"Missing Droid X Real-World Give-Away" Contest (1st Post:Updated)

[stanw5007]

none of these clues and speculations matter now!!.... were just gonna have to wait for the coordinates and find the phones within like 4 hours or someone random gets it because there not at their spot yet

"Dates and times of Certificate placement will vary, but the final clue of each GPS location for each Certificate will be tweeted at the time it is hidden"

Ok lets not start reading too much into this one. Just because it has the words "GPS location", it does not mean that they are going to tweet the coordinates. It also so says "final clue", which would lead me to believe that it is going to be a clue.

Technically, if you think about it, everywhere has a gps coordinate. The term is probably used b/c some one was instructed where to hide it and Verizon knows these places by the coordinates.

And ontop of that, GPS coordinates cannot get you right onto a certificate. I can get you in the general area, typically within roughly 20-30ft.

Consumer Reports Cars Blog: GPS blamed for home demolition

And I still beleive the clues will still prove to be very usefull and this thread will probably give us a huge advantage. Alot of us might even have some good ideas of where they might hide things now, since we already scoped out the areas in our previous searches.

 

[NiceShotMan]

Oh My!

Just realized that we probably won't even get it early.

Just consider, 4-5 more days before they give out the exact coordinates and then the certificate may simply say "Call Verizon with this code to order your Droid X"

Droid X delivers on the 14th? Wow, 1 day early?

Sorry, this is pessimistic for sure but seems to be getting worse each day.

What you say?

 

[NiceShotMan]

Do you really think that no one will be around the area searching when they post the location? It will NOT be a random person that is oblivious to the contest, I'll tell you that.

True, I'm just going to wait till they tell me where it is. If it's close I go, if not I sleep.

Also, I got dibs on #11 - planning to have a friend pick it up, I'm lazy.

 

[NiceShotMan]

"Dates and times of Certificate placement will vary, but the final clue of each GPS location for each Certificate will be tweeted at the time it is hidden"

Ok lets not start reading too much into this one. Just because it has the words "GPS location", it does not mean that they are going to tweet the coordinates. It also so says "final clue", which would lead me to believe that it is going to be a clue.

Technically, if you think about it, everywhere has a gps coordinate. The term is probably used b/c some one was instructed where to hide it and Verizon knows these places by the coordinates.

And ontop of that, GPS coordinates cannot get you right onto a certificate. I can get you in the general area, typically within roughly 20-30ft.

Consumer Reports Cars Blog: GPS blamed for home demolition

And I still beleive the clues will still prove to be very usefull and this thread will probably give us a huge advantage. Alot of us might even have some good ideas of where they might hide things now, since we already scoped out the areas in our previous searches.

Actually I've used GPS devices that have centimeter accuracy - not cheap and a pain.
http://www.leica-geosystems.com/en/GNSSGPS-Surveying-Systems-Leica-SR20-GPS-Receiver_4710.htm

Not as portable as this, but this below is sub-meter accurate.
Leica Zeno 10 & Zeno 15 - Your Vision: Easy-to-use Mobile GIS - Leica Geosystems - Leica Geosystems

Phone GPS is a knock-off of the real thing.

Sooo.... It looks like I can expect to see you about 20-30 feet away

 

[stanw5007]

Actually I've used GPS devices that have centimeter accuracy - not cheap and a pain.
Leica SR20 GPS Receiver - SR20 Single Frequency Survey Solution - Leica Geosystems - Leica Geosystems

Not as portable as this, but this below is sub-meter accurate.
Leica Zeno 10 & Zeno 15 - Your Vision: Easy-to-use Mobile GIS - Leica Geosystems - Leica Geosystems

Phone GPS is a knock-off of the real thing.

Sooo.... It looks like I can expect to see you about 20-30 feet away

Sorry! I should have said MOST. You get the point though.

 

[woop]

Heres something positive to take out of this: atleast I'll be more productive now at work.

 

[NiceShotMan]

Heres something positive to take out of this: atleast I'll be more productive now at work.

At least I will work now.

Vacation+Work is killing me... will be back at it soon.

 

[NiceShotMan]

Sorry! I should have said MOST. You get the point though.

Ya, didn't mean to correct you. But actually concur that most GPS does suck like you said.

I will have to figure out a way to borrow a 4 grand GPS device from engineering

 

[stanw5007]

I don't think they are gonna just give coordinates though. But if they do then it will certainly be a mad dash to the area. I really think w/ this many people they are gonna probably just use some pretty obvious clues. They are still calling it a scavenger hunt, and it really wouldn't be a hunt if they just threw out the coordinates. But hey, we'll see tomorrow. Good luck to all and good night.

 

[djg08642]

What's a "scavener" hunt? This changes everything.

 

[Flying_Hellfish]

So it is going to be a certificate to redeem for a new X? Not as fun as it seemed before.

I agree with JoelR..... this is an unfollow for me, I will just be visiting my local store next Thursday.

 

[slider5634]

Okay... I've had the night to vent and get my cool back. Still a little irked about the misleading nature of this initially. However, I just can't let it go. I'm jumping back into the "Hunt".

If the following conditions remain true by this weekend, I'm going to do the following...
1)Final Clue for MN/CHI IL/STL MO has not been tweeted by Friday night
2)If anyone else in these areas is up for a little more competition (not required)

If these conditions are true, I'll be hopping in my car 1AM Saturday morning and driving to one of those cities. I know I'm taking a huge chance because the final may not be tweeted for any of these places on Saturday, but I've had way too much fun with this to be soured and just jump ship. I feel like it's worth one more try!!!

 

[Gamble]

Quote from Droid Life:

So basically, @DroidLanding will tweet GPS coordinates over the next 7-8 days and if your city has one hidden, you have 4 hours to find the representative who is holding a certificate for a Droid X. Let the battles begin!

Official @DroidLanding DROID X Scavenger Hunt Rules - Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog

That's how I see it too. I bet if you find the person, you find the certificate as they will be holding it. Everyone who thinks it will still be "hidden" or the GPS coordinates won't be tweeted, we'll see..

 

[Regalicious]

What's a "scavener" hunt? This changes everything.

Again.

 

[bigshotproducer]

Quote from Droid Life:

So basically, @DroidLanding will tweet GPS coordinates over the next 7-8 days and if your city has one hidden, you have 4 hours to find the representative who is holding a certificate for a Droid X. Let the battles begin!

Official @DroidLanding DROID X Scavenger Hunt Rules - Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog

That's how I see it too. I bet if you find the person, you find the certificate as they will be holding it. Everyone who thinks it will still be "hidden" or the GPS coordinates won't be tweeted, we'll see..

I just hope one of them is near VA -- DC wouldn't be too far. But I don't see it happening. Guess we'll just have to wait and see...

 

[beerhound]

"Dates and times of Certificate placement will vary, but the final clue of each GPS location for each Certificate will be tweeted at the time it is hidden"

Ok lets not start reading too much into this one. Just because it has the words "GPS location", it does not mean that they are going to tweet the coordinates. It also so says "final clue", which would lead me to believe that it is going to be a clue.

Stan, I agree completely. I added some bold text to your post to emphasize a couple of points:

For those who are worried these aren't going to be found until the 14th, I point you to the dates and times will vary. I predict they will spread out the final clues over the next week. Some will be found within the next few days and others won't be found until the very end.

For those that think you are going to get GPS coordinates, let me offer an alternative interpretation. That isn't saying the final clue will be a GPS location. (coordinates) It is saying there will be a final clue to the location. Verizon has the coordinates so that there can be no argument about where the certificates are, but they are only going to give us clues as to where those spots are.

To support that I offer these points:

1. We have already established that the tweeter isn't exactly a master of the english language. Several hunters have already been burned by taking some of the clues too literally or by reading to far into the clues. Take the clues for what they are: each one is going to narrow the playing field until the final one gives us a specific search area. If you are really sharp and guess the right spot early enough, you might actually SEE the certificate get placed just before the final tweet comes out.

2. It wouldn't exactly be in the spirit of a scavenger hunt if they just gave you the location. The idea is to make you search for it, not to give the prize to whoever has a gps unit and is closest to the spot when the tweet comes out.

3. The legal aspects that have already been mentioned can't be understated here. Verizon's lawyers wouldn't sign off on a plan that had a high potential to lead to fist fights over who was there first.

 

[mahers]

Okay... I've had the night to vent and get my cool back. Still a little irked about the misleading nature of this initially. However, I just can't let it go. I'm jumping back into the "Hunt".

If the following conditions remain true by this weekend, I'm going to do the following...
1)Final Clue for MN/CHI IL/STL MO has not been tweeted by Friday night
2)If anyone else in these areas is up for a little more competition (not required)

If these conditions are true, I'll be hopping in my car 1AM Saturday morning and driving to one of those cities. I know I'm taking a huge chance because the final may not be tweeted for any of these places on Saturday, but I've had way too much fun with this to be soured and just jump ship. I feel like it's worth one more try!!!

Ditto. I was disappointed after reading the rules, and didn't look at the thread or post since about 4PM yesterday. I actually couldn't stop thinking about it though, kinda like a crackhead on withdrawal! Anyway, I wasn't going to go to San Francisco this weekend without getting divorced, but lucky me, my wife's sister has her wedding shower there, so I get to take the kids and watch them at Grandma's house...or maybe take a ride out to Lomabrd St, Coit Tower, the Presidio...they've never been, so I have an excuse, right? Right?

As for what they will tweet, or how the certificates will be hidden, only time will tell. I HATE the fact that the tech forums spilled the beans and got 2000 more followers, but what can you do. That's how I found out about this to begin with. My bad for getting so wrapped up in it.

Good luck to anyone hunting and I pray it's at least one of us who finds this thing!

 

[supersaki]

Do you really think that Verizon has employed GEOCachers to hide these, or it will be more along the lines of a guy in a Verizon jacket hiding behind the bushes giggling like a 7 year old with a secret.

I HOPE it's a poster, or an elaborate advert of some sort... Maybe a big plastic eye with a light shining on the location of the certificate, etc. Maybe one of those silver painted street performers with a Red light on his chest. SOMETHING cool...

That's what they have the 'can you hear me now guy' doing, lol.

Since it says it will be videotaped, etc.., I think it will be more elaborate than a guy in a jacket, however. But I've been wrong about just about everything to do with this contest, so who know?

I understand that. I was a programmer for an intercarrier billing provider for years before the telecom bust so I know what kinds of money we are talking about. However, the best advertising that any company gets is the customers walking around with the latest and greatest phones and telling their friends about them. I have no problems walking around with an original, rooted Droid making sure to tell everyone what a great price I got on it and why I still have NE2 promo floating out there. I was looking at one for me and one for my wife. So Verizon could be loosing $360 of my money. Do they care? Probably not. Verizon has my business for service either way (but with my corporate 22% discount), but they may have lost the bonus $ from me. Do that a couple hundred times and marketing cost starts to get painful.

@DroidLanding -> unfollowed.

VZW gets their money no matter what phone you buy. The extra $ is just to keep that particular store open.

I did!! I went to TMS like 5 times. I even went with infrared cameras. Then went to Dallas twice. It was fun for me and the people that came with me for the hunt.

Here's the deal. I was planning on buying the phone anyway, then droidlanding started - woohoo!! free phone, a bunch of crazy clues (that will still probably come in handy when the final hints, locations, or whatever they are doing come out.) I will still probably go when they come. Will I get it... probably not... oh well back to the original plan... buying the phone that I wanted before all this started. Oh well.

I think what we have, is a bunch of people (including me) that jumped the gun and read too much into things.

Verizon did exactly what they wanted to with droidlanding, they created a $hit load of buzz about the phone. Smart whether we want to admit it or not. I certainly didn't get my feelings hurt. I laughed.

Find me one clue that was misleading. Then look at it again, and I bet it's really not as misleading as you really think. I bet most still hold true.

Looking back, the only clue I saw as misleading was the one about the droids not going anywhere else, unless someone else finds it first.
--

I have an urge to dress up as the crocodile hunter and run around Dallas with a butterfly net whenever they release the final clue.

 

[Helicrewchief]

Well.... It's been fun guys, but I'm out on this one. I'm no less than 4 hours from any location and have exactly 0% chance at this point. Best of luck. I sure hope someone here gets one. Especially after all of this hard work we did.

I'm with you all the way.

 

[tmellen]

Okay... I've had the night to vent and get my cool back. Still a little iExcept St Louisrked about the misleading nature of this initially. However, I just can't let it go. I'm jumping back into the "Hunt".

If the following conditions remain true by this weekend, I'm going to do the following...
1)Final Clue for MN/CHI IL/STL MO has not been tweeted by Friday night
2)If anyone else in these areas is up for a little more competition (not required)

If these conditions are true, I'll be hopping in my car 1AM Saturday morning and driving to one of those cities. I know I'm taking a huge chance because the final may not be tweeted for any of these places on Saturday, but I've had way too much fun with this to be soured and just jump ship. I feel like it's worth one more try!!!

Stay out of St. louis -- we're um closed for the weekend. or something.

Seriously though, good luck wherever you go. Except St. Louis.

 

[slider5634]

Stay out of St. louis -- we're um closed for the weekend. or something.

Seriously though, good luck wherever you go. Except St. Louis.

Probably not there unless its the last untweeted location. I'm far more comfortable in the twin cities and chicago.

 

[mahers]

Probably not there unless its the last untweeted location. I'm far more comfortable in the twin cities and chicago.

How do youf igure it's not there? Rams, Cardinals, pretty much tells us one is in StL.

 

[vexhold]

Originally Posted by slider5634
Okay... I've had the night to vent and get my cool back. Still a little iExcept St Louisrked about the misleading nature of this initially. However, I just can't let it go. I'm jumping back into the "Hunt".

If the following conditions remain true by this weekend, I'm going to do the following...
1)Final Clue for MN/CHI IL/STL MO has not been tweeted by Friday night
2)If anyone else in these areas is up for a little more competition (not required)

If these conditions are true, I'll be hopping in my car 1AM Saturday morning and driving to one of those cities. I know I'm taking a huge chance because the final may not be tweeted for any of these places on Saturday, but I've had way too much fun with this to be soured and just jump ship. I feel like it's worth one more try!!!

Yeah, um, you know how Minnesota is. All roads are closed for road construction. Feel free to swing by in October when it's done!!

 

[slider5634]

How do youf igure it's not there? Rams, Cardinals, pretty much tells us one is in StL.

I meant I probably won't go there. I've not been to StL very many times. My comfort level at the other two places is much higher.

 

[mahers]

I meant I probably won't go there. I've not been to StL very many times. My comfort level at the other two places is much higher.

Gotcha!