Geocaching on Android...

[Dakar4x4]

Hi folks,
Has anyone cached with an Android phone? I'm keen to hear about the phones and software as my blackberry is about to be reclaimed and I'm not sure what to replace it with? If there is a good Android and software then I may opt for one.
Cheers,
Jon.

[stainless-steel-rat]

I cache using C:Gen on android since its a free app, there are other apps and i know a few of the members of emcache use many of the other options for Android.

As for C:Geo i like it even with it having issues sometimes gets me to GZ no problems.

[Bobbinz]

I use a HTC wildfire (S) with NeonGeo.  The app costs £2.64 and having used them all (including the GC one) for me it is easily the best.

It has been written by the writer of the original app, who left to write his own app and make his own money, and NeonGeo was born,  the app is very intuitive and has not yet stopped working due to a GC update.  It runs off the API allowing you to download PQs direct etc.

Certainly the best IMO

[Dakar4x4]

Thanks folks, appreciate the info!

How'd you get on with battery life and GPSr accuracy on the Wildfire?

Does both these android apps stream maps from tinterweb?

I'm already familiar with the geocaching app on iOS, with it's API calls, does NeonGeo work the same or do I have to preload the caches before leaving home?

Being completely new to Android, is there anything I need to watch out for? Either with software versions or Hardware platforms?

Cheers,

J

[JustAlan]

I use the gc.com app on an HTC Desire without issues, though only as a backup to my GPSmap60CSx

[Lord Boogie]

I use an LG optimus one with C:Geo and an HTC Legend using the same. Battery life is a pain and I'd recommend buying a spare. Look out in poor cel areas as that will suck the juice like a famished vampire! Turn the device into airplane mode to save a lot of power.

[Bobbinz]

The battery on my phone lasts a day normally but about 6 hours with the GPS on.  NeonGeo does not use the GPS when the screen is off so it does not waste battery getting your location while it is in your pocket.  You can get double sized batteries but they increase the phones size and weight.

It streams the maps from the web but caches them so you can view them later.  Saving on data charges.

The accuracy is as good as my GPSMAP 60cx.

Caches can be downloaded in the field (as long as you have signal) or loaded before hand.   Upto 2000 caches are stored so it is effectivley another database.

[Dakar4x4]

Thanks again folks ;-)  Off to find a deal now :-o

Cheers,

Jon.

[Ve8]

Wow just tried out Neongeo and IT ROCKS! best £2 I have ever spent.

[Bobbinz]

£2.64

[Ve8]

The interface is very cool  , I also like how it shows other cachers nearby but the message system is very slow.

[Bobbinz]

The message thing is a bit slow, but the interface kicks ass. Very intuitive and has many features not found anywhere else.

[The Tares Clan]

I have been using Neongeo pretty much since it started out and I am a mod over at the Neongeo board.

Mikko (the developer) is very receptive and the turnaround of bug fixes and feature requests is also very quick.

For a product that hit the android market on the 11th August, it is by far and away (IMHO) the best app out there for us.  It uses very little battery at the best of times and when using an external bluetooth GPS, I can easily do five hours with the screen turned on all the time and still have battery left on my HTC Desire.

To make best use of it, you must be a premium member at GC.com and it uses the API and not screen scraping like other apps out there.  The very fact that such a new product is on the GC.com live apps list already says a lot to me as well.

[stainless-steel-rat]

After getting Neongeo the other day i'm liking it.

When chatting to a few ppl about it at the kings arms on Tuesday one thing we all would like was OS maps on it, well enter the below map server and you have it.

http://ecn.t2.tiles.virtualearth.net/tiles/r[q].png?g=41&productSet=mmos

Just go to Settings > Map servers > Add mapserver

[Ve8]

After getting Neongeo the other day i'm liking it.

When chatting to a few ppl about it at the kings arms on Tuesday one thing we all would like was OS maps on it, well enter the below map server and you have it.

http://ecn.t2.tiles.virtualearth.net/tiles/r[q].png?g=41&productSet=mmos

Just go to Settings > Map servers > Add mapserver

I love you.