Investors' Room :: Beta - Bullie's Instant Desktop NewsAlerts! - MoneyAM - Free Share Prices, Stock Quotes, Charts, News, Level2

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 03 Jun 2005 12:06

About Desktop NewsAlert (Beta)

MoneyAM's NewsAlert allows you to keep up to date with the news on stocks you are interested in without requiring you to be logged into the website with your browser!

NewsAlert hides away in your system taskbar and pops up whenever there is an AFX or RNS news item about any of the stocks that you've decided to monitor.

To take part in this beta of NewsAlert (codename: Desktop Bullie-Whiplash), please visit the NewsAlert page.

System Requirements: Microsoft Windows (98/ME/NT/2000/XP) Microsoft .Net framework (download from http://microsoft.com)

When out of beta, this service will be available to Active level subscribers and above

mg - 03 Jun 2005 13:14 - 2 of 92

TulletJ
Might need to rethink your marketing drive. Who wants a big Buddah on their desk - or even the SoS ;)

Thereagain, it'd give me somewhere to stick those sharp implements I always have a problem disposing of. Put me down for one!!!

Kayak - 03 Jun 2005 14:25 - 3 of 92

Where did you get the idea for the icon in the top right hand corner?

:-)

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 03 Jun 2005 15:09 - 4 of 92

all,

I've just adjusted the code so upon first start up it retreives all the current news for the day.

J.

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 03 Jun 2005 15:10 - 5 of 92

Kayak,

The 'Bullie on your desktop' idea was the idea of Geoff.

It's taken us 2 years think of a suitable idea to put it on.

J.

foale - 03 Jun 2005 15:22 - 6 of 92

I like it provides a neat focus to look at not
too big as to be intrusive
not too small as to not notice it
and for the ones I am seeing headline width good to..
gives just enough to see what its about...
then click on for more

though can clicking on it for news
give us a new window?

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 03 Jun 2005 15:41 - 7 of 92

foale,

I'm seeing about it being an option to either open in a new window, or open in existing one.

J.

Kayak - 03 Jun 2005 16:42 - 8 of 92

If anyone else is using Privoxy and has noticed a funny with this or with Newswatch, I have a patch for it!

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 03 Jun 2005 18:09 - 9 of 92

Kayak,.

If you want to throw the patch my way with installation instructions, I'll add it to the help pages.

J

MightyMicro - 03 Jun 2005 23:39 - 10 of 92

Nice icon. Who's the bloke with the glasses and the no hair?

In the interests of equality of access, this doesn't work on the Mac (or on our Linux/UNIX browsers) . . . any plans?

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 04 Jun 2005 08:35 - 11 of 92

MightyMicro,

Depending on demand, it's possible that we'll do a cut compiled against gtk# libraries which would make it cross platform.

J.

MightyMicro - 04 Jun 2005 11:48 - 12 of 92

Jon,

That would be good -- Andy Lovell (office full of Macs and UNIX boxen -- is feeling orphaned ;-)

D

foale - 06 Jun 2005 13:23 - 13 of 92

hi when I do refresh stock list
perhaps after add ing some more to my list

takes quite a while to re list them...several minutes..
at perhaps one every 30 secs..with corresp bleep
is that whats supposed to happen

also they appear slightly out of time sequence
though its mostly accurate

IanT(MoneyAM) - 06 Jun 2005 14:18 - 14 of 92

foale,

I will pass onto JT,

Ian

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 06 Jun 2005 14:45 - 15 of 92

foale,

Currently when you refresh the stocklist, it'll repull the days news, it'll also only display them 5 at a time.

The next version to be released with resolve these issues.

J

foale - 06 Jun 2005 14:58 - 16 of 92

ok...just giving some feedback...
all sounds good

I am still very happy with it....

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 06 Jun 2005 16:53 - 17 of 92

foale,

Glad to hear it :)

J.

Kayak - 08 Jun 2005 10:03 - 18 of 92

What would be extremely useful is a version that gets all RNS (and RNS equivalent services) news for all stocks (not the AFX rehashed cr*p). It would be great to have always open in a corner of the screen. Currently if one wants streaming news one has to keep a whole page open. You could have RNS/AFX tick boxes (also effective on a stock list) and an 'all stocks' option...

On a connected topic it would also be great to have RNS/AFX filters on the streaming news page in the same way as another site...

Kayak - 08 Jun 2005 10:04 - 19 of 92

The client window doesn't seem to keep its position on being restarted. It would be great if it did.

IanT(MoneyAM) - 08 Jun 2005 10:05 - 20 of 92

Kayak,

I will pass your comments on to the tech guys,

Ian

Kayak - 08 Jun 2005 10:38 - 21 of 92

As an enhancement to post 17 one could have an additional filter to filter out routine RNS announcements, i.e. remove:

Rule 2.10
Rule 8.1
Rule 8.2
Rule 8.3
SAR 3
SAR 5
Section 11
Section 198
Listing Rule 15.4.10
EPT Disclosure
Holding(s) in Company
Net Asset Value(s)
Blocklisting Interim Review
FRN Variable Rate Fix
Transaction in Own Shares
Portfolio Update
Cancellation
Major Interests
Official List Notice
Disclosure Table
Notice of Results

This would allow the window to be kept closed and only to pop up with potentially important news.

It would be sufficient to have a tick box for all of them. E.g. four tick boxes:

1. RNS and RNS equivalents excluding routine announcemnts
2. RNS and RNS equivalents routine annoucements
3. AFX
4. AFXU

Again, this all applies to the streaming news page too.

foale - 08 Jun 2005 20:45 - 22 of 92

Kayak post 20 would be useful

Maggot - 09 Jun 2005 11:04 - 23 of 92

Sorry to be stupid, but how do I check that I've done everything correctly? How do I get the News Alert box up on my screen?

IanT(MoneyAM) - 09 Jun 2005 11:06 - 24 of 92

Maggot,

You should see a little icon down on teh left hand side in your system tray. If you right click on this you will see some options - one of which is show window - if you click on that it will bring up the box.

Ian

IanT(MoneyAM) - 09 Jun 2005 11:07 - 25 of 92

Should also add that if you haven't already opened it you will need to go to programs and open it from there,

Ian

Maggot - 09 Jun 2005 11:19 - 26 of 92

Nope. Cant find the Systems Tray under Systems. But have got newsalert1 and newsalert2 on the desktop, the first of which which requires me to download .NET Framework version 1.1.4322. Is that it?

IanT(MoneyAM) - 09 Jun 2005 11:25 - 27 of 92

Maggot,

Do the following -

Once you have downloaded the application, click on start and then on programs and look for a new program called MoneyAM.com news alret. Clcik on this

It will takle a few seconds to start up and you shoudl then see down by the clock in the right hand corner of your desktop and little blue MoneyAM icon.

This is the icon I was referring to - you should now be able to right click on this as I was saying before. YOu can edit the stocks you are watching by clicking through from the original link in this post.

Ian

Maggot - 09 Jun 2005 11:41 - 28 of 92

Thanks. Is it the basic .NET Framwork 1.1 I should download first? There are so many options.

IanT(MoneyAM) - 09 Jun 2005 11:46 - 29 of 92

If you click on the download the latest version link it should give you just 1 option which you need to then open when prompted.

Ian

Maggot - 09 Jun 2005 11:57 - 30 of 92

No, I'll not bother. It keeps directing me to Windows Update which tells me no updates are available. Can't find a 'latest version' link anyway. But thanks for your help.
I've got XP Pro - is this different to ther versions?

IanT(MoneyAM) - 09 Jun 2005 11:59 - 31 of 92

MAggot,

I am not sure what is going on but here is the direct link to download the news alert service. Try clicking on this and let me know what happens:

http://www.moneyam.com/newsalert/newsalert-1.0.28.0.msi

Maggot - 09 Jun 2005 12:09 - 32 of 92

IanT. Done that. I've already saved this to disc, and have the icon on the Desktop.

IanT(MoneyAM) - 09 Jun 2005 12:12 - 33 of 92

Maggot,

Do not select save - simple select open this should then put the download in your programs from where you can do what we have discussed before,

Ian

Maggot - 09 Jun 2005 12:29 - 34 of 92

IanT. The problem may have been that I had opened Moneyam via Mozilla Firefox and not IE. I did not have an open' option available. I've now opened it via IE and at least have three options: Run, Save, or Cancel. I presume I need 'Run?'

IanT(MoneyAM) - 09 Jun 2005 12:31 - 35 of 92

run is the one

Treblewide - 09 Jun 2005 12:38 - 36 of 92

i am being very dim i think but how do i populate my watchlist into this? or even add a single epic?

ta

T

Maggot - 09 Jun 2005 12:47 - 37 of 92

Oh, no. Back where I started. The message when I click Run is that I require .NET Framework 1.1. This directs me to the MSN site, but no-where for me to actually download it - it says I must go through Windows Update, and this gives me Express Install Recommended and Custom High Priority and Optional Updates, both of which say nothing is available.

"I don't believe it!"

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 09 Jun 2005 13:08 - 38 of 92

Maggot,

Please read the system requirements listed in the pastel coloured box in the post. You *require* microsoft's .Net framework for this program to run. The link to download it is in the 'system requirements' box.

Please let me know how you get one once this has been done.

Treblewide,
Please go to the NewsAlert page and you'll see a box in the middle of the screen that you can use to put in your epics.

J.

Maggot - 09 Jun 2005 13:10 - 39 of 92

Think I may have found it - it was hidden in Select Optional software updates. Now downloading - 21 minutes.

Treblewide - 09 Jun 2005 13:21 - 40 of 92

cheers dude...knew i was being stupid

Maggot - 09 Jun 2005 14:21 - 41 of 92

IanT. I've succesfully downloaded NET Framework 1.1, and have found Moneyam.com News Alert in the Programs. I've clicked, and it requires me to put in my Username and password. Is this right so far?

IanT(MoneyAM) - 09 Jun 2005 14:26 - 42 of 92

Maggot - all correct so far - now just enter your regular moneyam username and password and carry on

Ian

Maggot - 09 Jun 2005 14:47 - 43 of 92

YEEESSS! Got the window open; thanks IanT. So rom the blurb at the top of this thread do I not have to open the window each morning? It reads as if it will automatically pop up whenever one of my companies has an RNS or AFX news alert?

IanT(MoneyAM) - 09 Jun 2005 14:50 - 44 of 92

Maggot,

It should just keep on running for you - unless you close it down, but it will then log you straight in when you go back to progams and start it again.

Treblewide - 13 Jun 2005 15:08 - 45 of 92

is there an easy way to populate all AIM stocks into this without finding them all and putting them all in individually?

IanT(MoneyAM) - 13 Jun 2005 15:14 - 46 of 92

Treble,

There is no direct link to be able to do this on the the news alert at the moment, you could use the stock screener to get the list and paste and copy it into there, but It would be a rather long list - around 1084 different stocks.

Treblewide - 13 Jun 2005 15:15 - 47 of 92

ok no probs

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 14 Jun 2005 07:30 - 48 of 92

Treblewide,

It is likely that Desktop NewsAlert will have similar restrictions to stockwatch, when it's released from beta (so a 250 stock limit)

However that won't be decided until we've seen the kind of load that it causes :)

J.

Kayak - 14 Jun 2005 19:09 - 49 of 92

The program doesn't delete its temporary file if it is closed automatically on Windows shutdown. It does delete it if closed manually.

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 21 Jun 2005 12:52 - 50 of 92

There should be another release of this software by the end of the week that fixes a few of the outstanding bugs.

it should alert you when there's an update.

J.

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 22 Jun 2005 13:56 - 51 of 92

Kayak,

What temporary file are you talking about? The program doesn't create any...

J.

Kayak - 22 Jun 2005 14:04 - 52 of 92

Yes it does... in /WINDOWS or /WINNT/TEMP. I know it belongs to it because when I close it normally it disappears.

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 22 Jun 2005 14:08 - 53 of 92

What's it called?

Kayak - 22 Jun 2005 14:11 - 54 of 92

~DFxxxx.tmp where xxxx is a hex number. The UD agent for the Cancer thingy also creates one.

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 22 Jun 2005 14:17 - 55 of 92

Kayak,

That sounds like it's something the .Net framework creates, and unfortunately we have no control over that.

J.

Kayak - 22 Jun 2005 14:26 - 56 of 92

I don't think it's .Net because when you download UD agent it doesn't install .Net nor do you have to do it manually. Also, UD closes the temp file on Windows shutdown whereas Bullie doesn't.

I think it may be more to do with listening to the Windows Shutdown message and tidying up properly as you would on normal exit. After all it does remove the file on normal exit so that path must be doing something different.

It's not a huge problem but it does fill up the temp files folder with dozens of files over time.

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 29 Jun 2005 14:48 - 57 of 92

Hello,

The latest release of Desktop NewsAlert (Code name: Desktop Latex-Bullie) is available from the link above.

This fixes a number of issues with the previous versions including:
No longer limited to loading 5 stories at a time
Added an option to automatically start at boot
You can right click on the icon and be taken to the 'edit watchlist' page.

Please download and try this release.

J.

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 30 Jun 2005 08:34 - 58 of 92

Hello,

There's a newer release of Desktop NewsAlert (Code-name: Desktop Bullie-Bondage) for you to try.

Please go to the news alert page to download the latest version.

This one fixes the bug whereby if you refresh the stocklist, you re-retreive all the day's news.

If you have any problems with it, please post below.

J.

foale - 01 Jul 2005 08:28 - 59 of 92

what about option of opening a fresh window on clicking the news?

Kayak - 01 Jul 2005 08:35 - 60 of 92

Yes, that is essential. When you have 12 windows open you don't want to guess which one has been used. Much less to find that a streaming window has been wrecked.

Kayak - 01 Jul 2005 08:36 - 61 of 92

Also, implementing posts 17 and 20 would really set you apart from the competition :-) At the momemt I have to have a whole streaming news window from the other place open because it's filtering just RNS, now that can't be right :-)

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 01 Jul 2005 08:45 - 62 of 92

faole,

Unfortunately that doesn't appear to be possible with the .Net framework (we've been looking at that since you last requested it)

Do you have an example of a .Net application that has that? If so, we may be able to reverse engineer it to find out how it was done.

Thanks,
J.

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 01 Jul 2005 08:52 - 63 of 92

Kayak,

I've been looking at posts 17-20, they infact compliment other ideas that I've received and as soon as the new bulletinboards are ready, I'll be seeing if that feature can be added.

J.

Kayak - 01 Jul 2005 08:54 - 64 of 92

Sounds great. Compliments all round. :-)

Kayak - 01 Jul 2005 11:17 - 65 of 92

Still not getting any sound in Windows 2000...

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 01 Jul 2005 11:25 - 66 of 92

Kayak,

Do you know that Windows 2000 is now EOL (as of last night)?

Microsoft are no longer supporting it, providing patches for it or releasing any more updates for any of the software for it.

It's probably a good idea to upgrade to a proper OS now ;)

J.

Kayak - 01 Jul 2005 11:31 - 67 of 92

Hmmmm, plenty of corporate clients still using it, I wonder how long before the decision is reversed...

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 01 Jul 2005 12:39 - 68 of 92

Kayak,

It's 5 years old, you can't expect them to support it forever.

What reasons do you have for not upgrading? (unless you like not being able to find drivers for lots of hardware, and nothing 'just working' on the machine)

Kayak - 01 Jul 2005 13:43 - 69 of 92

It's stable, it works, if it ain't broke, no messing around with activation.

Windows XP is basically Windows 2000 with a different presentation. The drivers are the same and everything just works... apart from your software but then your software also poos temp files everywhere ;-)

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 01 Jul 2005 14:07 - 70 of 92

It's the .Net framework that's creating the temp files, not the application.

Not much we can do about that :(

Kayak - 01 Jul 2005 14:17 - 71 of 92

I'd be very surprised if it was .Net, see post 55

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 01 Jul 2005 14:22 - 72 of 92

Kayak,

The program code itself does not need any temporary files and none are created within the code.

If .Net decides that for some of its actions it requires temporary files then it will create and use them transparently (ie, the code won't know that they're being used)

There really isn't much that we can do about it. Try: support@microsoft.com ;)

Kayak - 01 Jul 2005 14:25 - 73 of 92

I bet you can listen for the windows shutdown message and terminate in a tidy way? After all closing the application via the menu does delete the temp file. Something is wrong. I really don't believe that MS designed .Net in a way that leaves hundreds of temp files.

little woman - 04 Jul 2005 18:54 - 74 of 92

My e-mail to help@moneyam.com bounced!

So this is the message I sent:

Dear Help,

I keep getting the error message Invalid Username/Password

The message box says Your Username/Password was rejected by the server. If the problem persists contact help@moneyam.com

So there you go the problem is persisting (tried it on 2 different computers and I got the same the error message on both) !

Thanks

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 04 Jul 2005 19:14 - 75 of 92

little woman,

We need to reset your password to fix this error. If you're happy with this happening, post here and I'll reset and email you your new one.

J.

little woman - 05 Jul 2005 13:46 - 76 of 92

OK - but can I then change my password back, afterwards?

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 05 Jul 2005 13:49 - 77 of 92

little woman,

Certainly :)

You'll have an email from us shortly.

J.

little woman - 05 Jul 2005 18:12 - 78 of 92

Thanks - everything is working.

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 06 Jul 2005 09:44 - 79 of 92

Hello,

We released a new version of Desktop NewsAlert today, if you're running it the the next time you start the application you should be alerted to this fact and asked if you want to download. Alternatively, click on the link in the first post.

Bug fixes:
Sound should now work on all versions of windows.

We hope to have another release later in the week which will fix the problem that Kayak's been bleating about.

Please post if you have any problems.

J.

Kayak - 06 Jul 2005 10:35 - 80 of 92

Baaaah...

Sounds now work in W2000, thanks.

Getting fed up of the reusing of existing windows business though, really annoying when it mucks up a streaming window.

Also 'i' should be capitalised in the running at startup tick box legend.

Version number somewhere in the settings window?

Upgrade procedure is a little confusing, most such things close the running program if there is one and restart it, initially I thought there was no difference.

Thanks, baaaaaah.

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 06 Jul 2005 11:23 - 81 of 92

Kayak,

In firefox preferences, there's an option:
'Open links from other applications in:'

change that to 'a new window'

tada.

J.

Kayak - 06 Jul 2005 11:27 - 82 of 92

Firefox? Where do I find it on the Microsoft site?

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 06 Jul 2005 11:37 - 83 of 92

Here:
http://microsoft.com/getfirefox

Kayak - 06 Jul 2005 11:44 - 84 of 92

Jon, I think you've picked up a link to a phishing site, that really doesn't look like a good link nor a good copy of the MS site to be honest :-)

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 06 Jul 2005 11:46 - 85 of 92

We've been looking into the 'open in a new window' option, and it is possible.

At the moment it uses the system's default browser, which allows it to be used with IE, Firefox, Opera and everything else, however it's not possible to open using the default browser and tell it to open in a new window (that functionality differs depending on the browser used)

We're looking to see if we can work out from the system what the default browser is, and if it's IE handling it differently.

Kayak - 06 Jul 2005 11:49 - 86 of 92

BTW Jon there's an equivalent 'new window' option in IE, I haven't tried that recently but I'll see if setting it affects anything else.

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 06 Jul 2005 11:53 - 87 of 92

Kayak,

Where in the options?

J.

Kayak - 06 Jul 2005 11:54 - 88 of 92

Internet Options, Advanced tab, "Reuse windows for launching shortcuts"

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 06 Jul 2005 11:56 - 89 of 92

aha
that'll probably be it.

wanna try it for me?

Kayak - 06 Jul 2005 12:00 - 90 of 92

It works as far as your piddly prog is concerned, I'm just seeing whether it has any untoward effects on anything else...

Kayak - 06 Jul 2005 15:07 - 91 of 92

OK the reusing windows switch seems to do the trick so far.

On another point, could we have a way of switching off the gradual appearance of the window to make it instantaneous! Lovely trick but clearly put in by a programmer who doesn't realise that active traders don't have two seconds to wait!

TullettJ (MoneyAM) - 06 Jul 2005 15:14 - 92 of 92

Kayak,

regarding the eye candy, it appears fully in under a second, not two :P

This version's IU is complete and we're not tweaking it any more. This option will be considered on version 2.

J.

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Beta - Bullie's Instant Desktop NewsAlerts! (BETA)