What is the Best Smart Phone for Geocaching?

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:38 pm

In a few weeks my cell phone plan is up. I am looking to upgrade to a smart phone so that when I leave an area I can check to see if any new caches have been published while I was there. (I can't tell you how many times I have gotten home and discovered new caches in the area I just was).

What have you used? What do you like? Dislike? How about available apps? Thanks

Tom

WGA Friend Joined: 2006-10-06 Posts: 162

I have a blackberry tour and I use a free app called BlackStar. There is only one function on the app that I use. With a couple of clicks it can open the phones web browser and pull up the gc.com search page of the caches nearest the location you are standing at.

I don't know how many times I have just randomly checked (gas stations, rest areas, places that look like there should be one at, etc.) to see if any are around and find that there is one with in a couple of hundred feet of me.

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:48 pm

Motorola Droid here. I have two apps downloaded. One is Geobeagle and the other is GCDroid. Both are free but I have not really had the chance to use them. I know that Geobeagle can download from GC.com I don't know about GCDroid. I have heard that Groundspeak is working on an app for the Android operating system but I don't know how far along the process is.

There are several apps for the Blackberrys also.

Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 5:23 pm

Anybody using GCDroid or Geobeagle? Is it comparable to Cacheberry? I'm also thinking of getting a Droid. Love everything about them, but the only thing that is important...besides the other cool features, is I need it to be functional with geocaching, like Cacheberry.

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 7:36 pm

I have received communication from Bruce of CacheBerry, and he is working on a program for Droid users and thinks it won't be too long before it is available.

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 5:04 pm

I use the iPhone at the moment and I will be eventually be switching over the the Android OS when AT&T gets the Nexus One phone. But on the iPhone the best application I've used is the official Geocaching application. But from the note on their site they will be making an Android version sometime this year.

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:54 pm

Palm Pre with "Geocache Locator". Same comments as above from bugsmasher69 for Blackberry BlackStar. If I was just starting over, I'd definitely consider something with the Google Android OS.........With Google behind it, apps for that a gonna explode! And likely be affordable, too wink

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:24 pm

Been using 2 apps on my HTC Hero. First is Cachepoint, it uses pocket queries, works great. I have been looking for an on the spot live one. I stumbled across c:geo, it's still beta but works great, when it doesn't crash. Was wondering if anyone else has another app they like?

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 8:37 pm

JBase wrote:

Was wondering if anyone else has another app they like?

Started using "Geocaching for WebOS" on our Palm Pre a few weeks ago, and found it does a good job for travel-caching, as long is we're in an area with good 3G coverage. It links through GC.com and we can quickly pull up local caches.

Works great if your on the road with reckless abandon. However, the GPS accuracy and precision are still suspect, but if that's all you have, you can still supplement with Google Maps or Bing sat. views.

However, won't do well for a nano in a marsh, frozen or not. Twisted Evil

(6 months from now this app and opine will likely be obsolete. wink

)

Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:27 pm

I have an Android Eris and use GEOHUNTER. Its a lot like GEOBeagle but offers a few more features.

Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:35 pm

Thanks for the geohunter suggestion! I also have an Android based phone (Droid) and have been trying to figure out how to get cachemate to work, and it's been like pulling teeth...

Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:40 pm

CacheARRRS wrote:

Thanks for the geohunter suggestion! I also have an Android based phone (Droid) and have been trying to figure out how to get cachemate to work, and it's been like pulling teeth...

be sure to add GPS STATUS app in order to get the radar.

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:41 am

Now that I've got my Google Nexus One running Android 2.1, I've been using c:geo. The developer is very active and the app gets updates around once or twice a week. Very good application. Now with that said I haven't used any other Geocaching applications on the Android. There is an official Groundspeak Geocaching application for Android in the works and is in beta testing.

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 8:56 pm

Ok I have been using c:geo for about a week and I LOVE LIVE GEOCACHING paperless. I use it as a companion to my Garmin, still not as precise. Only one word of advise, if your heading into non cell service, make sure to click on or download the cache info your heading to before leaving cell service. I.E. Valleys, coulees, the great outdoors! And don't forget to also grab the app Radar, I have been playing with both the compass and radar and Radar is just cool. Very Happy

Is there a link or any info on the official app from Groundspeak?

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 10:17 pm

I still will always use my Colorado for caching, but it;s nice to have a good app on the phone, for first to finds, or grabbing a few caches in the area if I have to take a road trip for work.

It always helps to have that back-up device on me at all time.