Geocaching App

[Telp]

I searched the forums and did not see this already mentioned. I found this very nice application called Geopher Lite that will make geocaching on the iPhone possible. The developer seems to be having a couple issues with Apple at the moment, but you can read up on the status on their blog. It looks really good, and I really hope this app, or one similar comes out soon. Does anyone else know of another caching app in the works? I have not seen one pop up on iTunes yet. Heres the developers blog for Geopher Lite.



http://geopherlite.blogspot.com/

 

[QuietFun]

No but I have been anxiously waiting! I used my iPhone 3G the other day to find a cache.. it was very accurate.. looks like a GREAT all-in-one tool if an app comes out that uses common sense.

 

[Telp]

I used my iPhone 3G the other day to find a cache.. it was very accurate..

That is excellent to hear. I can't wait to get out with mine. I had been waiting for an app like this to come out, but then again, I am sure a lot of caches by me aren't even that sophisticated.

 

[QuietFun]

yea but when your out of town on a cache run it'd be nice..

 

[JBaker122586]

Can someone explain to me what geocaching is?

 

[sgibson]

Can someone explain to me what geocaching is?

http://www.geocaching.com

Basically, it's like a global treasure hunt. Someone hides a cache, which can be anything from a camera film tube with paper and pencil to a a large box with items for people to take (preferably leaving something in return) and then posts the location based on GPS. Other people then find the caches using their own GPS (it's a lot harder than it sounds) or, like me, guessing roughly using Google Earth because they don't have GPS (enter iPhone 3G).

You can record the ones you've found and it's a fun way of getting out and about more and finding new places.

A geocaching app was one of the first things I thought about when GPS was confirmed.

 

[EmptyPockets]

I would be very interested in an app like this. Let's hope something comes out.

 

[Sonicjay]

It would be neat for quick urban caches, but for multi-points or anything that would take more than a few minutes, running GPS and that big screen would be too battery intensive and I'd just use my Garmin.

 

[GreenLightJerky]

Sounds like he's having trouble with Apple. News does not look good.
I hope it works out.

 

[dacreativeguy]

No but I have been anxiously waiting! I used my iPhone 3G the other day to find a cache.. it was very accurate.. looks like a GREAT all-in-one tool if an app comes out that uses common sense.

What app are you using to input the Lat/Long of the cache?

 

[Telp]

What app are you using to input the Lat/Long of the cache?

You can just put the lat/long into google maps.

 

[QuietFun]

either that ^ or go to the webpage that describes the cache and touch "view in Google Maps" and it brings up the google maps app which it would normally bring up google maps in your internet browser.

 

[Telp]

either that ^ or go to the webpage that describes the cache and touch "view in Google Maps" and it brings up the google maps app which it would normally bring up google maps in your internet browser.

Oh thats good. I will have to try that.

 

[QuietFun]

but see it becomes a problem whenever your on Edge and have more than like 4 caches to find.. thats why we need an application that can do what the Geopher guy is talking about in his post today.

 

[genshi]

Looks like Geopher Lite was just released.

It's not clear if this app actually uses the iPhone's GPS to get your current location first, then allows you to put in a geocache waymark, or if it is simply a glorified web browser that you have to manually enter everything including your current location, which is what the app description sort of sounds like:

Geopher is a while-you-are-out geocaching application. Quickly check your current location via geocaching.com for geocaches in your area with the search button...

 

[macduke]

This all sounds like a waste of gas.

I hope you are all biking to your destinations!!

Yikes.

 

[sirmalloc]

I've got one in development...

I've got a geocaching application in development right now that you guys might be interested in. There are some screenshots up at www.geodeapp.com and a feature list, and I'm going to be keeping a development blog over at www.nonameindustries.com. Hit me up, let me know what you think and what features are most important to you and I'll try to incorporate them.

 

[Telp]

I've got a geocaching application in development right now that you guys might be interested in. There are some screenshots up at www.geodeapp.com and a feature list, and I'm going to be keeping a development blog over at www.nonameindustries.com. Hit me up, let me know what you think and what features are most important to you and I'll try to incorporate them.

This looks fabulous. Just as a little query, how much do you expect this application to go for in the app store?

 

[kwjohns]

I've got a geocaching application in development right now that you guys might be interested in. There are some screenshots up at www.geodeapp.com and a feature list, and I'm going to be keeping a development blog over at www.nonameindustries.com. Hit me up, let me know what you think and what features are most important to you and I'll try to incorporate them.

Wow that looks awesome. Keep up the good work and I hope to see it in the app store soon!

 

[genshi]

I've got a geocaching application in development right now that you guys might be interested in. There are some screenshots up at www.geodeapp.com and a feature list, and I'm going to be keeping a development blog over at www.nonameindustries.com. Hit me up, let me know what you think and what features are most important to you and I'll try to incorporate them.

Now THAT looks nice. Really like the interface. I would definitely pay for that app if it works the way it sounds like it will work. I've just started getting more into the whole geocaching thing so this will be a welcomed utility.

 

[GreenLightJerky]

very nice!!!!! I will definitely get this app. Can't wait to download it.I can easily justify my otterbox defender now. Thank you.

 

[billchase2]

this will be cool for those with the 3G. i had an app that did this on my old sprint phone... it was pretty cool.

 

[ogdogg]

I've never heard of Geocaching before but it sounds cool. As a music producer I get TONS of cd's all the time sent to me. Usually these end up in the trash, but perhaps if I had an app like this I could put boxes of mixtapes and other promo stuff in fields and have you people hunt for it. Sounds like a sweet idea to me.

 

[sgibson]

I've got a geocaching application in development right now that you guys might be interested in. There are some screenshots up at www.geodeapp.com and a feature list, and I'm going to be keeping a development blog over at www.nonameindustries.com. Hit me up, let me know what you think and what features are most important to you and I'll try to incorporate them.

How are your conversations with the folks at Geocaching.com going? They wouldn't let the developer of Geopher use any site data in a commercial application, not even reading of co-ords, so the best he could do was display the Geocaching page in an integrated browser, but you need to copy the co-ords into the app yourself.

 

[sirmalloc]

How are your conversations with the folks at Geocaching.com going? They wouldn't let the developer of Geopher use any site data in a commercial application, not even reading of co-ords, so the best he could do was display the Geocaching page in an integrated browser, but you need to copy the co-ords into the app yourself.

Conversations with Geocaching.com aren't going. They never replied to my emails. I'll try again at some point.

I plan on building in browsing functionality that will enable the user to point to the site of their choice, with the option to pass their current location as part of the querystring. I'm also aiming to add coordinate recognition to the browser that I embed in the application so that whatever site the user is browsing, it'll try to recognize coordinates on the page.

If the user chooses to use the browsing functionality to hit Geocaching.com's nearby listing page and then use the coordinate recognition to attempt to auto-populate the coordinates, they can do that. It's up to the user to make sure they aren't violating the TOS of the site they choose to use. I fail to see how the coordinate recognition is any different than Apple's phone number recognition in the browser that auto-links phone numbers to launch a call.