+Semper Questio Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 d) If someone check the Greasemonky Script code he will find that all Terms Of Use from Google are Violated. And Groundspeak does not take action to stop this. And why is it Groundspeak's responsibility to stop users using a user-written script for some other person or company's product from violating yet another site's TOU and just what do you expect them to do about it? Link to comment
+Ash's Cachers Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Please can someone tell me whether there is a way to add the scale back in? In unfamiliar areas it is really helpful to be able to see distances. Link to comment
+MartyBartfast Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Please can someone tell me whether there is a way to add the scale back in? In unfamiliar areas it is really helpful to be able to see distances. Yoohoo :-) I don't think it is possible at the moment, there was a reply somewhere saying that that's a feature of the underlying leaflet API and so out of Groundspeak's control, but there is a feature request in the leaflet development queue so it might appear at some point. I don't think any of the scripts that have surfaced for putting Google maps or the OS maps back have the ability to display a scale. It's unfortunate though because it's a very useful thing to have. M: Link to comment
+edscott Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Why are Groundspeak site still using Google http://www.Waymarking.com Different website with different traffic patterns. -Raine So if the premium member site and the regular site were separate, GC.Com could offer usable maps for premium members for an additional fee and perhaps pocket the extra profits if the traffic was below the where the fees kick in? Link to comment
Dulce-Joy Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 On the new maps, when you collapse the toolbar to the left, you begin to see the titles of the caches pop up in the left-hand upper corner of the map where they begin to stack up as you move the cursor over the map. Link to comment
+littlewarthog Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Just to try something new here: Thank you guys at GS for offering an awesome service and a great site! I personally don't miss Google Maps, as OSM is much faster (not kidding, here in Beijing OSM is lightening fast, while Google Maps was a pain in the a**)! Sure, the quality of the maps is not always the same, but if Google choses to charge for a previously free service, there's no use in complaining. Already in the short time that I use the website, I have seen some improvements and I am sure you guys are doing your best to further improve it in the future. The PM is absolutely worth the money and I'll continue to be a PM in the future! For all you other guys: If you get a free service (from Google) and they choose to charge for that, there's no need in blaming GS. If you guys would spend the time you are using to spam this board to improve the OSM maps, there would be hardly any reason to complain about. Sure the bad areal maps are the downside, but there are other solutions like GSAK, iCaching that still use Google Earth. Get used to the new situation! Link to comment
+SLO Trekker Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I just have to say that the ability to correct coordinates for a mystery cache that was included in a previous update is one of the best things GC.com has ever added. It makes finding mystery caches soooo much more convenient and less confusing. Thank you for that!!! However, the new maps just are not functional enough to be all that useful right now. I rarely see the whole map anymore, and it is very slow to load or respond to a pan. Typically about 50% of the map is blank gray space. I understand the reasons for the change, but it essentially means that a siginificant feature of the web site is no longer available (for me, at least). I hope Groundspeak will continue to re-evaluate the mapping and find a better compromise. Link to comment
+speakers-corner Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Just to try something new here: Thank you guys at GS for offering an awesome service and a great site! I personally don't miss Google Maps, as OSM is much faster (not kidding, here in Beijing OSM is lightening fast, while Google Maps was a pain in the a**)! Sure, the quality of the maps is not always the same, but if Google choses to charge for a previously free service, there's no use in complaining. Already in the short time that I use the website, I have seen some improvements and I am sure you guys are doing your best to further improve it in the future. The PM is absolutely worth the money and I'll continue to be a PM in the future! For all you other guys: If you get a free service (from Google) and they choose to charge for that, there's no need in blaming GS. If you guys would spend the time you are using to spam this board to improve the OSM maps, there would be hardly any reason to complain about. Sure the bad areal maps are the downside, but there are other solutions like GSAK, iCaching that still use Google Earth. Get used to the new situation! +1 Link to comment
+edscott Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Just to try something new here: Thank you guys at GS for offering an awesome service and a great site! I personally don't miss Google Maps, as OSM is much faster (not kidding, here in Beijing OSM is lightening fast, while Google Maps was a pain in the a**)! Sure, the quality of the maps is not always the same, but if Google choses to charge for a previously free service, there's no use in complaining. Already in the short time that I use the website, I have seen some improvements and I am sure you guys are doing your best to further improve it in the future. The PM is absolutely worth the money and I'll continue to be a PM in the future! For all you other guys: If you get a free service (from Google) and they choose to charge for that, there's no need in blaming GS. If you guys would spend the time you are using to spam this board to improve the OSM maps, there would be hardly any reason to complain about. Sure the bad areal maps are the downside, but there are other solutions like GSAK, iCaching that still use Google Earth. Get used to the new situation! The problems using Google in China are well documented, but most of us are seeing a severe downgrading of service. Link to comment
Sandy Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Groundspeak has received a lot of feedback from the geocaching community regarding the recent changes to our maps, including recent improvements to our Pocket Query/Map integration. We understand that the change in maps was not ideal for many customers who were used to seeing Google maps on geocaching.com. Please understand that we are committed to delivering exceptional functionality, including high quality maps. We are continuing to analyze available options for mapping while also actively working with MapQuest to improve the current functionality and service. Link to comment
+crazycachingcouple Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I'm not trying to tow the party line here, but the maps change was not billed as an "upgrade". Obviously it was not an "upgrade". Thus the quotation marks. I understand the reasons the maps were changed, but the solution they chose was not the only one available. Link to comment
+Semper Questio Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I'm not trying to tow the party line here, but the maps change was not billed as an "upgrade". Obviously it was not an "upgrade". Thus the quotation marks. I understand the reasons the maps were changed, but the solution they chose was not the only one available. Well, if you knew it was not an upgrade it was pointless to use the word at all, with or without question marks. Sure, it was not the ONLY solution, but given their situation, it may well have been the BEST solution FOR NOW. Only those in the meeting(s) would know what went into the decision. Link to comment
jholly Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I'm not trying to tow the party line here, but the maps change was not billed as an "upgrade". Obviously it was not an "upgrade". Thus the quotation marks. I understand the reasons the maps were changed, but the solution they chose was not the only one available. And what solution would suggest that does not involve opening our collective wallets? Link to comment
+Forty-n-Eight Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Groundspeak has received a lot of feedback from the geocaching community regarding the recent changes to our maps, including recent improvements to our Pocket Query/Map integration. We understand that the change in maps was not ideal for many customers who were used to seeing Google maps on geocaching.com. Please understand that we are committed to delivering exceptional functionality, including high quality maps. We are continuing to analyze available options for mapping while also actively working with MapQuest to improve the current functionality and service. Sandy, you're much better at this than Jeremy. Link to comment
+B+L Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I'm not trying to tow the party line here, but the maps change was not billed as an "upgrade". Obviously it was not an "upgrade". Thus the quotation marks. I understand the reasons the maps were changed, but the solution they chose was not the only one available. And what solution would suggest that does not involve opening our collective wallets? They promised Charter Members the price of a membership would never exceed at $30.00, but they didn't make that same promise to everyone. They made a decision to switch map providers rather than pay Google's new licensing fees, which probably means their polling about the necessary increase in the price of a premium membership told them that an such increase would be wildly unpopular. You know what else is wildly unpopular? Springing changes of this magnitude on their users without a word of warning. If there was any doubt that the GS fanboys and fangirls will defend every move GS makes, it should be put to rest now. As I said elsewhere, I think the change to open maps will be positive in the longer term. Five or six years ago, I sent some corrections to Google for some nearby trails that show up on every map but the USGS Topo Quads as roads. About a year later Google contacted me and said they were not set up to handle changes of that nature, but they'd file my information away for when they were. The day after GS switched maps, I downloaded the Merkaartor app and made the changes myself. I even corrected the name of a local park while I was at it. Those changes were visible on the GS maps the next day when I looked. Now, I just need to learn how to use the sinkhole tool so I can add a little surprise for my firewood stealing neighbor. Link to comment
+JJnTJ Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 (edited) ...You know what else is wildly unpopular? Springing changes of this magnitude on their users without a word of warning. I've only been at this for about a year and a half, and that has been Groundspeak's M.O. the whole time. I gather it has been Groundspeak's M.O. since the beginning. I have come to accept that there is nothing to do but accept this and work around whatever goofy decisions they make as best I can. New features will be broken, annoying, or at best poorly implemented. A great new feature will be added about once every three months, and will actually work properly three to six months later. Development time will be spent on things few people have asked for, while ignoring persistent bugs. They will not seek the opinions of active geocachers before changing things. No warning will be given before massive changes. If there was any doubt that the GS fanboys and fangirls will defend every move GS makes, it should be put to rest now... I really wonder what the fanboys/girls think they are gaining or accomplishing. Edited February 24, 2012 by JJnTJ Link to comment
+dfx Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 If there was any doubt that the GS fanboys and fangirls will defend every move GS makes, it should be put to rest now... I really wonder what the fanboys/girls think they are gaining or accomplishing. Nothing, it's just blind worship. Link to comment
stebu Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 14 posts more and this release will be as "arousing" as the Geocaching.com site update May 4th 2011 (beta maps, fixed width, etc) Fortunately, the current release has not changed my MO in geocaching. I only wish the satellite view would allow zooming in a bit closer and that the tiles would load faster. Link to comment
+riffraff9000 Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I wholly understand the decision to drop Google Maps. What I don't understand (and this prolly isn't GS's fault) is how ANY map maker worth his salt could possibly fail to include a scale bar his map/API. It just wobbles the mind. Link to comment
stebu Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 (edited) I wholly understand the decision to drop Google Maps. What I don't understand (and this prolly isn't GS's fault) is how ANY map maker worth his salt could possibly fail to include a scale bar his map/API. It just wobbles the mind. Well, as a GM-script (here) demonstrates, it would be possible to add the scale by GS. They must know the scale, how else could they place the cache symbols? Also, it seems that the zoom control (+ and -) are not coming from the map providers. So GS could place a zoom control that you can directly click on a specific zoom level (as in Google Maps). Edited February 25, 2012 by stebu Link to comment
+snoozejade Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) Just to try something new here: Thank you guys at GS for offering an awesome service and a great site! I personally don't miss Google Maps, as OSM is much faster (not kidding, here in Beijing OSM is lightening fast, while Google Maps was a pain in the a**)! Sure, the quality of the maps is not always the same, but if Google choses to charge for a previously free service, there's no use in complaining. Already in the short time that I use the website, I have seen some improvements and I am sure you guys are doing your best to further improve it in the future. The PM is absolutely worth the money and I'll continue to be a PM in the future! For all you other guys: If you get a free service (from Google) and they choose to charge for that, there's no need in blaming GS. If you guys would spend the time you are using to spam this board to improve the OSM maps, there would be hardly any reason to complain about. Sure the bad areal maps are the downside, but there are other solutions like GSAK, iCaching that still use Google Earth. Get used to the new situation! +1 from me too. I also don't mind OSM, those are the maps I use in my GPSr. I actually prefer it over Google Maps. I've noticed a few new sub-division and roads in my area so I created an account on OSM, made the changes with the online editor and in less than an hour, the changes were replicated on the Geocaching.com site. Now I just found a new hobby... I can geocache and contribute to the OSM community by improving the maps. I just wish that we could select which map overlay we want by default on the Geocaching.com map. The only problem I personally have with the new maps is that at work, we use an older version of internet explorer and for some reason, I can't change the map overlay... it won't let me select anything other than mapquest. Edited February 25, 2012 by snoozejade Link to comment
+edscott Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Groundspeak has received a lot of feedback from the geocaching community regarding the recent changes to our maps, including recent improvements to our Pocket Query/Map integration. We understand that the change in maps was not ideal for many customers who were used to seeing Google maps on geocaching.com. Please understand that we are committed to delivering exceptional functionality, including high quality maps. We are continuing to analyze available options for mapping while also actively working with MapQuest to improve the current functionality and service. Sandy, you're much better at this than Jeremy. +1 more Link to comment
+edscott Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 14 posts more and this release will be as "arousing" as the Geocaching.com site update May 4th 2011 (beta maps, fixed width, etc) Fortunately, the current release has not changed my MO in geocaching. I only wish the satellite view would allow zooming in a bit closer and that the tiles would load faster. fixed to equal my experience since the change. I usually get about 5 panels before the freeze, unless I zoom out to the view from about 20000 feet Link to comment
+MartyBartfast Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) Please can someone tell me whether there is a way to add the scale back in? In unfamiliar areas it is really helpful to be able to see distances. Yoohoo :-) I don't think it is possible at the moment, ... OK ignore that, and try this: Geocaching.com - Image map scale Works for me Edited February 25, 2012 by MartyBartfast Link to comment
+C8W9 Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Please can someone tell me whether there is a way to add the scale back in? In unfamiliar areas it is really helpful to be able to see distances. Yoohoo :-) I don't think it is possible at the moment, ... OK ignore that, and try this: Geocaching.com - Image map scale Works for me Great! Link to comment
+Team Van Dyk Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 If there was any doubt that the GS fanboys and fangirls will defend every move GS makes, it should be put to rest now. This part of it has been somewhat shocking. Giving the fanbois from a certain fruit-themed computer company a run for their money. Link to comment
+bfrueger Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I have been trying to use the display of caches on the mapping option and when I click on a cache, I only get a blank white bar, no Send to GPS option or anything. Any way to resolve this? Thanks, bfrueger Link to comment
+TeKnIcIaN Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I just have to add my voice to the "new Map is Crap" throng. The lack of satellite imagery in my area (only 400 miles from the GC HQ) pretty much renders the maps useless to me. I do hereby echo the call to make google maps available to premium members only. I don't know how many premium memberships there are out there, but judging from the number of premium vs basic cachers I've seen active from my area, I'd have to think the number is somewhere north of 100,000 which would give GC annual revenues of at least $3 million USD not including site advertising, merchandising, etc. I don't see a hell of a lot of costs in your operation either (being personally savy in such things). I also think it is distinctly harsh to suddenly dump 2,000,000 map views per day on an open source provider who is providing a basically free service with practically no income beyond donations. How much of a donation did GC make to OSM, if any, when you decided to dump 2 million map views per day on them? It actually seems that OSM are "traffic shaping" in that the maps that come through GC.com are a **LOT** slower than maps direct from the OSM site. Can't blame them one bit! Link to comment
+Lil Devil Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I don't see a hell of a lot of costs in your operation either (being personally savy in such things). :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I don't think you're nearly as savvy as you might think. For starters, I bet the salary for all these Lackeys adds up pretty quick. Then we'd have to add in rent, utilities, hosting, bandwidth, and the list would go on and on. Link to comment
+t4e Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I don't see a hell of a lot of costs in your operation either (being personally savy in such things). :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I don't think you're nearly as savvy as you might think. For starters, I bet the salary for all these Lackeys adds up pretty quick. Then we'd have to add in rent, utilities, hosting, bandwidth, and the list would go on and on. you got to be kidding, there's no way there are that many paid lackeys, surely that must include the reviewers...or is just plain a simple a joke lol Link to comment
jholly Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I don't see a hell of a lot of costs in your operation either (being personally savy in such things). :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I don't think you're nearly as savvy as you might think. For starters, I bet the salary for all these Lackeys adds up pretty quick. Then we'd have to add in rent, utilities, hosting, bandwidth, and the list would go on and on. you got to be kidding, there's no way there are that many paid lackeys, surely that must include the reviewers...or is just plain a simple a joke lol Yeah, there is. I have met and know a number of them personally. I don't see any reviewer icons in that group. Link to comment
jholly Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) I just have to add my voice to the "new Map is Crap" throng. The lack of satellite imagery in my area (only 400 miles from the GC HQ) pretty much renders the maps useless to me. I do hereby echo the call to make google maps available to premium members only. I don't know how many premium memberships there are out there, but judging from the number of premium vs basic cachers I've seen active from my area, I'd have to think the number is somewhere north of 100,000 which would give GC annual revenues of at least $3 million USD not including site advertising, merchandising, etc. I don't see a hell of a lot of costs in your operation either (being personally savy in such things). I also think it is distinctly harsh to suddenly dump 2,000,000 map views per day on an open source provider who is providing a basically free service with practically no income beyond donations. How much of a donation did GC make to OSM, if any, when you decided to dump 2 million map views per day on them? It actually seems that OSM are "traffic shaping" in that the maps that come through GC.com are a **LOT** slower than maps direct from the OSM site. Can't blame them one bit! Your assuming that all premium members would line up to pay the extra money. I personally think that is a very bad assumption. I don't care to pay more for my premium membership just so you can get google maps. They are still available on a per cache basis. Although they are OSM maps, the servers are Mapquest. Says so right there on the bottom of the map. Again your making the assumption that GS did not talk to Mapquest first. I'm making the assumption they did. There are also plans for GS to provide there own tile server. Edited February 25, 2012 by jholly Link to comment
+t4e Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Yeah, there is. I have met and know a number of them personally. I don't see any reviewer icons in that group. i can't even begin to imagine why there have to be that many employees, the site says 40 but that picture has 64 including the frog :anibad:lol and what exactly does a reviewer icon look like? Link to comment
jholly Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Yeah, there is. I have met and know a number of them personally. I don't see any reviewer icons in that group. i can't even begin to imagine why there have to be that many employees, the site says 40 but that picture has 64 including the frog :anibad:lol and what exactly does a reviewer icon look like? If they use one, a lot like a lackey icon. Some don't post so I don't know what it looks like, but some do. Not only do you have the developers, but the folks that handle the store, and other functions of a business,i.e., accounting, PR - although some would argue that is a very small department , and, of course, someone to prepare the lavish lunches and folks to keep the series 9 autos clean and serviced. Link to comment
+korey99 Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 They are a private company, in business to make money. We don't know their profits and budgets, and it's not our place to speculate. I don't agree with all the decisions the company makes, but until someone posts a picture of the CEO getting out of his Ferrari, I'm not going to make or support any claims that they're getting rich off my subscription. I do however reserve the right to the expect my money's worth. Link to comment
Next Day Delivery Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Has anyone else seen a sharp decline in the number of published caches since the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre? It seems to me that we have here. I’m just wondering if others are seeing the same thing. Link to comment
+Lil Devil Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 but until someone posts a picture of the CEO getting out of his Ferrari, I used to have a picture of Jeremy riding his Vespa, but I think it was on my computer that fried last year. He has kids now so he probably upgraded to a minivan Link to comment
+edscott Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Has anyone else seen a sharp decline in the number of published caches since the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre? It seems to me that we have here. I’m just wondering if others are seeing the same thing. Still plenty of roadside micros, but no real caches in my watch area. Link to comment
+wasurf Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Has anyone else seen a sharp decline in the number of published caches since the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre? It seems to me that we have here. I’m just wondering if others are seeing the same thing. Still plenty of roadside micros, but no real caches in my watch area. Everyone is gearing up for February 29th. In my area I know of at least 32 caches that will be published that day... including a 29 cache series. Link to comment
+power69 Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 They are a private company, in business to make money. We don't know their profits and budgets, Exactly! if they were public, they'd be held accountable to stockholders and there most likely would be some lackeys cut so they could "beat the street" oh wait! couldn't have that. just lower the value of a membership. whats next? dropping the number of PQ's per day to save a few pennies on bandwidth per day? Link to comment
+Winnie51 Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Nice update. But the new maps is awful! Loading VERY slow, caches sometimes not clickable - just verry buggy. Pls go back to the old maps beta, wich was much more convinient! Thanks. Link to comment
+vds Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 sigh - almost two weeks later and map performance is BEYOND horrible. Unusable. Link to comment
+MartyBartfast Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Your assuming that all premium members would line up to pay the extra money. I personally think that is a very bad assumption. I don't care to pay more for my premium membership just so you can get google maps. They are still available on a per cache basis. Me too, I wouldn't want my subscription to go up just to bring back Google maps because I didn't use them that much and they can be easily put back by anyone using firefox or chrome using the scripts that are readily available thanks to the efforts of a few coding cachers. Link to comment
+pompey4x4 Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 (edited) Its all gone tits up... Slow. Frustrating. And totally unfathomable. Why do I need to down load 548 items... to result in this page that I required... and take 4 minutes to do it? Get rid - ask me my opinion - I might pay up rather than put up with this. You've really put a spanner in the works of what was a really good activity. Edited February 26, 2012 by pompey4x4 Link to comment
+Team Taran Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Your post is not understandable. I have no idea what you are complaining about. Link to comment
+edscott Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 (edited) Your post is not understandable. I have no idea what you are complaining about. Get out your English to American translator. Edited February 26, 2012 by edscott Link to comment
+choochoo1996 Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I tried Highlighting the cache co-ords on the cache page,right clicked it and I was able to open up the location with Bing map. The location was pushpinned and I got a great arial view and sat views with fairly good zoom in...I check it against my caches and the locations came up very close....Try that.... Link to comment
+Team Taran Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 You do not need to copy and paste the cords. Just click on Google maps in the list on the left side of the web page. It is the third in the list. Link to comment
+broncobob9 Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Groundspeak has received a lot of feedback from the geocaching community regarding the recent changes to our maps, including recent improvements to our Pocket Query/Map integration. We understand that the change in maps was not ideal for many customers who were used to seeing Google maps on geocaching.com. Please understand that we are committed to delivering exceptional functionality, including high quality maps. We are continuing to analyze available options for mapping while also actively working with MapQuest to improve the current functionality and service. Thanks Sandy! It was good meeting you in Wichita, KS. Link to comment
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