Description
Geopher Lite is a while-you-are-out geocaching application. Quickly check your current location via geocaching.com for geocaches in your area with the search button. Then type in a target latitude and longitude and let Geopher Lite's directional arrow lead the way to your destination.
With 4 different looks to the compass screen, in-app google map views, and the ease of entering coordinates without swapping applications, Geopher Lite is the best budget geocaching app on the app store!
Visit our blog at geopherlite.blogspot.com and let us know what you'd like next for Geopher Lite!
3G/3GS iPhone recommended.
Note: Choose help in the application itself if you are having difficulty using the application. Please send feedback, questions or concerns to geopherdemo@gmail.com
What's New In Version 1.1
- Fixed all known coordinate bugs.
- Added 3GS compass support
- Added in-app map support
- Added a few additional preference options.
- Defaulted compass rotation to be on.
- Various misc bugfixes.
Customer Reviews
Underwhelming
Man, I really wanted to like this app--the first geocaching app to hit the store! The best part of this app is that it uses your current location to query the geocaching.com database and return a list of caches near you. The downside to this is that the list displays in a tiny Safari window in the bottom half of the screen (did I say tiny?). And you still need to hand enter lat/long to get a directional arrow.
Once you have your directional arrow, though, you see it swing into place and you think you're good to go! Not so fast. The arrow does in fact move, but it appears to move without regard to either your directional movement, or the location of the cache. It is a pretty arrow, but it is not a useful arrow.
Honestly, it's easier to just go to the geocaching.com site yourself and hit the "Google Maps" button on each cache page. You are the blue dot and you should walk toward the red pin.
I really wish this thing worked but as it is, even if this app were free, it wouldn't earn a place on my iPhone 3G. Bummer.
Works as Advertised
I have been using Geopher since it first came out. I am new to geocaching, so I have nothing to compare it to, however, if I wanted to write a geocaching app for the iPhone, it would probably be like this. I'm kind of surprised by the negative reviews. This app has done a WONDERFUL job helping me find caches and getting started. Here's how it works; when you open the app and hit target, the app sends your current location to geocaching.com and finds all of the caches around you. When you find one you like, you type in the coordinates (if you don't like to type, please contact geocaching.com and ask them to allow the app to pull them automatically). Once your coordinates are set, you go back to the target screen. The arrow points you towards your cache and tells you the distance from your current coordinates. The most troublesome thing is that iPhone 2.0 won't allow the functionality to make a true GPS compass, so, you'll have to keep north on the compass pointing towards north for your direction. This is a fault of 2.0, not the app. Once you find your cache, you can go right back to geocaching.com and log in your find, and find another cache to hunt for. This app allows you to geocache anytime, anywhere you have an Internet connection. You don't have to plan out where you want to go, if you change your plans, you can still geocache, and you only need to take one device with you. Isn't that why you bought the iPhone? As far as accuracy goes, it is dead-on accurate. For every cache I have hunted, Geopher has taken me within FEET of the actual location. This is quite possible the best app in the App Store, bar none. And the best part, you can go to the developer's blog page and give him feedback on what you would like to see improved. Believe it or not, he actually listens.
Usable app, with lots of potential.
Since this app has been updated and remodeled, I thought it would only be right to update my review.
Many of the reviews here are based on previous versions of this app. Apparently, that version was submitted in the turmoil of concerns/complaints from groundspeak (the owners of geocaching.com) and apple.
I think that the developer has gone above and beyond to report the status of upcoming releases, as well as the situation with groundspeak concerning data access. The features that we ultimately desire from this app will be difficult without groundspeak allowing full site access.
The latest version at this time is 1.0.4 It is very usable. Many of the issues that other reviews mention here have been addressed. The only function that I would desire is a rotating compass, so that the arrow points to the geocache. Right now that feature is in testing with a special keyword. With the future apple iPhone 2.1 update I would expect the compass function to be available with some programming changes, but this is pure speculation. Right now the rotating compass is usable, just not a smooth as other standalone GPS units.
Currently this app does fill a gap. It provides me with the ability to go geocaching on a whim, providing there is cell signal.
This app is beginning to be a polished diamond in the rough . . .
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$1.99
- Category: Navigation
- Updated:Sep 17, 2009
- Current Version:1.1
- 1.1
- 0.8 MB
- Language:English
- Seller:Jeremy Stone
- © 2008 Stone Software
Requirements:Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.
