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Geocaching.com site update August 18th 2011


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And the Avatars on each log? I know some people print the cache page off, it'll take up a lot more ink/paper now

 

have you actually looked to see what the page looks like if you want to print it?...i say no, otherwise you wouldn't make that comment

 

I've just done a print preview and it wastes at least 1 extra page - many of the images are taking up vertical space all on their own.

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I think there's a misunderstanding related to "challenges".

 

ALL member-created challenges are supposed to have coordinates, where the challenge is supposed to be performed.

 

"Locationless challenges" such as "kiss the frog" were created by Groundspeak so that we all could try challenges before they were created in our areas. Probably a poor choice, since lots of people are posting "locationless challenges" where their posted coordinates are ignored.

 

Why don't we vote down all "locationless challenges", and see how challenges feel when we only consider those where you're supposed to visit the place "in real life" and perform some action?

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Silly little bug:

 

When replacing "Trackables" with "Find trackables" on the "Play" menu, the same replacement was made on the "Your profile" menu.

 

Obviously, the link in "Your profile" does not allow finding trackables, but lists the ones you've dealt with. (Or do you mean "find the list of trackables you've found" as in "find your profile", "find your lists", "find your logs" etc?)

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I don't mind avatars on the log pages, but maybe make them (much) smaller? And, yes, please bring back the actual dates. :)

 

 

P.S. And maybe fix the post date/time in the forums? It always shows my posts as being two hours off (Central vs Pacific time). Why have a setting in Account Details to set one's timezone if the system isn't going to use it?

Edited by riffraff9000
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Please share your ABP rules so we can retain some control of what/how things appear...

 

With the caveat that some of these might be out of date, here is what I currently have to restore some semblance of sanity to gc.com:

 

geocaching.com##div#Print
geocaching.com#div(class^=CacheDetailPageAds clear)
geocaching.com#div(class^=FavoritesStatusWidget)
geocaching.com#div(class^=MasterPageAds)
geocaching.com#div(class^=mxStats)
geocaching.com#div(id^=feedback-tab)
geocaching.com#fieldset(class^=DisclaimerWidget)
geocaching.com#fieldset(class^=NotesWidget)
geocaching.com#footer
geocaching.com#p(class=SocialMediaIcons NoBottomSpacing right)
geocaching.com#p(class^=logOwnerAvatar)
geocaching.com#p(class^=logOwnerBadge)
geocaching.com#p(class^=logOwnerStats)

 

There are 13 now after I grabbed the print-hiding rule upthread :)

 

EDIT: Three more here ...

 

geocaching.com#a(id^=ctl00_hlNavResources)
geocaching.com#a(id^=ctl00_hlNavShop)
geocaching.com#a(id^=ctl00_hlNavVideos)

 

 

How do you use this?

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I fully agree with the other users, who are missing the log date in the log display. The log date is a must, so please bring it back immediately or even better, bring back the old design. Why use more space on the screen without implementing any real improved or more functionality. Out in the world we are some ones using a notebook in the field planning or recording our achievements. This means limited space on the screen, so please KISS :D. This must by the way look terrible on a Smartphone or other devices with real small screens. At the same time the layout with graphical presentation requires much more traffic on the network, which slows down everything. So please let’s get rid of the graphical presentations, it doesn’t bring improved functionality, only slows down everything.

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Please bring back exact dates on the log entries and do away with the avatars. There was nothing wrong with the original

log format and if I wanted to see someone's avatar all I had to do was go to their profile.

 

Geocaching Challenges seems like a waste of time and it has no relevance to Geocaching.

 

Your time would be better spent working to improve the beta version of the map. The solution? Make it more

like the original.

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And the Avatars on each log? I know some people print the cache page off, it'll take up a lot more ink/paper now

 

have you actually looked to see what the page looks like if you want to print it?...i say no, otherwise you wouldn't make that comment

 

I've just done a print preview and it wastes at least 1 extra page - many of the images are taking up vertical space all on their own.

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Hi,

 

Proper dates would be really helpful. I think the avatars in the logs will take users much longer to download the last logs when being actually outdoors and use a mobile phone!! Btw this will also generate additional costs for mobile users without flatrate.

 

I'd really appreciate if you people at Groundspeak would not only learn the German language but also adopt a little bit of the German ways of doing things.

 

Maybe you should nominate 50 or so power cachers worldwide to test your updates before you release them. If you do that make sure that these users come from all important Geocaching countries.

 

Best regards

Astrid aka Atti

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Please share your ABP rules so we can retain some control of what/how things appear...

 

With the caveat that some of these might be out of date, here is what I currently have to restore some semblance of sanity to gc.com:

 

geocaching.com##div#Print
geocaching.com#div(class^=CacheDetailPageAds clear)
geocaching.com#div(class^=FavoritesStatusWidget)
geocaching.com#div(class^=MasterPageAds)
geocaching.com#div(class^=mxStats)
geocaching.com#div(id^=feedback-tab)
geocaching.com#fieldset(class^=DisclaimerWidget)
geocaching.com#fieldset(class^=NotesWidget)
geocaching.com#footer
geocaching.com#p(class=SocialMediaIcons NoBottomSpacing right)
geocaching.com#p(class^=logOwnerAvatar)
geocaching.com#p(class^=logOwnerBadge)
geocaching.com#p(class^=logOwnerStats)

 

There are 13 now after I grabbed the print-hiding rule upthread :)

 

EDIT: Three more here ...

 

geocaching.com#a(id^=ctl00_hlNavResources)
geocaching.com#a(id^=ctl00_hlNavShop)
geocaching.com#a(id^=ctl00_hlNavVideos)

 

My god, this thread sure does attract the morons doesn't it.

 

Thank you for your valuable input. Did you notice that the "morons" outnumber you infinity to one in this thread before posting your pearls of wisdom?

 

+1 and Like :)

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Add me to the please bring back the actual log date. What's up with the "challenges"??? These need to be put on some other web site, not geocaching.com! I was led to believe that the use of a GPSr was a prime requirement for things on this site.

 

Violent Agreement! Challenges need a separate site just like Waymarking.com

Please remove from geocaching.com...

 

Do challenges have anything at all to do with a GPSr?

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I don't like the new "Challenges" .

The Idea is old, but has another Name.

Some time ago there were Locationless, and Webcamcaches.

Now they are off the list, but can remain.

It is jsut not allowed to add new ones.

The good thing about a Webcamcache for example was there you actually have to be there in order to prove your presence.

Couchpotatoes can sit at home, and Log more than 100 "Caches" a day.

I would prefer it if there are no "Challenges", but new Webcam or Locationless Caches.

Or a a seperate valuation system.

Or at least a single valuation system only for Challenges.

Yesterday there was a very hard challange for many Caches.

Post a pic of a cachefound.

Any good Cacher has at least one Picture at home of one Cache.

What i really dont like is that Challenges are easily added to the normal Cachefounds.

Actually i could ask a friend to create like 100 challenges a day for me, and my number raises and raises.

Persoanlly i will not participate in any challenges, as this is not a part of Geocaching for me.

Geocaching for me means being outside, and prove your presence.

Sign a log, or post a picture.

Please Groundspeak, don't allow challenges.

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I don't like the new "Challenges" .

The Idea is old, but has another Name.

Some time ago there were Locationless, and Webcamcaches.

Now they are off the list, but can remain.

It is jsut not allowed to add new ones.

The good thing about a Webcamcache for example was there you actually have to be there in order to prove your presence.

Couchpotatoes can sit at home, and Log more than 100 "Caches" a day.

I would prefer it if there are no "Challenges", but new Webcam or Locationless Caches.

Or a a seperate valuation system.

Or at least a single valuation system only for Challenges.

Yesterday there was a very hard challange for many Caches.

Post a pic of a cachefound.

Any good Cacher has at least one Picture at home of one Cache.

What i really dont like is that Challenges are easily added to the normal Cachefounds.

Actually i could ask a friend to create like 100 challenges a day for me, and my number raises and raises.

Persoanlly i will not participate in any challenges, as this is not a part of Geocaching for me.

Geocaching for me means being outside, and prove your presence.

Sign a log, or post a picture.

Please Groundspeak, don't allow challenges.

+10^6

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Don't use your web browser Print Preview, click on the Print option on the actual Geoacache page, in the box under the cache co-ordinates. You can select how many logs, if any, you want included and the avatars are NOT displayed.

 

Forcing people to not use standard functionality (Ctrl+P) and instead use a small link that is hidden in the middle of the page is called "an abysmal user interface" in specialist terms. The problem could easily be solved by creating a print-specific CSS style sheet, but based on the available evidence I sincerely doubt Groundspeak's developers have the technical proficiency to pull that off.

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I don't like the new "Challenges" .

The Idea is old, but has another Name.

Some time ago there were Locationless, and Webcamcaches.

Now they are off the list, but can remain.

It is jsut not allowed to add new ones.

The good thing about a Webcamcache for example was there you actually have to be there in order to prove your presence.

Couchpotatoes can sit at home, and Log more than 100 "Caches" a day.

I would prefer it if there are no "Challenges", but new Webcam or Locationless Caches.

Or a a seperate valuation system.

Or at least a single valuation system only for Challenges.

Yesterday there was a very hard challange for many Caches.

Post a pic of a cachefound.

Any good Cacher has at least one Picture at home of one Cache.

What i really dont like is that Challenges are easily added to the normal Cachefounds.

Actually i could ask a friend to create like 100 challenges a day for me, and my number raises and raises.

Persoanlly i will not participate in any challenges, as this is not a part of Geocaching for me.

Geocaching for me means being outside, and prove your presence.

Sign a log, or post a picture.

Please Groundspeak, don't allow challenges.

+10^6

Fanned

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Here ya go. For those wanting to remove excess white space from logs and able to install user CSS, this code removes a lot. See comments in the code for details. It includes the avatar killer I posted earlier and also trims space around the log text. The parts between /* ... */ are purely for human consumption and can be removed if having the comments lying around disturbs you.[...]
How and where would I use this kind of code? I usually use Chrome to browse the web.
For Chrome on MacOS, I can edit the file

 

Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome//Default/User StyleSheets/Custom.css

 

in my /Users/<myname> directory. I'm not sure about Chrome on other platforms, but it should be similar.

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Oh, it has been posted many many times since yesterday, but I have also give my vote to:

- Bring back the old look of the cache logs (no pics, cause traffic on mobiles and show again the log dates!)

- What the hell are these challenges. Find a geocache and complete a challenge - thats awful!!!!! If you bring up the challenges, why have you disabled the Virtuals?

 

Please bring back the logdates, or put an option to the user profiles where everyone can choose if he wants to see the pictures and in which way he wants to see the logdates.

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Groundspeak,

 

Bring back the log pages we had before 18th August :angry:!!

 

I use dates to find exactly when a cache was last found or not found. In some cases cachers need to know whether the cache was found in winter or summer. If 2 cachers found the cache together then knowing that they both found it 'about 6 months' ago isn't going to help.

 

And kill the avatars!! I don't need to know this and it wastes resources - your servers, my ISP connection, and my paper.

 

Jollyquest

Cambridge, England

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This last update is the worst one! Please bring back the old log form, or make it switchable! I don't need the avatars in the logs, but the exakt found date! If I want to look for a listing on my mobile it's not readable any more! These big avatars costs so much space! Please change!!!

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5d2TI.png Neongeo (Android)

Neongeo is your complete mobile geocaching suite for both online and offline usage. Search geocaches on the go, import GPX, log travellers and geocaches online, keep fieldnotes, setup custom map servers and much more. Visit Neongeo.com for more information. Stay tuned for a free ad-supported version coming soon!

I finally took a look at www.neongeo.com and saw this in the FAQ:
How to define final coordinates for an Unknown/mystery cache

Go to www.geocaching.com and see your Personal Cache Note. If you enter coordinates there, original coordinates will be replaced. This works for Unknown/Mystery geocaches only. From the application, open the cache details page, refresh if necessary and see your Personal Cache Note for details.

That is worth the price of admission. Thank you so much for opening up the API.

 

[edit: fix BBCode]

Edited by niraD
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Due to the crappy last update I went into the forum to read about what else changed.

 

Phew, that's a lot of stuff here. To make it short:

 

+1 for making the Avatars switchable and switching back to real dates.

 

Thanks

 

Michael

from Team Moose Family

 

Definitely bring back the real dates on the previous logs. "About a month ago" -- yuck.

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Why have so many of the new "challenges" been archived already? From a search this morning there literally weren't any in California and I know of one cacher here in San Diego who created one and it was up for a while. Today it is gone and he can't even look at it himself.

 

If this is triggered by the "vote up/vote down" then please change your thinking and get rid of that -- this isn't facebook. Cachers vote in the words of their log after they've gone after the cache. If they really like it they make it one of their favorites and others can see that. Seems to me if you don't go after the cache or accept/complete the challenge you should have no vote.

 

And on that topic, please remove all the avatars from the logs. What a waste of space especially when the most some cachers can muster is a simple acronym. Can't wait to see how that mucks up the view in the browser on my Droid.

 

And what's up with this new "about a month ago" time stamp for logs. We deal with coordinates down to 10 feet. That's pretty exact. You should be doing the same thing in the online logs.

 

OK, off the rant box for today. This is my first time not embracing the site changes but this time I just have to ask why any of it?

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Add my voice to getting rid of the avatars and BRING BACK THE LOG DATES!!!!!

While I'm at it, bring back the ability to print the logs in the Adobe format we back in 2008. That was the best of the best, everything needed on on page, includeing up to 10 logs.

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5d2TI.png Neongeo (Android)

Neongeo is your complete mobile geocaching suite for both online and offline usage. Search geocaches on the go, import GPX, log travellers and geocaches online, keep fieldnotes, setup custom map servers and much more. Visit Neongeo.com for more information. Stay tuned for a free ad-supported version coming soon!

I finally took a look at www.neongeo.com and saw this in the FAQ:
How to define final coordinates for an Unknown/mystery cache

Go to www.geocaching.com and see your Personal Cache Note. If you enter coordinates there, original coordinates will be replaced. This works for Unknown/Mystery geocaches only. From the application, open the cache details page, refresh if necessary and see your Personal Cache Note for details.

That is worth the price of admission. Thank you so much for opening up the API.

 

[edit: fix BBCode]

That's basic functionality that's been lacking in the official app since the beginning and was requested many times during beta testing. Waiting for the ad-supported version of Neongeo before trying it out since a 15-minute window isn't sufficient to try out a geocaching app (why, oh why did the Android Market change from a 24-hr evaluation period?). Looks good so far though!

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Please change that fact that Challenges count towards my finds total. I think they could be a fun side game to Geocaching. But when you start messing with my find totals I will not take part or support this new game. Make them like Benchmarks. Thanks.

Benchmarks and waymarks are much closer to the true intent of geocaching than these challenges are, yet neither of those count towards your find total while challenges do? Really makes no sense to me...

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New log format is NOT an improvement. It chews up a lot of vertical browser real estate, and not having exact date/time of logs makes it impossible to parse out latest finds vs. DNFs. Don't like it. Either get rid of the Avitars, or make them switchable.

Edited by k1jy
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Are you serious Groundspeak? Are you guys looking at some of the so called challenges people are posting?

 

BOOOOO Challenges

Bring the real date back

Get rid of the avatars....If I want to see there picture I'll go to there profile, that's what it's for.

 

+1.

 

All the new "improvements" are totally unneeded. Bring back the old one, plz.

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That's basic functionality that's been lacking in the official app since the beginning and was requested many times during beta testing. Waiting for the ad-supported version of Neongeo before trying it out since a 15-minute window isn't sufficient to try out a geocaching app (why, oh why did the Android Market change from a 24-hr evaluation period?). Looks good so far though!

The developer has released a new version with enhancements and bugfixes nearly every day. The only feature Neongeo doesn't have is the ability to display Souvenirs. :laughing:

 

I've gotten two FTFs with it. One was a puzzle where I left my office without the final coordinates. Neongeo pulled them from my Personal Cache Note on my way out the door.

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Please change that fact that Challenges count towards my finds total. I think they could be a fun side game to Geocaching. But when you start messing with my find totals I will not take part or support this new game. Make them like Benchmarks. Thanks.

Benchmarks and waymarks are much closer to the true intent of geocaching than these challenges are, yet neither of those count towards your find total while challenges do? Really makes no sense to me...

 

After release we could see a lot of confusion around what is a valid challenge, so we'll be addressing this early in the activity and encouraging the community to help us guide the activity in a place that fits in the realm of geocaching, mirroring virtuals.

 

For clarity, we'll be introducing the idea of "Challenge Worthy" to help guide people in creating new challenges and reporting on them when they don't fit the definition. We'll also be readdressing Worldwide challenges to reflect these 4 pillars of challenges, so we'll be archiving the "kiss a frog" challenge from the site.

 

What is Challenge-worthy?

 

Location-specific

 

The location of a challenge should be directly related to the action. "Take a picture of yourself with the Eiffel Tower" is location-specific, while "Take pictures of the night sky in Seattle" or "Find this/a geocache" are not. The goal of Challenges, and Geocaching, is to explore the world around you.

 

There should only be one location where you can complete the challenge. Worldwide Challenges are only issued by Groundspeak, but you can recommend new Worldwide Challenges on our feedback site.

 

Straightforward

 

The Challenge should be easy to understand and not too complicated to do.

 

Appropriate

 

Keep Challenges clean so it reflects the family-friendliness of Geocaching.

 

Fun!

 

Like geocaching, Challenges should be a light and fun activity. Create Challenges that reflect this.

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I do not usually post on these forums but the latest changes to the GC.com site have really got up my nose, so I felt compelled to come here and add my 2 cents. I'm sure everything I've said has been said before but I just wanted to add my voice to the deafening chorus pleading for a ROLLBACK to these really horrible changes to the website.

 

I can't even begin to imagine WHY anyone would have thought it was a good idea to make the dates so vague. The changes involve deliberate programming - why, why, WHY??? Anyone who has ever found a geocache, or has to maintain one, will know just how invaluable these dates are. It's pretty shocking that someone thought it would be a nice idea to remove them! Absolutely mind boggling.

 

The new cache logs design with the avatars is also a waste of space, and yes, it makes it much longer to download on a mobile device. An option to turn the extra graphics off would be appreciated, failing that, please just do away with the avatars altogether... note that most geocachers do not have avatars....!

 

And... these Challenges sound completely stupid. They have nothing to do with geocaching and are not a worthy substitute for virtuals. PLEASE, make them something completely separate, if you must keep them.... i for one, am not going to bother to do a single Challenge.

 

Well, it sounds like I've definitely beaten the horse to death. ;)

 

Artemisworks

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I do not usually post on these forums but the latest changes to the GC.com site have really got up my nose, so I felt compelled to come here and add my 2 cents. I'm sure everything I've said has been said before but I just wanted to add my voice to the deafening chorus pleading for a ROLLBACK to these really horrible changes to the website.

 

I can't even begin to imagine WHY anyone would have thought it was a good idea to make the dates so vague. The changes involve deliberate programming - why, why, WHY??? Anyone who has ever found a geocache, or has to maintain one, will know just how invaluable these dates are. It's pretty shocking that someone thought it would be a nice idea to remove them! Absolutely mind boggling.

 

The new cache logs design with the avatars is also a waste of space, and yes, it makes it much longer to download on a mobile device. An option to turn the extra graphics off would be appreciated, failing that, please just do away with the avatars altogether... note that most geocachers do not have avatars....!

 

And... these Challenges sound completely stupid. They have nothing to do with geocaching and are not a worthy substitute for virtuals. PLEASE, make them something completely separate, if you must keep them.... i for one, am not going to bother to do a single Challenge.

 

Well, it sounds like I've definitely beaten the horse to death. ;)

 

Artemisworks

+1...PLEASE go back to the original design, or at least allow users to configure.

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I think Groundspeak/Geocaching.com, the owners and the community, would greatly benefit from a beta test group. If not beta test, at least a group of site users and site developers to discuss proposed changes to the site before going live. In addition, it would be excellent if all the incredible suggestions here were somehow ranked and the community knew what the development status of these items were. Its a given, the community does not "own" the site. But in my hallucination the site owners and site users might collaborate better than what we are seeing today. Thanks.

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That's basic functionality that's been lacking in the official app since the beginning and was requested many times during beta testing. Waiting for the ad-supported version of Neongeo before trying it out since a 15-minute window isn't sufficient to try out a geocaching app (why, oh why did the Android Market change from a 24-hr evaluation period?). Looks good so far though!

The developer has released a new version with enhancements and bugfixes nearly every day. The only feature Neongeo doesn't have is the ability to display Souvenirs. :laughing:

 

I've gotten two FTFs with it. One was a puzzle where I left my office without the final coordinates. Neongeo pulled them from my Personal Cache Note on my way out the door.

Good to know that the dev is on top of things, as that makes all the difference; I just may try it out sooner than planned.

 

Hmmm, I've never used the Personal Cache Note feature (and just configured ABP to hide it), but that could be a great use for it! May have to try that out. Can the Official Geocaching app access these notes?

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Can the Official Geocaching app access these notes?

 

No, the official app doesn't display them. I've used PCNs for my puzzle notes and final coords since they came out, so this feature is my favorite. :)

 

One of the major features that makes me happy with Neongeo is the fact that the app keeps everything it downloads from GS in a cache. So as you scroll around the map, it constantly updates and fetches new caches automatically. I think the limit is 2000. On the official app, the only way to have that many was loading PQs slooooooooooowly.

 

Edit: Neongeo also caches map tiles, so it can be used without a data connection. :)

Edited by JJnTJ
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What was the reason to delete the exact date? I cannot remember that there was a hot feedback topic from the cachers to do this! Please bring back the exact dates. Only reading "about two years ago" is horrible!

And who wanted to have the avatars in the logs? Complete waste of space, espacially here on my ipad, and useless!

 

You should better use your time for the hot feedback topics. Why did you postpone to include the favourite points in the gpx files, for instance. THAT is what the geocacher want to have....

 

dbox.

 

Agree.

 

Please remove the avatars from the cache pages and return the correct actual dates.

 

Me Three. Dates back and avatars removed please.

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I also do not like the Challenge concept as it pertains to the geocaching website- I think this would be more appropriate for Waymarking.

 

Any way you go about it though, please have Challenges reviewed prior to publishing. Otherwise, what's to stop anyone from saying "Go to these coords and find the box that I hid" because they couldn't get their local reviewer to publish it? We're going to see a lot of inappropriate/dangerous/commercial challenges that could potentially give geocaching a bad name.

 

I also do not plan on using this feature of the website. The community wanted Virtuals back, not Challenges, and this was just an attempt at a substitute. I'm ok with their being no virtuals if means Challenges go away completely. I bet there are many other cachers out there who feel the same.

Edited by dmbfan73
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Can the Official Geocaching app access these notes?

 

No, the official app doesn't display them. I've used PCNs for my puzzle notes and final coords since they came out, so this feature is my favorite. :)

 

One of the major features that makes me happy with Neongeo is the fact that the app keeps everything it downloads from GS in a cache. So as you scroll around the map, it constantly updates and fetches new caches automatically. I think the limit is 2000. On the official app, the only way to have that many was loading PQs slooooooooooowly.

 

Edit: Neongeo also caches map tiles, so it can be used without a data connection. :)

Okay, you've sold me! Neongeo bought; now, to take it out for a spin this weekend.

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Cache logs update (note the breakdown of finds/completions on hover):

 

FCgZc.png

So the log date is no longer going to be displayed? Just some ambiguous time span such as "about 6 months ago".

 

Please bring the date back!

Seriously guys? Some people need to see specific dates.

 

+1 to that! Dates are how we know exactly when the cache was last found. It helps me determine the difference between a DNF and a missing cache. I'd be happier to know that the cache was found exactly 3 weeks and 4 days ago instead of about a month ago. "About a month" can be anything from 3 to 5 weeks.

 

Perhaps I'll be happier with the change if I know the reason.

 

Please return the find date to each log. Thanks!

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