Trackdropper is an Android app that lets users “drop” songs from their phone’s music collection in physical locations. Then, other users can go on treasure hunts to find and play the dropped songs. The idea is to use geocaching to make music piracy more like [...]]]> Android app is like Foursquare meets Pirate Bay – CNet

Trackdropper is an Android app that lets users “drop” songs from their phone’s music collection in physical locations. Then, other users can go on treasure hunts to find and play the dropped songs. The idea is to use geocaching to make music piracy more like old-fashioned nautical piracy–a hunt for booty. I don’t have an Android handset so haven’t been able to test it myself, but the video demonstration looks fascinating.”

A Geocaching Manifesto – Unsigned

This cacher got pretty steamed about descriptions that he found to be misleading and deceptive, so he wrote a manifesto to cache owners that advocates for the seeker. He makes some good points, but he didn’t sign it and comments are disabled (unless you’re logged in to his WordPress account). Still needs work.

Cacher of the Month Interview:  Mud in the Face – The Maritime Geocaching Association

The association posts a Q&A interview with mud in the face, whose real names are Eric and Janet and who are about to pass the 3,000-find mark. They talk about how they got started, their unusual handle, favorite caches, unusual finds and more. Lots of photos.

Geocaching Family Adventure Day – SouthernPlate.com

Great tutorial by Christy Jordan about how to get started with geocaching. Veterans may not learn a lot here, but Christy covers the basics very well, including how to cache with an iPhone. Lots of photos and more than 300 comments from would-be cachers on SouthernPlate.com!

Voyager Class Participates In Biannual Geocaching Event – (Gig Harbor, WA) Gateline

A geocaching flash mob: “When a whistle blew at Jerisich, people who appeared to be Saturday park walkers convened at one spot near the fisherman’s memorial, signed logs met each other, had a drawing for prizes and then they all “froze” after another whistle and didn’t move for 30 seconds.”

With GPS In Hand, They Hunt For Hidden ‘Treasure’ – St. Louis Today

“The Lewis and Clark geocache was created in 2002 in New York with the instruction that it should be moved, when possible, along the route the explorers took in 1803-06. It was incumbent upon those who found it and moved it to enter the new GPS coordinates on the main geocaching website.

“In July, Roberts trekked 7½ miles, out-and-back, in Skagway, Alaska, to find the metal ammo box with ‘Lewis and Clark’ on its side. But the plush toys representing Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Lewis’ dog Seaman were missing. According to the unofficial rules of geocaching, they should have been in the ammo box…”

Unique Geocaching Containers – More Creativity and Fun – TrailsOptional.com

“I love caching and I love finding new and innovative geocaching containers.  Here are some new and interesting caches I have fun across as well as the older list of interesting ideas!” This blog post has some great photos of unusual containers like this one.

Make The Garmin GPS 76 Your Geocaching Companion – Best GPS For GeoCaching Guide

“While the Garmin GPS 76 is aimed at the serious fisherman, hunter, and wasteland trekker, it should also be considered one of the top choices for hard core geocachers.”

“Paul and Dana Gillin show readers the personal side of geocaching as they share the passion and intensity that drive some of the most dedicated cachers,” she writes. “This book is an incredible resource to include in the geocacher’s toolkit.”

Kimberly understands that the point of The [...]]]> We really like Kimberly McRae’s review on Suite101.com:

“Paul and Dana Gillin show readers the personal side of geocaching as they share the passion and intensity that drive some of the most dedicated cachers,” she writes. “This book is an incredible resource to include in the geocacher’s toolkit.”

Kimberly understands that the point of The Joy of Geocaching is to communicate the passion that geocachers feel for the game. If that message comes across, then we’ve achieved our goal. Thanks, Kimberly! You can find her blog here or follow her on Twitter.

We’re psyched.

Here is an excellent introduction to this emerging sport. For the uninitiated, geocaching is a sort of treasure hunt wherein participants navigate their way to prehidden treasures [...]]]> The following review will appears in Library Jounal later this month. The review isn’t online yet, but we got an advance copy from the publisher.

We’re psyched.

Here is an excellent introduction to this emerging sport. For the uninitiated, geocaching is a sort of treasure hunt wherein participants navigate their way to prehidden treasures (caches) using GPS technology. Caches, which are secreted by other practicing geocachers and logged on geocaching web sites, can be located anywhere from parking lots to forested areas.

Longtime tech writer Gillin and his wife, Dana, an editor, are the perfect ambassadors for geocaching. Their book imparts all the how-to that a budding enthusiast needs to get started while also including lots of funny and interesting anecdotes that will communicate to the completely unfamiliar reader just why the sport is exploding in popularity. The book is broken down neatly into chapters on all aspects of geocaching, including hiding, seeking, and the requisite technology.

VERDICT

This is a lively and well-written introduction to a sport that is rapidly gaining followers. It makes a fine source for instruction—its clear writing and personable tone far surpass similar instruction books—but it is also simply an interesting read for all curious about the phenomenon.

—John Helling, Bloomfield-Eastern Greene Cty. P.L., IN