact us at support@mycardstar.com — we’re happy to help!
*In the event that a barcode does not scan, CardStar displays your membership number so that you or the cashier can enter the number by hand. Please contact us if you experience any problems scanning your barcode (especially if it doesn’t match the one on your card).
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