Related
Since we have all been having fun watching the stock market recently, I decided to write a quote/chart app, using the style of that fruity excuse for a phone as a springboard. So I present for your enjoyment an app called "Ticker Tape".
Notes:
Requires .Net CF 3.5
See the 2nd post for revision history and features.
Please read the FAQ and the planned Future Features - your question or suggestion may already be there.
See this post for a version translated into Russian. Resource files will be supported soon for translation into whatever languages you want.
As always, your thoughts and bug reports are appreciated!
UPDATED Nov 24, 2008 to version 0.5.1 (see next post for revisions)
To Avoid Losing Your Custom Lists:
The install might overwrite your data file. If you want to keep your existing lists, make a copy of TickerTape.dat before installing, and copy it back after installing.
Many thanks to those who have donated to this project!
:: dlugo, Tazkika, pwhooftman, mhoesch, 69alfa, romant,
:: fryman, ld-runner, zcai2672, rspman, vadim_bogaiskov
:: Sperbs, arcsvibe, klassej
Your continued support might inspire me to actually finish it.
.
Features
Create and edit ticker lists
Download quotes and charts for the symbols on your lists
Show charts for period ranging from 1 day to 5 years
Show charts in line, bar, or candlestick format
Show chart fullscreen
Completely touch-friendly
Scroll through lists and tickers using touch screen buttons, gestures, or D-pad
Set the download (refresh) rate from 5 seconds to 30 minutes, or Never
Settings for download behavior, and chart caching
Integration with AppToDate for automatic updates
Note: "Compare To" will be expanded later so you can get charts comparing any tickers.
FAQ
Can you add the ^XYZ index and the XYZ stock to TickerTape?
NO. The data is downloaded from Yahoo, because it is the only free service I know of. If Yahoo doesn't have it, then I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do about it for this app.
The data is not scraped off a web page, so sites that display the data you want (even Yahoo's own real-time quote pages) are not useful to Ticker Tape.
Yahoo (and therefore Ticker Tape) has information for a lot of the world markets, but there are some markets it does not provide. Again, I'm sorry, but that's just how it is.
How do I get quotes for Company X?
Find the ticker symbol here, and add it to Ticker Tape.
I added a ticker, but there's no data. Why?
You probably need an exhange extension at the end of the ticker. Find the correct ticker symbol here.
Where can I get a list of indices?
Here for US indices, or here for major world indices.
Where can I get a list of currency exchange symbols?
Here
How do I get the price of Gold, Crude, Lean Hogs, and other commodities futures?
Use the symbols found here
What stock exchanges are available in Ticker Tape?
A list of them is here.
How long are the quotes delayed?
This depends on the exchange. The delays are listed here. Most indices are real-time.
How much data is downloaded?
Quotes: ~80 bytes per ticker (~480 bytes for a full list)
Charts: ~2.5KB each
Can Ticker Tape do [insert feature here]?
Yes, of course it can. The next version will do your laundry too.
I installed it on my non-VGA device, and it looks funny.
Ticker Tape was initially designed for VGA. This *is*, after all, a forum for Diamonds. The latest version has been tweaked to support QVGA, but there might be some areas that still need work. It does not and will not have support for square-screen devices.
Future Features
Custom symbols for "Compare To" charts
Implement settings for download rate in off-market hours
Search feature to find ticker symbols
Adjust times based on regional settings
D-pad navigation in menu and other places.
Ability to rearrange/insert lists and tickers
Advanced ticker properties, such as notes, held positions, and alarms
Ability run in a TF3D tab - THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE POSSIBLE AT THIS POINT - See this post
More adjustments for non-VGA resolutions
Import/export lists
Revision History
Version 0.5.1 - Nov 24 2008 (minor update)
Added swipe (gesture) to switch between lists.
Added Exit button to menu.
Changed application icon.
Tweaked menu item borders to look better.
Rearranged menu a little to accomodate more items now and in the future.
Version 0.5 - Nov 9 2008
Optimized menu for speed.
Implemented settings for download behavior and chart caching.
Replaced price change calculations with downloaded values.
Tap chart to show fullscreen.
Some tweaks for various resolutions.
Version 0.4 - Nov 4 2008
Fixed the keyboard issue.
Fixed a problem where ticker data was not displayed when the previous closing price was not available.
Fixed the percent change calculation.
Added support for 3 decimal places.
Enabled comparison charts (limited ... this will be explanded later).
Other minor UI tweaks
Version 0.3 - Nov 2 2008
Enabled use of D-pad for naviagation on main screen
Fixed numeric displays for various regional settings
Added integration with AppToDate
Fixed issue with (some?) tickers that are reported in non-US currencies
(NOTE: the above fix should take care of all the crashes reported so far, as they were all related to the issue of either non-US currency, or symbols that weren't found)
Changed application icon (happy now th1nm1nt? )
Other minor UI tweaks
Version 0.2.1 - Oct 31 2008
Enabled everything except "Compare To" and "Settings"
Bug fix when adding symbols that don't exist
Version 0.1 - Oct 31 2008
Initial "concept" release
keep working... I have faith
GeckoDev, I'm still waiting for a decent stock app and this looks very promising. I'll be an avid supporter if you keep developing.
My only suggestion, and you've probably already thought of this, would be to include enough options in settings for what happens over the data connection based on the usage of the app.
For example: have checkboxes/choices in settings for options like such as:
-Continue streaming in realtime when program is minimized
-Prompt user that data is still streaming when program is minimized or unfocused after: (then add choices for 30 sec, 1 min, 2 min, 3 min, etc)
-Do not download any data when program is minimized
-Only update manually
-Update every: (choices of times)
You get the idea, something like that. The point being that those of us that don't have unlimited data connections, warnings and settings should be there to prevent accidental overages of data usage. A streaming stock app would be a very easy app to end up forgetting is on and using data and causing overages, whereas at least with a broswer, you're most likely eventually just going to end up parked on one page with no further data being streamed, if you accidentally leave the browser open.
It seems great, I willing to wait for this.
very nice, looks good as a start
will be following this thread
exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks
stpete111 said:
-Continue streaming in realtime when program is minimized
-Prompt user that data is still streaming when program is minimized or unfocused after: (then add choices for 30 sec, 1 min, 2 min, 3 min, etc)
-Do not download any data when program is minimized
-Only update manually
-Update every: (choices of times)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like those options. I had planned on the last two already, but the first few for what to do when minimized are great ideas.
And here I thought I was taking a day off ...
I have been searching for a suitable charting program for over three years. I have tried them all and consider all of them unsuitable. I have had to make my own local HTML files with links to www.stockcharts.com/avantgo mobile charts to deal with the shortcoming.
This Apple-like program would be awesome. If you put this on Handango, I would buy it.
Recommendation: as a first attempt, you could do a lot worse than the Apple interface, so I say stick with it for the first version.
Are you using Yahoo! data for this? I prefer Bloomberg, but Yahoo is OK.
nosro said:
Are you using Yahoo! data for this? I prefer Bloomberg, but Yahoo is OK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, Yahoo is the only free feed I know of. The Bloomberg feed costs several thousand in subscription fees. Some apps out there screen-scrape to get their data, but I think that approach is prone to error, so I'm just getting the raw data, which is why it downloads so few bytes.
The problem with the Yahoo feed is the delay, even though I'm telling it to send me real-time quotes. It appears to ignore that part (except for indexes). Does anyone know of a free feed that provides real-time data?
Yes, this is fantastic. I think MSNBC has a feed, but not sure of how interactive it is (think I read that somewhere from a developer). Very pleased with the appearance, and look forward to customizing to my portfolio.
FYI...I selected "This is amazing" in your poll, and not the second one. I felt it unfair to send you half of my gains since you're not willing to take half my losses (down 56% in the last 45 days...UGH).
Your application looks fine
Great job. It's a pre-pre-pre version and needs a lot of development but it looks fine ;-)
looks great! will love it!
Very cool app, would love to see this go further
GeckoDev said:
Yes, Yahoo is the only free feed I know of. The Bloomberg feed costs several thousand in subscription fees. Some apps out there screen-scrape to get their data, but I think that approach is prone to error, so I'm just getting the raw data, which is why it downloads so few bytes.
The problem with the Yahoo feed is the delay, even though I'm telling it to send me real-time quotes. It appears to ignore that part (except for indexes). Does anyone know of a free feed that provides real-time data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know of any that are free unfortunately. All the services want "power-trader" subscription fees to be able to get true realtime. If anyone finds a true free realtime feed, let us know!
In the meantime, a delay is fine with me since I won't be making spot trading decisions based on what my phone is telling me at any given second.
I have just updated the cab to version 0.2 -- you can now edit the quote lists and set the download rate!
Check the first post...
this is so great, thank you so much for your work, i have been waiting for something like this for a long time. and it's so easy on the eyes.
very nice apps, need to add some error handling in case of wrong symbol, the app just crush.
thanks,
argov said:
very nice apps, need to add some error handling in case of wrong symbol, the app just crush.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oops! It's fixed now.
This program is amazing. I like it very much.
Just some ideas for further development.
1. Please add an "exit" command. I don't know how to exit this program.
2. For the updates, please add a timer on it since market time is only from 9 to 4pm.
3. can you make it response to direction keys?
Thanks.
Im curious how business people are using their Tabs daily.
Sent from my Sprint Galaxy Tab
Luckily our business (see my sig) is Google Apps based so there's native support for several email accounts, several calendars. Also I'm the head of IT, so VPN, FTP, SSH, Remote Desktop apps are being used, as for our CEO, mostly memo, and executive assistant (widget & app), thinkfree office, pdf viewver FTP, unified remote (for presentations with laptop and projector)... and of course multiplayer games for the company heads
This is the last week... next week? who knows
Though I'm not technically a "business person" in the conventional sense, I use mine for the following when at the studio:
Google apps, MS Office files, calender, calls, texting, notetaking and whiteboard capturing via camera, and of course something to do in the loo.
Best thing it's doing for me at work is allowing me to use it a big, easy to read and navigate email terminal when I'm at my desk. Can keep up with the steady stream of mail without having to ALT-TAB on my desktop machine, where screen real-estate and CPU cycles are kind of important. What I do on my desktop machine is touchy about losing focus and popping out to check mail in the middle of a task could cost me a lot of time restarting the process.
My smartphone could do email too, obviously, but this is a helluva lot easier, prop it up in landscape, leave screen on, glance, touch, scroll, and most that need a response I can deal with on the Tab, without screwing up what I'm doing on the desktop.
I sold my 3G iPad and got a new Air & a Tab.
ToDo & Calendar - I have my Tab set up with the lock screen disabled so I can see info at a glance (something sorely lacking on the iPad). Thanks to widgets, I have my Remember the Milk to-do list ($25/year) right on my main home screen. The Android implementation of RTM is really the best out there, but it also easily synchs with my iPhone and my desktop so I always have it easily accessible. Likewise, calendar implementation is by far the best on the Tab and thanks to Google, synchs seamlessly with my iPhone and calendar on my mac. I have a large calendar widget on an alternative home screen so a quick swipe to the left shows whats coming up on my calendar.
Square - We offer pickup and drop off services for customers, so a lot of times I'm delivering stuff that needs to be paid for. Square is perfect for this. Its a little reader that plugs into the headphone jack and allows you to swipe credit cards for a reasonable percentage (no monthly fee). Customers sign with their finger and a receipt is e-mailed to them. Really great with the size of the Tab and the customers are always wowed.
Dropbox & Evernote - Cloud computing! Drop box lets me have the same files on all of my devices, 2+ GB free. This is how I get almost all my document and application files onto my Tab. I even have the screencap (on my desktop and laptop) default to a folder in my dropbox, so if I see something on the screen and want to save it quick with formatting, bam its there. Taking that one step further, Evernote lets me clip web pages and synch documents to be accessible on all my devices. The really cool trick of evernote is that everything in it is search-able - even images or PDFs that contain text become search-able once its uploaded to the cloud. Great for signs, menus, business cards, etc...
LogMeIn Ignition - The desktop app is free but Android client is $30. Pretty basic, allows me to remote in to my desktop at work in case I need to do something I can't do on my Android or access something at work. Usually I use it to drag a file into my dropbox that I might need.
Tethering - Yes! Built in, and what makes the monthly fee so much more palatable. With built-in tethering I can hop on with my laptop when I need a bigger screen or to access things not support in Android.
Otherwise, I use the browser for parts look up and to show customers products if we're walking around the showroom floor. The size of the tab lends itself easily to be stuck in my back pocket so I can carry it with me and use it to update my todo list or take notes in evernote. I use Kelley Blue Book as a fast way to look up car values, but thats pretty specific to my industry.
I am looking at purchasing a Tab but I ned to be able to VPN to our network and RDT to my office desktop. So far I am not having success with this using my Droid X. Is this easier with the Tab? What apps or procedures are you using for this?
I use it to place my orders (Chef). I find it alot easier to carry my TAB (touch srcreen) around to check inventory and order what's needed than my netbook (touch pad). It's also connected through Rogers H network and one of my stoarage rooms is in another building so I can just take it with me and no longer have to just take notes then finish ordering when I get back to the kitchen.
I also have my emails on hand from my distributors and msgs from my reps all in the palm of my hand with a screen big enough to actually use comfortably. All that and the instant internet access makes looking up recipe ideas, costing specials and negotiating food prices really easy.
So, after playing for 1,5 days with the DHD, I have gathered a list of issues and questions which I post altogether here instead of starting separate theads.
First of all, my phone doesn't seem to have any of the issues discussed earlier (speaker is ok, maybe not very loud but I don't have any problem with it. Battery was reasonably drained within a day but I used it continuously for the whole day)
1) I try to check for system updates but it says that there is no new update available. Is that reasonable for a new phone? I've heard of people running updates and fixing issues so why doesn't mine detect any updates? Maybe they incorporated all fixes in new phones?
2) Display switches off sometimes in google maps. I guess in such applications the screen should be on all the time but it was switching off after a few minutes. I had to unlock the screen and it returned to maps
3) I tried to look for Greek language pack but there is one for all languages except Greek. Anyone knows if there is one which I can't find?
4) Greek video/mp3 titles cannot be displayed correctly
5) Don't subtitles work? I added (srt) subtitles to movies in the same way you do it on a PC but it doesn't work.
6) Quickoffice cannot open my word documents. It can open excel and powerpoint only. Any reasons?
7) No sync for Outlook notes and tasks?
Finally,
I seacrhed the market for some applications that are very essential for me but didn't find anything
8) application similar to eWallet that will hold your credit card info, passwords, etc. Preferably with a respective windows application whih will be synced between phone and windows
9) Application or hack for calendar that will display the appointment when a day in month view is clicked instead of opening the day view. In other words, I don't want to leave month view when I click on a day with an appointment. I just want a brief view of the appointment in the same view.
And I stop here in order to be polite
MOD Edit:
Continue to be polite and click on the link provided by your fellow member on the post below....
Regards,
M_T_M
andreasy said:
So, after playing for 1,5 days with the DHD, I have gathered a list of issues and questions which I post altogether here instead of starting separate theads.
First of all, my phone doesn't seem to have any of the issues discussed earlier (speaker is ok, maybe not very loud but I don't have any problem with it. Battery was reasonably drained within a day but I used it continuously for the whole day)
1) I try to check for system updates but it says that there is no new update available. Is that reasonable for a new phone? I've heard of people running updates and fixing issues so why doesn't mine detect any updates? Maybe they incorporated all fixes in new phones? Yes, that is very likely, the last update OTA was 1.32.405.6. Yours likely will have that update already (check via settings->about the phone->Software-information-> Build. The issues others are looking at are the issues that we see when flashing other roms
2) Display switches off sometimes in google maps. I guess in such applications the screen should be on all the time but it was switching off after a few minutes. I had to unlock the screen and it returned to maps or change the settings for screen off after x minutes....
3) I tried to look for Greek language pack but there is one for all languages except Greek. Anyone knows if there is one which I can't find? dunno
4) Greek video/mp3 titles cannot be displayed correctly don't speak / read Greek, so no problem for me
5) Don't subtitles work? I added (srt) subtitles to movies in the same way you do it on a PC but it doesn't work. I use rockplayer to watch movies, subtitles work fine there
6) Quickoffice cannot open my word documents. It can open excel and powerpoint only. Any reasons? Maybe incompatible word version? I have opened word 2003 files without problem
7) No sync for Outlook notes and tasks? Did not need to have it, so do not know
Finally,
I seacrhed the market for some applications that are very essential for me but didn't find anything
8) application similar to eWallet that will hold your credit card info, passwords, etc. Preferably with a respective windows application whih will be synced between phone and windows
9) Application or hack for calendar that will display the appointment when a day in month view is clicked instead of opening the day view. In other words, I don't want to leave month view when I click on a day with an appointment. I just want a brief view of the appointment in the same view. some of the calendars let you view the up and coming appointments...there are numerous calendar widgets as well....you can toggle between current apointment and month view on the launcherpro calendar widget easily
And I stop here in order to be polite
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you look in http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=821973 as well ?
Well, after a lot of hours of work, I'm real close to putting my first app out.
It includes a 5MB database that can't be loaded from /assets due to it's size. The app itself is small.
Now, as I know it, there are 2 deployment methods:
1. Google Market
2. My own hosted site
Google Market is easy on end user...find an app, install (and pay if req'd). Works over 3g and WiFi. Gives you 24 hours to uninstall before you're credit card is charged. Drawbacks are one-time $100 vendor fee and 20% fee per download. Plus, as my apps may grow, the databases I use could get fairly large. Now, most phones can handle the size (my Droid goes to 40 gig with 32 gig SD card), but searching a huge database on the phone could lag like crazy.
A self-hosted site can be had for $50 a year from GoDaddy or 1 and 1 with FTP, MySQL databases and much, much more. With the SQL running on a hosted server, queries would be fast. Drawbacks are the user has to download Google ADB package, app and database. Then hook-up phone via USB, set a couple of settings on the phone and actually run the "adp install <package name>". Then you need some type of payment center (Paypal) and possibly a refund policy.
So, I'm on the fence here...comments and suggestions appreciated!
From what I've read, lagging for loading databases can be brought to a minimum by altering the way it loads. Instead of loading all the content up front (possibly with a dialog to keep the user amused while waiting) or by loading it as the information comes in. The listView might lag because of the phone's memory available as opposed to a problem with the app. It could be the app. If it needs resources, then make it a top priority and allow it to tell the OS to kill other resource-hogging applications to make way for the information download. It's just a speculation. I don't know this for sure, but I would check the Android Dev site and other places for more information.
Interesting idea...I could just set the data (about 80,000 rows) up as a flat file and then do an INSERT based on user input. Do query, return results and delete rows from table. That takes it to, on average, about a 2,000 row table.
Not sure how I can encapsulate (hide) the data from prying eyes or worse yet, changes to the data! But I will research that idea further and do some code changes and testing....thank you very much
I decided to get a hosted site for a couple of reasons:
1. To get my OWN MySQL databases
2. To create a web site to drive my business and apps delivery
I've finished my application and it works great. 80,000 row database on server, app is 40kb on the phone. Data retrieval is fast...i can get over 100 rows back in 2 seconds on 3G; WiFi would be even faster.
I've decided to push my apps to users via the web site. I'll offer a crippled demo version for review before they buy...no return policy. That is, if you like the demo and buy it, well, you made the choice LOL
I'm still not warm and fuzzy about making user download adb package, hook-up phone via usb and install. But I'll offer something I don't see much on Google Market and that is: SUPPORT. Each app I create will have it's own e-mail address for comments, concerns, enhancements and, god forbid, bug reports. I'll probably also offer free updates if I change the program or upgrade the database.
Well, time to go do the web site. I'll admit I would rather be coding vs. web site design!
Why not both? You could use google and it's HUGE base of users (which may never even know about your app otherwise) and still host the database online at your site. Note that many (most) phones are crippled by the carrier to NOT allow downloads from anything but the market.
Frankly, I think you could probably do it more efficiently. I don't know the details, but why not have the app download the database from your site upon first usage and store it to SD card? A local copy even on an SD card will be orders of magnitude faster than any online solution.
Yeah, I'm still 50/50 on it.
Speed is not an issue on this app; max rows I pull back may be 60 and it takes 2 seconds. Literally, by the time your finger is off the "Search" button, you have your data And if you think about it, how many databases are out there already that people are hitting off of web pages? My 2 second download was on 3G, I imagine the WiFi to be even faster (just tested it on WiFi...3G was faster LOL)
I like the control of the database on my end and it keeps the user from having to download a new copy if the database is updated.
And I'm trying to look at the big picture here too. I'm an unemployed programmer after a 13 year career. I don't mind coding apps for "the people", but I want to get my foot in the door of business' that are going to need smart apps, just like they all needed a web page years ago.
I just have to do some more research and make a decision. However, I do think you are right; the market has huge exposure and can even lead people to my site. The hosted sites is dirt cheap...$50 a year.
I know my app is pretty solid, just hate to think about paying that one-time vendor fee and the 20% per download. Then again, that takes ALL the billing concerns from me; the market handles it all.
Thanks for your feedback!
hey guys, a friend of mine found this awesome home screen that is easily theme applicable, and you can do a lot of cool stuff with it.
just to get this out of the way this is in beta, and it is INVITE ONLY, BUT... once your in you are allowed to send 5 invites,
or you can get on the waiting list without a invite but who knows how long that will take, my buddy said he had to wait a few months before they got back to him, (sucker)
so... aviate has some really cool features such as a location tracker that when enabled determines whether your at home, work, on the go, settings, if it is morning, or if it is evening, or if your tuning into some music, and then can determine what apps to place in the toolbar that are most relavent to what your doing,
for example on my home screen when im traveling say just to wallmart, aviate will switch to traveling profile, i slide down my mini tool bar i guess you would call it and it has the apps most relevant to my needs, chase banking, maps, around me...
then your bottom toolbar where your phone and messaging ect is, you have not four but ten slots to put apps, like flashlight, phone, facebook, ect. also you can apply some kickass icon packs too.
you only have three pages, ( i kinda wish i could have two home pages for widgets, i may be able to do that im just too lazy to find out.)
so you have your custom home page, i have facebook and youtube widgets,
the second page groups your apps into the catagories you have chosen, i have home, social,settings, music, entertainment, ect.
and the last page has all of your apps in alphabetical order always,
there really is a bunch more cool features but im not trying to be a used car salesman here so...
just go into the app store and search aviate and download, you will need to have an email account set up on your phone btw, then the first two people can post here and claim my invites, and then just p.m. me with your email address and ill type it in and then it will allow you to begin using.
Aviate Beta Google Play Store
, I've been waiting for a code for ages wondering if I could have one of your invites please, cheers
Can i have an invite
Can i please have a code if you still have one left
Thx in advance