Page 3 of 3

Posted: 05 April 03 9:27 pm
by Two Goth Geeks
By the way. I noticed when I had some programs installed to kill advertisements on websites (eg admuncher) it also stopped POPUP windows. I bet a few other people would have that enabled as well.
So, what I did was to create an animated gif for the YOU HAVE NEW MESSAGES icon up the top of the screen. Basically, I flashed it through bright blue, red, yellow, orange colours and had it looping to make the icon stand out. Otherwise, I would have never known I had new messages :)

Posted: 07 April 03 10:20 am
by Two Goth Geeks
who is going to pay for each SMS @ ~20c / msg :)

Posted: 07 April 03 11:00 am
by Mind Socket
There are a few problems with SMS delivery.

1. 160 character limit prevents much useful content being delivered.
2. Cost, with GPRS / WAP, cost is about 2-3c/kb, SMS is 20c/160 chars, and is typically charged to somebody in both directions.
3. Specialised hardware/software and/or service provider is required to send/receive SMSes at server end. With WAP or Java, an internet connection does the trick.
4. Usefulness, having just a cache name and coords often is not enough info, and people tend to research their caches a little more from home before heading out. The intention of the WAP/Java service is to provide as much info as possible in an effective manner, but is only a supplement to the exisitng info channels. I for one would read the page and check maps at my computer, and use this service only if needed to double check something.

I will still look into the SMS options, but I'm putting a greater priority on the other technologies first as they are more readily implemented.

Posted: 07 April 03 11:24 am
by Mind Socket
Yep, and it's only a matter of time before WAP/Java phones become quite commonplace. I was messing with it a little last night using an emulator, and it looks pretty nifty. (The code looks complicated though)

I like the nearest cache idea. I haven't really put much thought into the interface yet as there are some intricacies with reduced bandwidth/cpu/memory and a restricted UI to contend with, I guess there'll be as many ways to search by mobile as there are online (nearest to lat/long, suburb, postcode, state, country, nearest to another cache ...)

- R

Posted: 07 April 03 12:14 pm
by Two Goth Geeks
Don't forget 3g ;)

Posted: 07 April 03 12:29 pm
by Papa Bear_Left
I've looked up caches before using my Clie N760 PDA (PalmOS) via IrDA to a GPRS mobile, and it works OK.

(Mind you, it's pretty slow, even now on my new faster Palm Tungsten PDA. 57kbps and 320x320 screen id not the ideal gc.com interface!)

WAP would certainly be easier, and even a PDA-sized html page would be useful...

PDA Cache Lists

Posted: 07 April 03 1:10 pm
by leek
Bear Left,
Are you using the GPX files available for members of gc.com? Using one of the free GPX viewers available on the forums (I use gpxview) they give you a very readable representation of the cache pages, including notes and decrypted hints... I'm using this on my Pocket PC, but I'm not sure if there is a similar viewer available for the Palm... If not, then Mobipocket reader is, but I find the GPX information much much better...

Posted: 23 May 04 12:34 pm
by belford1
Hi I am a new geocacher and new to this forum. I love this site in fact i had hung back from using the main geocaching site because of its largely american base. I did not even know this was here - luckily Steelrat gave me directions.

Great site, easy to navigate and very friendly people. :D