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New App Issues - Laundry List


bdp

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I unlike most people have been using the "new" app for the past year and a half on my Android Phone. I've seen features get added and it is slowly improving. However, there are still many things that it can not do and I need to go elsewhere to do and it has many many annoying bugs and issues. Most of the people I cache with regularly all still use the Classic App. They are not a happy group. I do own the Classic App and there are just some things that one either has to do through the classic app or through a webpage if you are on a phone. I also have a Oregon 600 that I use if I'm out of cell phone service and I also have Cachly loaded on an iPad.

 

Here is my laundry list off the top of my head:

 

1) Logging date is based on UTM and not local time. This sucks as anything that I find after 4 pm in the afternoon (I live in PST) I have to go to the website on a computer and correct them all. Time is a really simple thing to get correct in the world of programming. Every other application doesn't have an issue. Neither does the OLD app. Please fix this. It's even more annoying if you are on the other side of the world and it posts on the wrong DAY.

 

2) No access to personal notes. This sucks because I will put notes in there about locations and or solved coordinates and they are not accessible from the APP. To get around this I use the CLASSIC app OR up until today I opened the geocaching website and went from there -- however just starting today, the Geocaching.com website insisted on putting me into the New App every time I looked for a GC code.

 

3) The GPS update is limited to 5 second intervals which makes traveling along at 30 MPH pretty much impossible to stop at the right location as the distance doesn't count down correctly and update appropriately. Again, the OLD app doesn't have this problem, nor does Goggle Maps, Waze, C:Geo or Cachly. There are so many times that the compass just DOES NOT MOVE. This 5 second / 15 ft interval just doesn't cut it. Please fix.

 

4) Corrected coordinates DO NOT maintain themselves in the APP. Repeatedly I have the corrected coordinates on the website and in my personal notes and I get to the New APP and the coordinates ARE NOT THERE.

At one point you could see sometimes that it had a "solved" next to the GC, but now that has disappeared. If the Unknowns are in a list and I open the list, the coordinates won't be there. So bloody incredibly frustrating

the number of times I have to go back to the CLASSIC app to get the coordinates. It seems this whole mechanism is broken. At least Cachly shows you different icons for GC's that have corrected coordinates.

 

5) Travel Bugs - argh. Can't log all my current inventory to a cache as I can on the website. The NEW app also shows ALL the TB's that I've EVER had in my possession, not just the ones that I currently have. I also can't tell which ones that I'm referencing. ARGH.

 

6) You can't give FAVORITES to Virtuals or Webcams or Earthcaches -- or at least I couldn't a month ago.

 

7) Search capabilities????? What search capabilities? Only being able to search by the GC code? What about all the other search options that are available in the CLASSIC app? Search for an Cache Owner, search

by the cache name, search in a radius, all the search options that one has on the WEBSITE and the CLASSIC app. Since now I can't get to the desktop version of the website from my phone to search and I won't be able

to search via the CLASSIC app .... Sigh.

 

8) GPSr's have the ability to write field notes -- although I don't use them often -- personal notes and field notes are a must.

 

9) When you launch the directions option from a multi-cache or a solved puzzle it takes you to the original coordinates and NOT the coordinates which are currently Active. This sucks when driving around to puzzles and having Waze/Google point you to the original coordinates instead of the corrected.

 

10) Bookmark lists aren't sorted in alphabetical order -- or there is NO option to sort in alphabetical order -- with 100 lists possible, do you know how hard it is to find a list in random order?

 

There are probably more things -- this is off the top of my head -- and remember, I'm one who primarily uses the NEW app --- and there are things that I need to do daily

that I just can't do using the NEW app.

 

Also in your survey -- you give a laundry list of items but then restrict to 3 ?????? Are you kidding me? All those features should be a given.

 

At any rate. I don't envy you guys getting all this fixed in just over a month.

Edited by bdp
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Add to the laundry list the fact that the GPS goes to sleep after 30 seconds which requires waking up the phone to continue navigation. I changed the timeout on my phone screen to 1 minute, which now keeps the GPS navigational compass up for one minute, but if I don't pay attention and continuously touch the screen, it will go to sleep after a minute. What sort of GPS navigation is that? It did not happen in the Classic app, nor in Google maps, c:geo or any other GPS based navigation system I've used. This is a necessary feature of the game...navigating to the cache, which also goes along with Item 3 in your list. How can you navigate to a cache when the GPS constantly gets stuck at a certain distance and won't budge no matter how far you travel? I am so dreading March 23rd when I can no longer jump over to Classic to do what I should be able to do in the new app.

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dreading March 23rd

Are you not aware there are other caching apps? Most have the Groundspeak seal of approval, and some are fully-featured like you wouldn't believe.

 

Here's the official but slightly out-of-date list: https://www.geocachi...obile/partners/

 

Thanks for that, but I paid for this app and now they are deleting the version that works for this new one that I totally dislike.

 

Problems:

Screen goes to sleep

No Landscape Rotation

No way to dip coins- EDIT: found the log option, but why is it not in the "Found" page like the old app and where it should be?

Is there a settings page somewhere?

 

I tried using this app since Thursday and found numerous caches. I became so frustrated I quit using the new app and went back to the old app. Now with the old app I get an annoying (app retiring) message every time I re-open the phone.

Edited by Len & Cheri
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My main gripe is that the app shows a Mystery Cache as 'Solved, but persists in showing it located at the original coordinates, however, it kindly puts a waypoint at the correct coords. You can even navigate there, but, or so it seems, only from the original posted coords. This means that I don't see it on the map in my immediate vicinity. Given that it (a) knows that the puzzle has been solved and (B) knows the correct coords, why the heck can't it show the cache where it actually is? GRRRRR!

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dreading March 23rd

Are you not aware there are other caching apps? Most have the Groundspeak seal of approval, and some are fully-featured like you wouldn't believe.

 

Here's the official but slightly out-of-date list: https://www.geocachi...obile/partners/

 

It's irrelevant if there are other applications out there. The original post is pointing out the issues in the app that is provided as free and is replacing a paid one.

In my post, I do say that I do actually use other apps. Not a problem. However, as with any app, bug reports are part of the game and as such, these

are bugs with the new app. And this forum is for discussing the new app.

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I had high hopes for the new app, but it lacks on so many levels. Let's add to the laundry list: With the old app, the main screen showed your current location. The only way to know your current location with the new app is if you're navigating to a cache, and then in the compass mode. Not very useful if you're wanting to place a cache. That leads me to another point, you cannot hide a cache and submit it with the new app. I paid for the old app and it works stellar. Why can't the features of the old app be included with the new one? That should have been done first off, no questions.

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you weren't able to hide and submit a cache with the old app either.

submitting a new cache has never been possible on any mobile app. it's always been done via the website.

 

You're correct . . . my apologies. But still, where is the "My Current Location" coordinates?

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But still, where is the "My Current Location" coordinates?

The only way I know of to find current coords is by opening an existing cache, swiping to the Waypoints screen, and then tapping the "+" to add a new waypoint. Coords of the current location are then displayed. Indeed, seems a bit cumbersome, but the app seems geared for 'finding' caches and knowing current coords doesn't seem vital to doing that.

 

If trying to get current coords for hiding a cache, then the best bet is likely to get a waypoint averaging app.

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What really astounds me is why did they leave out the feature giving the user a current location? I mean you can see where the closest cache is and what its coordinates are, so why can't the user view at the same time the current coordinates? I mean, the information is available, just not displayed. Silly! Accurate, helpful, and informative information assists greatly when placing a new cache to assure that new cache is outside the 528 ft. range. The old app had that feature. I used it alongside my handheld GPSr for better accuracy. I guess the new folks have determined that it's not really that important, especially to us old timers who prefer simplicity and accuracy. I have however found an app (well, two actually) that I can use to get the information I need which has been left out of the new app.

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I used the offline feature today with new app. One feature I think would be good is the ability to download a map of the whole state that someone is caching in. Instead of downloading just the list that was created. Most phones have external storage and the ability to move or store offline data. Noticed that I was getting close to the cache buy had to stop and let the map catch up. When it a white screen with a green waypoint icon, kinda looks like it's in the middle of a field. Also make you think you missed a turn. Downloading the whole map one thing that I would like to see, or have the option to import a offline map. Lot of websites to get a OSMap. I know it will get better, I'm not gonna give up on the new app. Plus I never used the old one. ww👻

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Psst, that app is the one that must not be mentioned on these forums. Because it scrapes the website rather than using Groundspeak's API, it puts an unnatural burden on the servers.

 

There are other utterly awesome caching apps that DO use the API and we can mention those with Groundspeak's blessing - although they're kind of second-class citizens in the forum structure, with this being the thread only for the house-brand app, and a hidden broom closet being reserved for other apps.

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Instead of them bucking it, maybe they should learn from it. Lol thanks for whispering. I for one would love to see the new app be top dog. Alot of ppl not happy with the new app. Groundspeak will get it right. Get the app tuned and tighten up. People have to be patient. I don't think everyone knows what it takes to develop an app, then have it work on phones with 4 year old software, and work on brand new software. Thanks for the heads up. Ww👻

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I unlike most people have been using the "new" app for the past year and a half on my Android Phone. I've seen features get added and it is slowly improving. However, there are still many things that it can not do and I need to go elsewhere to do and it has many many annoying bugs and issues. Most of the people I cache with regularly all still use the Classic App. They are not a happy group. I do own the Classic App and there are just some things that one either has to do through the classic app or through a webpage if you are on a phone. I also have a Oregon 600 that I use if I'm out of cell phone service and I also have Cachly loaded on an iPad.

 

Here is my laundry list off the top of my head:

 

1) Logging date is based on UTM and not local time. This sucks as anything that I find after 4 pm in the afternoon (I live in PST) I have to go to the website on a computer and correct them all. Time is a really simple thing to get correct in the world of programming. Every other application doesn't have an issue. Neither does the OLD app. Please fix this. It's even more annoying if you are on the other side of the world and it posts on the wrong DAY.

 

2) No access to personal notes. This sucks because I will put notes in there about locations and or solved coordinates and they are not accessible from the APP. To get around this I use the CLASSIC app OR up until today I opened the geocaching website and went from there -- however just starting today, the Geocaching.com website insisted on putting me into the New App every time I looked for a GC code.

 

3) The GPS update is limited to 5 second intervals which makes traveling along at 30 MPH pretty much impossible to stop at the right location as the distance doesn't count down correctly and update appropriately. Again, the OLD app doesn't have this problem, nor does Goggle Maps, Waze, C:Geo or Cachly. There are so many times that the compass just DOES NOT MOVE. This 5 second / 15 ft interval just doesn't cut it. Please fix.

 

4) Corrected coordinates DO NOT maintain themselves in the APP. Repeatedly I have the corrected coordinates on the website and in my personal notes and I get to the New APP and the coordinates ARE NOT THERE.

At one point you could see sometimes that it had a "solved" next to the GC, but now that has disappeared. If the Unknowns are in a list and I open the list, the coordinates won't be there. So bloody incredibly frustrating

the number of times I have to go back to the CLASSIC app to get the coordinates. It seems this whole mechanism is broken. At least Cachly shows you different icons for GC's that have corrected coordinates.

 

5) Travel Bugs - argh. Can't log all my current inventory to a cache as I can on the website. The NEW app also shows ALL the TB's that I've EVER had in my possession, not just the ones that I currently have. I also can't tell which ones that I'm referencing. ARGH.

 

6) You can't give FAVORITES to Virtuals or Webcams or Earthcaches -- or at least I couldn't a month ago.

 

7) Search capabilities????? What search capabilities? Only being able to search by the GC code? What about all the other search options that are available in the CLASSIC app? Search for an Cache Owner, search

by the cache name, search in a radius, all the search options that one has on the WEBSITE and the CLASSIC app. Since now I can't get to the desktop version of the website from my phone to search and I won't be able

to search via the CLASSIC app .... Sigh.

 

8) GPSr's have the ability to write field notes -- although I don't use them often -- personal notes and field notes are a must.

 

9) When you launch the directions option from a multi-cache or a solved puzzle it takes you to the original coordinates and NOT the coordinates which are currently Active. This sucks when driving around to puzzles and having Waze/Google point you to the original coordinates instead of the corrected.

 

10) Bookmark lists aren't sorted in alphabetical order -- or there is NO option to sort in alphabetical order -- with 100 lists possible, do you know how hard it is to find a list in random order?

 

There are probably more things -- this is off the top of my head -- and remember, I'm one who primarily uses the NEW app --- and there are things that I need to do daily

that I just can't do using the NEW app.

 

Also in your survey -- you give a laundry list of items but then restrict to 3 ?????? Are you kidding me? All those features should be a given.

 

At any rate. I don't envy you guys getting all this fixed in just over a month.

 

I couldn't get on with the new app so someone on this site suggested Locus Maps. I found it hard work to begin with but now wouldn't cache without it. All the tracks are shown, rather than a big, plain green area. My list of complaints is: No landscape rotation, Screen goes to sleep, Corrected coordinates not shown and last BUT NOT LEAST I hate clustering. The last item was the final push for me to stop using the new app. No one else has mentioned it so perhaps it is only me that hates clustering.

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Instead of them bucking it, maybe they should learn from it. Lol thanks for whispering. I for one would love to see the new app be top dog. Alot of ppl not happy with the new app. Groundspeak will get it right. Get the app tuned and tighten up. People have to be patient. I don't think everyone knows what it takes to develop an app, then have it work on phones with 4 year old software, and work on brand new software. Thanks for the heads up. Ww👻

...Learn from usability and interface perhaps, but unfortunately that app has chosen a universally considered taboo, at best, if not malicious, method for gaining data that cannot be supported or condoned. Better to point to acceptable, supported software that has a prefereable quality design which can be used as an example to move towards. If only because it won't be ignored on principle (well, the above principle) =P

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If Geocaching is so set on making us Geocachers mad and making us not want to do this anymore why don't they just shut down the servers and be done with rather than lead us along with progressively worse apps?

There have been mentions of other apps other than the official one, but as soon as I post the name of one the whole post is removed. Hey powers that be, wake up! Learn what we want, do not try to force some half bake garbage down our throats.

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The new app has some good features and some that need improvement. As far as the good features, logging a find is a breeze. The favorite point "heart" is right there and the new app seems to load pictures faster than the old app. I like the ability to be able to see the waypoints, the terrain and difficulty ratings, hint, and prior logs quickly and with relative ease. I dont have a particular issue with using the general map to determine what caches I am going to go after and the maps cycle between street maps and Satellite maps efficiently.

 

As far as what needs improvement, I list them in order of priority.

 

1. A more responsive GPS function. The GPS is sluggish and will freeze up causing me to perform the drunken bee dance all too often near GZ. I have driven past many host locations due to the sluggishness of he GPS. There have been several occasions, while hunting woodland caches, where I plugged in the cords into google maps in order to get a proper indication of where GZ was located. Although moving my phone in circle 8 figures works in the car, it does not work so well in the woods. I am going to start bring my Magellan as a back up.

 

2. Logging Travel Bugs has to now be performed for each individual bug. I have various bugs that I use to keep track of my geocaching in my local county, my home state, while on vacation, with my backpack, or with one of my girls, and and have to individually log each one.

 

3. Once I click on the start button and the line is shown to the cache with the calculation of the distance, there is a very short time that the information stays on and then it all goes blank. I need this to stay on continuously.

Edited by Johnnyhotcakes
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Spot on BDP, you nailed all my concerns re the app.

 

Its definately improving, and it is visually a nice looking app, but in terms of functionality it still has a ways to go. The lists feature is awesome though. I really like that.

 

With the new app, the add photo and add favourites are broken for me (they did work for a while). I didn't even bother reporting them, I thought they were so fundamental they would have had been deluged with complaints. I now see a few other threads on this forum on these topics - so its not just me! I really think a little more testing should be done before the app updates area unleashed - I get the feeling not many people use the Android app.

 

If they fix the issues you mention + the other bugs then it will be a really good app.

 

I haven't checked out the new version of the app yet (haven't got the update yet) so am interested in the offline logging feature. That will be another great improvement. But I really think access to the personal cache notes is a key feature that should be added very soon - so can check notes have left on puzzles etc.

Edited by plowfive
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Hola, soy usuario de la nueva app Geocaching y veo dos errores respecto a la app Classica de geocaching:

 

1- Cuando registras un cache y en tu inventario tienes varios rastreables no los puedes registrar todos a la vez y debes hacerlo de uno en uno.

 

2- En la descripcion del cache, si hay fotos no sale el titulo de la foto, por ejemplo si es un Spoiler.

 

Alguna solucion?? se solucionara pronto??

 

Con la app Classica de geocaching podiar registrar la visita de los travel's de tu inventario, por ejemplo si tienes 5 TB puedes rigistrar la visita de una vez en un nuevo cache y en las descripcion del cache las fotos tiene titulo, spoiler, spoiler2 etc.

Edited by Atrellu
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