Author Topic: Lab caches - moan  (Read 746 times)

Offline walktall

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Lab caches - moan
« on: May 18, 2014, 10:48:00 am »
Now having done some Lab caches at the Kent Mega, I thought they might be more integrated than the personal lab cache I did

BUT NO

I think it's worse than those Challenge caches, at least they weren't included in your on-line find count. I'm now running two different find counts: on-line which includes the Lab caches and My PQ finds which doesn't included Lab caches >:(

Lab caches:
  • It seems other cachers can't see my Lab cache finds, just that I've found some.
  • You can't date your finds, it's dated when you actually log them.
  • O, no on-line log to fill in, so you can't share your experience.
  • They are only available to find for a short time and the Kent Mega didn't put the link to them on-line, so couldn't download the GPX files.
  • Unless you know the URL to the Lab caches you did, your stuffed! Luckily I took a picture of the Lab cache sheets at Kent Mega.
  • For Kent Mega, you had only 9 days to log the Lab caches, is this the norm?
  • GS says they will be fully integrated in the future. Will this mess up my history of finds >:(

You might be able to tell, I'm not impressed with Lab caches so far. Yes, it was something different and a bit of fun at Kent Mega to do the Lab caches there but I still don't get them ???


The Kent Mega Lab caches:






« Last Edit: May 18, 2014, 11:09:27 am by walktall »
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Offline Griff Grof

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2014, 07:15:33 pm »
Is that a completely different website?  :o

I too would have thought the actual Lab Caches would be more genuine and... as you say, integrated.

I was a little surprised about the logging process, too, but I also thought that was just because it was the Feb Trial thing  :-\ :(

Don't get me wrong, Groundspeak provide a great service, the site is stable with a pleasant interface etc and they list millions of caches... but sometimes I do think one of us could handle these little things better  :D

Oh, and I personally wouldn't  go as far as saying challenges were better, but at least you could write a log for them!  :D
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Offline L8HNB

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2014, 09:40:11 pm »
I trust you will be letting the frog and the organisers of the Kent Mega know what a great caching experience you had  ;D
Not been to the Hop Farm for donkeys years - TR Drivers Club do last time.  I remember they had a "WimWam for a mustard mill" on show in the museum!
H

Offline walktall

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #3 on: May 28, 2014, 12:32:03 am »
Here's the latest from GS about them:

Quote
Your Lab Cache finds are now more official than ever. Lab Caches are scheduled to be rolled into Geocaching find statistics and your milestones beginning on June 3, 2014. Besides cheering, there's one other thing you might want to consider doing.

The addition of your Lab Cache finds may alter your milestones. Check now to lock-in milestones on your Geocaching.com profile. After the update, you'll be able to use the tool to lock in a Lab Cache find as a milestone. You'll also find Lab Cache stats on your chronology and geocache types section. If you created a Lab Cache and it was logged, you'll find new stats on your owned geocaches page.

Thanks for finding a Lab Cache and helping to play a part in shaping the future of geocaching. 


Sincerely, Everyone at Geocaching HQ
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Offline Griff Grof

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2014, 08:38:19 am »
"Helping play a part in the FUTURE of Geocaching"

If Lab Caches are the future, it doesn't look very bright, although this update will improve things a little  :D

I'm not sure I'll bother finding another unless they are easily at reach, will you?   ???
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Offline Y6GST

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #5 on: May 28, 2014, 10:16:37 am »
Still not got a clue what a Lab Cache is, if I try to look at one that another geocacher has found via their profile I just get redirected to: https://labs.geocaching.com/ where I can follow links to seemingly anywhere, another cache page, website etc... but nothing, as far as I can see, Lab Cache related.

Offline L8HNB

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #6 on: May 28, 2014, 11:16:13 am »
Cart before the horse again?
We'll probably do one just for the list, bit like a Wherigo and webcam caches.

Offline walktall

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #7 on: May 28, 2014, 12:45:55 pm »
Still not got a clue what a Lab Cache is, if I try to look at one that another geocacher has found via their profile I just get redirected to: https://labs.geocaching.com/ where I can follow links to seemingly anywhere, another cache page, website etc... but nothing, as far as I can see, Lab Cache related.

This was one of my moans, that you did a Lab cache and no one else can see it, what was the point  >:(
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Offline Griff Grof

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #8 on: May 28, 2014, 01:00:20 pm »
It's as if they exist in the moment and then vanish forever  :D

They initially said that Lab Caches were for testing new caching experiences, can anyone actually see where they're going with this though  ???
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Offline walktall

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #9 on: May 28, 2014, 01:29:17 pm »
It seems they are targeted at smart phones: to get the details, find and log all while in the 'field'.
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Offline Griff Grof

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #10 on: May 28, 2014, 04:53:39 pm »
That's interesting, perhaps they are set to encourage smartphones over GPS receivers? (see 'The Demise of the GPS receiver' and feel free to revive)

I have noticed that in 'What is Geocaching' descriptions GS now put smartphones before GPS'!!

I don't think I've read anyone say something notably positive about them... do you think Lab Caches will last much longer?  ???

I think we need to be able to create them on a regular basis for them to survive.
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Offline walktall

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #11 on: May 28, 2014, 05:38:15 pm »
Is was about a year before GS had had enough of all the bad press on Challenge Caches before they (GS) chucked out their toys and Challenges vanished ::)

So, give them a year :o But I still don't understand what they are trying to do with them ???
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Offline tarmacjohn

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #12 on: May 28, 2014, 06:44:14 pm »
What's a Lab cache????

I can't even be bothered to read up about them.

Offline Griff Grof

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #13 on: May 28, 2014, 07:24:43 pm »
Brilliant, TJ!  :D Did anyone place you one for the Feb 2014 thing  ???

One thing I don't even understand is if Lab Caches are virtual or not - the one @walktall set for me was, so doesn't this completely contradict their anti-virtual views?
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Offline tarmacjohn

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Re: Lab caches - moan
« Reply #14 on: May 28, 2014, 07:34:08 pm »
Brilliant, TJ!  :D Did anyone place you one for the Feb 2014 thing  ???

Ummmm, nope. Not sure I would have found it if they had.

Sorry if this is the wrong idea but mostly (not always though) I do caches for the location or another particular reason. I would find the cache whether it was traditional, multi, puzzle or any other type. Just don't see why we need Lab caches, happy to be proved wrong though.

 


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