HeadHardHat's Geocaching GPS Holiday List 2010

Okay the turkey has been gobbled up and there is only a few more swigs of Pepto left in the bottle. The holiday season is upon us and people are scrambling to find what is the most wanted GPS units out there. Below is my conclusions to the Geocaching GPS Holiday List for 2010.

It is my personal opinion which I have based on several years of asking directly from active geocachers and watching the trends of handheld units plus the incorporation of smart phone applications that the GPS market has become saturated. Much like the personal computer, at one point only the gamer and a few smaller niche of people owned them and thusly controlled it's overall popularity in the world. Then suddenly computers reached that point where everyone wanted them and thus saturated the market to the point they are giving them away. I feel GPS units have reached that point as well. Everyone has at least one and in many cases multiples. It was not too long ago that the only people who had a GPS was geocachers, hikers and survey people. Then the automobile GPS units started to come out and now they come standard in many cars. Handheld units are in demand but now almost all phones coming out now have GPS capability. You don't even have to have a handheld it's right on your phone. So mostly everybody in one way or another has them. A few years ago everybody wanted the latest and greatest GPS gizmo. The past couple of years, not so much.

So when I asked this year what GPS you would want under your tree the responses where half the numbers I was used to. Most wanted some top notch toys while many others were happier with the mid-ranged models. Very interesting indeed.

Below were the models from most popularly requested to the least. I linked up the top three for easy access to you.

HeadHardHat's Geocaching GPS Holiday List 2010

30% - Garmin Map 62st
15% - DeLorme PN-60 w/spot
10% - Garmin Oregon 450
 5% - Nokia N8 w/a geocaching app
 5% - Magellan Explorist
 5% - Garmin Dakota 20
 5% - Garmin Oregon 750
 5% - Android Phone w/a geocaching app
 5% - HTC Windows 7 w/a geocaching app
 5% - DeLorme PN-40
 5% - Garmin 76 CSx
 5% - Garmin 60 CSx

I hope this list helps you with your holiday ideas and that it brings some GPS goodness to a whole bunch of geocacher stockings. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all.

-HHH


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Why Do We Go Geocaching - Be On GeoSnippits!

Here's your chance fellow geocachers. I frequently get asked if we can have guest geocachers on GeoSnippits. If you have been watching and we know you have. You have noticed that we indeed have had a bunch of guest geocachers this season. We want more. In fact we want a lot more. We want you.

There is an episode that I want to make entitled "Why Do We Go Geocaching?".

I thought to myself, why waste this opportunity by just giving my viewpoint? Why not have our viewers and fans send in their thoughts? Geocaching is an extremely diverse game, sport and obsession. Let's see what other fellow geocachers think.

What We Need:
To qualify for a possibility to be in the GeoSnippits video which will be seen on YouTube (a ten minute vid) and possibly on Michigan Magazine TV (a five minute vid) you need to make a 15 second (max) video stating why do you go geocaching.  I can not stress this enough that creativity is key. You can have as many people in the video you want but it must be clearly audible to be used.

• All entries must be emailed by 12:00am 12/27/2010 - no exceptions.
• Email your entry to headhardhat@gmail.com with the subject of Why Do We Go Geocaching. 
• All content must be PG rated (we are a family show).
• 15 seconds long max.

Good luck to all and please note that all submissions sent in means you give HeadHardHat aka Andrew T. Smith permission to present your video in GeoSnippits Videos which may be shown on You Tube, Michigan Magazine TV show and other forms of medium.

So get your videophone lens cleaned, charge up your camcorders, find that scenic spot you always wanted to shoot in front and get those entries answering the question Why Do We Go Geocaching?

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This Week On Michigan Magazine TV - GeoSnippits and Geocaching With NCBiscuit

This week's GeoSnippits segment on Michigan Magazine TV (RFDTV Network) features the amazing geocaching team of NCBiscuit. You can see my post that shows us as we filmed that actual episode here:
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/2010/10/geocaching-with-ncbiscuit.html.








Enjoy the entire Michigan Magazine episode including our GeoSnippits video here:



If the player does not work correctly above you can see the entire episode here:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/11057280

Thanks to NCBiscuit for being on our show. If you would like to be a guest geocacher on GeoSnippits please contact HeadHardHat at headhardhat@gmail.com.


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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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HeadHardHat's BlackStar Geocaching Review Featured On TrackFiles Videozine

ICENRYE's Geocaching Videozine

TrackFiles is a videozine produced and hosted by fellow geocacher IceNRye. Think of it as a video podcast which features geocaching news, events, geocaching videos and rewind summaries of other internet podcasts all in one well done video show.

Based out of Canada, IceNRye does an exceptionally good job packing a ton of geocaching points of interest that the geocacher can then examine further about the geocaching world.

This weeks episode is featuring among other geocaching goodness my GeoSnippits geocaching video review about the BlackBerry application BlackStar. BlackStar is a FREE geocaching application which allows you to use your BlackBerry smart phone to go geocaching. My review takes you out into the woods of North Carolina to test the application and finding geocaches plus a controlled manual testing as well. The results are worth the watch and we give all the links for you to find out for yourself.

Be sure to check out TrackFiles not only to see my BlackStar review but because TrackFiles is a really good show for geocachers who want to stay in the know about geocaching. I highly recommend it!

Go here to see TrackFiles and HHH's BlackStar Application Review: http://www.trackfiles.tv/?p=237

Go here to see TrackFiles main web page: http://www.trackfiles.tv 


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HeadHardHat Reviews BlackStar Geocaching Application For BlackBerry Phones

HeadHardHat takes a look at BlackStar

I had recently watched an episode of  IceNRye's TrackFiles which is a very well done geocaching videozine. There he mentioned about a BlackBerry geocaching application known as Blackstar and if anyone had a video showing it in use. Now normally I usually get asked first to do a review but this is a FREE application and thought it would be perfect to test and let other geocachers know if it is worth using or not. So off I went into the Autumn woods of North Carolina and gave it a spin. Below is not only my review of it but a full blown GeoSnippits Video.

As you know I do not pull punches about a product I am reviewing. I calls them as I sees them so that you my ever trusted viewers get the facts. So before I get inundated with your emails of likes and dislikes let me say this straight out. When I first said I was doing a review of BlackStar I recieved a ton of twitter tweets from users who use BlackStar all the time. For that I am grateful, it is also the reason why I went and did a second round of testing just to be extra sure of my findings.

So go enjoy the GeoSnippits. I had a lot of fun making it and you will not only find my actual findings but a scorecard of how I felt BlackStar did... Enjoy.

-HHH



If the player above does not function, please click this link to go directly to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n4Wradn28E

My personal likes and dislikes of the BlackStar application. I like that it is free and gives a beginning geocacher the chance to go out with minimal cost and go geocaching.

What bugged me the absolute most about BlackStar is it's need for use of third party applications and the time it took to load the applications for everything you do while geocaching. Also if you are in an area that does not have fast internet access you are really going to feel the pain with all the uploads. I honestly can say that this would be a terrible application to use if you were on a numbers run due to the lag between programs yet on the other hand if you are just geocaching for the moment it can be handy. The best thing is to give it a shot for yourself.

You can download your free copy of BlackStar for your BlackBerry phone from this link here:
http://www.blackstarnavigation.com/


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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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This Week On Michigan Magazine - GeoSnippits - Calibrating Your GPS Unit

This week on Michigan Magazine TV (RFDTV Network). Recorded on 11/17/2010 A trip to EDMORE and the family owned Lakeland Mills rustic furniture factory and showroom. Then to OWOSSO and the 2009 Train Festival. On today's Geosnippits Andy Smith demonstrate how to calibrate you GPS for more accurate Geocaching.

See the entire show by clicking the viewer below.



If the above video does not play you can see it here:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/10911369

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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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This Weeks Michigan Magazine TV and Geocaching with the Maile Family

This week on Michigan Magazine TV Barry visits Impression 5 a science museum in Lansing, MI and GeoSnippits introduces the Maile Family as they Geocache their way through the Eno Lake State Park.



If the player above does not display please use this link to see the video:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/10783856

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GeoSnippits and Michigan Magazine TV - Let's Go Geocaching

There was some technical difficulties so last week's Michigan Magazine TV Show did not make it to Ustream.tv until just now. Check out Barry as he visits an animal rehabilitation center known as A.R.K. and HeadHardHat goes out into a crystal blue day just to go Geocaching and meets up with some interesting geocaches and a special visitor.



If the above viewer does not display, click the link below to see it.
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/10783446

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GeoSnippits - NCGO Fall Fling 2010 Geocaching Event

This years NCGO Fall Fling geocaching event log - including map.

This years NCGO Fall Fling 2010 was held at Norman Lake State Park, NC. As usual it was actually a three day weekend of geocaching goodness including a Meet and Greet, The Fall Fling and a CITO Event. We had hundreds of geocachers not only attend the event but camped in the early November temps to be here.

GeoSnippits Geocaching Videos
This GeoSnippits video focused on the main Fall Fling event this year. It will be shown on Michigan Magazine TV sometime around Christmas. You get to see it here now.

Enjoy this amazing event.



If the viewer above does not play then please click the link below to view it on You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1kq5sMy9pM

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Geocachers Are The Best!!!

You have heard me state time and time again about how geocachers are absolutely the most kind and amazing people on the planet. To prove my point meet @treb03.

A short time ago I had made a comment via Twitter stating how I really wanted a Vernors. For those who do not know this amazing Ginger Soda. I grew up with Vernors which is mostly local to Michigan and a few areas around it. It is not found easily or at all in the Raleigh, NC area. It is a much stronger ginger taste than what you would get from a standard ginger ale drink, is extremely bubbly and the original formula goes back to 1866.

But I digress, Treb03 gave a couple suggestions where I might find it and after thanking him that was all I thought of it. Yesterday while I was attending this years NCGO Fall Fling geocaching event Treb03 handed me two bottles of Vernors. If I remember correctly he bought them in Virgina and toted them to here..

That was a huge and very nice gesture and one I will be talking about for a long time to come.

Thanks Again Treb03

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Time For Some Southern Cook'n

Nummiliciousness at this years NCGO Fall Fling.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

NCGO Fall Fling Pinecone Bird Feeder

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

The Unsung Heroes of the NCGO Fall Fling

Meet the amazing kitchen crew that feeds the army of people attending this year's Fall Fling.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

IMG00783.jpg

Everyone is helping with the Fall Fling setup. Time to start.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

GeoSnippits - HHH's Great Geocaching GPSr Experiment Flash Mob Event

Our Great Geocaching GPSr Experiment Flash Mob Event was a huge success and we had a blast doing it. As far as I am concerned it gave a ton of interesting information. Now we have a complete GeoSnippits Video showing the entire event and featuring ALL the geocachers that were there. This particular episode has a very real feel and the editing shows you a whole lot more behind the scenes shots.

So sit back, relax and enjoy this amazing geocaching flash mob event and all the information that it provided.



If the player does not show above you can see it on You Tube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8h0lijYMvA

You can see more information provided by this event at these two links...

And The Winner of the HHH's Great GPSr Experiment Flash Mob Is....

and

UPDATE: The Great GPSr Experiment Stats

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UPDATE: The Great GPSr Experiment Stats

As you may have read in my recent post: And The Winner Is.... The Great GPSr Experiment
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/2010/10/and-winner-of-hhhs-great-gpsr.html

We took a whole bunch of geocachers at a recent Flash Mob geocaching event and tested over 30 GPSr units to see how accurate they would be. The results were surprising and below is the tallied data.

Below shows the closest findings, which GPSr Unit and Model as they where found. As you can see there  was everything from GPSr handhelds, smart phones and car units.


Show Me The Numbers:

Geocacher	GPS or	GPS	Phone	Distance
Name	Phone	Model	Application	In Feet
Mhuska	Garmin	60CSx		1
Blinky7	Garmin	Etrex Legend		1.5
Billwof1	Garmin	60CSx		2
Tadabailey	Garmin	60CSx		2
Parboy	Delorme	PN-40		2.5
Motrin Man	Garmin	60CSx		2.5
Dream Chaser	Garmin	60CSx		2.5
NCBiscuit	Garmin	60CSx		2.5
Tadabailey	Motorola	Droid	C:Geo	2.5
Billwof1	Garmin	Etrex Vista C		3
Hunster	Garmin	60CSx		3
Team Lightningbolt	Garmin	Etrex Legend		3.5
rwaldrop13	Garmin	Etrex Venture HC		3.5
Binaryflow	Garmin	Oregon 300		4
Fheil	Delorme	PN-40		5
DewPoint52	Garmin	60CSx		6
Tezhodos	Motorola	Droid	Columbus	7
Tezhodos	Motorola	Droid	GeoBeagle	7
Joe Aiello	Magellan	Explorist GC		7
Zuni	Garmin	60CSx		7
HHH	Blackberry	Curve	Geocaching Navigator	7
fourtenner	Garmin	60CSx		7.5
Mclem829	Garmin	Etrex Legend		7.5
htomc42	Garmin	60CSx		8
Geoness	Garmin	60CSx		8
Geoness	Garmin	Colorado 400t		9
DewPoint52	Garmin	Nuvi 285w		9.5
HHH	Garmin	Etrex Vista		14
Mhuska	Samsung	Onwia 2	GC2	18.5
Motrin Man	Garmin	Nuvi 500		19
NCBiscuit	Iphone	4	Geocaching App	24
Joe Aiello	Samsung	Droid	Geocaching App	39

There will be a GeoSnippits video made for Michigan Magazine TV (RFDTV Network) shown later this year and a full blown GeoSnippits available on You Tube very shortly showing how to set up your own flash mob and everything that went on at our event as well. Stay tuned...

-HHH



GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com