Opencaching - Views from others about a new site

I have been contacting a few of the other helpers and operators of other websites. To get their thoughts on the new opencaching site. 

In speaking with DudlyGrunt that spends time working over at the Opencaching.us site.  He is a member of almost all of the geocaching websites, a proponent of competition, and open to the idea of a new website.

I asked him his thoughts about them taking up the opencaching name.

  Well, that domain does seem to go back to a failed attempt to launch a new site back in 2003, 2 years before opencaching.de started the current OpenCaching community of sites.  However, using this name now would seem to only lead to confusion, unless their intent is to work with the current OC community and perhaps serve as some sort of portal.  However, as far as I know, they've not been in touch with the other OpenCaching sites, so far.

In trying to get a comments from the operator of opencaching.de he sent the following

At this time we will wait for a dialog between Garmin and the opencaching-network.

I think, it is the right way and not to force more public statements before a dialog has taken place.

He is hopefully awaiting contact between garmin and their sites before making comments.

Navicaching's PC Medic responded with the following

if Garmin is to use that name then I would hope it is just that.... OPEN caching.
Unfortunately I can see a possibility that it will become restricted to Garmin device owners only and even possibly on a subscription only basis, but I have no inside knowledge so am only guessing at this point. It would be a shame were that the case as I think one pay-to play site is enough. If they keep the "Your caches , Your Devices, Your Community" attitude it may be all good.

Both people were intent on the open database idea.  So we will see what happens on the front.  What I saw on their site made it easy to get your data in, but getting data out may be limited, such as a limited pocket query, or a one by one pick of the caches. 

I wish that I had more time to play on the site to answer more questions before they locked everyone out.

As I have mentioned a few times, I am not at all convinced that multiple sites are really a good idea.   I am not keen on there being a possibility of four caches all in the same 20' grove of trees, however having some alternatives is a good thing.  Competition can spur faster changes and reactions.  It can also filter ideas through multiple services.   There are also geocachers that get frustrated with reviewers or local players.  Multiple sites allow people to go to other sites to play with geocaching if they really enjoy it.  

No one really has an idea on how Garmin makes it financially feasible.  Of the people that I have talked with most have said that this makes them seriously look at other models.  If Garmin does not want to promote Geocaching.com then maybe they should look at other models.  More and more companies are making models that are designed with geocaching in mind and not as an afterthought. 

I asked a few others what their thoughts are, and send for information from the media contacts from three of four companies (including Garmin). We will see if anyone responds.  I will also have more from those that responded in future blogs.

If you have any comments you want to make feel free to post here, or email me with the contact section on the lower left.

Opencaching and Garmin

I have been following the development of the opencaching site that is owned by Garmin.  There are many people that have posted thoughts about the site, and trying to get information about the site.  I was lucky enough a week ago to check the site as everything came online.  Hopefully it was for a test, because the site was a mess.  Most the links would not work, dead ends were everywhere. I played for about an hour and later in the day it was down.

Why?  That is the big question.  I read some of a report on garmin finances and it appears that Garmin is hemorrhaging money.  Mostly in the hand held and auto division?  Their site says that the geocaching site is free, but the purpose behind the site is unknown. They even gave up on their phone, scrapping the plan for more.

My initial thoughts are that the website idea is dumb. 

1st  Where a few years ago the best geocaching option was Garmin.  Now it is not as clear cut.  Magellen and Delorme have developed hand helds with the cacher in mind, and arguably are giving Garmin a run for the money.

2nd Are they turning their back on the group that supported them for years?  Who knows.  This can only create a rift in the organization.

3rd Do we need another site?  Other sites are niche sites.  Each drawing their own crowd.  Navicache, Terracache, opencaching.  I do not fully see the reason for jumping to another site.  Multiple caches in the same area could cause many issues.  How will they deal with publishing caches?  Paid people in other countries?

The idea that it is not commercial is a joke.  The site is owned and developed by Garmin.  Big businesses do not do things for free.  Won't Magellen, Delorme jump more on board and form their own groups or throw more support behind GC.com if Garmin tries their own?

How will things play out?  In some ways I see it as a good thing.  It will push geocaching.com to react a little faster, or react when needed.  It is funny that some decried the corporate Groundspeak against the little boys (open, terra, and nava).  Now we have The giant corporation, head to head against the smaller funded GC.com, and the others.

How will opencachin.us take it?  Seems like a slap in the face.  They are taking advantage of people typing opencaching.com instead of opencaching.us, .uk, etc.  I would be really annoyed.

What are your thoughts?  what position do you take on the growing battle?

Thank you RedHiker

So for those of you who have not noticed... RedHiker has agreed to come out of retirement to resume the fun of reviewing caches here in Utah.  

I stand by the fact that we have the best people here in Utah and the best to work with.  I was exited to have him accept and return to the ranks of reviewers.  Many of you will remember him and others are new enough you may not, but you will see caches published by him more often.

If you have questions or concerns feel free to contact either of us.  That is what we are here for. 

2nd reviewer for Utah

Soon you will see a new reviewer pop up in Utah.

Happily there will be another person to help with the load and share some of the fun.  I will let that person introduce themselves and surprise you when they are ready.   I gave a hint at the event today.. I will share with everyone now.  They have an E in their caching name or their reviewer name.   No it is not much, but I promised a hint, so there you go.

New hiking trail series and a Scavanger hunt.

There has been much happening in the last few weeks. Some interesting and some not.

Groundspeak has added a few new features and a few things have happened locally to make things a little interesting.

bikephotog finished a power trail.  One up in the mountains north of Vernal and Roosevelt.  You will not have a regular time at it however.  All 150ish caches are a hiking series on the trail up to Eccentric peak at 12200 feet.  Quite the experience it looks like

http://www.geocaching.com/map/default.aspx?lat=40.777417&lon=-109.9098

BlueRajah's Scavenger hunt

Those who are interested in waymarking, there is a new game available. Waymarking has instigated a scavenger hunt.  You can run a little program that will create list of waymarks from an area that you define. 5-10-15 mile radius, and then send people on a hunt to find them.

You can select a start day, and everyone can start the hunt together. A fun game perhaps for activities.  As people complete the scavenger hunt they can upload pictures online to prove that they completed the hunt and giving them a running total.

I created a 50 waymark scavenger hunt and will be giving a prize out to the winner.  I will start with a geocoin, and add one every so often here.  We will see how long it takes to get a first to complete the challenge.

You will have to upload a picture of yourself at each waymark. So make sure you plan ahead, and if it is yours, you will have to revisit the location, and post a photo.

Make sure that you sign up on the waymaking site and track the progress of the others.