Groundspeak Android App - Part 1 - Finding A Cache.

I thought I would do another update with the geocaching app and kind of do a step through to help people.

This is the startup screen. It is only online for a few seconds.

Screen #2 - The start screen

Start Screen

On the start screen there are a number of options.  The first thing that you should do is click the button on the top.  (See screen #2) The one here listed as "Switch User"  I do not remember if there is another option if no one is ever put in. You will notice that when you are logged in you have your icon from geocaching.com, player name, find count and if you are a premium member.

On this page you see a number of options. (see screen #2 again)  Of these we will only deal with the "Find Nearby caches" but first, select your menu button.  Two options will pop up "Settings" and "Help"  select the Settings button.

Screen #3 - Settings

Settings

On the settings screen you can set it up to be able to modify your hunts for caches. 

Basic/Advanced

The top one has two menu options. Basic and Advanced.  When you do a search and have Basic selected, it will show only the traditional caches in the area.  If you have Advanced everything will show up.  This means it will include Letterbox, puzzle, multi-caches, events, etc.  Everything that appears on a geocaching website will be on your screen

Show All/Hide Finds

The next option down is what will take off caches that you have already found.  Sometimes you may not want to see the caches that you have already found.  Removing them from your search list

Units

This lets you change things from Imperial (miles/feet) to metric (kilometers.meters)

Database Location

This will determine where the database is located on the phone or on the SD card.

Screen #4 - The cache lis

Now our actual search.  If we go back to Screen #2 above is select the Find Nearby Caches.  A list of caches will pop up.

This lets you know a number of things about the caches.  The icon for the type of caches.  The check-mark that is show points out that I have found the cache before.   You also see the name, GC#, Direction, Distance Favorite Points, if there are trackables, distance, and difficulty/terrain.

You can select a cache here.

Screen #5 - Cache PageThis screen adds many more options, and shows the same info as the previous screen, however there is more.  This screen adds The date the cache was placed, the last find, and who placed it.

Some more options

Navigate to Geocache

I will cover that in just a minute.

Description

This will give you all the info that is on the cache page.

Recent Logs

This will show you some of the last logs, and there is a spot on the bottom of the page to be able to load more caches logs than you can see.

Hint

Really you want to see a hint?

Attributes

You can get a list of attributes for the cache if the cache owner has selected some.

Inventory

This will tell you if there are any travel bugs or geocoins in the cache and what they are.   You can actually select those and get more information about them.

Post a Log/Field Note

I will deal with this on a future entry.

Add to favorites

Give the cache a favorite point if you like it.

Save to offline list.

This lets you save a cache to a list of caches so that you can review them offline.

Remove from offline list.

If it was on a list and now you want to take it off.

Find nearby Geocaches

This one lets you do a new search, centered from the cache you are at now

View on Geocaching.com

Takes you to the website

View on External Map

You can go to another map and check the cache.

Screen #6Now lets look at the map from Navigating to Geocaching.  The map will show you how to get to the cache.  There is a menu at the bottom. 

The compass will show a compass pointing to the cache. Adding a waypoint will let you select another location to go to, manually. 

The Map mode will let you switch to a street view and a Satellite view.

Another search button, and another button that takes you to the settings.

Well that is it for now.

Update on 2011-11-10 03:48 by firennice

Geocoin time

Well after I made a coin a few years ago I decided it was time for round two.  I have been looking for places for some time, and decided that it was time to dive in.

I got these back today after I spent my time working on them.  Hopefully I will have a sample soon. Needless to say I am exited.

i wanted to find two things, both deal with Utah.  Everyone does delicate arch.  So I thought I would use Rainbow Bridge.  A really cool monument in the desert.  The back came to me after a lot of thought.  I had taken a picture at the location of Potter's Ponds.  So I decided to use that photo for the back, and highlight the cache.

How to annoy your geocache reviewer

This is not meant to be a "how to" but look at how to avoid annoying your reviewer. Some of the things that people do have no effect on me being annoyed, other things drive me insane.  Remember that if you place one cache to be reviewed, that you are only one of 10-60 that are there for me to look at in a single day.

The annoying list - the top 10 for me

10 - You Cheat

I used to like to do puzzle caches, they were fun, and it was great to be able to say, "Yep I found that horribly evil cache and solved the puzzle"  When people found out that I was the reviewer I got a few messages second hand where people accused me of cheating to solve the puzzle.  lt is soo hard, and I am so dumb, that I could not solve it on my own.

This took much of the fun of solving a puzzle away from me.  I have a number of them that i have solved, and I just drive by them.  Someday I will visit them, but I don't know when.

Another variation is that I told someone where the cache was.  I have never told anyone and don't plan that I ever will.  I have been offered money, and steaks, all in jest at events for answers, but I have never given them out.

9 - I was driving through Utah from Florida, and thought this spot looked good for a cache.

Oh crap, how do I deal with this.  When I ask about maintenance often I will get the following answer "I will just archive it when there are problems"  That is when I know I am in trouble.  That is not how the system works, and why we don't want a vacation caches.  It is actually a non-maintenance plan.

I have had a few situations where it was even worse.  Here is a nice exchange

"Yes I will have TomDick&Harry maintain it for me" - them

"Sorry you are within 528' of another cache" -me

"I can't move it, i live a long ways away, please list it, I will not let it happen again." them

"Why can't the person that will be maintaining it for you? - me

"They dont live near there either." - Them

"Sorry, if no one is nearby to move it then you obviously have no maintainer" - me

how can it be worse?

"But I have three travel bugs in there, they will be lost forever." - Them

>>Facepalm<<

8 - I have 20/30/40+ caches to list tomorrow morning - Here they are

It does not happen often but once and a while I get a pile of caches that the cache owner need to be listed for an event, or something special. Usually that "something special" is within 12 hours.  Note to cacher:  It takes time, and you are one cacher out of a dozen or more.  Why should others wait because of you.  Give it some time, plan ahead.

I have also had a cache that needed to be listed by a certain date.  Event caches are that way, or a cache for an event or a birthday, or anniversary.   Too often people don't check their emails when there were problems.  One sent me mean emails when I had not listed their cache, and they had not noticed until right before.  They had not seen my email with problems, did not check if it was listed, and never addressed problems, until it was too late to hit the deadline.

You may also consider your event.  Some like to wait until two weeks before to pop it on the schedule.  Then if I take the weekend to get back to reviewing, then there is a problem with the cache page, you can be too late to get it listed.

7 - I must be the reviewers best friend - At all costs

Don't call me, phone me, appear on my doorstep (except to find the cache there).  I like people, and I like caching.  Yet there are boundaries.  When I am teaching my scouts I dont want my scouts be caching time, or church to be caching time, shopping for grocieries to be caching time, or my family time to be caching.. wait, actually i do want that last one. 

Don't become my friend on every social media, and interject caching into everything.  Sometimes a picture of me and my Dog is just that, for fun.  If I am at dinner, don't ask my if that is a cache container at my plate (it is a glass).  If I am showing a picture of a scout troop, it is most likely not a cache run.  I enjoy talking caching when it is appropriate.  I also like photography, and really enjoy when they naturally go together.  However it is creepy when you turn everything into caching.

Don't read every log I ever made, check every geocaching.com photo, or just follow me around town.  Restraining orders are a pain to get.

6 - Get mad about hidden waypoints, or premium caches, or saturation

I did not place the multi-cache that fills the entire park, or make it a premium cache that you were not aware was there.  I did not place your cache 300' from one that is clearly marked.  I feel bad when that happens, I really do.  Especially to new people.  (I do however laugh mercilessly if it happens to Cold1) However there are rules in place.  I like to review.  If I just listed everything I got I would not be revieweing for long, groundspeak would find someone else.

5 - A long list of coords to check

Ok, you may not know this.  But when I need to check coords for hidden waypoints for others I have to make a cache page. I go through the process like you.  It may not take time to do 1 or 2.  But twenty is a pain in the butt.  Think of how long it takes for youj to make a cache page.  I do not have some magic program that makes them for me. Hmmmmm there is an idea.  This may not seem obvious, but it does annoy me.

Simple way to fix a test cache page is to label it that you are checking coords.  In the additional waypoints that you can add all the other coords that you want to check.  It makes it very simple for me.

4 - The commercial or agenda cache

I don't want to go into the argument of if they are ok or not.  Everyone has an agendas are dear to peoples hearts. Caches about breast cancer, veterans, Senator Charles, President Willy, puppy farms, gun control, or abortion are all troubled.  I don't like arguing the point.  Sometimes I support your agenda, but it is not the place. 

Note: Some get mad if the cache is accused of being an egenda, and we ask you to remove some text to make it ok.  Usually that anger makes it clear that it is an agenda.  For most non agenda caches, asking a needed change would not cause people to get upset.

3 - Complaining about powertrails, micros, hard caches, dangerous, etc.

I dont approve caches, I publish them.  I dont determine that power trails are cool, though I do enjoy them.  If you hate those go to the forums and start the argument.  Note the forum schedule for new complaint threads:

• Monday -  Micros
• Tuesday - Reviewers suck
• Wednesday - Power Trails
• Thursday - Groundspeak sucks
• Friday - Someone Deleted my Log or stole my travel bug
• Saturday - your choice
• Sunday - Bring back virtuals

If a cache is by a dumpster, dont go find it.  If the cache is by a stockyard, or rendering plant and the area smells bad, then drive away.  If it is on a cliff, under a rattlesnake, or hiddeen under broken glass and crack needles, avoid it.  I am not forcing you to get the cache. Complaining to me does little good.

2 - Offensive language

Calling me a whore, slut, or other language that is far more offensive does not make me love you more.  I am not more likely to take your side on that argument, or another argument in the future.  When I archive your cache because it has been ignored, disabled for eight months, or post a warning note, it does you no good to get mad. 

Sometimes I do make a mistake, or jump the gun on an archival.  A friendly email may make me see it from another angle, and angry email just makes me move on to the next email.  Or perhaps I am just testing you to see if you are paying attention, yes, I am sure that is it.

1 - The "I am the only person in the world" syndrome.

Reviewers do not take the job because one person is so great in their area they cannot wait to see their caches and publish them.   If you treat me like trash that is doing this all for you, thenI will ignore you. If you are a pain in the butt, I will look at your last.

When 30 caches come up I go through them one at a time.  If I see issues I come back to them.  If I am on my phone publishing, I will come back to problem caches later when I am at home.  If I am in a hurry, I will list the caches that are simple and easy.  That clears out my queue a little bit, and give people something to hunt for.

The goal is to do the first review of caches in 72 hours. You may see others listed, and yours may have issues.  Look at it closer. It is also possible that I may have also only reviewed 30 out of 100. Yours is still on the way.

If you have issues, you drop to the bottom of the pile.  If I find that there are problems, I leave a note.  Typcially the next day I open and go through new caches first, then go through the emails, and caches on hold.   Don't whine, complain, email hourly, text, call, IM, and post on my wall every few minutes. I go through those that have had issues one at a time.   Usually oldest to newest.

Please email me to remind me if it has taken a while.  It can get buried.  Just don't bombard me.

What people think annoys me that does not

Some people think these bug me.  They usually don't.

Take it to appeals

Does not bother me.  They make the rules, they can bend/break them.  Not me.  They say it is ok, then it is ok. I sometimes point people to appeals, most of the time with no luck.  I think they  believe I am offended by the idea.

Gentle Reminders

I have gone on vacations, walked away for a few days, been buried, forgot to click "watch" on a cache and see your notes.  A simple email does not bother me, and helps me get going.

Pointing out Mistakes

I have had people point to me caches where there are issues. Things that slip by me.  Sometimes they are not serious enough for me to archive, other times they are.  Thanks for letting me know.

-updated for fun- 5/16/13

Update on 2011-10-23 22:00 by firennice

One worked, the other didn't.

Book Deal

A week and a half ago I interviewed with a book publisher to update the Idiots guide to Geocaching.  I thought things went really well.  However, someone else did much better.  So my change faded away.  Hopefully things will move forward.  Maybe that is the spark to do my own book.  It would be fun, and a challenge, and a lot of work.  

I had a feeling when i contacted them last week.  They were supposed to have made the decision, but had decided to interview another.  In the real world that usually points at one of two things.  The boss has asked you to interview his relative or good friend.  So you do that just to be nice and get it over with.  The other option is that they were not entirely satisfied and decided to add another into the mix.  The nice part is that I am one of four others that are depressed today.

Geocaching Merit Badge

This weekend I teach Geocaching at Brigham Young University.  Actually it is to a ton of scouts.  120 to be exact.  Three classes of forty.  So I have been throwing together a power point.  There is another teacher and we each have a 2-3 assistants.

Well, at the moment I am done with  my power point.  I am looking for a place to upload it.  It does not seem to work well here. The file is 15meg and throws an error.  It is not very useful outside of scouts as it has a lot of time on Safety, first aid, Leave no trace, etc.  Thought it is a presentation.. the presenter still needs to talk about a lot to make it clear.

Farewell to Steve

About 30+ years ago I walked into a classroom and saw the computer in the back corner, an Apple II.  For the next 3-4 years, that computer did more for me than many others.  It was actually an apple II+

The clunky and massive computer. Built in keyboard and so much more.

The specs for this monster...

48k of memory. (not meg, not gig, but k).

Drives held 128k floppy disks.  Big disks.  There were some odd colors.  16 total if i remember.  But all your text were green on a black screen.  Unless you programmed it different.

Games, programming, formating cute girls disks. It was an amazing maching for a nerd from the day.

I look back now and think of that as the beginning.  My first computer I owned was the original after market Mac upgrade.  That was ten years later.

I would never return to them.  CAD software took me another way.  Never to return.

It did form me.  It taught me to work with them, and not to be afriad.  I went to college to go into computer science.  Something new, and exiting.  I never did continue that.  I realized I like to draw more than I liked to program.

I helped others, teaching others how to use them, and the Macs that followed.  I spend many times in college computer labs showing people how the Macs worked, how to avoid viruses, and planting funny ones on others. Those days are long gone now.  But they did form me and my future.

Thanks Steve Jobs for the vision you and Wozniak had. Thanks for telling people they wanted a computer in their home.  Thanks for making the Apple II and Macintoshes.  they pushed me on your path.

Though I do not follow apple any longer I feel part of me has moved on. Sorry you moved on at the young age that you did. Farewell, and my condolences to your family and friends.