BlockZ - Bitcoin Block and Price Announcer [Overlay, Tray Icon]

LsHallo

hero member

Activity: 574

Merit: 500

Just a quick update on the project status:
I didn't fell asleep. The project is still going.

BUT:
Due to a major data loss i'm back to the version from february 2016 which really sucks!
People always backup your stuff daily or weekly and not biannual. Wink

I'm still going and i created a little sweet logo for the program. Maybe you've better suggestions for it. Just leave them below.

I'm also now offering a translation service for your native language. For that i'm using crowdin.com
Click here if you want to be an active translator: https://crowdin.com/project/blockz/invite?d=m6k6460575f5v69383r4q4h353
Click here if you only want to approve translations for your language: https://crowdin.com/project/blockz/invite?d=i6k6i615q4f5v69383r4q4h353

I'll keep you updated more frequently now.

Indianacoin

sr. member

Activity: 406

Merit: 252

Thanks for releasing the update. Will report back if I find any flaws.

Till then lets enjoy the new Blockz. 😀

LsHallo

hero member

Activity: 574

Merit: 500

I'm finally back with some new features!
The save button is working now, and the application is showing the price and the block number once again properly.

However this still isn't a final state and i need to get some work done. I'm on the way to a custom website that fetches the data beforehand so the data consumtion is reduced. This might not be major on PCs but with the upcoming app it's going to be relevant for some people.

I'm having a hard time getting to code further right now, but i hope i will make more progress in the next weeks. Some motivation from you would be great!

I also managed to find a name for it: Blockz

It's Block for the blocks obiously and the z is for the price more accurate for prize Cheesy

If you have some other suggestions just write them in this thread or via pm.

Download

Version Alpha V1.5.1
Dropbox
Google Drive

I also did some investigation and the massive ram consumption of this program is the fault of java and not mine. The program itself is using only 8MB of ram referring to the java memory monitor, but the java vm and all that kind of stuff that's needed to run the program is consuming the other 100MB of the ram. I'm sorry if have to say that, but less ram consumption is nearly impossible.

LsHallo

hero member

Activity: 574

Merit: 500

Quote from: Indianacoin on January 22, 2016, 02:44:53 PM

Quote from: LsHallo on January 21, 2016, 04:19:20 PM

So you want the overlay window to be transparent if i'm getting you right? That is possible and i already have plans to realize that, but that's for a later point. Now i need to get it running at it was before without creating a mess again. That's the biggest problem i have right now. Cheesy

I could have already finished the new version, but then it would be as messy as it was before. So it's very hard to add certain features as the save button.

No problem mate. You should go by this methodology "First things first" in order to prevent a mess and overburden with backlogs.
Well I appreciate your work and I want more people to get involved in it and testing it out. You are really working hard buddy Cheesy

Also did you find any members who are somewhat creative and helpful to fulfill your goals?

Thanks for your understanding. No i didn't find any member yet. I'm going to create a thread when i got the new version running. They should be motivated with a nice running program.

Indianacoin

sr. member

Activity: 406

Merit: 252

Quote from: LsHallo on January 21, 2016, 04:19:20 PM

So you want the overlay window to be transparent if i'm getting you right? That is possible and i already have plans to realize that, but that's for a later point. Now i need to get it running at it was before without creating a mess again. That's the biggest problem i have right now. Cheesy

I could have already finished the new version, but then it would be as messy as it was before. So it's very hard to add certain features as the save button.

No problem mate. You should go by this methodology "First things first" in order to prevent a mess and overburden with backlogs.
Well I appreciate your work and I want more people to get involved in it and testing it out. You are really working hard buddy Cheesy

Also did you find any members who are somewhat creative and helpful to fulfill your goals?

LsHallo

hero member

Activity: 574

Merit: 500

Quote from: Indianacoin on January 21, 2016, 12:52:16 PM

Quote from: LsHallo on January 20, 2016, 03:56:55 PM

I figured out that my program is not resource friendly to your pc. This simple overlay program is using a 100MB of ram if it runs. I hope that is not an issue for you.

Can you optimize it in such a way that it will enter in "sleep mode" in between that 15 minutes interval of notification?
It might help in reducing the RAM usage drastically.

Quote from: LsHallo on January 20, 2016, 03:56:55 PM

To give a quick update:
I lately had some time to make some progress to the program. It is now displaying currency data and the block number in the overlay window again. I have to work und the update method and on the notifications and maybe a sound.

As i mentioned before i'm not satisfied with the actual overlay window. It's so big and helds not enough information nor is it neat to look at. I might improve the overall visual appearance. Maybe i need some help from you doing so.

Maybe someone is able to create images, that fit the buttons so they look a lot nicer. And maybe a background for the settings window.
This would be very great and you are definitely going to be in the credits.

Although I already like and prefer a simple layout you represented earlier but it would be way more cooler if you customize it as you said.

For this you might link this thread and create a request in service section asking out creative members to fulfill your wish.

Btw can you add a transparent layout too for visualizing the background apps, in case I am watching a movie and I want to check the price at a glance and does not want to miss out a scene too?

So you want the overlay window to be transparent if i'm getting you right? That is possible and i already have plans to realize that, but that's for a later point. Now i need to get it running at it was before without creating a mess again. That's the biggest problem i have right now. Cheesy

I could have already finished the new version, but then it would be as messy as it was before. So it's very hard to add certain features as the save button.

Indianacoin

sr. member

Activity: 406

Merit: 252

Quote from: LsHallo on January 20, 2016, 03:56:55 PM

I figured out that my program is not resource friendly to your pc. This simple overlay program is using a 100MB of ram if it runs. I hope that is not an issue for you.

Can you optimize it in such a way that it will enter in "sleep mode" in between that 15 minutes interval of notification?
It might help in reducing the RAM usage drastically.

Quote from: LsHallo on January 20, 2016, 03:56:55 PM

To give a quick update:
I lately had some time to make some progress to the program. It is now displaying currency data and the block number in the overlay window again. I have to work und the update method and on the notifications and maybe a sound.

As i mentioned before i'm not satisfied with the actual overlay window. It's so big and helds not enough information nor is it neat to look at. I might improve the overall visual appearance. Maybe i need some help from you doing so.

Maybe someone is able to create images, that fit the buttons so they look a lot nicer. And maybe a background for the settings window.
This would be very great and you are definitely going to be in the credits.

Although I already like and prefer a simple layout you represented earlier but it would be way more cooler if you customize it as you said.

For this you might link this thread and create a request in service section asking out creative members to fulfill your wish.

Btw can you add a transparent layout too for visualizing the background apps, in case I am watching a movie and I want to check the price at a glance and does not want to miss out a scene too?

LsHallo

hero member

Activity: 574

Merit: 500

I figured out that my program is not resource friendly to your pc. This simple overlay program is using a 100MB of ram if it runs. I hope that is not an issue for you.

To give a quick update:
I lately had some time to make some progress to the program. It is now displaying currency data and the block number in the overlay window again. I have to work und the update method and on the notifications and maybe a sound.

As i mentioned before i'm not satisfied with the actual overlay window. It's so big and helds not enough information nor is it neat to look at. I might improve the overall visual appearance. Maybe i need some help from you doing so.

Maybe someone is able to create images, that fit the buttons so they look a lot nicer. And maybe a background for the settings window.
This would be very great and you are definitely going to be in the credits.

LsHallo

hero member

Activity: 574

Merit: 500

Quote from: rubygon on January 12, 2016, 07:25:56 AM

It is better for me if you calculate weighted average price of bitcoin over exchanges.

That will help for trading.

But wich are the weights for it? I cannot weight it on my own. Easier would be an average of all exchanges. But first let me finish th current program.

Quote from: Indianacoin on January 12, 2016, 07:51:27 AM

Quote from: rubygon on January 12, 2016, 07:25:56 AM

It is better for me if you calculate weighted average price of bitcoin over exchanges.

That will help for trading.

That would be a nice idea.

Also can you add a feature to check how much coin days have been destroyed for a particular transaction?

If you do not know what it is about then please check here --- http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/845/what-are-bitcoin-days-destroyed

Eagerly waiting for the new update Wink

What is the actual formula for calculation cdds? I'm a bit confused, but i think i can add it.

The new overlay window is a bit bigger now because of a layout i tried. Is it better or worse than before?

Indianacoin

sr. member

Activity: 406

Merit: 252

Quote from: rubygon on January 12, 2016, 07:25:56 AM

It is better for me if you calculate weighted average price of bitcoin over exchanges.

That will help for trading.

That would be a nice idea.

Also can you add a feature to check how much coin days have been destroyed for a particular transaction?

If you do not know what it is about then please check here --- http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/845/what-are-bitcoin-days-destroyed

Eagerly waiting for the new update Wink

rubygon

newbie

Activity: 40

Merit: 0

It is better for me if you calculate weighted average price of bitcoin over exchanges.

That will help for trading.

LsHallo

hero member

Activity: 574

Merit: 500

Quote from: Indianacoin on January 11, 2016, 08:44:34 AM

Just want to know the current status of this project. I was also busy during the whole month of December and so I was unable to contact you regarding this.

Quote from: LsHallo on December 05, 2015, 12:18:23 PM

I got the damn save settings button to work. This is an alpha version of the program and it has no ability to get the price. It's only the settings window.

So please download the program, change the display settings(currency, price and general is not implemented yet), save them and report if it worked on your side.

Downloaded it. But the save button is only present in the "General" tab. Also the function doesn't save the intervals after closing & reopening the .jar file.

One more thing; after I close the dialog box, the announcer should remain open in the system tray but it doesn't in this version. It stops abruptly.

How is your progress on making an android app btw?

Yes this version is alpha no announcer function in it. It is only this window amd it ends if the window is closed. Update coming soon. I had a hard time the last few weeks but i'm making progress. The version where all settings are saveable may be released tomorrow. Looking forward for future feedback from you. Thanks.

The app is in pre-alpha. I'm struggeling installing the android sdk.

Indianacoin

sr. member

Activity: 406

Merit: 252

Just want to know the current status of this project. I was also busy during the whole month of December and so I was unable to contact you regarding this.

Quote from: LsHallo on December 05, 2015, 12:18:23 PM

I got the damn save settings button to work. This is an alpha version of the program and it has no ability to get the price. It's only the settings window.

So please download the program, change the display settings(currency, price and general is not implemented yet), save them and report if it worked on your side.

Downloaded it. But the save button is only present in the "General" tab. Also the function doesn't save the intervals after closing & reopening the .jar file.

One more thing; after I close the dialog box, the announcer should remain open in the system tray but it doesn't in this version. It stops abruptly.

How is your progress on making an android app btw?

LsHallo

hero member

Activity: 574

Merit: 500

I got the damn save settings button to work. This is an alpha version of the program and it has no ability to get the price. It's only the settings window.

So please download the program, change the display settings(currency, price and general is not implemented yet), save them and report if it worked on your side.

In the folder of the jar should be a file called "settings.dat" otherwise it didn't work.

Download:
Google Drive
~~Dropbox.com~~ (Offline atm)

LsHallo

hero member

Activity: 574

Merit: 500

Quote from: batesresearch on November 29, 2015, 05:30:04 PM

Quote from: LsHallo on November 26, 2015, 05:15:53 PM

I'm still working on it guys. Stay tuned. I'm taking more time this time because i want to inclued anything so i don't have to redo the code again. Current progress is about half the way done. I hope i can use the weekend to get some more progress.

Looking forward to it bud

Got about 2 hours today to continue the work. The rest of the weekend was really a busy one. I hope i can get the program running again until next friday. The gui is already there and i'm working on the save function atm. It's not looking goog right now but it's kind of an weird issue i cannot explain.

batesresearch

legendary

Activity: 2424

Merit: 1148

Quote from: LsHallo on November 26, 2015, 05:15:53 PM

I'm still working on it guys. Stay tuned. I'm taking more time this time because i want to inclued anything so i don't have to redo the code again. Current progress is about half the way done. I hope i can use the weekend to get some more progress.

Looking forward to it bud

LsHallo

hero member

Activity: 574

Merit: 500

I'm still working on it guys. Stay tuned. I'm taking more time this time because i want to inclued anything so i don't have to redo the code again. Current progress is about half the way done. I hope i can use the weekend to get some more progress.

batesresearch

legendary

Activity: 2424

Merit: 1148

Quote from: LsHallo on November 17, 2015, 06:05:18 PM

I'm recoding the whole program right now.
Do you have any furhter suggestions and improvements except for:
-Color change
-Size change
-Backup API
-Other exchange
-Save settings

What do you think about a mobile app, maybe a widget?

A mobile app would be awesome !

Smith480

newbie

Activity: 2

Merit: 0

This is very nice and fantistic topic. Thanks

Indianacoin

sr. member

Activity: 406

Merit: 252

Quote from: LsHallo on November 17, 2015, 06:05:18 PM

I'm recoding the whole program right now.
Do you have any further suggestions and improvements except for:
-Color change
-Size change
-Backup API
-Other exchange
-Save settings

What do you think about a mobile app, maybe a widget?

Sorry for replying late! I think the whole project is nearly complete with everything a typical bitcoiner wants for! I have 2 further suggestions for you:

1. Try to integrate popular altcoins on the same program. Making different programs for them would be tedious to install every-time.

2. Yes! Making a mobile widget would be awesome and I will happily be it's beta tester.

Topic: BlockZ - Bitcoin Block and Price Announcer [Overlay, Tray Icon] (Read 10690 times)