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knowschad
Geocacher
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 448
Location: South St Paul
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 Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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| speedysk1 wrote: |
I'm not gonna get all worked up about the 250000 waypoints like on the nat'l forums. Groundspeak is entitled to do what ever they want with their data. |
Their data points to our caches, though. As you can see from the national forum, I'm not particularily thrilled by the prospect of a bunch of potentially unsupervised kiddies running around finding my caches.
Only time will tell if it is really a problem or if I'm just making a mountain out of a molehill, I guess. The horse is out of the barn.
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Alcohol & calculus don't mix. Don't drink & deriv |
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speedysk1
Past MnGCA Board
Joined: 29 Oct 2007
Posts: 1991
Location: Mound MN
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| Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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| knowschad wrote: |
Their data points to our caches, though. As you can see from the national forum, I'm not particularily thrilled by the prospect of a bunch of potentially unsupervised kiddies running around finding my caches.
Only time will tell if it is really a problem or if I'm just making a mountain out of a molehill, I guess. The horse is out of the barn. |
That's true that it could happen, but I'm not concerned. I don't think parents will get these and say, "Here Jr, go out and find stuff." and let them alone. I think this will be a companion GPS while the parents are with them. So, to me, it's not any different than it is today. The same issues exist today. I'd like it for my kids if I could enter waypoints for them. I'm waiting to see what the update package is going to allow the end user to do.
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Jam3s
Geocacher
Joined: 26 Oct 2008
Posts: 842
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| Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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| knowschad wrote: |
| speedysk1 wrote: |
I'm not gonna get all worked up about the 250000 waypoints like on the nat'l forums. Groundspeak is entitled to do what ever they want with their data. |
Their data points to our caches, though. As you can see from the national forum, I'm not particularily thrilled by the prospect of a bunch of potentially unsupervised kiddies running around finding my caches.
Only time will tell if it is really a problem or if I'm just making a mountain out of a molehill, I guess. The horse is out of the barn. |
One option, cache owners all disable their caches and move them 200 feet away. If they are not going to update the caches on the GPS, then they would have none in Minnesota.
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~~ I was told all I needed was a GPS. I wanted everything else. ~~ |
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sir_zman
Past MnGCA Board
Joined: 30 Jun 2005
Posts: 1725
Location: Twin Cities
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| Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Jam3s wrote: |
| knowschad wrote: |
| speedysk1 wrote: |
I'm not gonna get all worked up about the 250000 waypoints like on the nat'l forums. Groundspeak is entitled to do what ever they want with their data. |
Their data points to our caches, though. As you can see from the national forum, I'm not particularily thrilled by the prospect of a bunch of potentially unsupervised kiddies running around finding my caches.
Only time will tell if it is really a problem or if I'm just making a mountain out of a molehill, I guess. The horse is out of the barn. |
One option, cache owners all disable their caches and move them 200 feet away. If they are not going to update the caches on the GPS, then they would have none in Minnesota. |
After speaking with the company and the creator of this GPS, I think that this is going a bit far. The purpose of this gps is two fold, 1) to allow families to get a cheap GPS for the kids to use I don't think anyone has a problem with that, and 2) to offer a low barrier to entry to people who might be interested in Geocaching, and don't want to make a huge investment. This is another thing that we as an association want, to get more caches...their aims and ours seem pretty much inline. This GPS doesn't have any fancy bells and whistles, it doesn't have maps..I don't think you can add waypoints to it (no multis) it is designed to go after traditionals only, and get people interested in the sport. |
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Jam3s
Geocacher
Joined: 26 Oct 2008
Posts: 842
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| Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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| sir_zman wrote: |
| Jam3s wrote: |
| knowschad wrote: |
| speedysk1 wrote: |
I'm not gonna get all worked up about the 250000 waypoints like on the nat'l forums. Groundspeak is entitled to do what ever they want with their data. |
Their data points to our caches, though. As you can see from the national forum, I'm not particularily thrilled by the prospect of a bunch of potentially unsupervised kiddies running around finding my caches.
Only time will tell if it is really a problem or if I'm just making a mountain out of a molehill, I guess. The horse is out of the barn. |
One option, cache owners all disable their caches and move them 200 feet away. If they are not going to update the caches on the GPS, then they would have none in Minnesota. |
After speaking with the company and the creator of this GPS, I think that this is going a bit far. The purpose of this gps is two fold, 1) to allow families to get a cheap GPS for the kids to use I don't think anyone has a problem with that, and 2) to offer a low barrier to entry to people who might be interested in Geocaching, and don't want to make a huge investment. This is another thing that we as an association want, to get more caches...their aims and ours seem pretty much inline. This GPS doesn't have any fancy bells and whistles, it doesn't have maps..I don't think you can add waypoints to it (no multis) it is designed to go after traditionals only, and get people interested in the sport. |
Are they still going to have to agree to the same terms and conditions as the website?
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~~ I was told all I needed was a GPS. I wanted everything else. ~~ |
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sir_zman
Past MnGCA Board
Joined: 30 Jun 2005
Posts: 1725
Location: Twin Cities
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| Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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| I asked the Project Manager, he said that at this time it is not required that users of the GeoMate be GC.com users, however he does feel that that it is important that everyone playing the game be bound by the same terms and rules. So take that for what it's worth |
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Jonas
Past MnGCA Board
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Posts: 672
Location: Chaska, MN
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| Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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| sir_zman wrote: |
| Check out the rest of the interview when I publish it this Sunday/Monday at http://www.tcgcpc.com |
I'm getting "More at ten" vibes from this comment. Awesome marketing. 
In all seriousness, I think it's pretty cool that you got an interview with the guys behind this device and plan to tune in.
-Jonas |
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knowschad
Geocacher
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 448
Location: South St Paul
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 7:28 am Post subject: |
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| sir_zman wrote: |
| I asked the Project Manager, he said that at this time it is not required that users of the GeoMate be GC.com users, however he does feel that that it is important that everyone playing the game be bound by the same terms and rules. So take that for what it's worth |
Taking it for what its worth, but...
So, they won't neccessarily have any knowledge of the ethics of caching?
They won't neccessarily have read the geocaching.com disclaimer?
They won't neccessarily be logging their finds, nor tracking the geocoins or travel bugs they grab? In fact, they may not even have any idea that those are not trade items?
How are they going to know what those "same terms and rules" are if they don't neccessarily have to be GC.com users?
They won't neccessarily know that it says on the cache page that "there is no need to go onto private property to get this cache!" and other such warnings?
They won't neccessarily know that I just temporarily disabled my cache because foot traffic at this time of the year will disturb a rare and delicate plant, or because a bald eagle is nesting in the tree overhead?
You get my drift...
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Alcohol & calculus don't mix. Don't drink & deriv |
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knowschad
Geocacher
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 448
Location: South St Paul
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 9:32 am Post subject: |
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| sir_zman wrote: |
| I asked the Project Manager, he said that at this time it is not required that users of the GeoMate be GC.com users, however he does feel that that it is important that everyone playing the game be bound by the same terms and rules. So take that for what it's worth |
I hope your podcast site can handle the traffic... I just linked to it from the National Forums. There is a lot of interest in it.
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Alcohol & calculus don't mix. Don't drink & deriv |
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IanNMissy
Geocacher
Joined: 24 Apr 2009
Posts: 69
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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| I would hope that the mfg. would have something pointing people to gc.com in their info with the unit in the box. If not that, at least some 'general rules' to follow that mirror the gc.com ethics rules and such. That would be the best compromise I think. |
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sir_zman
Past MnGCA Board
Joined: 30 Jun 2005
Posts: 1725
Location: Twin Cities
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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I got some further feedback from the project manager he says:
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FYI, we are currently working away to create some more ethics and geocaching guides that we can use as educational material on the web site.
Along with trying to promote activities like CITO etc.
CNET review of the Geomate.jr: http://tinyurl.com/olba2c |
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Pear Head
Past MnGCA President
Joined: 04 Apr 2004
Posts: 5600
Location: north of Duluth
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| Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 12:43 am Post subject: |
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| sir_zman wrote: |
I got some further feedback from the project manager he says:
| Quote: |
FYI, we are currently working away to create some more ethics and geocaching guides that we can use as educational material on the web site.
Along with trying to promote activities like CITO etc.
CNET review of the Geomate.jr: http://tinyurl.com/olba2c |
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Heck, throw in a small brochure with the unit when you sell it would be better than nothing...
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sir_zman
Past MnGCA Board
Joined: 30 Jun 2005
Posts: 1725
Location: Twin Cities
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| Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Jonas wrote: |
| sir_zman wrote: |
| Check out the rest of the interview when I publish it this Sunday/Monday at http://www.tcgcpc.com |
I'm getting "More at ten" vibes from this comment. Awesome marketing.
In all seriousness, I think it's pretty cool that you got an interview with the guys behind this device and plan to tune in.
-Jonas |
I have published the episode. Enjoy. |
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loneeagle_24
Geocacher
Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Posts: 871
Location: Montevideo
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EPMinnesota
Past MnGCA Board
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 1908
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Since this thread was started, has anyone had any experience with the GeoMate Jr? I am looking for a unit for my elderly parents and it needs to be e-a-s-y for them to use. They aren't very tech savy although they do have a computer and do email but that's about it. I would of course add the update feature which allows you to enter additional coordinates. I hear stories that dad was trying to turn the tv on one day with his cordless phone. Any suggestions or advice? |
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