Ideas for a better Instant Notification Service..

[+Fraverco]

I am one of many, who would like a better way of being notified of new geocaches to improve my FTF chances.

I use my iPhone for paperless, and would love a method of a clear & distinct notification, instead of a standard Text or Email sound effect.

Lots of Texts & Emails pass my way, and lost FTF opportunities slip past..

 

Ideas.

 

1. Add an Instant Notification option in the Geocaching App.

Alert directly from the app in the background, even when the app isn't running.

Use non standard sound effects and/or voice to alert me what the Notification is. "Published! Published! Published!"

 

That would make me want to use the Geocaching App more often.

It's an easy choice to just access it, rather than saving the .gpx or .loc file & mess with importing it to my gpsr and/or other iphone GC apps.

 

2. It's own separate app with the same features.

Even if it's just an app that accesses emails, & alerts me if there's anything from 'noreply@geocaching.com'

 

Then it would be like a Fire House Alarm. No pole to fly down from, but with my iPhone & Go-Bag, I would be out the door, off to a great start to get that FTF.

 

James "Fraverco" Wyatt

[+cerberus1]

We started when there was a fifteen minute refresh interval for emails and became PMs just for notifications.

We have over 350 FTFs.

Today, can't get much faster than instant.

You simply need to look at 'em...

Edited November 13, 2014 by cerberus1

[+_Pebcak_]

1. Add an Instant Notification option in the Geocaching App.

I love this idea!!! I get the instant notification emails, but when I try to click on the link in my email to open it up in my app, it doesn't work. I keep getting an error. If I could just skip the email all together and get push notifications directly from the app itself that would be a huge improvement!!

[+kunarion]

2. It's own separate app with the same features.

Even if it's just an app that accesses emails, & alerts me if there's anything from 'noreply@geocaching.com'

I was at an Event last month where someone from Groundspeak specifically mentioned that they're looking at a better kind of messaging system. This would simplify contacting people, and then I'd think it would be handy for Instant Notifications as you wish. I don't know if it may be used in a separate App or just within the web site.

[+SwineFlew]

I am one of many, who would like a better way of being notified of new geocaches to improve my FTF chances.

I use my iPhone for paperless, and would love a method of a clear & distinct notification, instead of a standard Text or Email sound effect.

Lots of Texts & Emails pass my way, and lost FTF opportunities slip past..

 

Ideas.

 

1. Add an Instant Notification option in the Geocaching App.

Alert directly from the app in the background, even when the app isn't running.

Use non standard sound effects and/or voice to alert me what the Notification is. "Published! Published! Published!"

 

That would make me want to use the Geocaching App more often.

It's an easy choice to just access it, rather than saving the .gpx or .loc file & mess with importing it to my gpsr and/or other iphone GC apps.

 

2. It's own separate app with the same features.

Even if it's just an app that accesses emails, & alerts me if there's anything from 'noreply@geocaching.com'

 

Then it would be like a Fire House Alarm. No pole to fly down from, but with my iPhone & Go-Bag, I would be out the door, off to a great start to get that FTF.

 

James "Fraverco" Wyatt

I think it would take more battery life but I am not sure. Anyone know?

[+J Grouchy]

I am one of many, who would like a better way of being notified of new geocaches to improve my FTF chances.

I use my iPhone for paperless, and would love a method of a clear & distinct notification, instead of a standard Text or Email sound effect.

Lots of Texts & Emails pass my way, and lost FTF opportunities slip past..

 

Ideas.

 

1. Add an Instant Notification option in the Geocaching App.

Alert directly from the app in the background, even when the app isn't running.

Use non standard sound effects and/or voice to alert me what the Notification is. "Published! Published! Published!"

 

That would make me want to use the Geocaching App more often.

It's an easy choice to just access it, rather than saving the .gpx or .loc file & mess with importing it to my gpsr and/or other iphone GC apps.

 

2. It's own separate app with the same features.

Even if it's just an app that accesses emails, & alerts me if there's anything from 'noreply@geocaching.com'

 

Then it would be like a Fire House Alarm. No pole to fly down from, but with my iPhone & Go-Bag, I would be out the door, off to a great start to get that FTF.

 

James "Fraverco" Wyatt

I think it would take more battery life but I am not sure. Anyone know?

 

Push notifications generally do...but they can be toggled. It's common enough now and it doesn't take much of a toll...unless you have it enabled for numerous apps.

[+SwineFlew]

I am one of many, who would like a better way of being notified of new geocaches to improve my FTF chances.

I use my iPhone for paperless, and would love a method of a clear & distinct notification, instead of a standard Text or Email sound effect.

Lots of Texts & Emails pass my way, and lost FTF opportunities slip past..

 

Ideas.

 

1. Add an Instant Notification option in the Geocaching App.

Alert directly from the app in the background, even when the app isn't running.

Use non standard sound effects and/or voice to alert me what the Notification is. "Published! Published! Published!"

 

That would make me want to use the Geocaching App more often.

It's an easy choice to just access it, rather than saving the .gpx or .loc file & mess with importing it to my gpsr and/or other iphone GC apps.

 

2. It's own separate app with the same features.

Even if it's just an app that accesses emails, & alerts me if there's anything from 'noreply@geocaching.com'

 

Then it would be like a Fire House Alarm. No pole to fly down from, but with my iPhone & Go-Bag, I would be out the door, off to a great start to get that FTF.

 

James "Fraverco" Wyatt

I think it would take more battery life but I am not sure. Anyone know?

 

Push notifications generally do...but they can be toggled. It's common enough now and it doesn't take much of a toll...unless you have it enabled for numerous apps.

How about base on where you are standing? (gps location is on) This is different than the email way. This would be very handy for travelers.

[+kunarion]

How about base on where you are standing? (gps location is on) This is different than the email way. This would be very handy for travelers.

That would be pretty cool!

[+fbingha]

Lots of Texts & Emails pass my way, and lost FTF opportunities slip past..

 

Hi Fraverco, I recognized your name from local logs. Well, in Bakersfield, we have so few new caches posted, so not may opportunities at all. That said, I had a couple caches post last week that were less than 2 minutes from parking. One wasn't found for a couple hours and the other, the next morning. There really are no FTF hounds here any more. Really seems to be a case of such little action to pounce on that the FTF race has just withered away.

 

So, as it stands locally, you don't need push notificaition to be able to score an FTF.

[+J Grouchy]

How about base on where you are standing? (gps location is on) This is different than the email way. This would be very handy for travelers.

That would be pretty cool!

 

Seems like that would be pretty involved, since notifications currently are based around a pre-defined set of coordinates. To do that, I guess it would have to be able to sync to the website and communicate that information into the notifications...a location-based setting as opposed to the static one that it currently has. Syncing can be set to user-defined intervals...every five minutes, every hour. Syncing DOES eat battery life.

[+kunarion]

How about base on where you are standing? (gps location is on) This is different than the email way. This would be very handy for travelers.

That would be pretty cool!

 

Seems like that would be pretty involved, since notifications currently are based around a pre-defined set of coordinates. To do that, I guess it would have to be able to sync to the website and communicate that information into the notifications...a location-based setting as opposed to the static one that it currently has. Syncing can be set to user-defined intervals...every five minutes, every hour. Syncing DOES eat battery life.

What if the App computed and displayed a custom notification? It already shows nearby caches at one's current location, so when a new cache appears within some selected range, a notice could pop up. The App would be running at all times anyway in the OP's idea, but this way, it's just the App itself making the notification. I don't even know how the App handles a new cache, particularly on the map currently in view. Maybe it doesn't even actively look at caches other than your location until you call up more (in a search or whatever). It would first need the ability to automatically add new caches to its database as they're published (as you said, maybe by a sync at some interval), for that to work.

Edited November 14, 2014 by kunarion

[+J Grouchy]

How about base on where you are standing? (gps location is on) This is different than the email way. This would be very handy for travelers.

That would be pretty cool!

 

Seems like that would be pretty involved, since notifications currently are based around a pre-defined set of coordinates. To do that, I guess it would have to be able to sync to the website and communicate that information into the notifications...a location-based setting as opposed to the static one that it currently has. Syncing can be set to user-defined intervals...every five minutes, every hour. Syncing DOES eat battery life.

What if the App computed and displayed a custom notification? It already shows nearby caches at one's current location, so when a new cache appears within some selected range, a notice could pop up. The App would be running at all times anyway in the OP's idea, but this way, it's just the App itself making the notification. I don't even know how the App handles a new cache, particularly on the map currently in view. Maybe it doesn't even actively look at caches other than your location until you call up more (in a search or whatever). It would first need the ability to automatically add new caches to its database as they're published (as you said, maybe by a sync at some interval), for that to work.

 

It would be nice if there was some plugin capability with Tasker (Android...sorry iOS users!) for location-based actions.

Edited November 14, 2014 by J Grouchy

[+CanadianRockies]

I am one of many, who would like a better way of being notified of new geocaches to improve my FTF chances.

I'm a little confused here. The suggested notification improvements are intended to give one an extra advantage in going after FTFs. But wouldn't most of the other local FTF competitors also get these same notification improvements, thus nullifying any extra advantages that one particular person might receive?

[+kunarion]

I am one of many, who would like a better way of being notified of new geocaches to improve my FTF chances.

I'm a little confused here. The suggested notification improvements are intended to give one an extra advantage in going after FTFs. But wouldn't most of the other local FTF competitors also get these same notification improvements, thus nullifying any extra advantages that one particular person might receive?

The OP evidently has problems with "Email & text", and is suggesting a new communication plan. I think .

Whatever, if one was not previously receiving notifications and now is, that's an improvement. It may not be a special advantage over other notifications. But it has a special bell.

 

Some caches in the past have appeared on the local cache list, yet not arrived in email for a while. So if an App polled the list on a schedule, it may actually provide an advantage. There's also a "Latest Caches Hidden" list in the Forums. I don't know which is updated soonest, email notifications, Latest Caches Hidden, or the cache listing on the Geocaching.com web site. Add "an App" to the mix, and which of the four kinds of notifications would be the fastest? In the OP's suggestion, it's the App. Or at least the idea is that it's roughly the same promptness as email usually is. As a test, we may have to time how fast the existing App is currently, at updating the cache list.

Edited November 14, 2014 by kunarion

[+The Vikings]

For a starter it would be good if the current e-mail notification was sent immediately as the cache was published. It happens too often that the e-mail beeps, a new cache is notified but when you click on the link the cache has already been found, sometimes even a day ago.

[+J Grouchy]

I don't even care about the FTF "advantage" so much as just having a notification system that is not 100% dependent on email. It would apply not only to new caches, but to caches on watchlists or bookmark lists being watch, communications between members and logs posted to owned caches.

 

My bank gives me the option of receiviing in-app notifications, SMS or email notifications...or a combination of any of these for various purposes. I know it's likely a trickier thing to set up on the site and is a bit more sophisticated, but it sure would be nice to have something similar. In this day and age, it actually feels a little dated to be so dependent on emails for everything related to GC.

[+kunarion]

My bank gives me the option of receiviing in-app notifications, SMS or email notifications...or a combination of any of these for various purposes. I know it's likely a trickier thing to set up on the site and is a bit more sophisticated, but it sure would be nice to have something similar.

I have the App, but use it mainly to answer a Forum question, or once in a while, to load a cache and go. But if communication was an App thing, I may not receive a message. If the App people send it and then it goes to my email, then I reply by email so it goes back to their App, there are even more things that could prevent communication than there are now. Good luck with that.

 

The App-To-App part of the plan is pretty sweet. An Intro App User would not have to be "verified" in order to receive a message, since "email' isn't in that part of the communication system. The main thing we'll see in "App to App" PMs is people arriving here in the Forum, "App messaging is broken this weekend. Wait til Monday." Messages will be broken for everybody's App.

[+jellis]

I like the idea. But I wish they would make the Notifications we have now that would have the option for all cache types and you choose which ones you do or don't want, like PQs. Right now it is way too much trouble making a notification separately for each type. When someone asked me about a new letterbox, I had forgotten to make a separate notification for them.

[+frinklabs]

But I wish they would make the Notifications we have now that would have the option for all cache types and you choose which ones you do or don't want, like PQs

 

Me too.

 

[FEATURE] Enhance Instant Notification Setup