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These days, it seems like there is an app for just about everything. The trend seems to be leaning towards making life just a little bit easier for us. Developer Mobestream Media recently revamped their Key Ring Reward Cards app by completely updating their user interface as well as addressing some key issues. This most recent update to v5.03 has finally addressed what was probably the biggest flaw in previous versions. Before we go into what is better, let’s take a look at what is good.

Between bills and those awesome $3.99 apps we just always have to buy; I would not be surprised if most of us are on a tight budget these days. However, if you are like me, you cut corners everywhere you can; except when it comes to your sweet, sweet Droid. Mobestream Media’s Key Ring Reward Cards app helps in a couple of ways. Just as the name of the app suggests; the purpose of it is to organize all those annoying, yet useful and FREE, little plastic rewards cards. The app stores them all in one place so that no matter where you find yourself, you can just hold your Droid up for the clerk to scan. You have two methods of inputting your cards; you can either scan them using your camera or manually type in the digits found above the barcode. If you have many cards, this can be a pain, but you only have to do this once. The application has a free backup service that will automatically back up all card information to a server once you complete a quick registration that only requires your name, email address and a password.

There is also a few subtle features included in this version like the “won’t scan” button which, when pressed, will display the numerical code in big bold letters above the headline “Cashier: Please Enter this Number”. I personally thought this was a nice little feature. Including the word “Please” was a nice touch. It does not hurt for our apps to be just as polite as we are right? One additional feature that I like is the ability to join other programs. Not all stores have Reward cards. Some prefer to advertise other programs in other mediums like the newspaper. This app brings them all to your phone.

One improvement makes this FREE app really worth having on your phone. It used to be that the barcode the app displayed for clerks to scan was literally too small. The barcode itself was roughly about the size of two icons on your home screen. Taking that and other factors like screen brightness, glare, reflection, and ambient light into account; and you were left with an app that was almost useless. I mean, sure, if the clerk was not in a hurry and nice enough, he or she would be more than willing to manually type the barcode info into the register. Luckily, with v5.03 update that problem is significantly reduced. The displayed barcode is now triple the size of what it was in previous; roughly about the area of six icons on your home screen which is large enough to scan under most circumstances. Of course, each user’s experience will be different across different devices but here are just a few places I have gotten good scans with my Droid Incredible:

Ralphs
Borders
Games Stop
CVS Pharmacy
Office Depot
Sports Authority
Target
Best Buy
24 Hour Fitness
Bevmo

Overall, this is a great app to have and with a price tag of FREE, who can really complain. It will help you save money and clear up that Key Ring. Now, if only I could find my keys…

Key Ring Reward Cards Mobestream Media Gratis