Behind The Scenes: Geocaching Podcast - October Cacher Coffee

XpunkX, Darrylw4 and HeadHardHat recording the Geocaching Podcast

 The Geocaching Podcast is such a fun show to do. Not only do I get the opportunity to talk about all the fun and exciting aspects of geocaching but I get to do it with such talented personalities like XpunkX and Darrylw4. Now take that and put it into an open discussion forum like our monthly Cacher Coffee and we can go on for hours if we wanted. Last night's show was no exception.

Matter of fact we were in such a talkative mood we almost did the entire show just on our initial show banter alone. Now what makes our Cacher Coffee episodes so much fun is that it is like I mentioned earlier an open format. We decide prior to the show what bullet points we want to discus and then discuss them. Normally in a show we have sometimes dozens of key points to talk about in a rather structured format but on Cacher Coffee nights we have about three broad points and we just go at it. The other nice thing is that during these episodes we open up the chat room and hang outs for our listeners to get their .02cents in as well. Sometimes we get a bunch of people who chime in, sometimes not. Either way we go through a lot of content. The hard part overall is getting us to shut up. Happened last night, we start the show. We get talking about what happened during the past week and we get over half way through the show and we aren't out of the banter stage yet. Way too much fun.

Believe it or not we did actually have some things to talk about and we discussed at great length subjects like

The lastest version of GSAK and the cool macro additions you can now add to your geocaching prowess, Cachesense has a really sweet update for Android and what is going on with the Geosphere / iOS6 bugs that are about to be fixed. It was a really enjoyable show to do and we hope you enjoy listening to it as we do making it for you. Be sure to check it out in the next day or so when it gets released to all the available podcaching sources. You can get all of the Geocaching Podcast episodes also right from our website at http://www.geocachingpodcast.com.

The Geocaching Podcast is recorded LIVE each and every Wednesday at 9:30pm ET. Be sure to come hear us and participate in our chat-room.

See you next week!

Andy HeadHardHat Smith 

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Our award winning, geocaching based blog: GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
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Paperless Geocaching

Andy HeadHardHat Smith host of Geocaching World (RVNN.tv)

Last night on Geocaching World (RVNN.tv) we discussed what once was a very hot subject within Geocaching but I am not sure if it is still the concern it once was.

Paperless Geocaching has been ingrained so much into the activity that it is more of a given than a conscious effort. It was not always so, in the beginning, like all of about four years ago, there was no paperless Geocaching per-say. Geocachers were forced to write or print out listings of Geocaches, descriptions of Geocaches, maps or the general area a geocacher wanted to search. This would result in reams of printed content that was usually discarded once the Geocaching run was completed. To add to that Geocaching finds were recorded by hand in paper log books before finally being typed into a listing service.

Fortunately the demand to save trees came to be and GPSr units started having the ability to store caches internally via .loc and .gpx files. Stored within these files included meta data that also gave some of the same information that was found on the geocache pages. Usually a connective cable was used between the GPSr and a computer for the file transfer itself. It was not a perfect solution but it did cut down some of the paper being used to describe a geocache find.

Now bring in the gadgets. As GPSr units slowly started to incorporate and display more and more meta data devices like PDA's (Handspring, Palm) were found to be able to run programs like Cachemate that could display almost all of the meta data found in the .gpx files. Even though the PDAs did not have GPS functionality they did allow the geocacher the ability to load, display and log thousands of Geocaches with very little effort. Data could be easily transferred between the PDA and the computer. WiFi was a plus with the use of PDAs.

By the time the PDAs were becoming obsolete GPSr units were focusing on much more paperless functionality. Net books and laptops were becoming much more instruments of the paperless Geocaching society. Computers would allow full electronic functionality via programs like GSAK to create routes and easier logging. You no longer needed to print out maps because it was right there on the computer. It also allowed realtime logging directly into a listing web site. The beginning aspects of tethering was being explored. This allowed phone connectivity with a computer anywhere there was phone service. This was a step up from just having WiFi.

Smart phones quickly have made their mark in the paperless Geocaching world. Having the ability of realtime Geocaching, built in GPS functionality and powerful applications. Smart phones have a favorable all in one quality that many geocachers like. This is in direct competition with GPSr units that are struggling to keep up with the same functionality. Currently the big draw for GPS units is their rugged outdoor stability in contrast to a smart phone that is not made for rough or wet terrain.

Now that net books are in the process of being phased out, tablets and there equally powerful apps can contain all the functionality of real-time paperless Geocaching. This is currently directly in competition with the Smart phone market. Tablets can have 3G or other direct wireless communications. Geocaching applications are just as powerful as computer based programs in a device that can fit in your hand. By this time very little to no actual physical paper is needed. All data and information is transferred and stored electronically.

Where do we go from here?

I can see GPSr units incorporating new and more specific functionalities. They are already starting to have features like cameras, voice recordings and basic SMS texting. Who knows what will be available in even the short term future but one thing is for sure. There will be a whole lot more trees growing because of it.

What are your thoughts?

-HHH

Geocaching World (RVNN.tv) is an OTT (Over The Top) show viewed all over the world via the internet, Roku, Boxee, iTunes and much, much more. 

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