So I HAVE to have premium for new app?

February 16, 2017

Unless I have premium I can't look for a cache that has a D/T higher than 1.5? What a joke. I use the app while on trips to search for caches here and there without having a membership, and it now seems that will be nearly impossible. No thanks Groundspeak. I guess this is pretty much the end of geocaching for me

15.3k · February 16, 2017

There are a number of API partner apps that don't have the difficulty-terrain restriction on basic members:

https://www.geocaching.com/mobile/partners/

Basic members are limited to full cache data on only 3 caches per 24 hours, but that is an API limitation. You can still load the basic info for additional caches. That would give you the name, GC code, difficulty-terrain ratings, size, and coordinates. But you can get the full description and hints for only 3 caches per 24 hours.

5.7k · February 16, 2017

No thanks Groundspeak. I guess this is pretty much the end of geocaching for me

You could just use another geocaching app.

February 16, 2017

Do these other apps post your log directly to the website? Because I rarely have time to log on to an actual computer. Thats why the app was so great for me

Edited February 16, 2017 by themulls

15.3k · February 16, 2017

Do these other apps post your log directly to the website? Because I rarely have time to log on to an actual computer. Thats why the app was so great for me

The ones I've used can post logs directly.

I almost never use that feature (I prefer to use field notes in the field, and a real keyboard to write logs), but it is available.

6.1k · February 16, 2017

Do these other apps post your log directly to the website? Because I rarely have time to log on to an actual computer. Thats why the app was so great for me

yes.

7.5k · February 16, 2017

There are a number of API partner apps that don't have the difficulty-terrain restriction on basic members:

https://www.geocachi...obile/partners/

Basic members are limited to full cache data on only 3 caches per 24 hours, but that is an API limitation. You can still load the basic info for additional caches. That would give you the name, GC code, difficulty-terrain ratings, size, and coordinates. But you can get the full description and hints for only 3 caches per 24 hours.

Which iPhone app doesn't have the difficulty-terrain restriction on basic member? I thought was also part of the API limitation?

Wouldn't a basic member be better off using Safari (internet browser), logging in to the geocaching.com site and use the 'caches near my location' search feature on the homepage? A member can log a find that way too. Or am I missing something?

February 16, 2017

There are a number of API partner apps that don't have the difficulty-terrain restriction on basic members:

https://www.geocachi...obile/partners/

Basic members are limited to full cache data on only 3 caches per 24 hours, but that is an API limitation. You can still load the basic info for additional caches. That would give you the name, GC code, difficulty-terrain ratings, size, and coordinates. But you can get the full description and hints for only 3 caches per 24 hours.

Which iPhone app doesn't have the difficulty-terrain restriction on basic member? I thought was also part of the API limitation?

Wouldn't a basic member be better off using Safari (internet browser), logging in to the geocaching.com site and use the 'caches near my location' search feature on the homepage? A member can log a find that way too. Or am I missing something?

the apps are a lot easier to use (both online and offline) than the website it.

as an added bonus, with the good applications, you don't have to pay for functionality like searching for caches.

5.7k · February 16, 2017

I almost never use that feature (I prefer to use field notes in the field, and a real keyboard to write logs), but it is available.

I prefer logging in the field with an app that has a signature and time and date stamp, then I go back and edit my log if needed. Most of the caches I find are worth a little personal input from me, if not I don't edit my field log.

15.3k · February 16, 2017

I almost never use that feature (I prefer to use field notes in the field, and a real keyboard to write logs), but it is available.
I prefer logging in the field with an app that has a signature and time and date stamp, then I go back and edit my log if needed. Most of the caches I find are worth a little personal input from me, if not I don't edit my field log.

I wouldn't do that because the CO (and anyone watching the cache) gets an email notification for the original generic log, but not for the edited log. The few times I've added anything substantial to a log, I've also posted a Note with the new content, just to trigger the email notifications. Then I delete the Note, leaving only the edited log.

5.7k · February 16, 2017

I almost never use that feature (I prefer to use field notes in the field, and a real keyboard to write logs), but it is available.
I prefer logging in the field with an app that has a signature and time and date stamp, then I go back and edit my log if needed. Most of the caches I find are worth a little personal input from me, if not I don't edit my field log.
I wouldn't do that because the CO (and anyone watching the cache) gets an email notification for the original generic log, but not for the edited log. The few times I've added anything substantial to a log, I've also posted a Note with the new content, just to trigger the email notifications. Then I delete the Note, leaving only the edited log.

You do it your way, I'll log my finds my way. :anibad:

February 17, 2017

There are a number of API partner apps that don't have the difficulty-terrain restriction on basic members:

https://www.geocachi...obile/partners/

Basic members are limited to full cache data on only 3 caches per 24 hours, but that is an API limitation. You can still load the basic info for additional caches. That would give you the name, GC code, difficulty-terrain ratings, size, and coordinates. But you can get the full description and hints for only 3 caches per 24 hours.

Which iPhone app doesn't have the difficulty-terrain restriction on basic member? I thought was also part of the API limitation?

Wouldn't a basic member be better off using Safari (internet browser), logging in to the geocaching.com site and use the 'caches near my location' search feature on the homepage? A member can log a find that way too. Or am I missing something?

Looking4Cache is a great app. It is a paid app, but very much worth it. It doesn't limit you to the 1.5 D/T. It will also bring up the web page for the cache you are interested in so that you can get the full description, hints and logs if you like. Just don't have the official app installed or when you try to bring up the web page, it starts the app instead. The developer is active and updates are frequent. I am on Android now and miss that app tremendously. Locus paid version comes close though.

13.7k · February 17, 2017

There are a number of API partner apps that don't have the difficulty-terrain restriction on basic members:

https://www.geocachi...obile/partners/

Basic members are limited to full cache data on only 3 caches per 24 hours, but that is an API limitation. You can still load the basic info for additional caches. That would give you the name, GC code, difficulty-terrain ratings, size, and coordinates. But you can get the full description and hints for only 3 caches per 24 hours.

Which iPhone app doesn't have the difficulty-terrain restriction on basic member? I thought was also part of the API limitation?

Wouldn't a basic member be better off using Safari (internet browser), logging in to the geocaching.com site and use the 'caches near my location' search feature on the homepage? A member can log a find that way too. Or am I missing something?

Looking4Cache is a great app. It is a paid app, but very much worth it. It doesn't limit you to the 1.5 D/T. It will also bring up the web page for the cache you are interested in so that you can get the full description, hints and logs if you like. Just don't have the official app installed or when you try to bring up the web page, it starts the app instead. The developer is active and updates are frequent. I am on Android now and miss that app tremendously. Locus paid version comes close though.

Wow. That's a big difference if true.

I asked a couple developers at one time, and each said they abide by the API for basic members (guess I thought it wouldn't work otherwise too).

If that's true, and there's no limits for bm, you'd think basic members would be migrating to those apps asap.

3.5k · February 20, 2017

The API agreement doesn't say anything about the D/T restrictions for Basic Members. BM's can only see Traditionals in search results, but can view any cache type if they know the GC code. Text below if from the API agreement. It shows a last updated date of 5/8/2012 though, which was before the 'new app' was created.

a. Basic Members shall be limited to viewing full geocache details for up to 3 Geocaches per day.

b. Geocache search results for Basic Members shall be limited to Traditional Geocache Listings only.

c. Basic Members may request full geocache details for non-Traditional Geocaches using the GC reference code; however, they will remain subject to the limitation of 3 as set forth in section 1a above.

February 21, 2017

If you have an android phone just use the "app that must not be named".

It's simply fantastic. You will never look back.

Edited February 21, 2017 by Mermaid.Man

5.7k · February 21, 2017

If you have an android phone just use the "app that must not be named".

It's simply fantastic. You will never look back.

You mean c:geo, the one that violates the Geocaching term of use by scraping data off the site? No thanks, and perhaps you'd do better not to recommend it, whether or not your comments are (thinly) veiled.

Edited February 21, 2017 by hzoi

5.7k · February 21, 2017

If you have an android phone just use the "app that must not be named".

It's simply fantastic. You will never look back.

You mean c:geo, the one that violates the Geocaching term of use by scraping data off the site? No thanks, and perhaps you'd do better not to recommend it, whether or not your comments are (thinly) veiled.

Why do they scrape the data and not just agree with the API? I would pay for an app, I'm not a freeloader here, I pay my membership fee because I enjoy the perks of premium membership. But, I'm seeing the OP's point here. Full useage and abiding by the TOU requires a premium membership may be correct. :unsure:

13.7k · February 21, 2017

If you have an android phone just use the "app that must not be named".

It's simply fantastic. You will never look back.

Maybe it's just me, but we've borrowed the phone of a friend of mine twice now (earlier and just lately), and "simply fantastic!" isn't what I'd call it. :laughing:

It's been canned by them too, when I explained it's history (in case anyone's counting...).

We've found a couple for her (if need be) that abide with the API to be much better anyway.

- And (for me) just decided to simply wait 'til that "official" one's fully functional.

5.7k · February 21, 2017

It's been canned by them too, when I explained it's history (in case anyone's counting...).

I'm not sure I ever knew it's history. :unsure: I have always just been told it's bad because it scrapes data.

7.8k · February 21, 2017

It's been canned by them too, when I explained it's history (in case anyone's counting...).

I'm not sure I ever knew it's history. I have always just been told it's bad because it scrapes data.

I've sent you an email about this, because I don't think the mods would like us discussing that app any further in here.

February 21, 2017

If you have an android phone just use the "app that must not be named".

It's simply fantastic. You will never look back.

You mean c:geo, the one that violates the Geocaching term of use by scraping data off the site? No thanks, and perhaps you'd do better not to recommend it, whether or not your comments are (thinly) veiled.

Why do they scrape the data and not just agree with the API? I would pay for an app, I'm not a freeloader here, I pay my membership fee because I enjoy the perks of premium membership. But, I'm seeing the OP's point here. Full useage and abiding by the TOU requires a premium membership may be correct.

the app in question is free.

someone will say it's because it scrapes the website, causes heavy server loads etc, but other applications and mobile browsers pull the same data when a cache is viewed via their web browsers.

it's really about ease of use. the really good applications allow for downloading of caches with all their info when you ask them to, instead of nagging for a premium subscription. that's where the negative comes from.

of course you will find a very lopsided history here on gs about "why", but you have to remember they afe protecting their revenue stream.

the argument about using the API to do things tip toes around the fact that the API is extremely restrictive of non paying members. i bet if that weren't the case, more people would actually pay.

14k · February 21, 2017

If you have an android phone just use the "app that must not be named".

It's simply fantastic. You will never look back.

You mean c:geo, the one that violates the Geocaching term of use by scraping data off the site? No thanks, and perhaps you'd do better not to recommend it, whether or not your comments are (thinly) veiled.

Why do they scrape the data and not just agree with the API? I would pay for an app, I'm not a freeloader here, I pay my membership fee because I enjoy the perks of premium membership. But, I'm seeing the OP's point here. Full useage and abiding by the TOU requires a premium membership may be correct.

the app in question is free.

someone will say it's because it scrapes the website, causes heavy server loads etc, but other applications and mobile browsers pull the same data when a cache is viewed via their web browsers.

It's not just that it scrapes the website. It also spoofs the request headers (specifically, the User-Agent header) to make it appear that the requests are coming from a browser when it fact they're not. From what I read, GS explicitly asked the author of the application to change the behavior such that it set the User-Agent to a string which identified the requests as coming from the app instead of lying about how the requests were being made. That would allow GS to throttle requests if the app were being abused and impacting the performance of users that actually were using a browser or an an app which uses the API. It was my understanding that the author refused to make that change.

How fast can you click a mouse or tap links on a phone in a browser connected to a web site? An application that programmatically makes requests to a web site can make hundreds a second. I've written quite a few applications which programmatically make requests to a web server so I've very cognizant of the load it can put on a server, especially since I've also written the APIs that listen to those requests.

February 21, 2017

Not into the insides of computer stuff, I wonder what Canned, Scraping and API might mean?

Thanks for any input, m

7.8k · February 22, 2017

Not into the insides of computer stuff, I wonder what Canned, Scraping and API might mean?

Thanks for any input, m

Canned - In the context of cerberus1's post, I think they just meant that once some users had it explained to them what was wrong with that app, those users stopped using it. The term is slang for getting fired or getting rid of something, like "I'm so sad, I got canned from my job today".

Scraping - In the context of this discussion, scraping would mean loading up an entire cache listing webpage like you would in a browser and then "scraping" out the few pieces of desired information, like the name, coordinates, etc. This is a wasteful process because the servers transfer lots of data that isn't required by the software requesting it, like the page's formatting, unneeded links, images, etc.

API (Application program interface) - This is a standardized way of requesting data from the servers. As opposed to the wasteful "scraping" described above, a piece of software can use the API to request only the pieces of information it desires, and the server responds with only the requested information. This is a much more efficient method of transferring the data.

14k · February 22, 2017

Not into the insides of computer stuff, I wonder what Canned, Scraping and API might mean?

Thanks for any input, m

I'm not sure what canned means in the context of the thread of either.

If you're using a browser and search for a list of caches, in order to view to the details of cache you need to click on the title of each cache, read it and save it as bookmark or whatever, then go back to the search results and do the same with the next cache in the list (or those you may be in interested in).

When an application uses scraping it programmatically sends a request for a web page, then reads the results to find the links for each cache page and makes a request to get the results for each one. The "scraping" part is that it is programmatically reading the raw html of a web page and "scraping" out the links on the page that will then use to programmatically make additional requests. Because it's a program rather than someone clicking on a mouse or tapping a screen those request can be made very fast and potentially overload a server.

An API is an acronym for application programming interface. It is a program that may related to a web page, and has a well defined description for how to request (or send) data from/to the server. For example, the GS API defines functions for requesting a list of all caches for a given user, but instead of sending the results in a format which can be displayed as a web page it just returns raw data (also in a well defined format). It allows client programs to communicate with server programs. In fact, the GS web site may use it's own API to request data, transform that data into a format that can be used in a browser, then send it back to your browser for viewing.

13.7k · February 22, 2017

Not into the insides of computer stuff, I wonder what Canned, Scraping and API might mean?

Thanks for any input, m

Canned - In the context of cerberus1's post, I think they just meant that once some users had it explained to them what was wrong with that app, those users stopped using it. The term is slang for getting fired or getting rid of something, like "I'm so sad, I got canned from my job today".

Yep.

Kinda surprised someone (in the US) has never heard that before...

14k · February 22, 2017

Not into the insides of computer stuff, I wonder what Canned, Scraping and API might mean?

Thanks for any input, m

Canned - In the context of cerberus1's post, I think they just meant that once some users had it explained to them what was wrong with that app, those users stopped using it. The term is slang for getting fired or getting rid of something, like "I'm so sad, I got canned from my job today".

Yep.

Kinda surprised someone (in the US) has never heard that before...

Now that I've gone back and read your post I can see what you mean. Maybe it's because I'm so awesome at my job that I didn't associate "canned" with getting fired.

Looks like both A-team and I covered Scraping an API pretty much the same way. I'm going to be discussing an API I will be developing with some people at a well known US government agency this morning and will be walking by the residence of someone that has used the term "You're fired" quite a bit.

February 23, 2017

Thanks for the replys & info. I am aware of being canned in the U.S. east coast, but was thinking more along the line of copied or reproduced like canned laughter. Best, m

1.7k · February 23, 2017

Thanks for the replys & info. I am aware of being canned in the U.S. east coast, but was thinking more along the line of copied or reproduced like canned laughter. Best, m

In that context, 'canned' just means 'prerecorded'.

So I HAVE to have premium for new app?

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