[Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Markets Today is a desktop widget to monitor financial markets. The widget is currently in Alpha Beta stage and is available in extras-devel. Harmattan release can be downloaded from here.

You can update the quotes manually or setup auto-update the quotes every few minutes (please see known issues).

Data source is Yahoo! finance. Any indexes/stock tickers supported by yahoo are supported in this app. However, this is not a real-time quote-streaming application or a portolio-tracking application. Assume at least 20 min delay for the quotes.

The specific delays for each exchange supported by Yahoo finance are listed here.

I used this app idea to learn QML. Widget functionality is based on Qt4 Home screen loader. This project is hosted on maemo garage. License is GPL. Check the source or file bugs from garage.

Known Issues:

1) Not tested with CSSU.

2) Memory usage is around 12% on regular use. While I am working on cutting this down, I noticed that the Qt Maemo 5 Homescreen example uses 6% by itself. Appreciate any help from experienced devs on this one. See release 0.2-1

3) Auto-update feature is buggy. You will be prompted to select a connection every time, if no pre-configured connections are available to connect automatically.

4) Not tested with proxy-server setup. Let me know if you face any issues using this widget with a proxy server.


Future Enhancements (based on feedback):

1) Headline news (Subject only) based on RSS feed. Completed

2) Charts Completed

3) Other UI enhancements.


Usage Instructions/Tips:

1) Use INDU as the ticker symbol for Dow Jones, for some reason Yahoo doesn't support ^DJIA.

2) Double tap ^ on virtual keyboard to enter the ^ character (I never RTFM, so this could just be my ignorance).


As with most application in extras-devel or alpha state, use this application at your own risk. Feedback is welcome.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget for financial markets
 

I shall definitely keep an eye on this app, many thanks.

Dan

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget for financial markets
 

I was just looking for a widget like this. With charts included, it would be perfect.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget for financial markets
 

marketstoday-0.2-1 has been released to extras-devel. Here is the changelog

* Reduced high memory usage caused by a QML memory leak.
* Markets Today can now be used also as an app (for Harmattan port).
* Added configurable RSS news feed (general market news) in widget and app.
* Added stock details (full screen) with stock-specific news and charts from Yahoo finance.


Since Harmattan does not seem to support widgets, I have included the full screen UI to use Markets Today as an app.

Screenshots for RSS news and stock charts below.

Thanks to Tim Samoff and Dave Neary for suggesting UX improvements during the Meego Conference. I have implemented most of their suggestions in this release. I have also received feedback regarding the widget column size and the feature to allow selection of data displayed in widget.

Known Issue: Auto-update will work fine if you select "Any Connection" for Settings --> Internet Connections --> Connect automatically. But if you select any other option in settings (Wifi for example) and wifi is not available, you will get an annoying prompt repeatedly to select a network. I am trying to get help on this issue.

Feedback welcome :)

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget for financial markets
 

Thanks to sony123 for the Yahoo finance chart URL idea from stockona. I was trying to reinvent the wheel by creating custom charts, but static image is fine as long as it serves the purpose.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget for financial markets
 

nice update, but i doesn't show charts here. It just keeps loading continuously (both wifi and normal mobile internet connection)

Hmm, I also believe that when I switch desktops and touch the widget it loads fullscreen, when it should not...

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget for financial markets
 

Can you open this link in your N900 browser and let me know if the chart is showing up? Also, what is the final URL once image is loaded?

http://bit.ly/nWCOxJ

Do you mean that the stock details window is triggered accidentally when you touch the widget while switching desktops?

I noticed this issue too. This is because, right now clicking anywhere on the row for a symbol triggers the full-screen details. Advanced gesture control options for a desktop widget are limited. I can restrict the mouse area to around the stock symbol only (not the full row) to avoid accidental triggers but I am not sure whether this will be intuitive for first time users. Let me know your opinion.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget for financial markets
 

The link is working and it gives me this url: http://chart.finance.yahoo.com/z?q=&...US&t=1d&s=YHOO

so that seems right to me. This shows what is exactly shows here, it just keeps loading with no result:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12453205/Scr...716-151333.png

About the activation on switching desktops, I would definitely change it so it does not activate when you accidentally hit the widget. Like you say to use the symbol as trigger is not intuitive. Perhaps you can add a column on the right with the small button (>) like the one you use in full-screen to go to the graph, if this is possible. That is intuitive in my opinion to get more information on a particular stock.

Further on the widget works like a charm, and I really find it useful. :)

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget for financial markets
 

Can you execute these steps and PM me the log file - /home/user/.marketstoday/marketstoday.log?

- Are you using any proxy server?
- What happens when you click on the buttons 1d, 5d, 1y etc.?

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget for financial markets
 

marketstoday-0.2-2maemo5 has been released to extras-devel. Here is the changelog.

* First release for Harmattan.
* Added Volume column in desktop widget.
* Added Volume and Market Capitalization columns in App.
* Changed the way to invoke stock details window to avoid accidental triggers.
* Selecting a ticker row now displays "i" icon. Clicking on this icon brings up the stock details window.
* Fixed dpkg build syntax error that increased the source tar size from 700 KB to > 4MB.

Harmattan deb file is available for download on Maemo garage at https://garage.maemo.org/frs/?group_id=2110.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

marketstoday-0.3-0maemo5 has been released to extras-devel. Here is the changelog.

* Changed the icon size in harmattan control file to 64x64.
* Changed app description in harmattan control file.
* Increased context menu button size.
* Increased text size in text input fields.
* Fixed the issue - Add button not working in Add/Remove tickers screen.

Harmattan release can be downloaded from here.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

I am going to promote Markets Today to extras repository. It is now in extras-testing.

Please test the application and vote on this page. Need 9 more votes to go to extras as of today.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Back from my vacation and I like your improvements. Unfortunately the graphs still don't work here. But the links the program tries to open just show me the graph in the browser... I PM'ed you my log file.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Hope you had a great vacation. I am also back at work last week, so slowed down on development here.

Regarding the charts not loading, are you using a proxy to access internet?

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Got the same problem here.

Anyway, I've just installed the app - and I'm really happy theres finaly a proper stock widget - THANK YOU!

..and now for the *****ing - It would be cool if you could adjust the size - I've only got 2 stocks on watch, so half the widget area is simply wasting desktop real estate..

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

No, I am not using any proxy. I also noticed that the date shows the wrong month next to "Updated:". It says September instead of August here.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

I got the same error. :)

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Me three..

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

The incorrect month was due a javascript bug. I fixed it locally, and this fix will be included in next release (should be ready tomorrow).

I am trying to include more debug messages to figure out the image not loading issue. The actual fix might take some more time, so please be patient :)

@wildt - Can you PM me a screenshot of your desktop with Markets Today widget? I'd like to take a look at the extra space.

I'm planning to give two/three size options for the widget. Small (very basic info), Medium (current size), and Large (full screen?). What do you guys think?

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

That should work fine. Another option could be that once you have over 4 stocks you can scroll down to see the fifth or more.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Can you check if you have the package "libqt4-bearer-hotfix" installed? If not, can you install it from extras and test again?


Sorry, but I didn't get what you meant. How is this different from the current widget?

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Hehe, I never had more stocks than 4 so didn't notice that option. Nevermind my comment then.

And I didn't have the bearer hotfix, so installed Qt hotfixes which includes it. Now I got graphs! Thank you, great work!

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

marketstoday-0.3-1maemo5 has been released to extras-devel. Here is the changelog.

* Fixed the issue - Incorrect month is displayed for Updated timestamp.
* Added dependency on mcsp (for libqt4-bearer-hotfix) to fix the issue - Chart image not loading.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

I couldn't promote the previous version to extras-testing due to a build error. So, I bumped up the version to 0.3-2 without making any other changes. This version will soon be available in extras-devel and extras-testing.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Markets Today 0.3-2 is in extras-testing.

Please (test and) vote for the package here. Need 10 votes to make it to extras.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

The new version fixed the date and graph problem - thanks!

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

My application manager still doesn't see the update. How can I best manually update the widget? Or do I have to reinstall it?

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Can you try from command line as root?

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

when on wifi I could update using the applications manager

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Update: Still need 6 more votes to promote the package to extras. If you are already using the application and feel it is stable enough, please vote here.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Is it possible to add another textbox for every stock so you don't have to show the stock code, but a name(free text string)?

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Because of the limited column width in the current widget, the text entered in the textbox gets truncated when it is displayed on widget. Additionally, it is tricky to add an editable textbox for each symbol in the current Add/Remove Tickers screen.

If you just want the full name to be displayed instead of ticker symbol, does a bigger size (think more width) widget with full name sounds ok to you?

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Can I view Gold, Silver, Platin charts with this program?
Kitco charts do not work sometimes due to Flash problems.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Yes, you can follow Gold, Platinum and other metal futures by entering the correct Yahoo finance symbol. Remember that the symbols for these change every month and Yahoo only has 1d and 5d charts available for them.

You can get the latest symbols from here.
http://finance.yahoo.com/futures?t=metals

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

This app is fantastic! Excellent work! Should be used as an example of widget apps everywhere.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

marketstoday-0.4-0maemo5 has been released to extras-devel. Here is the changelog.

* Fixed Yahoo! Finance RSS URL
* Slightly improved error handling
* UX changes (App only) - Double tap to open stock details & news links, Swipe to switch between details and charts screens

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Just wanted to say thanks for this widget. Just discovered it today and it seems great so far. Wish it worked a bit better with non-U.S. stocks, but I know that's a Yahoo limitation and not the fault of the app.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Great app, thanks!

Single biggest enhancement would be to add the Maemo switch button in the upper left corner.

Currently I have to open camera lens to switch to another application or access the desktop. I don't use the widget, only the application itself.

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Open the slide , press your thumb and a finger on top two buttons on sides ( the arrow one and ctrl ) simultaneously .Both should be pressed at once and at same time .You can simply can go to desktop and can open as many apps as you want to .adios

Re: [Announce] Markets Today - A desktop widget and app for financial markets
 

Works for me with CSSU-thumb.

Thanks for the app!