colin&daddy

My weekly mailer had a 4:57pm post time and the distances were the first thing I noticed. All were 0 or .01.

Don't know when this began, but the MapQuest aerial map option is not loading for me in Safari any longer. Is that gone now, too? I thought was the promised replacement for losing Google Sat/Terrain last time around the map merry-go-round. Google Satellite and Bing Aerial work okay in Firefox (augmented), it seems. MAc OS 10.6.8, Safari 5.1.7

If you use the Geocaching Map Enhancements userscript, you can get My Topo maps back by clicking the script's configuration (gear) icon, choosing "Add more maps", pasting the code below into the box, and hitting "Add mapsource". {"alt":"My Topo", "tileUrl":"http://maps.mytopo.com/Groundspeak/tilecache.py/1.0.0/topoG/{z}/{x}/{y}", "attribution":"USGS map from <a href='http://www.mytopo.com/index.cfm'>MyTopo.com</a>", "minZoom":9, "maxZoom":16} Sorry - the changes to the website broke GME in various complicated ways, including the configuration screens not working in Firefox. v0.5.10, uploaded today, should fix that and make the instructions above work again for adding back My Topo. Also, follow these links if you're interested in better quality topo maps of Canada or New Zealand. Userscripts are add-ons for your web browser that can change the way websites look or behave. They can work in most web browsers, apart from Internet Explorer. There are full installation instructions for GME at this address: http://userscripts.o...pts/show/109145 You need to use GME's gear icon (at the bottom-left of the map screen), rather than the one in the FF add-on manager. If you don't see any new icons at the bottom-left of the map, then GME probably isn't installed properly. Make sure you've got the latest version and check these troubleshooting tips. Thanks, jri, I finally got that to work as you described.... only to get a blank map page with "MYTOPO MAPS ONLY AVAILABLE IN SELECT APPS. etc" Curses, foiled again!!! I give up.

If you use the Geocaching Map Enhancements userscript, you can get My Topo maps back by clicking the script's configuration (gear) icon, choosing "Add more maps", pasting the code below into the box, and hitting "Add mapsource". {"alt":"My Topo", "tileUrl":"http://maps.mytopo.com/Groundspeak/tilecache.py/1.0.0/topoG/{z}/{x}/{y}", "attribution":"USGS map from <a href='http://www.mytopo.com/index.cfm'>MyTopo.com</a>", "minZoom":9, "maxZoom":16} Any help for those of us who are not script savvy? +1 I have that script installed FF, Mac Os X.6.8 but cannot figure out how to add that to the installed script. Clicking gear icon in Add-Ons manager with that script selected does not give me the options described. Glad to have Google MAps back, but I miss Topo Maps most of all. Why is it that something else always gets degraded when something is finally fixed? Maddening.

Can't wait to see what new barrels of worms this will open. Couple of quick thoughts: Does the Needs Maintenance warning prevent cache submission or approval? I am not deliberately being obtuse, but if a cache is supposed to be in place to be submitted, how does one put the corresponding GC code on the container prior to placement?

Once again, I find myself incredibly disappointed and annoyed by the implementation of a site update that degrades the user experience. I understand there are different varieties of geocachers, with different needs, and that for many users the maps are not vital to their caching, but personally, I use satellite imagery ALL THE TIME. I am often hiking unmarked trails and it would be IRRESPONSIBLE to not use that information to acquaint myself with the area. And, yes, I am aware that I can get that information from other sources, but part of the reason I pay premium membership is to have that accessible in one place, without having to jump through pocket query and GSAK hoops (which doesn't work on a Mac anyway). My biggest beef, however, is that once again, much of this annoyance could have been forestalled with some basic customer courtesy on the part of Groundspeak. Had they apprised users of the Google Maps situation ahead of time,—even a day or two, people!— invited suggestions and comments on what we valued most in the maps and let us know they were working on possible solutions, rather than summarily instituting a change and telling us to deal with it, much of this dissatisfaction could have been ameliorated. You might say that $30 is not a lot of money, but the amount is irrelevant. Far more important is the amount of time and effort in creating, hiding, and finding and logging caches that we, the users, contribute to the ongoing success, and indeed, the continued existence of geocaching.com. Personally, I have contributed and invested thousands of hours, and provided not inconsiderable other resources to the geocaching experience for others that Groundspeak has not, as have many others I know, and to continually be disrespected by the lack of advance communication or by unwanted feature changes is becoming increasingly tiresome. So, yes, I too am displeased with the substitute maps, and sincerely hope that a better solution is forthcoming. Soon.

I just lost mine on an epic canyon hike descent today.... I'm bummed. If you still have it, I'll make an offer.

But while I've changed nothing in my configuration over the last 24 hours (other than adding a few new NoScript exceptions to keep GC.com working, logs have been on-again, off-again like everybody else has found. In a previous life I've developed web apps using AJAX - doing the same kind of thing the lackeys are doing - so I can imagine the chaos and fine-tuning going on at the lily pad right now. Let me speculate. They tried to reduce the load on their servers by introducing the log paging, because loading lots of avatars for a long series of logs was more load than just loading a bunch of text. So they introduced paging, which added a lot of new server load via DHTML (AJAX), going through new code paths in the servers. This (still speculating) overloads the servers, causing intermittent outage, while the lackeys scramble to fine-tune the parameters at the server end. I'm sure they burned the midnight CFL at the lily pad last night. Oh, and as I'm sure they realize - or have just discovered - getting AJAXy apps to work with a wide variety of browsers is (ahem) a bit of a challenge. They're smart folks (look at what they've already accomplished). Let's give 'em a bit of time to work out the kinks. Well, here's an idea... get rid of the avatars and go back to the plain logs. Was that really an important, er, feature, that needed to be added? Were there that may thousands of users who couldn't tell who was posting that log? Somehow I managed to understand who it was that was logging just by reading the name. Brilliant, I know. LIsten, I'm as proud of my own avatar as anyone (uh, actually, I couldn't care less), but I certainly do not feel compelled to foist it upon every poor soul who encounters one of my logs. If I wanted FACEBOOKcaching—a concept that I despise, in case the sarcasm isn't readily apparent— I'd go there. What I want is a quality geocaching experience without needless and wasteful frippery: well conceived and executed caches, map functionality restored to previous levels, and a reliable, rock-solid web site that just functions. And an apology, dammit. I want an apology from Groundspeak for treating the loyal geocachers who have supported them patiently for years for sacrificing them on the altar of user expansion and thereby degrading everyone's experience. Seriously, has anyone found a decent new cache? And don't get me started on "Challenges." Please. Oh, and I want Travel Bugs to stop disappearing. Yeah, I'm holding my breath. Yes, I am rather peevish. I tend to get disgruntled when I put up with things for months and months hoping my dissatisfaction will be redressed, but instead feel ignored or worse, taken advantage of. As I mentioned before, I have only myself to blame; Groundspeak can do what they want. As my accounting professor quoted the Golden Rule: He who has the gold, makes the rules. Or as my mother used to tell me, if you don't like it, you can lump it. All I'm saying is, a little mea culpa from TPTB would go a long way to mollifying the faithful. And finally, I implore you, how about some testing? Please, I beg you. Okay, I'm done. Where are my beta blockers?

Amen and amen.

Update: Logs now showing at bottom page. Five minutes after previous post, and I changed nothing. Thanks for whatever you did, or didn't do!

Good grief. I thought the nightmare was over after barely recovering form the last update disaster. I should have known better. Once again, navigating to Forums from geocaching.com/my does not log me in. Clicking Log In and entering account/password takes me to My Profile page, it does not log me in and return me to Forums. Illogical, as Spock might opine. Although, that having been done it seems to work subsequently. I have reloaded pages, reset Safari (5.0.5) but all cache pages show ZERO logs and spinning wheel "Loading cache logs" Clicking View Logbook results in Zero Logs Found as mentioned above. Clicking Visit Log from my Quick View page does show me the correct log, however. Please, I implore you, stop "fixing" things that aren't broken (and thereby breaking them) and fix the things that are, and that users have been requesting you redress for months, if not years. I'd appreciate it.

I really shouldn't analyse things after midnight when I'm already tired. Just had an extra tuppence laying around. im·prove verb \im-ˈprüv\ transitive verb 1 archaic : employ, use 2 a : to enhance in value or quality : make better b : to increase the value of (land or property) by making it more useful for humans (as by cultivation or the erection of buildings) c : to grade and drain (a road) and apply surfacing material other than pavement 3 : to use to good purpose intransitive verb 1 : to advance or make progress in what is desirable 2 : to make useful additions or amendments Please clarify/explain/confirm or deny: Old map: icons show all caches, assuming I zoom in far enough to show <500. Click check box to display numbers. Click on cache in list to highlight on map, or open cache page. Can see at a glance (by, you know, the numbers) what caches are in a certain area, next to each other, etc. Zooming in/out adjusts list of caches instantly. Two clicks. Very useful. Not that pretty. New (beta) map: Wow, very fancy icons everywhere. Shows much larger area. Can see more than 500 caches if I want, 'cause you know, I'll be hoping to find a couple of thousand today. Click on link to generate PQ from visible area. Jump to PQ parameters page. Check settings for required information. Click to submit PQ. Go back to beta map. Reload/refresh /Open new beta map window (I'm guessing here, because I don't see the just generated PQ show otherwise). CLick on PQ to display those caches with list on right. Click on cache name in list and map centers on that cache and a target box appears around the icon. If you can see it depending on the zoom level and other icons adjacent. Change zoom level and list does not change. Clicking or hovering on cache icon does not highlight cache name in list. Can't tell where any of the listed caches are, except for the one I click on. Lost count of how many clicks needed thus far. Impressive technical achievement, no doubt. Prettier. Not really useful, sadly. I'm smiling, really. Keep up the good work (not being facetious, I mean that sincerely).

Second that question. And another thing.... why do I have to log in to forums when I'm already logged in on the site and navigate here from the menu link? Seems odd. Anyway, my main point: thanks for the continuing efforts to get map functionality to a semblance of its previous utility. Seems rather like the change from basic cable to digital HD—everything worked great before and you could find what you wanted, albeit in a plain wrapper; now everything's fancy and ten times the capability but you can't get a list of easily identifiable caches and see where the hell they are. And is it just me (most likely) or does the generated PQ list of caches cover/hide/overwrite some of those very caches? I.E. my PQ totaled 72 caches, but with the list displayed I can only "see" 59. I.E. My PQ shows 72 caches total but with the list displayed I can only "see" 59. Turn off the list display and I count 72... uh, Houston? (Safari 4.04. Mac OS 10.6.3) Maybe a refresh/restart will help. All this is to say: when I'm hiking in the mountains, where I don't have cell reception, where I'm not carrying 5 devices to store all the electronic data possible, a simple printed map (flexible width, so I can size as needed) with a numbered list of caches corresponding to numbered cache icons, is really, really, did I mention REALLY? helpful. Appreciate all the improvements!!

The same is here! So these maps are useless! A week in and this update is going from screwed up to halfway better to a whole lot worse. I would venture to say that map functionality is just about at the top of the list of priorities for a whole lot of cachers. I don't really care what the page layout looks like, although the fixed width and the obtrusive backgrounds are ill-considered at best and downright insulting at worst. But removing zoom and switch type functions is incomprehensible. Could one of the official Groundspeak reps please let us know what the plan is with the maps?

Sorry if I missed it, but is there a current justification why my owned caches do not show on the new beta map? Can I safely assume that will be added at some point? I find it quite helpful to use my own caches as reference points, as I know exactly where they are. Thanks!

I just got back after a week offline to find the updates. As one who was critical and extremely disappointed to have lost the lower map functionality with the previous update, I have to say I am extremely pleased with its restoration! Sure it works a little differently, but even with just a couple of minutes playing around it looks to me to be much improved. I love the default zoom level. I don't mind not being able to click on the map to bring up the Geocaching.Google map that shows nearby caches; the link to the left of the extra click on the cache icon is just fine. Paramount for me is being able to print each cache page with the lower map zoomed in on whichever view—terrain, satellite, etc, —shows the cache location clearest. Which I now have back. Fantastic! Additional waypoints are a bonus. What's not to love? Raine: thank you!

Raine, thanks for the ray of hope. That's exactly what we need to hear. Now.... when can we have it?!?!?!

Repeating my post from the Release Notes thread regarding this issue: seemingly borders on arrogant and insulting. That's my perception anyway.

Boggle is fun to say. Boggle boggle boggle. The hides count has never updated properly, and displaying finds but not hides on that page feels wrong. We could not prioritize fixing the hide count so we removed both until we can. If it's useful to people we'll address it in another release. IF, I say IF, it's useful to people? Shirley, you jest. Somehow, I'm not sure how, you apparently missed the massive outpouring of users clamoring for the find count to be restored. You know, it's not always WHAT is done, but HOW things are done that reveals management's priorities in regards to customer service. Instead of getting your feelings hurt by user's reactions to your well-intentioned but perhaps misguided changes, a simple, sincere sounding apology and assurance that the users wishes are being listened to would go a long way to mollifying those who are dissatisfied. How about? "Oops, we goofed. Sorry we didn't realise that was so important. We'll get it back within the week." ON the other hand, seemingly borders on arrogant and insulting. That's my perception anyway.

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but let me state clearly what my preferences are: I like maps. I like to print cache pages and have them in my hands out in the field. I don't like having to carry two or three electronic gadgets and peering at their LCD screens. I know I can click the Google maps link and get the large map with all caches shown. That's not what I want, although I do use that, too. I ESPECIALLY find useful switching the lower map to satellite or hybrid view and zooming in to help me know where to start looking and to confirm I'm in the right place, right side of street, which tree, etc. Please tell me this capability is important and will return. Also, I concur with the need for the find counts on my Friends listings being returned. And, I couldn't care less about Facebook—get rid of the Like link. Thank you for all the work on the site.

Forgot to mention: I use a Mac and Safari; I don't come to geocaching.com to play computer engineer and screw around with code, macros, scripting apps, and the like. I come for an enjoyable activity that gets me AWAY from the computer.

Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, PLEASE, remove the Lost and Found Banner. It is annoying and insulting to Premium Members particularly. If you must, why not include it as a link after "View Log" The lower map now responds to clicking on it; are you also going to restore the option to show sat view, hybrid, etc. Also, I concur, bigger is NOT better. It's fine as is, but I use that on every printout to give me reference on location. Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, PLEASE, remove the Lost and Found Banner. It is annoying and insulting to Premium Members particularly. If you must, why not include it as a link after "View Log" AND DID I MENTION: Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, PLEASE, remove the Lost and Found Banner. It is annoying and insulting to Premium Members particularly. If you must, why not include it as a link after "View Log"

Believe me, as a designer, I know it's impossible to please everyone. But this: is just less than optimal. And when I say less than optimal, I mean "crap." How about: [ ] Encrypt this log entry (If your log contains information on how to find the cache, you can make it unreadable until the reader clicks "decrypt." If you decide to encrypt the log entry, text within brackets [like this] will remain readable.) Just another halfpenny. (That's hayp-nee) Glad I'm not in charge, I can tell you that!

Believe me, as a designer, I know it's impossible to please everyone. But this: is just less than optimal. And when I say less than optimal, I mean "crap." How about: [ ] Encrypt this log entry (If your log contains information on how to find the cache, you can make it unreadable until the reader clicks "decrypt." If you decide to encrypt the log entry, text within brackets [like this] will remain readable.) Just another halfpenny. (That's hayp-nee) Glad I'm not in charge, I can tell you that!

I must say, the speed increase seems impressive. That is the one positive I can report. Other than that.... oooooh man! Sorry, going to have to add my abhorrence of the redesign(?) to the list. Far, far, far, far too much spacing where not necessary and not enough where it is. Please fix or revert. Specifically: too much vertical (line spacing?) in the cache logs, in the listing of finds on My(Your?) Profile; not enough horizontal (as has been well reported) in same listings — really:[ Visit Log ] on two lines? In the geocaching.google maps—which I use constantly— the table listing displayed caches is now WAAAAY to narrow and vertically spaced. Where I used to have to scroll 2-3 times in that table now requires 10x that to see the list. That table area needs to be much longer, not shorter. Also, the pop-up bubble on cache icon mouse click is hosed: GC number overruns the bounding bubble, some weird outline box displays at bottom, appearing to strike thru the text across the lower edge. And, yes, the display numbers are too big. Log type radio box selection much wider than necessary. The encrypted hint disappears at its new location. I suggest putting it right underneath the Additional Hints heading, with the decrypt matrix underneath the hint. Would also have appreciated some warning of redesign, and opportunity for feedback/suggestions before rollout. Just my twopence (that's tuppence). Thanks. Mac OS X 10.4.11 Safari 4.0.3