New map icons

[+DragonsWest]

Between last night and a few minutes ago I notice our classic old icons on maps have changed.

 

It's going to be a period of adjustment.

[+N.o.e.]

Return back old icon!

[+barefootjeff]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like there's now no distinction between PMO and non-PMO caches.

[+uwezi]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like there's now no distinction between PMO and non-PMO caches.

You are right - everything is in circles now...

[+uwezi]

Return back old icon!

or give the users a choice or start a survey... +1 for the old set...

[+HHL]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like there's now no distinction between PMO and non-PMO caches.

 

No, there is a difference: non PM will just not see PMO caches on the map.

 

Hans

Edited December 5, 2016 by HHL

[+lee737]

The assimilation of the new app is near completion..... just hold still, this won't hurt a bit.....

[+DragonsWest]

Return back old icon!

or give the users a choice or start a survey... +1 for the old set...

 

You have much to learn young tadpole...

 

When they change something it tends to stay changed - the don't go into a project like that with the thought, "and let's code an option for some to get the classic look if they don't like the new ones..."

 

If you liked the old icons I hope you have them cached somewhere.

[+lee737]

Weird behaviour at map zoom 5km - you get a mix of old and new.... with the new coloured circles and the old little boxes....

[+The A-Team]

I'm not entirely opposed to the new icons (not that they're really adding anything; seems like another change-for-the-sake-of-change), but I see one problem in addition to the PMO one. Before this change, when you zoomed out to the point that your finds were no longer reflected and filtering by type gets disabled (zoom level 11), the icons would change from small versions of the cache type icons to coloured squares. That is, there was a noticeable difference between the two styles. Now, at the lower zoom levels, the icons are the same as at the higher zoom levels. That is, as you zoom in or out between zoom 11 and 12, the style of the icons doesn't change, so specific icons for things like smileys or hides just appear or disappear without any apparent rhyme or reason - if you aren't aware of how the map works. IMO, there should be some visible "barrier" differentiating the two behaviours. At the very least, the filter icons in the sidebar should be greyed out at the zoom levels where they don't apply.

[+niraD]

I'm not entirely opposed to the new icons (not that they're really adding anything; seems like another change-for-the-sake-of-change),

It looks like the icons for the web maps are being changed to match the icons for the app maps. So yeah, if you don't use one of Groundspeak's apps, then the change doesn't seem to add anything. But for those who do use one of Groundspeak's apps, the change improves the consistency.

 

That's actually one of the complaints I have about Groundspeak's apps: the inconsistencies. But I hope they change the apps to match the web terminology (e.g., micro, small, regular, large), rather than changing the web to match the app terminology (e.g., extra small, small, medium, large).

[+Viajero Perdido]

MAGOR BUG

 

The clickable hotspot isn't as big as the new, fatter icon. Notice how the mouse cursor fails to change as you come in from, in particular, the right hand side. Bad UX, bad.

 

It's a long-shot to point this out, I know...

 

PS, the earthcache icon looks like an oddly-colored hex nut at an angle.

Edited December 6, 2016 by Viajero Perdido

[+The A-Team]

At the very least, the filter icons in the sidebar should be greyed out at the zoom levels where they don't apply.

After doing some more testing, I now retract this portion of my post. The filters now work at all zoom levels, which is a significant improvement over the previous version.

[+Michaelcycle]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like there's now no distinction between PMO and non-PMO caches.

 

No, there is a difference: non PM will just not see PMO caches on the map.

 

Hans

 

There IS a difference to me: I cannot now determine if a cache is PMO from the map until I open the cache page. NOT liking that one bit!!

[+Rustynails]

The new icons suck. They are all circles and probably look all alike if your color blind. The different shapes of the old make them unique and stand out better. They should have polled the membership before they did it, but I guess they don't care what we think.

[+Divine Amorphis]

The new map looks.... Childish? I am not sure how to describe it. Maybe bubbly would be better way to put it. This will take some getting used to.

 

Can you see disabled caches on the map? I went on to check on one near me and i could not find it with the new map.

 

The only thing i had ever seen anyone complain about (myself included) was that the blue DNF face did not show on the map. I had hoped that if they every changed the map, it would reflect that, but nope, still nothing.

[+lee737]

Can you see disabled caches on the map? I went on to check on one near me and i could not find it with the new map.

 

Yes, you can see them, they look identical to any other cache.....

 

I stand corrected - they are different, in fact, they stand out better than they used to.... I was looking at one I had already found! <facepalm>

Edited December 6, 2016 by lee737

[+noncentric]

Can you see disabled caches on the map? I went on to check on one near me and i could not find it with the new map.

Disabled caches, that you haven't yet found, are greyed out on the map. See this post that includes a screenshot.

[+frinklabs]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like there's now no distinction between PMO and non-PMO caches.

 

No, there is a difference: non PM will just not see PMO caches on the map.

 

Hans

 

There IS a difference to me: I cannot now determine if a cache is PMO from the map until I open the cache page. NOT liking that one bit!!

 

[FEATURE] PMO status on map popup

[+redsox_mark]

Doesn't make much difference to me. i understand we've lost something, that as a Premium Member I can no longer tell by just the map if a cache is PMO only or not. Personally I've not paid attention to that anyway. But if some people find that useful, then it is a step backwards.

[+narcissa]

I don't mind the circles but I wish the colours were a bit more saturated and distinct from each other.

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

Once again things that no one is asking for to be changed get changed.

 

I don't like the fact that my caches show up as dull green circles with a white star in them. They get a little lost with the green unfound icon and the coloring of Google maps. I prefer the old bright yellow star icons.

[+J Grouchy]

Funny that it happened right when my PM lapsed. I was wondering if maybe that's what non-PM members normally saw.

[+rosebud55112]

Events certainly grab your attention this way.

[cezanne]

But if some people find that useful, then it is a step backwards.

 

I'm not colorblind but even for me the dark blue and the dark green circles when I zoom out are unnecessarily hard to distinguish. I'd say several major steps backwards coming close to an affront against colorblind cachers who wish to use the maps.

Many people use the website and not the GS app for good reasons.

[kanchan]

Okay. Do you spot the disabled multicache here?

 

Edited December 6, 2016 by kanchan

[+lee737]

I don't mind the circles but I wish the colours were a bit more saturated and distinct from each other.

 

My thoughts exactly, need brighter colours.... I also wish letterboxes could have their own colour on smaller zoom levels....

 

 

[kanchan]

How many caches are there in this area?

 

[+lee737]

How many caches are there in this area?

 

<pic>

 

That is tricky..... more on account of those annoying non-GC symbols though.

[+HHL]

How many caches are there in this area?

 

 

Wow. A Swastika cache and a Powertrail cache.

Edited December 6, 2016 by HHL

[kanchan]

How many caches are there in this area?

 

<pic>

 

That is tricky..... more on account of those annoying non-GC symbols though.

Annoying? They had been there since before gc.com changed the icons.

[kanchan]

Wow. A Swastika cache and a Powertrail cache.

It's a Buddhist temple. Note it's reverse.

[+J Grouchy]

How many caches are there in this area?

 

 

This illustrates the point well.

Even a drop shadow or some other way to 'pull it off the page' somewhat might go a long way.

[+MasterFred]

Just saw it and I'm glad to be not the only one who doesn't like it.

Ok, traditional and mystery caches I think I can deal with the design and get used to it fast. Letterbox, webcam caches and virtual caches should be redesigned very quickly, my eyes are hurting when I see this. Even Wherigo should be distinguished better from mysteries.

[+Wet Pancake Touring Club]

I have to agree that the light grey is too light, and blends in with the background. As for the rest of the icons, they are OK when you are not zoomed out.

 

From my perspective, there are two usability problems when viewing a zoomed out map. First, it is very difficult to distinguish between dark blue and dark green. Second, I would prefer that found caches are displayed underneath all other icons. I'm more interested in what I haven't found, than what I have found.

[+niraD]

Okay. Do you spot the disabled multicache here?

Yeah, it's below the food cache, above the coffee cache, to the right of the traveling cache, and to the left of the... What kind of cache uses a "P" symbol?

[+HHL]

[...] What kind of cache uses a "P" symbol?

 

Power Trails. Often wanted below the salt.

 

Hans

[+niraD]

[...] What kind of cache uses a "P" symbol?

Power Trails.

Hmm... If the "P" symbol is for power trails, then what is the car-and-key symbol for?

[+HHL]

[...] Hmm... If the "P" symbol is for power trails, then what is the car-and-key symbol for?

 

Magnetic Key Holder caches.

[+Alkhalikoi]

I'm not thrilled with the style, but I can get used to it. I still don't know why I can filter out My Finds, but not filter out caches that I haven't found. Sometimes that's a far better tool for me to decide where to go as I can look for big gaps on the map, instead of the reverse.

[+DragonsWest]

I don't mind the circles but I wish the colours were a bit more saturated and distinct from each other.

 

My thoughts exactly, need brighter colours.... I also wish letterboxes could have their own colour on smaller zoom levels....

 

It isn't brighter colors, we've lost contrast I actually have to get closer to the screen to make out the differences. And that's on my desktop system, with the benefit of a very good monitor and not a bunch of daylight glare on the screen muddying things up. These now look far less distinct than the prior artwork - not even close to an improvement, in my view.

 

This looks so much like a "Gee whiz, why don't we spend a lot of energy on something nobody asked for?" idea. Looks slick, but it's form over function.

[+lee737]

I'd favour a lighter blue, a light royal blue over a navy colour, if you made the green too light it would start getting lost in the vegetation.....

[+narcissa]

I don't mind the circles but I wish the colours were a bit more saturated and distinct from each other.

 

My thoughts exactly, need brighter colours.... I also wish letterboxes could have their own colour on smaller zoom levels....

 

It isn't brighter colors, we've lost contrast I actually have to get closer to the screen to make out the differences. And that's on my desktop system, with the benefit of a very good monitor and not a bunch of daylight glare on the screen muddying things up. These now look far less distinct than the prior artwork - not even close to an improvement, in my view.

 

This looks so much like a "Gee whiz, why don't we spend a lot of energy on something nobody asked for?" idea. Looks slick, but it's form over function.

 

I just find the actual colours have a muddy quality to them that makes them hard to differentiate from each other, as well as other elements on the map. I have looked at it with my phone and my laptop, and found the same issue. But everyone is going to perceive it a bit differently, because we are all using different devices and different brains. So your perception may be valid even though it's not the same as mine.

[+edscott]

Should have a way to turn off the icons of your found caches to lessen the clutter in dense areas. Never mind.. found it. The update must have sent me back to default settings.

Edited December 8, 2016 by edscott

[+SeattleWayne]

The new icons suck. They are all circles and probably look all alike if your color blind. The different shapes of the old make them unique and stand out better. They should have polled the membership before they did it, but I guess they don't care what we think.

 

Lol.

 

Yeah, they hate us.

[+jellis]

Maybe nice for kids cause it looks childish but I thought most of us who play are adults.

[+jellis]

If you zoom out it looks like paint by dots.

[+rragan]

Not at all fond of it. One of the little things that matter in Geosphere was the ability to customize pin colors for all the types. Of course, Earth Caches should be brown.

[+Menepteheu]

I wish that PMO Caches had at least a golden outline to seperate them at high zoom level.

[+DragonsWest]

Maybe nice for kids cause it looks childish but I thought most of us who play are adults.

 

It is our inner child that revels in the game.

 

I tried to give it a chance. It looks cute, but functionaly they are poor. I didn't scan maps for color so much as Shape. I knew what a Multi was shaped like, as opposed to a Question Mark. Sure glad they're not in control of my Garmin.