I've added two new widgets: Image Viewer and RSS Viewer. They let you type in a URL to an image and RSS feed respectively, and it'll show the link appropriately. In the case of the image, it'll show the image. In the case of the RSS feed, it'll show a list of the entries in the feed. (Blog posts, news, whatever.)

But I think a couple of example about how they can be used are in order. Take the image viewer. I know some people have expressed disappointment when they become premium members and no longer see the PSA announcements for AQ while reading the message boards. Now, you can put them on My Page instead! Add the Image Viewer widget, set the preferences so the URL points to http://www.atlasquest.com/syndicate/psa.jpg -- set the title to whatever floats your boat (or leave it empty if you choose). Save it, and now every time you view My Page, you'll see a random Atlas Quest PSA. =)

In theory, you should be able to link to absolutely anything that's an image. GIFs, JPGs, PNGs, or whatever. Also, keep in mind, that it may not look good if the image is too large for the width of the widget.

As for the RSS viewer, I'll use an example of what I put on my own My Page: The latest news from the Seattle times. They have an RSS feed of their top stories at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/rss/home.xml. So I added that as the URL, set the title to "Seattle Times", and saved. Presto! The last ten news stories from the Seattle Times are displayed including a recap of The Bachelor. I may have to reconsider that news source.... =) (Actually, the bachelor from this season is from the Seattle area--I think that's the only reason it ranks so highly in "local" news.)

Right now, you can only add one of each type of viewer. Eventually I plan to update the widgets so it can support multiple additions of the same widget, which makes a lot of sense for this type of thing. (Allows you to add RSS feeds from multiple news sources, for instance.) No promises about when that will happen, but in the meantime, you can now use a single instance of both the Image and RSS Viewers. =)

Happy trails!

-- Ryan

Thanks!!

Thanks for explaining that option!

yes, it is. I just didn't realize that Advanced had different options, since I almost always use Simple Search when doing the first, initial search in a city or when just checking if anything new has popped up since last time I hit that 'burg.
See, less than one year LB'ing and a mere 209 finds and I still have much to learn

You don't have to just have them on 4/1, they can happen when you least expect it.

*buıppou*

*buıppou*

Dispicable. Just dispicable.

janet

yawn

Wassa has provided us with this wonderful widget that brings up random funny messages, messages for which people have clicked on the funny button. So when you see one listed in the widget and click on it, you get to read that message. And if it's funny, you can click on the funny button! Hence, these funny messages may continue to get funnier and funnier, even months after posting.

yawn

Those who can not remember the past are comdemned to repeat it. You Doctor, should consider yourself condemned.

YHS,
OBJuan

Perhaps Wassa could put together another widget that lists the most agreeable post from the previous 24 hours. It appears that people don't click on Agree on just any post, they click on the ones where somebody says something profound or takes a stand on some contentious issue.

Gee, I wonder how many agrees this post will get?

I remember things you can only read about

Love it when the countdown widget arrives... I'm hearing bells and ringing everywhere!

LOL

How DO you DO that? *amazed*

AF

I think what would be a very helpful option in the search is to be able to search by direction as well as distance. This way I can figure out which box is between point A and B a lot quicker. I think the arrows are a move in this direction but how good would it be to be able to search in terms of "all the boxes 10 miles north of X"

LBM

You can sort by direction--I use this to group letterboxes within a search. You can also search along major routes. Maybe one of those would help you refine your search?

(By the way, I highly recommend everybody play with the "sort by" box on the search menu. I had no idea we could do so much!!)

We try to do the same thing before we leave to box.
Check for changes to the clue, group boxes together as best we can that are in a area close together... saves from backtracking back up the trail sometimes.

carolina wine trail

I think what would be a very helpful option in the search is to be able to search by direction

I find that, at least in my hunk of the globe, the locations shown are often at best approximate. For example the listing may be "Chicago" which leaves a lot of latitude regarding where the box actually is. These listings often need to be refined in order to plan a hunt. Therefore, additional search tools would be of little assistance to me.

After running a search, I now use the mapping KML selection to dump the results to Google Earth. This exports a link to the clue as well as location. From Google earth I will then click on each box, read the clue, then using that information attempt to pinpoint the actual start point on the map.

Once I am satisfied that I have located the start point as closely as possible from the clue I modify the listing to match my findings. After right clicking on the map flag for any box and selecting "properties" an edit box appears. Now you can drag the flag to the location you have selected. I also click on the flag icon found in the top right corner of the edit box and change the icon to a different symbol so that I know I have edited that listing. You may also want to shorten the name for your files.

Finally after completing my edits I print out maps or dump the listings to my GPS to guide me to the targeted letterboxes.

the locations shown are often at best approximate. For example the listing may be "Chicago" which leaves a lot of latitude regarding where the box actually is. These listings often need to be refined in order to plan a hunt.

OK, I just got an idea for a feature! Let's see Ryan cogitate on this one!

We all know that the locations given for letterboxes may be approximate, and in the case of mysteries no location at all is given. But let's say you've done your research and figured out where it is, or at least a better approximation. Perhaps AQ could provide a way for you, the finder, to plot on your own personal map this better approximation. Nobody else could see it, it's not a spoiler for others, it's just to help you plan better your next trip and which boxes you'll be hunting in which order.

It could actually work like this: You start with some search, and map the results. Then you can move some of those results around on the map as you figure out where the boxes actually are, and you can add boxes that don't appear at all such as mysteries. You can remove boxes if you've decided you won't be hunting them. Then you can save that map for your own reference, and perhaps edit it some more later on as you figure out where more boxes are. Finally, after your trip, you can just delete the whole thing.

Perhaps AQ could provide a way for you, the finder, to plot on your own personal map this better approximation.

Yeah. I've been using the Google "My Map" feature to do that, but if there were an interface directly between AQ and that type of feature, it would be much easier. Especially if there were a way to add other items. Like when you're planning a trip, you can mark the places you're going, and see that in relation to the boxes. Also, I'd like to be able to include lbna boxes, which I currently do on Google My Map.

There was a similar thought posted on the Suggestion Box a few weeks back. The way I'd like to see it implemented is for me to have personal address field for each box. Once I determine the box's actual location or solve the mystery or whatever, I update the location using a street address or GPS coords. Then whenever AQ shows me the box in a location query or map, it uses the coords that I specified rather than the ones specified by the planter. If I don't have an updated address, AQ would use the planter's coords.

This will help untangle the knot of boxes that are located in the middle of the city because the planter didn't give a full address on the listing, and will make it more worthwhile to download the KML file from the AQ Search page to your GPS.

The way I'd like to see it implemented is for me to have personal address field for each box. Once I determine the box's actual location or solve the mystery or whatever, I update the location using a street address or GPS coords.

No, most of the time you don't have either. How many parks have a street address? How many letterboxers have coordinates? We need to be able to "drag" a marker to the spot it belongs (I do that with Google My Maps).

How many parks have a street address?

All of them.

You might not be able to find it easily but it exists.

How many parks have a street address?

All of them.

You might not be able to find it easily but it exists.

I used one in a clue. It was kinda funny because it's in a suburb and all the other addresses on the same street are residences. But the address is featured prominently on the park entrance sign, so you know when you're at the right place.

How many parks have a street address? How many letterboxers have coordinates?

Plenty of them. When you create a box, you have the opportunity to specify a specific location -- "Central Park", "Oak Street & Main Street", etc -- the geocoder that AQ uses is pretty good at figuring out what you mean and giving a precise location. I'm asking for a way to give a specific location for a box if the planter has chosen not to and to have AQ remember that location for me the next time I generate a query or map that includes that box.

So I was thinking specifically of changes to the AQ database when I made my suggestion. Your idea of dragging pins around the mao is definitely a usability improvement and would work really well if it were built on top of these database changes.

In my town, none of the parks have street addresses that show on the tax accessor's maps, and if they don't show up there, I don't think one has been assigned. Only houses and recently approved building lots have actual addresses. Vacant lots and parks only have Map/Lot numbers.

Perhaps Wassa could put together another widget

I'm very glad, Kirbert, that SOMEONE realizes who the TRUE creative genius is around here. The unsung hero. The moose-behind-the-man. The Captain of Code, the Sultan of Software, the Wonderful Wizard of the Web... rightful wielder of the One True Widget of Power...my precioussss....

errrr... well, thanks.

-wassamatta_*gollum*_u

Somebody misspelled Search in the subject line. ;O) But after reading the rest of the posts I see someone corrected it.

Real point of my post....before reading the rest of the posts: Your idea has lots of merit.....if Ryan can swing it.

And I see later that I should have mentioned Wassa in there somewhere. ;O)

It might be possible to have some sort of interface with Google My Maps. I know when I type in a location to Google Maps, I am prompted with, "Do you want to add this to My Maps?" If I click, "yes", then I am asked which of my maps to add it to, and what I want to call it, and what icon I want to use. I can then edit the location by dragging the icon. I frequently need to do that since only a street name was given for clues (if that), and I then slide the icon over to the correct spot. At this time I need to go back and forth between windows, one for Atlas/lbna and the other for Google maps. After I add the icon, I also add a link directly to the letterbox clues, which is very handy if I'm in a hurry and I know I'm headed to a certain location. But again, I'm going back and forth between windows to cut and paste the URL for the clues.

I'm very glad, Kirbert, that SOMEONE realizes who the TRUE creative genius is around here. The unsung hero. The moose-behind-the-man.

Thanks a lot, Kirbert. *rolling eyes* =)

-- Ryan

A while back (not so long ago, actually), someone said that the bottom menu bar drifted off the bottom of their browser window and forced the browser to extend the scroll area. Extra space was added as a default, and now a LOT of extra empty space resides down there. If your theme has a background tile that was quickly put together (hacked) the discontinuity is glaringly obvious.

Can the menus that spring forth from the bottom menu bar... spring UP? If they can, why don't they?

Just curious, is all...

*S