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Mobile App

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Posted By: scottO
6/17/2015
Well, there has been a lot of discussion about what a Terracaching Mobile app should look like, and we'd like some input from the Community. 
Off the cuff, I'd see potential for
-Hunting and placing a Cache
-Logging a found cache
-Tracking the hike (distance, speed, etc.)
-Accessing Community feeds
-TerraCentral
-Messages
-Editing Profile

Does that sound good? What would YOU add?



Comments [15]

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  • SoccerFanatics  Alexandria 6/18/2015 
    Scott - I'd say the first priority would be really good search options, that allow you to select one or more cache types for the search (physical and/or multi and/or virtual, etc.), and the ability to log the cache while there. Being able to place a cache on the app would be good, and if you're doing that, having it track distances would be very useful. Terracentral access so you can check your own caches. For me, the rest of the communications/messages type features are certainly nice to have, but lower priority than hunting and placing features.
    50 Points  5   
  • Z_Statman  Cocoa 6/18/2015 
    Why not just allow an api interface with c:geo? Some time ago I interfaced the c:geo contact with Cash but the latter noted that the TC DB was too "unstable" at that time

     
    0 Points  0   
  • tripman1  Lone Tree 6/18/2015 
    Add another vote for c:geo.  After the latest update to c:geo, I was able to import Terracaching gpx files into c:geo. Storage, maps, navigation, all work but no description or logging capabilities and cache type didn't transfer.  It was a nice surprise to see this.

    However,  I did notice that the community page renders horribly on my smartphone, so that I can't use it to post anything.
    0 Points  0   
  • scottO  Montana City 6/18/2015 
    I like c:geo as well. They do have a great user interface. Unfortunately, they are also android specific, which leaves out a large segment of users. Cash and I were chatting about the prospect of getting data to c:Geo. If you have a contact there, please send them my way, or ask them if they can do something to read our xml schema used for the GPX files.

    That said, you are right, the forums, as well as few other features don't translate well to mobile, which is why we really need to have a decent app. That being said, what aspects of the site are important for you guys to be able to access? 

    Maybe copy and paste the list above, and number the items 1 to whatever, in the order you think most important to suit your needs.
    20 Points  2   
  • Z_Statman  Cocoa 6/19/2015 
    scott. cash has that info - An email I received from the c:geo moderator
    0 Points  0   
  • cash108  Durango 6/19/2015 
    http://community.terracaching.com/Post/Details/355

    This is the link that Will is speaking about.  They could support TerraCaching without an API, but choose not to at this time.  I encourage all of you to send request to C:Geo as Will has done, perhaps with the number of request we can get some movement.  In the meantime please post what features that you would like on a mobile app along the lines of SoccerFanatics response as that is much more helpful.
    10 Points  1   
  • WindpumpBoy  Caister-on-Sea 6/20/2015 
    I too have (after a bit of fiddling about) managed to import terracaching gpx files into my c:geo. Has co-ordinates and a mapping position but no cace description details.

    What I would like most from a Terracaching app would be:

    1)The ability to navigate to a cache
    2)A storable offline cache description, so I don't have to carry around all those print outs of the cache page and don't have to rely on non-existent phone reception.
    3) A section to write field notes on the cache description page while I am out and about as many caches in Eastern England are Offset or Puzzle caches.
    4) An ability to add and modify the waypoint co-ordinates.

    And if it could project a waypoint, which seems to be a popular ask on caches I have looked at, that would be very nice too.
    10 Points  1   
  • Gackt  Cirencester 6/22/2015 
    If there was to be an app for TC then I guess in the main I would want the sort of items scottO has listed. Searching for caches especially. I very rarely log any cache on any site via apps in the field as I prefer to do this in front of my PC at home in the warm over coffee etc, but I can understand that many people would like to log their finds via an app.

    My 2pence on c:geo, is that it is awesome. I use it for nearly all my gc.com caching. It does almost everything I need it to do for TC too, just not the searching of caches. I have got number 2 on WindpumpBoy's list (cache descriptions) working find on it. I will write up else where how I did that to keep this thread on topic.
    10 Points  1   
  • scottO  Montana City 6/23/2015 
    Thank you for the feedback! I feel encouraged that I am on the right track. How are you guys importing your gpx files into c:geo? 
    0 Points  0   
  • Gackt  Cirencester 6/24/2015 
    I haven't had time to write up in detail, but in short; I download the GPX file for the caches I want from TC, which is in fact lots of individual GPX files if you unzip it. If you drop it all into GSAK then export it all as a single GPX file, that single file imports just fine into c:geo. Or at least it has done the last few times I done that.
    10 Points  1   
  • WindpumpBoy  Caister-on-Sea 6/24/2015 
    Some one get that genius Gacktsy a pint! I would myself but it's very nearly an armful and my haemoglobins a bit low at the moment! I downloaded GSAK and had a bit of a play around and I now have the descriptions, logs and waypoints for a couple of dozen of my local terracaches loaded into c:geo (and I found the Easter Egg on Southwold Webcam :) ). Didn't get the pictures downloaded and had to load the gpx one at a time into GSAK, but I had unzipped the file first. Even with those slight caveats a load better off than I was an hour or so ago. Thanks!
    0 Points  0   
  • WindpumpBoy  Caister-on-Sea 6/24/2015 
    Even better. By loading the unextracted zip file of one of my adventure lists into GSAK I was able to import all the caches at once into GSAK without fiddling around with them one at a time. When I then exported the files into c:geo I got the images as well. Two hours and I am a total  GSAK convert (and who else knows what it can do). From my point of view based on what I asked for above I think I can now do it all with c:geo...including projecting a waypoint :)
    I said on a different thread that I loved c:geo. I love it even more now!
    0 Points  0   
  • scottO  Montana City 6/24/2015 
    Yes, I love that app as well. Unfortunately, it still is Android only, which limits mobile access for our users. We will work on a TC specific app, that hopefully has all the great features you love! If we can get c:geo, or other caching apps, to support terracaching, that would be even better!
    0 Points  0   
  • Z_Statman  Cocoa 6/25/2015 
    As noted in my email from c:geo at the post noted by Cash above and Here

    They are open to the interface, at least this would be a popular first step!
    0 Points  0   
  • tripman1  Lone Tree 7/20/2015 
    Just a follow up on this question.  I found 5 Traditional and one Locationless using only the c:geo app.  Most useful was tracking (distance, direction,etc.), viewing previous logs and hints. Other than what was mentioned above for a Terracaching mobile app that would have been helpful: logging and/or field notes, ability to view images, and ability to email the cache owner,  and I even had a need for elevation and projection. I would put projection low priority, and elevation might be tied in to the extended statistics for elevation gain.  The email was the most difficult as I couldn't see the left 1/3 of the page on the smaller screen. 

    Also noticed the CTPS and LTPS leaderboards seem to be working fine now, thanks!
    0 Points  0   

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