sandaals
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Posts posted by sandaals
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What really makes a Palm the ultimate Geocaching tool is to get a GPS module for it. I got a really nice 12-channel snap-on module for my Palm V for $50 on eBay. I use Pocket Queries and GPX spinner to put cache pages on it (I use Plucker to load and view them), and I use Cetus GPS to do navigation, as well as GPSpilot.com's "Tracker" for mapping (but it's a heck of a hassle to download and calibrate the maps!!).
Actually, I'm writing some pretty cool (if I may say so myself) software that does mapping, navigation, cache pages, etc. and I need some opinions from the Geocaching community... if you want to pitch in, go to my other post in this forum.
Gee Enginuity - Turning great ideas into abandoned projects since 1999
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I'm not trying to sell anything here; just want an opinion.
I'm working on a Geocaching software package for Palm. I'm hoping to fill the needs of those (like me) who like to cache with their Palm unit. All of the functions are contained in one file, saving space that would otherwise be wasted by using multiple programs.
Features include:
- Support for virtually any GPS module (NMEA-compliant)
- Moving-map capability
- "unlimited" waypoint storage divided by cache types or user-defined categories
- On-the-fly "nearest caches" search
- Ability to view cache pages and logs
- Keeps track of what you take and leave, as well as any other notes
- PC-side utility which allows the user to create custom cache search criteria, then automatically harvests cache pages and coordinates and loads them to the Palm device
- PC-side program also automatically downloads USGS topo maps or aerial photos, calibrate them, and load them to the device. User can select maps they want to download by dragging a box over certain areas. The program can also automatically download maps covering a user-specified distance around selected caches.
- Total program size (on Palm device) under 400k!
- Full personal support by both phone and e-mail
What I want to know from the community is:
- Whether cachers would be willing to pay for such a program
- If so, how much would you be willing to pay? (consider that GPSpilot.com's "Tracker" program costs $40 and doesn't even work very well)
- How many people do you think are there out there who could use something like this?
This project is taking a considerable amount of my time and effort, and I just want to figure out if it's worth it and how much more effort I want to put into it.
Thanks!
-Greg Courville
Gee Enginuity
Greg@Gee-Enginuity.com
(408) 323-9761
Gee Enginuity - Turning great ideas into abandoned projects since 1999
[This message was edited by sandaals on July 09, 2003 at 08:20 PM.]
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Well, if Jeremy doesn't like it, I won't push it any further. I respect his views.
Actually, now that I think about it, I don't exactly have any kind of a good prize to put in a cache anyway.
Thanks for your opinions everyone.
-Greg
Gee Enginuity - Turning great ideas into abandoned projects since 1999
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These are all great ideas, but I think you're maybe missing the point. I wanna get a lot of people excited about something and watch them rush for it.
Currently, the best way to go about doing this, as far as I know, is to post a cache page (maybe as an event cache) with coords only accurate to the degree (or to a level of precision specified by the hider) and a name like "REALLY BIG COOL PRIZE" and display when the coordinates will be revealed, then, at the specified time, edit the cache page to reflect the actual coordinates.
If we had a seperate cache type for this:
People could easily tell that there is a "race" cache in their area because of the icon, and could search for race caches coming up The coordinates would be pre-registered in the system and automatically displayed at a preset time The cache page would display coordinates only accurate to a level set by the hider, so that seekers know the general location and whether they have a chance at it The general area coordinates would be labeled as an approximate location and not available for download. That way, spontaneous cachers wouldn't inadvertently try to go after it and end up in a field somewhereDoesn't anyone else think we need a seperate cache type for this kind of an event?
Gee Enginuity - Turning great ideas into abandoned projects since 1999
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quote:
Don't see much point in the map thingWell, we would just need some way of showing the general location without giving away exactly where it is. I was thinking there would be a small (like 100x100 px.) map centered on the general area but without any kind of a marker.
Anybody have some other ideas about how we could give a hint about the general location?
Gee Enginuity - Turning great ideas into abandoned projects since 1999
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Great ideas, MITW&F!
Now if we can just get Jeremy or someone to listen... lol.
As for the $50, I would probably have to get my hands on $50 before I could actually put it in a cache...
Donations are accepted...
Gee Enginuity - Turning great ideas into abandoned projects since 1999
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Heck, on my Palm I can hold about 5,000 in the space I have available!
Gee Enginuity - Turning great ideas into abandoned projects since 1999
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Just my $0.02 here...
It's exciting to open up a cache and find a bug, or see one on a cache page and race over to grab it. The metal dogtags are distinctive and any cacher knows one when they see it. Because not everybody here is serious enough about the sport to dish out the six bucks, you only see one every once-in-a-while, and that's what makes it exciting.
If we made TB's cheaper to get, or let people make their own, everybody would have a travel bug and it would almost ruin the whole travel bug idea. I know it seems like it would be cool if everybody could play the Travel-Bug "game", but it would take away the "specialness" of Travel Bugs, as would having different colors/styles of tags.
My opinion summed-up: Stick with the metal bugs. Everybody knows what they look like. Don't try to lower the price or let people make their own. The $6 price is what keeps travel bugs special. It's not too much, but just enough so that it's still exciting to open up a cache and find a shiny tag on a chain.
Gee Enginuity - Turning great ideas into abandoned projects since 1999
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Just had a little thought and decided to make it known...
I've noticed all the excitement coming up over the Magellan caches, and I thought that maybe it would be cool if we could add a new cache type for this kind of thing.
Some ideas...
The cache page would be significantly different from a standard one. The coordinates would be initially registered with the cache submission, but not revealed to the public until the owner chose do do so. However, the page would show a map marking the general area, much like the thumbnail maps we already have, so that people would know kind-of where it was and could decide if they wanted to try it.
I've always wanted to stick a $50 bill or something in a cache and watch people scramble for it, but I want the cache page to be out a week in advance so people will know about it before the actual coordinates are out. Currently, I believe the only way to do this would be to just put up nonsense coordinates and tell people to ignore them.
If the Geocaching website could accomodate these prize caches or "race" caches, I think it would add a whole new level of fun to the sport.
What-d'ya-think?
Just an idea...
-Greg
Gee Enginuity - Turning great ideas into abandoned projects since 1999
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Just thought I'd comment here...
I can't begin to describe how useful it is to have a PDA when caching! I use mine not only for pages, but for the navigation itself.
The best part about using a PDA is that unlike a standalone unit, where you're stuck with the built-in functions, you can choose what you want, be it just basic nav, or mapping, etc. There are so many different apps out there.
I myself have a Palm V with a Magellan GPS Companion, although I don't use the included software. I use Cetus-GPS to monitor the module and do basic navigation, and GPSpilot.com's "Tracker" for mapping. I download topo maps from LostOutdoors.com (well-known to the Geocaching community!), convert them to grayscale, and calibrate them for GPS use. As for cache pages, I paid the 3 bucks to Groundspeak for Pocket Queries and I use GPX Spinner to turn them into HTML, which I download to my Palm with Plucker. I have the pages for 200 caches in my area!
The best part is that this all costs less than an eTrex. I got the Palm off my friend for $30, but try eBay. I just found an eBay auction for both a Palm III and a Streetfinder GPS together for under $40! (auction's almost over). Although the old Streetfinder for the III isn't as good as the one for the V, basically for $40 you get a decent mapping GPS that you can put cache pages on, not to mention all the other stuff you can do with a Palm! (I use my 2MB Palm V for not only Geocaching, but also wwww and email, games, word processing, and as a PIM. Into my 2 megs of RAM and 500k of Flash, I've stuffed a web browser, two GPS apps, a large topo map, 200 cache pages, and multiple hundreds of waypoints. I still have 200k of RAM free for games when I need them, and have multiple maps stored on a FlashPlug. For my whole set-up I paid only $80 ($30 Palm V + 50 GPS) and I'm really happy with it. Actually, I should mention that the Tracker program costs $40, but with a few hours of work I managed to err... "improve" the trial version I got by err... "disabling" the annoying keyhole image it overlays over the map. Still feeling a little guilty, but their customer support is terrible and they don't even have a EULA or any other document against what I've done. Oh well.
Whoops, looks like I've rambled again.
"Cache" you later...
-Greg
Gee Enginuity - Turning great ideas into abandoned projects since 1999
Just got Palm V ... any hints / suggestions for Geocaching with it?
in GPS technology and devices
Posted
BTW... if you look at my avatar... the unit in my hand is my Palm V with the Magellan GPS-Companion unit.
Gee Enginuity - Turning great ideas into abandoned projects since 1999