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Geocaching.com site update Feb 14th, 2012

OpinioNate

By OpinioNate
in Geocaching HQ communications

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OpinioNate

OpinioNate

Posted
Posted

Read the last update's Release Notes

 

Map Updates

 

Added:

 

• Support for tablets like the iPad and other mobile devices

• Display of only the caches in a Pocket Query instead of all caches at once

• Faster tooltips, at any zoom level

 

Removed:

 

• Google Maps (find out why)

 

Try it out.

 

HSpUq.png

 

Release Notes

New Features:

 

• Now resizing image uploads if the file is larger than 1mb or the width/height is greater than 2048 pixels

• Added setting choice in profile to hide Recently Viewed Caches from the private profile view

• Added ability to dismiss the downtime notification banner that appears at the top of the website ahead of scheduled maintenance

• Added the ability to filter the map by only those caches found within the Pocket Query you are viewing

• Replaced Google with Leaflet as mapping provider

• Integrated MyTopo topographical maps with new Leaflet implementation

• Added Croatian version of the Intro to Geocaching brochure

• Added new partner app Geo Bucket to list of approved apps on /Live

 

Bug Fixes:

 

• Updated Challenge page titles to include the Challenge name

• Fixed inconsistent log type options for creating instant notifications; many more log types can now be selected

• Changed the Project A.P.E. cache description on cache_types.aspx to indicate there is only one left in the world

• Fixed field notes bug where in some cases the cutoff date for upload displayed as 01/01/0001

• Updated image gallery view to honor a user's choice of date display format

• Fixed bug preventing a user from Favoriting a cache from the find log confirmation page

• Fixed server error received by Trackable owner when removing another users image posted to their Trackable page

• Fixed bug preventing the sharing panel on log pages from appearing when logging from a field note

• Fixed display bug in IE8 which caused image edit controls to be obscured by page elements

• Removed redundant link on private profile to view archived caches that only appeared when a user had a cache waiting for review

• Fixed issue which prevented the proper display of Unicode characters in cache descriptions, name, and hint

• Fixed issue with Trackable stat bar sometimes failing to display a default image

• Fixed bug causing users to be logged out of the site after logging into third party apps (such as GSAK)

 

 

 

KD0cp.png Geocaching Live API Beta

 

The beta launch of the Geocaching Live API continues!

 

db3qd.pngGeo Bucket

 

Geo Bucket is a full paperless Geocaching application for all iPad, iPhone, and iPod users. You can download caches as GPX, LOC, ZIP file or use the Geocaching Live capabilities. The application supports creating Field Notes offline and sending those to Geocaching.com when an internet connection is available.

 

 

Happy Valentine's day everyone!

 

9OZUQ.png

Car54

+Car54

Posted
Posted

New Features:

 

• Added setting choice in profile to hide Recently Viewed Caches from the private profile view

 

I know it may be a small thing, but thank you for this. :)

 

Mrs. Car54

terratin

+terratin

Posted
Posted

With the new cost structure for google maps it was quite inevitable that we'd be losing our trusted maps soon. Oh well... I'll get used it it, and I'm sure there'll be a useful little greasemonekey script soon. If not, well, the places interesting for us lack some detail, like a bit town only having one single street and nothing else :huh:

thebruce0

+thebruce0

Posted
Posted

There's still the option to use PQ results in other apps/applications that still utilize google maps, if you really really prefer those maps. I've been using OSM more for trails and walkway tracklogs anyhow, since Google doesn't typically show that detail. I think the more people use it (especially geocachers), the more useful it'll become :)

knowschad

knowschad

Posted
Posted

All I have to say about this release is this:

9OZUQ.png

 

Awesome release, guys! Well done, and thank you for listening!

 

(I will miss the Google maps, but totally understand that it is out of your control)

knowschad

knowschad

Posted
Posted

With the new cost structure for google maps it was quite inevitable that we'd be losing our trusted maps soon. Oh well... I'll get used it it, and I'm sure there'll be a useful little greasemonekey script soon. If not, well, the places interesting for us lack some detail, like a bit town only having one single street and nothing else :huh:

 

I will really miss Google's shaded 3D Terrain maps, most, though. Or is there something similar that I haven't discovered yet?

dukex1981

+dukex1981

Posted
Posted

small changes - yes! I miss google maps a bit as it was faster than OSM (note: I map for this projekt!). Details especially in Europa are very high (save some parts) - US needs more volunteer mapers in rural parts...

osnica

+osnica

Posted
Posted

Am I missing something, or have we lost the topo and aearial / satellite maps altogether? I see some "MapQuest Aerial" and "MyTopo" layers in the maps but these do not show anything - are they U.S. only? Both topo (shaded relief / terrain maps) and aerial / satellite maps were extremely useful when caching outdoors...

Fische3d

+Fische3d

Posted
Posted

Just a little thing that catched my eye: Since you removed Google maps, you should probably rename the "Or, search with Google maps" button on the "Hide and Seek a Cache" page.

Thanks for the hard work! :)

nittany dave

+nittany dave

Posted
Posted

Am I missing something, or have we lost the topo and aearial / satellite maps altogether? I see some "MapQuest Aerial" and "MyTopo" layers in the maps but these do not show anything - are they U.S. only? Both topo (shaded relief / terrain maps) and aerial / satellite maps were extremely useful when caching outdoors...

 

Upper right corner of the map has the layers control

patdhill

patdhill

Posted
Posted

Well removing the Google maps is rubbish for UK users as they Map Quest ones don't go down to half the scale. One of the great things about the beta maps becomes useless. Bring them back please?

BananaForce

+BananaForce

Posted
Posted

I like the new feature to see only the caches in the PQ on the map. However, I did notice a bug. Is this the correct place to report it?

 

Caches in which I have logged a DNF :( are showing up as a smiley :) on the new map when I view my PQ on the map.

JC_Geo

+JC_Geo

Posted
Posted
OpinioNate, on 14 February 2012 - 10:06 AM, said:

 

New Features:

 

• Added setting choice in profile to hide Recently Viewed Caches from the private profile view

 

Where is the setting? I am trying to turn it off, but can't find it in my profile.

 

Thanks

jholly

jholly

Posted
Posted

I really hate to say this, but I sort of liked having the PQ balloons overlaying all the caches in the area. Oh, well, guess what we asked for. Turning off all the caches types on the left panel gave just the PQ, but what was missing was the info balloon when the PQ balloon was clicked. Oh, well, guess we got what was asked for.

SwineFlew

+SwineFlew

Posted
Posted
New maps will take getting used to and they seemed a little slow just now.

Yeah, moving 2 million hits from Google to OSM is bound to have an effect on OSM :yikes:

tsk tsk tsk...you said it. I think their servers is screaming now.

terratin

+terratin

Posted
Posted

anybody else getting a consistent tiled pattern at all zoom levels

 

maps.png

 

I do. It seems to go away if I wait long enough (some 20 minutes), but that's hardly usable. Maybe the new maps need a bit of oil to run more smoothly :rolleyes:

 

With regards to what someone wrote up here: yes, the topo and aerial maps don't seem to work outside the US :(

dcwalker30

+dcwalker30

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hate it. I couldn't care less about a more detailed OSM Street map when all I use is the satellite view. These new maps are slow and won't refresh correctly. There is no scale on the map, i.e. 1 in = 100 ft. Also, this might just be my imagination, but it doesn't seem to have as close of a zoom either. How much more would a Premium Membership cost if it went towards paying for the Google API?

 

Hate the change ... thanks Google.

Edited by dcwalker30
SammysHP

+SammysHP

Posted
Posted (edited)

The new map is the worst thing I've ever seen at gc.com:

 

  • Less than 50% of the tiles are loading
  • No sat-view in Europe anymore

 

Germany is one of the most active Geocaching-countries - you'll be hated by lot of us. I'm a mapper of OSM and used it already before the remove of Gmaps. But Google is the only provider for aero-images here in Germany with an usable resolution.

 

PS: Bing is no alternative, too low resolution.

Edited by SammysHP
JC_Geo

+JC_Geo

Posted
Posted
New maps will take getting used to and they seemed a little slow just now.

Yeah, moving 2 million hits from Google to OSM is bound to have an effect on OSM :yikes:

tsk tsk tsk...you said it. I think their servers is screaming now.

Very, Very slowwwwww

knowschad

knowschad

Posted
Posted

anybody else getting a consistent tiled pattern at all zoom levels

 

maps.png

 

If you are referring to the missing sections, yes, I have seen that. In my case, it was when I was switching between the various types of maps.

terratin

+terratin

Posted
Posted (edited)

 

here's an idea, let premium members have access to google maps, and non-premium members can have access to the poor-mans maps.

 

+3

Edited by terratin
knowschad

knowschad

Posted
Posted

New maps do not work on IPad.

That seems odd, since that was specifically mentioned as one of the new features in this release. Perhaps you should be a little more specific about what you mean by "do not work".
Syracuse Buckeye

+Syracuse Buckeye

Posted
Posted

Horrible maps now....large tiles and blocks of nothing but grey. Slower than molasses. I used satellite imagery for all caches before heading out to make sure I was familiar with the area. There must be a better solution that whatever is being used now b/c it's next to worthless.

Calador

+Calador

Posted
Posted

I could not be more livid right now in Groundspeaks choice in changing the Geocaching Map! It was my absolute favorite thing! I would pay double the subscription fee to have the option for Google Maps!

SwineFlew

+SwineFlew

Posted
Posted

Hate it. I couldn't care less about a more detailed OSM Street map when all I use is the satellite view. These new maps are slow and won't refresh correctly. How much more would a Premium Membership cost if it went towards paying for the Google API?

 

Hate the change ... thanks Google.

 

more to the point, what is the premium membership actually paying for at the moment?

all we've had recently is features removed and replaced with inferior solutions.

 

here's an idea, let premium members have access to google maps, and non-premium members can have access to the poor-mans maps.

 

I do wonder about that for a long time. my membership is due soon and right now I feel my 30 bucks is paying for Groudspeak's wonderful benefit plans for their workers and high rent (Seattle) instead of the services I really paying for.

BBWolf+3Pigs

+BBWolf+3Pigs

Posted
Posted
OpinioNate, on 14 February 2012 - 10:06 AM, said:

 

New Features:

 

• Added setting choice in profile to hide Recently Viewed Caches from the private profile view

 

Where is the setting? I am trying to turn it off, but can't find it in my profile.

 

Thanks

 

Accounting Settings / Manage Account Preferences.

 

Would have been better to put a check box on the profile pages, to minimize poking aorund for it.

patdhill

patdhill

Posted
Posted

Hate it. I couldn't care less about a more detailed OSM Street map when all I use is the satellite view. These new maps are slow and won't refresh correctly. How much more would a Premium Membership cost if it went towards paying for the Google API?

 

Hate the change ... thanks Google.

 

more to the point, what is the premium membership actually paying for at the moment?

all we've had recently is features removed and replaced with inferior solutions.

 

here's an idea, let premium members have access to google maps, and non-premium members can have access to the poor-mans maps.

Maybe it's a way to get more premium members as you can take the GPX file from a PQ and load it into Google Earth and get a similar result. You'd just need to be careful on the number of PQ you run.

FrogMastr

+FrogMastr

Posted
Posted

Then Let Us download a BIG pocket querry with 5000-25 000 caches in a 300 KM area THEN we will be able to work ourself with our OWN maping software... Google Earth/ Basecamp or any other...

we live in a wide area with many caches... going to create many small pocket for a BIG area is NOT fun at all...

monsterbox

+monsterbox

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hi!

 

 

Added:

 

• Support for tablets like the iPad and other mobile devices

• Display of only the caches in a Pocket Query instead of all caches at once

• Faster tooltips, at any zoom level

 

Removed:

 

• Google Maps (find out why)

 

I don't care about the removal of the Google Maps, that's ok as you've found a replacement. But I DO CARE about the final removal of the OLD style map. I'm trying to load a PQ on the map while writing this email and guess what, it's still loading...

 

The one and only part I do like from the new map is the size. Finally full screen on my 30 inch display. But that's definitely the ONLY thing. All the rest is way worse that before...

 

1. Speed, slower than a snail now... (Map loading for ~5 MINUTES now and still not all the tiles have been showing up :-( )

 

2. The old map has been showing way nicer (and easier to see) symbols for the caches. These combined symbols aren't fun.

 

3. The list! Just names now, no codes :-( Where have they been going?

 

4. As far as I can see I don't have a chance to create a link to a specific PQ map as I could with the old map.

 

5. Why is LETTERBOX a green type of cache? Shouldn't it be a yellow one?

 

That's it for the moment and by the way: STILL 9 tiles not yet loaded :-(

 

Bye,

Christian

 

P.S.: After trying to use the new maps I need to say that right now they are fully unusable! I'm trying to load just some caches for a small part of my home town und it is loading ~10 minutes now and STILL not even halft the tiles. Caches just popping up now. No chance to really use that!

 

P.P.S.: Found another bug :-( The new map right now is showing ALL caches and is NOT showing my finds any longer :-(

Edited by monsterbox
Saint Aubie

+Saint Aubie

Posted
Posted

As others have mentioned, I am getting tiles consistently unpopulated. This problem is seen easily with OSM, as it looks like about every 5th diagonal is unpopulated. Random tiles are also not populating in the Mapquest aerial view.

 

When I click on pocket queries within the map, I'm getting nothing, but then again, it could just be the painfully slow refresh rate. I hope that the slowness of the new maps is a Groundspeak problem and not a limitation of the new "cloud" API that they are building on. When I zoom in, it is taking close to a minute to refresh. No, it's not my internet connection.

 

Also, as others have referenced, please see fit to add a scale to the map. That's a really important piece of information that is completely missing.

 

Looks like the maps release has quite a few bugs to work out. I hope that this release wasn't rushed due to a "drop-dead" date with Google, because you really need to revert back to the old maps till these issues are resolved. The feature is pretty much unusable for me right now.

Dr.MORO

+Dr.MORO

Posted
Posted

Domo!!!

 

Bye Bye Google Maps! Thanks, but no thanks any more.

 

And I love you, OSM!

I have been using their routable maps in my Garmins since Day 1 of my shallow geocaching history, and just can't imagine anything better.

I also contribute a bit in correcting the OSM maps.

 

GREAT improvements!

 

Keep up the good work, hamsters, and lackeys!

 

~ Dr.MORO

Original A1

+Original A1

Posted
Posted

Sorry, just don't like the new maps. I know your hands have been tied, but some have commented that we asked for this - not I. It's very slow to load, sometimes not at all and the page I have on my taskbar is maps; other than clicking on my name, there seems to be no other way out of it onto the main site. From the main site, I haven't a clue how to get to the maps again (the perils of using a shortcut, I suppose).

 

What were the costs involved of being part of the 0.35%?

 

:(

Pup Patrol

Pup Patrol

Posted
Posted (edited)

Where is the setting? I am trying to turn it off, but can't find it in my profile.

 

Thanks

 

Accounting Settings / Manage Account Preferences.

 

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Would have been better to put a check box on the profile pages, to minimize poking aorund for it.

 

Indeed. <_<

 

 

 

B.

Edited by Pup Patrol
edscott

+edscott

Posted
Posted

Am I missing something, or have we lost the topo and aearial / satellite maps altogether? I see some "MapQuest Aerial" and "MyTopo" layers in the maps but these do not show anything - are they U.S. only? Both topo (shaded relief / terrain maps) and aerial / satellite maps were extremely useful when caching outdoors...

 

Oh they will show you something.. just take a break, have lunch and a movie and they will be up when you get back.

Emil007

+Emil007

Posted
Posted

I really like the new maps design, but please make it faster... And, since there is no satellite view available in Europe, maybe there is a way to add Google/Bing satellite Maps at least for Premium Members?

gvsu4msu

+gvsu4msu

Posted
Posted

Display of only the caches in a Pocket Query instead of all caches at once

 

I cannot tell you how long I have been waiting for this feature to be corrected.......oh wait, yes I can.....EVER SINCE THEY INTRODUCED BETA MAPS!

 

Thank you for (finally) getting this!

yxza

+yxza

Posted
Posted

Hate it. I couldn't care less about a more detailed OSM Street map when all I use is the satellite view. These new maps are slow and won't refresh correctly. How much more would a Premium Membership cost if it went towards paying for the Google API?

 

Hate the change ... thanks Google.

 

more to the point, what is the premium membership actually paying for at the moment?

all we've had recently is features removed and replaced with inferior solutions.

 

here's an idea, let premium members have access to google maps, and non-premium members can have access to the poor-mans maps.

 

I do wonder about that for a long time. my membership is due soon and right now I feel my 30 bucks is paying for Groudspeak's wonderful benefit plans for their workers and high rent (Seattle) instead of the services I really paying for.

Yup, got a point there judge!

+4

edscott

+edscott

Posted
Posted

 

here's an idea, let premium members have access to google maps, and non-premium members can have access to the poor-mans maps.

+4

+5

no useful maps = no caching for me. Not only are they painfully slow, but the images, in my home area at least, are totally inferior.

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