Ethercache is a new mobile app that allows you to store hidden messages across the planet.
Æther (n): light energy.
Cache (n): a hidden storage space.
Put them together, and you get Ethercache - a simple, brilliant new mobile app allowing you to share text messages with your friends.
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Ok, you say, that seems to make sense. But just what is Ethercache? It's a modern twist on geocaching wherein you hide something virtual in the virtual world. It's the latest in a long string of incredible new ideas made possible by the continuing growth of mobile computing.
And it's free.
Still can't figure it out? Just give it a try. We think you'll like it, even if you can't...
Ethercache is a new mobile app that allows you to store hidden messages across the planet.
Æther (n): light energy.
Cache (n): a hidden storage space.
Put them together, and you get Ethercache - a simple, brilliant new mobile app allowing you to share text messages with your friends.
----
Ok, you say, that seems to make sense. But just what is Ethercache? It's a modern twist on geocaching wherein you hide something virtual in the virtual world. It's the latest in a long string of incredible new ideas made possible by the continuing growth of mobile computing.
And it's free.
Still can't figure it out? Just give it a try. We think you'll like it, even if you can't quite think of what to do with it. At least you'll give us credit for coming up with such a cool idea.
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How to use Ethercache:
1) Physically go to the place you wish to hide your message.
2) Open Ethercache on your iOS device.
3) Wait for a green or yellow location signal.
4) Touch the "+" button and wait for the purple pin to drop.
5) Give your new ethercache a name, and optional message by touching the blue chevron
6) "Embed" your ethercache in the æther - and you're done!
7) Your ethercache is now available at that location for anyone to find.
8) Have fun!
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FAQ:
Q: Hold on, what exactly is the æther?
A: Classically (we're talking Aristotle here), the æther was thought to be the stuff that filled the universe above the terrestrial sphere. Fast-forward to Newton and people thought of the æther as a universal substrate through which light energy flows. There are still a few modern conceptions, but a theory of æther as something physical was abandoned long ago. Still, the idea lives on in modern communication technologies such as Ethercache.
Q: So, does that mean I have to be an astronaut to use Ethercache?
A: Ha ha, good one. Really, it's simple and down-to-earth. We think you'll get the hang of it and start having fun in no time.
Q: Just what is this thing good for?
A: Ethercache is nothing more than good clean fun. You can use it for a scavenger hunt, to supplement a geocaching trip, or just to have fun with your friends and neighbors.
Q: Who uses this thing???
A: Ethercache has attracted a small group of users scattered around the world, mostly in Europe and North America. The more people use Ethercache, the better it gets. Ironically enough, someone left this very question as the message in one of their ethercaches!
Q: How does it work?
A: When you 'embed' an ethercache in the æther, it is actually linked to your current geolocation and stored on a server. Later on, when someone searches in that location, they find the ethercache! So, in order for Ethercache to work properly, your iOS device must be GPS- and Internet-enabled.
Q: You know, I'm beginning to think this is a cool idea. Can Ethercache link up with other apps?
A: Yes! Ethercaches are completely compatible between mobile devices and platforms.
Q: Will Ethercache steal all my personal data?
A: Absolutely not. We don't use or store any personally identifiable information. And none of the messages you enter are stored on your device (this may change in the future). Of course, we can't take any responsibility for what you leave behind in the æther!
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Coming soon:
• More than text! You will soon be able to hide photos, sounds, and other virtual trinkets.
• Ethercache 3D! Leave an ethercache on the roof of your building so the people below can't find it!
• Social networking -- use your social identity to determine who can - and cannot - find your ethercaches
• Global ethercaching! Want to leave a cache at the South Pole, but can't afford the flight? No problem!
• Did you think we would stop at version 1.0? The æther -- I mean, the sky -- is the limit!
