Wednesday, December 31, 2008

ipod touch and paperless geocaching



For a post-Christmas gift to myself, I made the investment in a new 8 GB ipod touch. This was after watching the family enjoy their new Ipod touches on Christmas day. I discovered that I could replicate many of the business functions that I rely on with my Windows Mobile based PDA. The new Touch seems to function easier and with less effort then the PDA I was using.

However, the only application I have not been able to find in the Apple App Store is one that will import and use a geocaching GPX file. I hope someone can develop this App in the future (Bish0p, are you listening?) I would try this myself, but the developer kit is designed for Macs only.

However, I did discover a way to at least have a way to display cache listing on the ipod touch using a App called Air Sharing by Avatron Software. This App allow for viewing of various types of document files on the ipod Touch.

I'm also creating HTML export of caches from GSAK, then copying the folder into the app.

The Air Sharing application requires the use of a wireless or ADHOC wireless setup between the PC and the Touch.

Have a safe and enjoyable geocaching year in 2009.





Friday, December 19, 2008

Treasure Hunting... What do you win??

If you look at the 'Getting Started' section of the geocaching.com website. Groundspeak defines geocaching as: 'a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure'.

When I use this definition, the first question I get is, "Oh... What have you won?"

I then need to explain that the 'treasure' is in the joy of the hunt, or the new places geocaching can take you. Anything in a cache is often very nominal in value.

"Oh... that's nice"

Now I describe geocaching as using a GPS receiver to find containers people have hidden throughout the world.

"You mean it is like treasure hunting?"

ARRRRRRRRR.........!!

I don't question how much they earn when they golf on the weekend.

Why does there need to be a profit motive in anything we do? I would dread the day a cache was placed and 100 people go and search for it at the same time and destroying the landscape because there was a substantial prize inside.

I lost the enjoyment of collecting stamps in the 1970's because of a few 'collectors' who ran up the price of stamps to turn a profit (Geek alert)

Why can we not just enjoy a activity because for a short while, it allows up to forget the troubles of the world?

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

You can now 'listen' to our blog posts

Click on the subscribe to odiogo link on the right hand side of the page. This will allow you to have a audio version of our blog that can be part of you ipod or other mp3 listening device. You can subscribe via itunes or you favorite 'reader' service. The text to speech conversion is very good. The 'reader' remindes me of HAL9000. Enjoy.