Subject: iPhone App: Star Picks 2010
Hi All, my first Appcelerator App is now live in the App
Store.
It is a daily list of the top Handicapped Sports Bets.
iTunes Link: http://bit.ly/9obHSy
info Page: http://www.tenflow.com/StarPicks2010/index.html
I have an introductory price of 4.99 I will probably bump that up when I update the app with some more features.
Lessons learned: You can use Some Registered Trademarks like NFL MLB etc.. in the description, but not in the keywords.
Thanks, Fred
2 Posted by Robb Shecter on 09 Feb, 2010 02:39 AM
Nice micro-site. Also, nice concept; I like that it's a simple, focussed app that does its thing well.
3 Posted by Fred Anderson on 09 Feb, 2010 03:07 AM
Thanks Robb, the site is from a free template by Jonno
http://jonnotie.nl/
So, I cannot really take credit for that.
Fred
4 Posted by Tom on 09 Feb, 2010 06:03 AM
Hi. I'm considering buying this app. Can you give me more background on your capping, how long etc? Is your Jan record online anywhere, ie capper forums etc? Do you give any rationale for your picks? What time are your picks posted usually? Does the app keep all your picks up win or lose and how long do your archive the picks for? Thanks!
5 Posted by Fred Anderson on 09 Feb, 2010 06:42 AM
@tom good to hear that you are interested. Here are your answers.
Q: Can you give me more background on your capping, how long etc?
A: I have been betting on sports for 10+ years, mostly capping hockey and baseball myself. The moneylines are always tricky but since there are so many games I can sit and wait for the best expected value.
Q: Is your Jan record online anywhere, ie capper forums etc?
A: The short answer is no, the long answer is, I am posting picks by the best handicappers on their top picks. So, their picks are documented. The Jan. Record was above average, so far for Feb it is 7-4-0 with 3 of the 7 wins being 4(star) and none of the 4 loses above 3(star). To be honest, I will find it pretty funny if my picks start showing up in forums, it will just be a feedback loop of picks that are already there.
Q: Do you give any rationale for your picks?
A: No, as I was saying in the previous answer, All of the Basketball and football picks are culled from reading other handicappers info. Also, I have been reading that info forever, they just make a pick and then they grab whatever stats they want to meet the outcome they predict. Just Look at Brandon Lang's gibberish, he can come up with whatever he wants and really means nothing. Just read FoxSheets or Covers, you can see an argument for both sides of every game, you will eventually run into stats like, Home teams is 4 straight ATS at home, Visitor is 4 straight ATS on the road. Occam's Razor would cull it all down but most of the touts don't look that far. . For Hockey I simply track team performance and add a lot a weight to the starting Goal Tender, same for baseball. So to answer your question, my rational overall is along the lines of Big (you know who) says this is his BigTen Game of the month.
Q: What time are your picks posted usually?
A: usually a couple of hours ahead of game time, Hockey and Baseball might be day ahead. Depends on the goal tending and pitching and money lines. (btw I use The Goalie Post for my hockey info). But on the others I try to wait until I see a couple of trusted names on a game. A side note to this, I am working on an update that uses push notification, that should solve some problems with having to check back.
Q: Does the app keep all your picks up win or lose and how long do your archive the picks for?
A: Yes the picks stay up, I am posting three pages of 10 (30 total) I felt that was enough for people to go back and see if I am trending any one way to other, I may lift that on the first update to just go back as far as I have in the iPhone app. (jan2010).
OK, so with all of that said, The basic idea here is a rather casual betting suggestions for the day. Meant to be checked a couple hours before game time. Ultimately I would have liked to make an app that has in app purchases for top ranked picks with write-ups and all of that, but I was more interested in getting my first app done and out the door, I have a commitment to support the picks for the whole year.
I know this is going to sound cliche, but I play these picks, all of them. That is how this app came about. I have couple of friends, everyday over our lunch hours we scour the forums and tip sheets and pick our favorites. So, why not post them into an app?
I just signed up for a tumbler account with the same name as the app. I have to read the api, but I am thinking about modifying my data entry system to post to tumblr at the same time, but set the publish time for gametime. I would like to use that as a public record keeping and maybe an advertising platform. I suppose I could just write a page on my app info page to do the same.
I hope that answered all of your questions.
Thanks, Fred
6 Posted by Fred Anderson on 09 Feb, 2010 07:12 AM
@Tom thanks you have inspired me a little tonight. I am going to post a page on my site that shows the history, and upcoming games, but with the pick until "gametime" I hope that helps, if not for you maybe for others in the future.
Thanks, Fred
7 Posted by Fred Anderson on 09 Feb, 2010 04:53 PM
I have added a "Picks" tab to the app site home screen. it will show the picks after the game starts, and the past 30 picks.
http://www.tenflow.com/StarPicks2010/index.html
Fred
8 Posted by Tom on 10 Feb, 2010 12:54 AM
Got the app last night! I'll let you know what I think! It'd be nice to have a running record (ie, 34-14/75%) and also have results broken down by your confidence scale (5's are xx-xx/x%) etc. Thx!
9 Posted by Fred Anderson on 15 Feb, 2010 06:57 PM
Thank you for the suggestions, I am waiting for .9 or 1.0 to make my update, since I will have to rework it then anyhow.
But I will add running tallies for sport and rating.
fred
10 Posted by Fred Anderson on 22 Feb, 2010 06:55 PM
@Tom Have you been enjoying the app? If you like it, I would really appreciate it if you gave it a short review in the app store. Thanks, Fred
11 Posted by Tom on 23 Feb, 2010 09:41 PM
Thanks for the reply! I'll be happy to provide a review, but think I'll wait until the next update comes out w/tracking so it can be a 4 or 5 star review. Every other service I use has a daily update on their record, which makes it a lot easier. Right now, the app just has the past 11 days. I'm also glad you're doing more b-ball now than the hockey MLs w/huge negative money. Good job! Thanks!
12 Posted by Fred Anderson on 23 Feb, 2010 09:48 PM
Thanks Tom, I have the new code for the Daily Record Update done.
I was hoping to use the new 0.9.2 build but it does not have PushNotification Code Enabled.
I am dialing back the code base and prepping a release built on 8.x.
I'll see if I can get a screen grab tonight to get your opinion before going live.
Also, at the bottom of the Current 10, you can get the next 10 twice to get a total of the past 30.
Fred
13 Posted by Tom on 23 Feb, 2010 09:58 PM
Cool. Current version (app store says I have the latest) only shows me to Feb 13, 2010 (last 10 days). Does your record update have overall record and/or the breakdown by your confidence score? I'd like to see both ideally, as the "1" wins/losses may affect the usable score one way or the other...
14 Posted by Tom on 24 Feb, 2010 05:25 PM
This has no bearing on the quality of the app or my future review, and of course not your fault, but unfortunately, the highest confidence pick yesterday ( 3- Boston/NYK Under 196) was the one pick I lost in both a 7 pick parlay and a 4 pick parlay last night. Oh well. :( I should have just taken the NYK spread...
15 Posted by Fred Anderson on 24 Feb, 2010 07:14 PM
Yeah, you and I both. I got burned on that one as well.
My NCAABB picks have been much better than NBA. I have had a lot of underdogs in NCAABB win outright recently.
To be honest, I do not know anyone that is really really good and consistent in NBA. I am not sure if it is nature of the individualness of the game or what but it is spotty. I am taking a break from NBA for a day or so.
Fred