yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] gordonnorth:
Amazing...

Hi Tom,

Just wanted to say: GREAT work!!!

I just stumbled on your program today, and will immediately try it out tomorrow when hunting another cache.

Keep it up!

p.s. as others, would be keen on the next version with cached data. not as much for the money part of the mobile internet, but more for speed reasons :D

Thanks for a wonderfull bit of programming, looking forward for the next release. By the way, if you want translation in Dutch, let me know. will be happy to help you.

regards,

Gordon
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] alx6ths:
hi Tom,

we used the curent version today for all day geocaching, and i must say this is going to be the GC software number ONE! All the current functions are already better than what we tried before in other softwares.

I used to have handy geocaching on my previous Nokia phone and this is almost the same with functionality and it is already better in some ways.

As i said before, we used this application for the geaocaching today and we had some ideas, ahich we thing we should share and maybe participate to make this app even better ;)

We know that you are currently working on NMEA implementation which means to be able to connect to different GPS device (PORT), so here are our suggestions:

- Favorites to save found caches to the Favorites/Bookmarks list (locally) and then use this list to select caches to follow

- store the last found caches in the "buffer" untill next new searching + option in menu to enter this search list

- in options make a field to change ammount caches to be search for

- in options enhance the search filter to show/hide cache types

- in the list of found caches (basicaly in every cache's list) show the distance to the cache according to the current GPS location

- opportunity to enter the bookmark listong on geocaching.com in order to select the previously saved caches

- Directly navigate to the cache after clicking (taping) on the GPS button at the displayed cache page. At this moment, you have to use the menu to select the cache as a target

- more detailed status informations while downloading data from geocaching.com, like status bar, percentage etc. ..... if this is actually possible :)

Last but not least, we very THANK YOU for this piece of application. You did a very good job so far, keep it up ;)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] MirQoo:
why does it works only sometimes on gprs/edge/3g,, like 1/10 of all attempts? searching works fine on wifi (samsung i900 omnia) without 3g i find it kinda useless :( any ideas?

i've tried turning off proxy, but i have no proxy on (tmobile slovakia)

btw it always gives me "cache not found" error
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Gech:
Hi !!

I upload new test version. ;D

Please check below. screenshots and CAB file.

http://d.hatena.ne.jp/Gzh/20090414#1239700856

GCzII_20090414_1815_0233f.cab

thanks

tom

Edit)

------------

I forgot to add key binding below.

I will add it next version.

Left key : Radar view <=> Satellite view

Right key : GPS Info box ON/OFF

UP key : Zoom UP target range.

DOWN key : Zoom DOWN target range.

------------

Currently, just tap on the screen.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] paulpille:
Thx Tom,

for this quite mature looking next test version of your remarkable geocaching application.

I'am following your thread since a few days and I want to show my respect to your kind of implementing suggestions and ideas of quite experienced cachers also watching this thread.

From my point of view the GPS monitor now looks pretty perfect (may be the position of sun could improve localisation a bit, however is not a must).

Therefore it could be time now to add the nice features of your starting release having implemented all these different access rules to the geocaching.com web site.

Hope its not too much of work and I'd appreciate if you could add these features with your next release.

Go on with this valuable and useful application :)

Greetz, Paul
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] :
WM6 is a professional OS, where the users normally have VPN to Exchange@work on their thingies, with a flatrate, and: They normally not tend to walk around in the forest;) So cost is normally not an issue.

I have researched this 3) issue, the registry editing ACT offers is told not to work sufficiently anytime. So give my links a try...

And: disabling 3G in the CM makes the connection slow but stable, WM6 offers no further difference between GPRS and 3G. It always tries to get the fastest network (which can be limited to GSM) which is a service for the user. You normally do not want to allow 3G just for data, as it is a complete different frequency and hardware, having 3G on for data, but talking over GSM will only use twice the power, hence draining the battery faster. So this configuration isn't even supported by the hardware.

So i would recommend to switch to GSM on leaving the car for the walk, that will give better battery life and reception in the woods, the data transferred usually is not that much (at least for GCz), so there should be no time problem.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] khaytsus:
As mentioned both of these items are completely outside of the scope of GCzII and can be handled by other programs.

Automatic data disconnect can be done by a plethora of other programs via configuration, such as Schnapps Advanced Config. It doesn't require a running program, only some configuration.

3G on and unused is the same amount of battery usage as EDGE, so toggling between the two when not using data is pointless and is troublesome. And GCzII does not randomly use data, it only does it when you request it. If you have downloaded a list of caches ahead of time it won't access the internet again unless you make it do so.

As for saving on cost, download caches on wifi and then turn on offline mode.

If you really want to save battery, use a Bluetooth GPS and turn down the screen backlight. Those together are in the 150mAh range of savings.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] :
On the trade of having two Devices to carry, to charge, to get lost and (last but not least) to have an empty battery when needed...;)

Only if you need an SirfStar and your thingie has another receiver (like my MDA), that would make sense to me.

BTW: I did notice i sometimes have good reception on the GPS monitor (at least 8 to 10 blue markers), but position does not update. Is it because my PDA has a non-StatNav-capable GPSr builtin? Does anyone know how the Qualcom 7200 CPU handles this?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] neopren66:
Well, OK, I understand. Neither the TD2 nor WM6.x are mature products.

TD2 with GPS on consumes much (!!!) more power than external GPS (my BlueTooth GPS Data-Logger has a much smaller battery that lasts 30-36 hrs.) - and WM6.x has no functions to manage power consumption or connections efficiently.

Obviously nobody here seems to like the idea of auto-disconnect and auto-deactivate and prefers manual switching on and of, manual disconnection - and not to forgett it...

Strange, but OK... I absolutely agree that these functions should be provided by an external tool (if the OS itself does not) - but unfortunately up to now I found none that works fine (as explained already "Advanced Config" causes crashes and all the others like NoData or CommManager 3G need to be switched manually).

BTW: I am not sure, if this is really correct:

Thought 3G and GSM are more or less independend different access-networks - not only data, but for voice as well - and the 3G receiver/transmitter use more power than GSP receiver/transmitter when being logged in.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] khaytsus:
Feel free to do your own tests. :) I have dome some myself. If no data is flowing and otherwise same stuff running on the phone, being 3G vs EDGE is the same battery usage.

Active data is another story.... For example 2 boxes online with IMAP in Flexmail on 3G is 3-4% higher battery usage (per hour) than EDGE on average, or 30-50mAh extra.

As for the other post having two things to keep up with, this is true.. But personally I'd rather keep up with a small GPS that has a 20+ hour battery life. I don't have to worry about charging it that much, much faster to get a signal, keeps a signal better, more accurate, reduces the power consumption on the phone greatly, and can create tracks/waypoints entirely on its own without needing the phone. And if you don't have it or its battery dies? Use the phones GPS, you've lost nothing.

Personally every time I cache with the phones GPS I get frustrated because of how easily it loses a signal and the poor accuracy. Plus you have to be moving to keep any kind of information flowing, with my bluetooth unit I can stand still and get a good bearing on my target. With the phones GPS I gotta keep wandering around in circles until I find the right spot.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] :
@neopren:

Its not the GPS consuming Power, its the not existent Display, Touchscreen, Cardreader, Radio, RAM, ROM and waaaay slower CPU that preserve Power on the external GPS.

I, for the long lasting user of WM Devices i am, have also not found any sufficient program managing what you mentioned. And the TD2 with its CommManager allowing me to switch Radio on and off on a Fingers touch, and the long pressed EndCall to disconnect GPRS, is way more comfortable than any other of my PDAs i have used.

If you find any solution to your problem, feel free to post it.

@khaytsus:

What for an external GPSr are you using, that it can make Waypoints for itself, and also give Info to the Phone (via Bluetooth)???
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] dpbenne:
perfect

He guy, this tool is perfect. I looked a long time for an app like this.

thumbs up!!!
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] khaytsus:
The BT GPS tracking, waypoints, and even voice notes attached to points, etc, are all not communicated to the phone, it's entirely standalone operation and logged to the MicroSD in the unit. It otherwise works as a normal BT GPS however, sending NMEA/SIRF data to the phone, but it has the standalone features on top of it. The data can be extracted in a few different ways, it ships with a Java app which can convert the data, geotag pictures, associate voice tags, etc, to KML for Google Earth. There are also ways to script it with other programs, which is how I'd use it. Probably import the data into TrackMe's web service. :)

Columbus V-900, also goes by other names if you search for V900 Bluetooth GPS, but not seeing the others offhand. It's a rather neat unit, I hope to have one soon, although my good ole Holux 236 still does me well today. :)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] neopren66:
Yes, I absolutely understand the advantage of having a seperate BT GPS Receiver. That's exactly what I had up to some weeks ago - and it worked perfectly from the technical point of view: An HP iPAQ, a BT GPS Data logger - and a Phone for the Internet-link with BT connection to the iPAQ. And I had full control which device is on, consumes power and generates online fees.

Now I decided to have one device only - and would like to have more or less the same comfort as I had before. Obviously I expexted to much. However - if I decide to carry besides the TD2 a second device with me, this will be for sure not a GPS Receiver, but a large external battery. Battery<>TD2 will have less interface issues than BT_GPS<>TD2.

@P5x5-User: Since a auto-disconnect for the data connection obviously does not match to the idea of GCzII, I opened a discussion on pocketpc.ch, maybe you noticed it already...

OK, but I am comming far Off-Topic, so I will close my request here.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] derlbear:
It isn't the problem of GCzII and Tom recommends a flat rate in the very first post of this thread:

Since there are many programs that use a connection to the internet, there should be other solutions and programs for your problem that MAY help, but it's nothing that should be included into GCzII because it isn't the fault of the program.

But I definately CAN understand your problem with the power consumption because I also have a TD2. I have a simple solution for it...... when you have a look at the two pictures I attached.

1.jpg --> This is how my TD2 looks like when I'm not hunting.

2.jpg --> This is how my TD2 looks like when I AM hunting :) With this battery plus the normal battery I can hunt at least 9 hours without charging (in the car).

9 hours means GCzII and TomTom run both at the same time at my TD2 with full brightness and I don't use the standby or switch the screen off. I could also charge it while we're driving but 9 hours of caching a day is enough for us :)

The short battery life isn't necessarily a problem of WM, but of the design of the mobile. It's just too slim for a bigger battery.

But now we can get back to topic, can't we :) ?

Cheers,

derlbear
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Jack_Brody:
Orbitter2: as for the cache series and collecting clues for a bonus cache. I usually do one simple thing: every new bonus number I manage to get I write down to the note of THE BONUS CACHE. So slowly I get all of them and finally can calculate the bonus coordinates.

You do not need any special functionality in the GCzII for this.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] neopren66:
A recommendation is a recommendation - and does not neccessarily fit everyones needs. For sure it is worth having a flat rate for those who have much mobile data traffic or are online for long time. But I don't.

I am currently 20 - 40 minutes online per month, 8ct each, 2.40 Euro total average per month. But there is this risk sometimes to miss to disconnect manually via the CommManager-Detour. This can add up to 300 minutes = 24 Euro per month or so.

For my purposes I would prefer to pay 2.40 Euro per month by having an intelligent software that supports to disconnect.

Obviously the flat rate (for maybe 15 Euro per month, dont know exactly) is the state-of-the-art solution to manage the risk. Applications establish connections but do not disconnect them after usage. Yes, sounds like a good plan. ;)

OK, for me it seems that devices, operation software and application software are not really designed to save power.

So obviously a bigger or external battery is again the state-of-the-art solution for the power problem.

Yes, we can:

I have another idea concerning the GUI.

IMO the major screens are the screens

- "Main/Search" (different search options)

- "Cache List" (sometimes several pages)

- "Cache" (several subviews)

- "GPS Monitor" (what I call radar screen) and the

- "Google Maps" application

So e.g. you follow the path "Search" > "Cache List" > "Cache" > "GPS Monitor". From "GPS Monitor" you need to use "Back" Button to come to "Cache" and "Back" several times to come to "Search" or "Cache List" srceen.

On the other hand if you follow select "GPS Monitor" from the menu of the "Search" screen "Back" will bring you back to "Search" (and not to "Cache" as above).

Of course the purpose of "Back" is to bring you there where you came from. But sometimes I do not remember the full path I used. So the resuld when pressing "Back" is sometimes a little surprise.

Idea if the GUI should be re-designed a little one day:

Introduce small tabs (or buttons, with the selected one inactive) at the bottom of each screen:

[Main/Search] [Cache List] [Cache] [GPS Monitor] [Google Maps]

1) These short-cuts should jump directly to the related screen without several Back-steps.

2) The sub-screens in "Search" (different criteria), "Cache List" (several pages), "Cache" (Description, Hints, Logs, Coins, Waypoints...) could be selected by Left/Right buttons like in the search screen, all with the same look and feel.

3) Also "Radarscreen" functions could be combined in one Mainscreen with Left/Right Button to select sub-screen: GPS Monitor, Goggle Map and the different downloaded maps/satellite pictures. So in the shortcuts [GPS Monitor] [Google Maps] could be replaces by [Radar Screens] (or whatever one might call it).

I think these (not so huge) modifications can make the GUI even more clear and faster to use, than it is already today.

(Just my 2 cents, OK, well maybe these are 5 cents)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Gech:
Verup 0.2.35.26

1) Add "Create Cache List".

2) Add "Merge Cache List".

http://www.nicque.com/PQz

***************

To convert old cache list, need to download the tool and copy it to same GCzII.exe folder and run!!

http://www.nicque.com/pqz/GCz.htm

GCzII_Converter_20090929_1800.zip

if don't use this tool, you will see grayed folder icon on "Create Cache List" window.

And can not select grayed folder icon cache to make a new cache list.

Only need to run it once. it converts from old cache list to new format.

***************

Also, need help to translate.

French

------------

"Create Cache List (Need translation)"

"Merge Cache List (Need translation)"

"Remove Cache (Need translation)"

"Day View (Need translation)"

"Night View (Need translation)"

"Owned (Need translation)"

------------

German

------------

"Create Cache List (Need translation)"

"Merge Cache List (Need translation)"

"Remove Cache (Need translation)"

"Owned (Need translation)"

------------

Czech

------------

"Create Cache List (Need translation)"

"Merge Cache List (Need translation)"

"Remove Cache (Need translation)"

"Day View (Need translation)"

"Night View (Need translation)"

"Check (Need translation)"

"Found it (Need translation)"

"Found it (Blue tick) (Need translation)"

"Didn't find it (Need translation)"

"Disabled (Need translation)"

"Owned (Need translation)"

"Other (Need translation)"

"Unknown (Need translation)"

"Check All (Need translation)"

"Uncheck All (Need translation)"

"Delete Checked Folder (Need translation)"

------------

Thank you for your help.

======================

I suppose this is the final version as GCzII. (except critical issue)

Because GCzII changed and added lots features after first release.

To expand new features there are lots of design limitations exist now.

So, now is the time to remake as new version. GCzIII. LOL

It would be faster and reduce memory consumption. (maybe...)

thanks

tom
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] neopren66:
My proposals:

"Create Cache List"

Cache Liste erstellen

"Merge Cache List"

Cache Listen verbinden (means "Merge Cache Lists")

Cache Liste verbinden (which means "Merge a Cache List")

"Remove Cache"

Cache entfernen (means "remove")

Cache löschen (means "delete")

"Owned"

Eigene Caches (means "own caches")

Meine Caches (means "my caches")
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] derlbear:
German

------------

"Cache-Liste erstellen"

"Cache-Listen zusammenfügen"

"Cache entfernen"

"Eigener Cache"

------------

I don't know if "Eigener Cache" is the correct translation for "Owned", because I can't see "Owned" in a context. So what.

MY HEART STOPPED BEATING!

YAY

Could you please change this, too? I can't check if you already did it because my battery is empty and I forgot the charger 80km from here at a friends flat :( THANKS! THANKS! THANKS !!

Cheers,

derlbear

Edit: Whoops, took me to long to create this post :)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] neopren66:
Yes, with the dash "-" it sounds/looks better than my proposal. Also "zusammenfügen" is nicer than "verbinden". However - if "zusammenfügen" is too long, "verbinden" is an alternative.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Titus_Andronicus:
Well Tom, GCzII has come a long ways since GCz. Your contribution to the caching community is amasing. If a version 3 ever materialises, I look forward to it, but if not, Thank you so much for all your hard work. It is very much appriciated.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] kelsdogz:
Automatically download static maps?

Is there a way to automatically download static maps with the cache on the initial request instead of having to reload?

I realize that is a lot of data usage, but seems it will eliminate reloading the cache on each individual cache page just to retreive the static images.

Or maybe I missed an option or I'm just doing something wrong and not getting the images???
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] cloudrider:
Great Software

This is a GREAT piece of software. I used it yesterday a lot and it appeared to do as well as my garmin in the open. I do have a small request. On the screen where you are viewing the cache list, can something be added to show if it has a travel bug without having to open each cache and look at inventory? It would be great if on that screen it had a pic of a tb like geocaching.com has when you do a list? Other then that I love this. Works much better then other things. Thanks again

CR
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] neopren66:
Thanks a lot also from my side.

You created an excellent piece of software that perfectly works on my TD2. I absolutely enjoy using it!

If you really go for a version III one day: I shared some of my thoughts concerning the GUI and how to navigate fast and convenient from screen to screen in my posting above. Attached I drafted my idea by using a "powerpoint-simulation".

Open/Start the file and click on the blue buttons I added at the bottom of the screens. Hope you like it.

.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] zephxiii:
Is there anyway to get this app to open up cache webpages in Opera Mobile 9.7b1 instead of PIE? Or any browser of your choosing? That what I really want most.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] khaytsus:
Sure, look in the options.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] zephxiii:
haha, hot damn. It must gotten lost in between all the other options. I'm a super happy camper now, I love this app. Thanks.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] schiefersoft:
Hi Tom, i have download and install the last version .26 und now i investigate what are the modifications in the cache file format (the reason for your "Cache List Converter")

i have not found any differences (by revers engineering), also my "read in functions" in the GCzII-Viewer working still well.

Both the Cachelists and the caches working fine in the GCzII-Viewer

What have you modify?

regards schiefersoft
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Jake Bullit:
Nice work.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] neroteddyhexe:
GCzII and OSM

Hello,

I´m using this tool for a few month and it´s great. Thanks!

But I have a question about the maps: is there something planned to add OSM maps additional to GoogleMaps? I think OSM (OpenStreetMap) will be grow in future and is already today more detailed in some areas.

Regards
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] schiefersoft:
This Question is allready answered by Tom in this Forum

please search.

Its to complicated to render the OSM XML Files

(OSM gives no Bitmaps as return value at the moment)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] khaytsus:
I think the problem was that it doesn't render AROUND a point, it renders in predefined tiles. OSM definitely has a tile server, just that Google will send you a tile where the specified point is in the middle of said tile.

Tom explains it better here: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=4218204&postcount=1400
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] neopren66:
Thanks. :) Thought it is easier to show what I mean.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Titus_Andronicus:
Is the "Search by Trackable Item Name" functions supposed to work? On my phone, the "Go" button is greyed out. Do I have a setting wrong, or is this a limitaion that I was not aware of? I thought that it worked in the past.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] derlbear:
Edit: It doesn't work on my mobile either. But I don't really know if this worked in earlier versions because I didn't use this feature.

Cheers,

derlbear
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Gech:
schiefersoft

GCzII_Converter splits cache list(s) to cache index file(s).

But it is just for "Create Cache List" feature.

No need to concern about this chances. :D

It keeps compatibility.

thanks

tom