AndyFowler
Tourist
Reged: 07/06/05
Posts: 7
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Hey everyone,
I've written an overlay that overlays geocaches from Geocaching.com into Google Earth. If you've never heard of geocaching, you should check it out, it's a great way to combine cool computer images of the world with the actual thing!!
Here's a link to my blog where I've posted the KML file. Please give me some feedback, as it's still in a very beta-ish form!! And take it easy on my server  It takes a few seconds to load after the map stops, mostly due to slower Geocaching.com servers. Thanks!
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Moaguten
Master Gamer
Reged: 11/01/04
Posts: 947
Loc: Hallingdal, Norway
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This is fantastic! Very good! 
I predict that the server will be very busy!
PS. This must be one of the best first-posts ever!
Welcome!
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My Panoramio Pictures
My Photosight Pictures
Edited by Moaguten (07/06/05 08:51 AM)
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AndyFowler
Tourist
Reged: 07/06/05
Posts: 7
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Thank you! The server is doing fine, but I am adding some caching (the other kind) to keep from overloading Geocaching.com. There should be no interruptions, but I apologize if there are!
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pmaxfield2
Explorer
Reged: 10/29/04
Posts: 290
Loc: Portland, OR, USA
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Looks good!
A couple minor suggestions;
- Perhaps use a different icon? Or change the scale to something smaller?
- I noticed the results returned generally seemed to be in the upper portion of the camera view, or at least were not refreshing to some items in the middle of the view. If I moved away, they would appear.
Here's the UCSF area in San Francisco:
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My 3D Warehouse & network link
My Panoramio
Google Maps Overlay
Globe Glider
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Hill
Master Guide
Reged: 10/31/04
Posts: 8876
Loc: Los Angeles
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Andy, this is excellent. I got into geocaching a few years ago, but haven't done much lately. I checked your application against caches I have visited, and it's right on. This gives me an excellent reason to get out and away from the computer for some much-needed leg stretching.  Thanks
P. S. Quandary - If I'm out hiking a lot, how am I gonna find about about things like this? The BBS has gotten so busy lately, it takes hours and hours just to work through all of the posts  .
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"Eternity is a very long time, especially towards the end" Stephen Hawking (quoting Woody Allen) 
"There are all kinds of interesting questions that come from a knowledge of science, which only adds to the excitement and mystery and awe of a flower." Richard Feynman
Iraq war and occupation costs
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AndyFowler
Tourist
Reged: 07/06/05
Posts: 7
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Thanks for the input! I understand what you mean about the caches being in the top of the screen. The code that I use to calculate your current position doesn't factor in the tilt of the camera. I was able to fix a lot of the problems by setting the tilt higher for each geocache, so that when you double click a point, it will make sure the tilt isn't too low. If anybody has any ideas on how to compensate for tilt, I'll gladly integrate them. (I plan to release the code in a day or two).
I'd like to pull more than 7 caches per query, but I hit timeout issues if I go much higher. I've added some caching, and I might be able to increase the number soon. If you do get a connection error, remember you can right-click Geocaches in the Places panel and hit refresh. It usually works the second time... I just can't get any faster results from geocaching.com
As far as icons, they definitely need to be different, I just haven't got around to making a new one. If somebody here uploads one, I'll gladly integrate it! I just don't want to steal the graphics from geocaching.com, since we're already using their data. I agree it should also be smaller.
Thanks for the input, and let me know if you have any other thoughts!
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AndyFowler
Tourist
Reged: 07/06/05
Posts: 7
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Well, it appears that Geocaching.com is now blocking requests from my server's IP. I can access http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?origin_lat=51.334385&origin_long=-2.1587735 from my home, but not the server. I figured this would happen eventually, but I expected a more courteous response from them.
I need to think this over, but if this is how Geocaching.com/Groundspeak will treat the public, I believe it's time for geocaching to become a more open hobby, rather than the closed-format, commercial version that Geocaching.com seems to want to promote. It looks like some people have tried this before at opencaching.com but nothing seems to have happened for a few years.
I'll post again when I think of something else to say.
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AndyFowler
Tourist
Reged: 07/06/05
Posts: 7
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And requests are now going through again. Nothing has changed, but I did e-mail Geoaching, and have not heard back from them. For the time being, enjoy the network link!
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Katamari
Tourist
Reged: 07/03/05
Posts: 236
Loc: N 29 58 32.90 E 31 07 49.60
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I'm amazed that they would be like this. Isnt this what geo-caching is all about? The opportunity to reach millions more users is surely what would make the thing better, in geocaching, i can only see that the more poeple doing it the better it will be.
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I search, therefore i am.
Hello, Before you post up a new placemark, check it isnt already been posted by a: ticking the box-
b:searching the forums, as it might take time for it to appear on the map
Look after the BBS!, dont clog up the same placemark unless you have something new to add to it! (like a map)
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Tranziq
Tourist
Reged: 07/13/05
Posts: 2
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This is so nice to have as a resource. My friends and I have been playing around with google earth for quite some time now. We never knew about the Dynamic Overlays until my friend from The University of Oklahoma showed me the weather overlay his friend from school came up with. I did a little more exploring and found this WONDERFUL Gem. I am an avid Geocacher and this little tool has helped me tremendously. if I cant find a Cache I check it on google earth now to see if my GPS was a bit screwy. Now i have a visual represenation on where this little treasure is. Thanks Andy for all your hard work
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