iTouch/iPhone Geocaching Apps

[CanadianStock]

ya the blackberry always takes a long time to find the sats, but once it has its great, try blackstar for the blackberry, its a free app you can get form appworld and thats what iv been using to find all my caches

[surpriseme]

Surpriseme - I've heard that the upcoming switchover to Rogers means that we may all need to get our phones changed too?  CDMA vs GSM...  ...any truth to that?  I've got a blackberry 8330 from tbay tel that I am happy with, but would prefer an Iphone. 

Mechman - You don't have to switch.  The CDMA network will continue to operate for several years, well past the life expectancy of your current phone.  As your term comes up for renewal you may decide to upgrade your hardware which you will likely upgrade to a 3G HSPA device (BlackBerry, iPhone, Droid, ...).  The speed on 3G will be up to 22mb/s, compare that to the highest network speed on EVDO being 3.2mb/s, thus I suspect everyone that uses data on their phone will want to switch.  - Surpriseme

I'm wondering if we do need to switch over to a GSM phone - if there may be an opportunity to switch phone models too....hmmm...

I am not at liberty to tell you what if any offer there will be for early upgrades to 3G HSPA.  Lets just say that TBayTel is looking to get a return on the investment of this new network as soon as possible. 

I downloaded a 15 day trial Cacheberry, but found it bulky to use.  I also dont like that it takes so long to get a GPS signal lock on the blackberry.  Anyway...that's my 2c.

Yes CacheBerry is a bit clunky, but I did get use to it.  It takes some patience to work out all the querks.  The GPS satelite aquisition time will vary between different phones and models in the same line.  Some BlackBerries are quick and others take forever.  I'm using a Storm II touch screen and it seems to pick up satelites fairly quickly most days.  I don't know if the iPhone is better at this?  Nothing beats a dedicated GPS.  By the way the Storm II isn't available until late July.  I will have an opportunity to test an iPhone next month and I will test one of the Geocaching applications, so I should know more about performance comparisons. 

[surpriseme]

Seattle Coffee House is has free Wi-Fi and the location is set.

TBayTel free Wi-Fi hotspots are at:
The Seattle Coffee House (Arthur St)
Starbucks Coffee Company
The Keg Steakhouse & Bar
Caribou Restaurant & Wine Bar
Intercity Shopping Centre Food Court
Marina Park 

URL:  http://www.tbaytel.net/residential/internet/wifi.shtml

[ChrisDom]

Yeah!!!! Just in time for vacation.... the Geocaching app update .

[hunter-killer]

Wow version 4 has so many improvements, many not noticeable until you restart the ipod. Love the notes section and the overall layout. We did lose all our saved and pocket query caches during the upgrade, but was surprised it was FREE, sitting there waiting for us to select update, and that was a bonus we did not expect. Overall, best 9.99 we spent.... months ago, and still reaping the benefits . Tommy Boy like ipod app. 

[shroomAzoom]

Oh yeah! A complete overhaul and total improvment (not that it was a bad app in the first place.) I approve of the update too!

Oh, and as an aside, and maybe it's the iOS 4 update, but my iTouch now knows my home location. It's at the end of the block, but it's close enough for locating nearby caches.

[Mechman]

Anyone figure out how to stop iOS4 from sucking the battery down overnight? (besides totally turning the ipod touch off - by holding power button for 5 sec)

I am also liking the new interface on geocahing app...it also knows where I live.  It must use IP addresses or the network somehow...

Dave

[shroomAzoom]

Mech, I totally noticed the battery drain overnight when I first updated to iOS4. It was a major bummer! But, it only happened over the first couple days. I upgraded on June 21 and now (a month later) I leave the iTouch on overnight and hardly notice any battery drain at all. I wonder if it had to calibrate something over time? Whatever it was, I'm cool with my battery again. Hopefully you'll notice the same thing in the near future too.

[Mechman]

Not sure how iPod touch gets your location. But as I sit at Chicago joes it seems to think that I am in Denver CO?  Does it look at wireless network connections or something ?

[phillipie99]

Mech, I totally noticed the battery drain overnight when I first updated to iOS4. It was a major bummer! But, it only happened over the first couple days. I upgraded on June 21 and now (a month later) I leave the iTouch on overnight and hardly notice any battery drain at all. I wonder if it had to calibrate something over time? Whatever it was, I'm cool with my battery again. Hopefully you'll notice the same thing in the near future too.

I think they fixed the battery drain in the next release because when I installed iOS 4.02 beta over iOS 3 I never noticed it. The location come from the wifi like the locate feature on gc.com.

[hunter-killer]

Version 4.0.2 is no longer beta. Updating now. 100 new features and many bug fixes. Also an new update for the geocaching applet was available.

[hunter-killer]

Kathy mentioned that Safeway now has wifi (Court Street store) for sure, she does not know about the other stores. So bring the netbooks, ipod touches, ipads, laptops and surf the net while having coffee at Starbucks and let the old battleaxe get groceries .  How cool is that?

[phillipie99]

Aurthur street safeway has it too.

[ragbag]

I've seen people using it at the Dawson Road Safeway, but I haven't tried it myself.

[surpriseme]

I thought that some of you would appreciate an update on the 3G network in Thunder Bay and around the Region.

For iPhone and other 3G technology phone users.  Rogers/Fido/Tbaytel 3G devices work all over Thunder Bay and surrounding areas;  Whitefish Lake, Dog Lake, Surprise Lake, Dorion, Nipigon, Marathon, Manitouwadge, Geraldton, Longlac, Raith, Upsala, Atikokan, Rainy River, and Red Lake.

Soon to come; Dryden, Kenora, Fort Frances, Sioux Lookout and more highway sites on 11 & 17 west of Thunder Bay.  The schedule is unpredictable do to weather conditions and Christmas holidays affecting delivery schedules, but some are expected to be in service before year end and the others before Feb 1st, 2011. 

The communities and highways east of Thunder Bay will start to see 3G service starting May 2011 and should be near complete by the end of June.

It is incredibly amazing how fast the access to the internet is with 3G. 

Get out there and Geocache!