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Comment by chongli | Hacker News Reader

Why does there even need to be a kiosk? Just have a QR code you scan and it installs the app on your phone. The app could then use location services to figure out which restaurant you're standing in and then you can order from the comfort of your own phone. People are used to this now with Uber Eats and Doordash.

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I just want to buy a mcmuffin and not have to download some spyware on my phone

This could actually work if they used a website and the UX was better.

Instead they're forcing you to choose a strong password, enter your credit card number, specify your age and sex and sign up for spam before letting you choose your appetizer.

The most irritating part is that these UX issues aren't that hard to fix.

> Just have a QR code you scan and it installs the app on your phone.

Those at wordt thatll never enter my mind. At all. Why do people surrender their hardware so easily?

Convenience.

Order food on my phone and they walk it out to my car while I'm listening to ads on the radio. Win, win for everyone.

And I have the McD's app so locked down I'm surprised they actually let me order food.

But is it convenient? Really? I've tried this stuff and it's been without exception a subpar and slow experience. I can see how it could be a great experience, it's just that it's always contracted out, framework upon framework shovelware. ad infested if you're lucky.

The only upside I can find, and it correlates with what crowd is positive, that it suits those that really want to avoid human interaction.

A QR code is just a bit of text encoded in an easy-to-read scheme (for machines). It lets you link to the app download page on the App Store / Play Store. QR codes cannot run arbitrary code on your phone.

They're obviously talking about the app the QR code points to. The one you suggest should be a requirement for ordering.

Apps can, though.

i don't visit McDonald, (and I've never used uber eat type services, at least so far) often enough to have thair app on my phone. Not to mention all the other fast food resteraunts in my town. when I travel I often will try a regional chain that isn't in my area, again I don't want their app.

if you eat fast food foremost meals then the apps might make sense. However that isn't healthy.

That's more or less how it works in China, not only at McDonald's but at almost every restaurant. It's usually not an app but a WeChat mini-program which essentially loads like a website. You can also pay through WeChat so you don't have to type out credit card information or create some user account. I personally really like the user experience.

That sounds great. Part of the draw for app installs is loyalty programs and push notifications, are those available through WeChat as well?

You people are actually going to turn me into a ludditic hermit with this shit. I do not want to install random corpo spyware to do literally everything in my life!

don't worry, McDonald's already profiled you via camera and whatever radio emissions your phone and car are making from the moment you entered their parking lot, so you don't need to install their app for them to spy on you.

Ever heard of sandboxing? App Clips?

Or are you concerned that the app is not compatible with the Android 9-based custom ROM you are rocking?

Eat a carrot, instead.

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