<p>[<strong>Note:</strong> The beta release is now available for a number of devices, as noted later in this thread. Visit ppquery.com for the latest details.]</p>
<p>This weekend, I will release the first public beta of Pocket Pocket Query (PPQuery for short), a free paperless geocaching solution for Java-enabled mobile phones. Because I live and cache in Melbourne, I'd like to provide the members of the Geocaching Australia community with the first opportunity to try it out!</p>
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<p>In its first version, here's how the program will work:</p>
- Get a geocaching.com Premium subscription (I know, I know...).
- Set up a pocket query to receive a list of caches as a ZIP file via email.
- Submit your pocket query ZIP to the Pocket Pocket Query web site.
- Download the Pocket Pocket Query application JAR for your mobile phone model, including the contents of your pocket query.
- Install the downloaded JAR onto your mobile phone.
- Go caching!
<p>If you happen to have the popular (but aging) Motorola V3 RAZR mobile phone, and are familiar with the process of installing Java applications on it, you can actually try out the current alpha release immediately. I recommend you use a pocket query containing no more than 100 caches.</p>
<p>Although the initial beta release will only be available for a couple of phone models, I am anxious to expand device compatibility as soon as I can find people willing to test the application on more devices.</p>
<p>If you're interested in PPQuery, and have a Java-enabled mobile phone other than the Motorola V3 RAZR, please post your mobile phone model so that I can provide you with a version of the application to test on your phone.</p>
<p>In anticipation of some common questions, here are a few of the plans I have for additional features:</p>
- Support for many phone models.
- Mark caches as found.
- A multi-cache assistant.
- List caches according to distance from arbitrary coordinates.
- List nearby caches from any other cache.
- More attractive/graphical cache details display.
- Persistent "recently viewed" list.
- Configurable coordinate display formats.
<p>Thanks in advance for trying out PPQuery!</p>