Tracy Aces

Good to see there is still interest in Mac-specific Geocaching software. I've been working on a waypoint management tool for Mac for a while now. Hope to open beta this year. I've also been working on a USB framework for the new USB-only units. Hope to have one of them soon so I can start testing.

Thanks for all the replies and good ideas. I'll post a project website URL here when I get one set up. At that point anyone wanting to help beta can sign up.

Could use some help here. I've been developing a Mac OS X app specifically for geocaching and Garmin GPSs. I've seen some of the PC apps out there, and really didn't like the UI or the user experience in any of them. That's one of the reasons I began writing a Mac-native one. What I'd really like to hear is what Mac Geocachers would like to see in a Mac Geocaching app. This is the time to get your two cents in as I'm working on the UI currently. If you're interested in beta testing let me know. I've been writing for serial units so far, but have obtained USB-specific code. I guess I'll have to go out and buy a cheap USB unit now. Anyway, if you're interested in helping out, drop me an email and let me know what you'd like to see in the app, what you don't like in other apps, and what kind of GPS/Mac you have. PilotMike ---------- Unix SA - Apple Computer

Just grabbed the USB SDK from Garmin. It looks like I may be able to write USB support into Mac CacheKeeper after all and support USB GPSr's from Garmin. Wouldn't that be nice? ----- Mike Carter Programming/Pilot http://geocache.aviate.org

Hmmm...I'd have to say you're correct. :/ I don't know much about the Garmin USB models. However, given the driver protocol info, a USB driver can be written fairly easily (I've written USB drivers for OS X before). I did not see any information about USB protocols anywhere on the site, and it'd be a rather involved process trying to "sniff" out the specifics by listening to the port itself. Then there's the small issue of not having one here to even fiddle around with! If I ever get my hands on a USB model I may look into it. For starters, only serial models will be addressed. -PilotMike-

Man...I sure am living in the past! We use a trusty, old Garmin GPS-12 in the hand and my GPS III Pilot for the car. The -12 is actually pretty nimble, but a tad bit slow. It still gets the job done, however. My next Garmin will be the Rhino 130. LabLady and I are both Amateur Radio ops, and we're thrilled about incorporating GMRS into geocaching using the Rhino's radio. Also, I think the electronic compass and barometer features are a big plus in the hunt. If you have the Rhino 130, drop me a line and let me know how it's working so far. -PilotMike- Programmer/Pilot Apple Computer

I, too, have been annoyed by the lack of GPS software for the Mac, So I'm writing one. CacheKeeper will run only on OS X initially, and if I get enough support, I'll release Windows and Linux versions as well. CacheKeeper will be very Geocache-friendly. The initial list of features is: ability to save waypoint lists, logging of waypoints you've nabbed, drag-and-drop of .loc files into the app for immediate upload to your Garmin, and maybe the ability to auto-create routing for a bunch of waypoints. The goal is to make getting geocache waypoints into and out of the gps without relying on VPC. I'm early in development now, but hope to have at least a beta out sometime in October. So far I'm talking happily to my GPS III Pilot and GPS 12 over a Keyspan serial adapter. Thanks to Garmin's developer-friendly attitude, I plan to support all Garmin GPS units available at the time the app is released (however I'll really depend a lot on beta testers to provide feedback for units I don't have access to). So that means I could use some beta testers. Let me know if you're interested. When I can find the time I'll throw together a registration page and progress page. For now, the basics can be found at geocache.aviate.org. Links will appear sooner or later on that page for more detailed info. -PilotMike- Programmer/Pilot Apple Computer