Roll Tracker App for iPhone

[freak]

I like to record our in casino rolls because I enjoy having the data, but I really dislike the entry process. To ease the pain of data entry I created an app for my iPhone that has all of the dice combinations as buttons and a creates a list for each hand. This allows me to just tap on the number and the app does the rest. It's programmed to recognize CO rolls, points-set, points-made and the 7out automatically. We still have to write the numbers in the book by hand because the casino won't allow my iPhone at the table. But after a session we can then quickly click in the rolls and then review the lengths of our hands and what numbers were hot. It worked really well this past weekend. I reported on this in my recent trip report and said if there was any interest I would start a thread just on this Roll Tracker App. Here's that thread and here's what the screen looks like:

This is the main screen where we enter data. There is a second screen called "Roll Review." This automatically sorts the rolls by the total dice number so we can see what numbers are hitting the most. It was interesting to see this past weekend that I hit the 12 once, but the 2 eight times. Once I hit them 3 times in a row. (I actually made money on that hand thanks to see a horn bet a horn.) L hits the 8 most and I hit the 6 most.

I'm going to continue to refine this for myself. It's possible that it could even become available for public consumption in some form. A few people have asked if they could get a copy. It should be fairly easy to craft it so that the roll results could be exported from roll tracker and then imported into Bone Tracker. I've never used BT but it sounds like it is in excel and my app can export Excel or csv.

There are several challenges to making this "for the world" versus just me. Such as it is crafted only for Mac and iPhone at this point. It requires a "host" app on the mac to do the programming. The iPhone app is just where it runs for data entry, but no editing can be done there. It doesn't currently have a way to identify L/R combinations. It's easy enough to add a 4/1 as well as a 1/4 but that adds 15 more buttons on an already crowed screen.

At any rate this app is making is super easy to capture our in casino rolls. We can see the data and have strategy discussions within minutes of the session. I wanted to share the project and say I'm open for feedback.

[Inspector]

Freak,

As a suggestion to cut down on additional buttons maybe 1 button called reverse or something so you can hit the button and then the 4/1 and the program would recognize it as 1/4.

[Alohajonny]

Now that is cool beans! It looks like you definitely have a handle on this thing.

I saw where a guy started one but lost interest on MP's site. If I'm not mistaken he had it to where you assigned a number to left and right die with fewer buttons. I just went over to check but the screenshots were taken down. He went by the name, "Wilkerson."

I love the looks of your app. I'd be interested in paying for a copy if it could download results into BoneTracker.

[Mad Professor]

Hi Freak,

Again, GREAT work!

I was going to ask if you had a Blackberry version, but you already answered that; so let me ask you this.

~How difficult would it be to take it out of the apple ecosystem and adapt it to Crackberry?

~If you are able, can you please post a screen-shot of the "Roll Review" screen?

Thanks,

MP

[heavy]

As a suggestion to cut down on additional buttons maybe 1 button called reverse or something so you can hit the button and then the 4/1 and the program would recognize it as 1/4.

I suggested something similar via PM with Freak. The problem is - if you're using this for in-casino tracking you aren't using mixed color dice, so it's almost impossible to reliably say left die - right die.

We did not get into a discussion of the problems associated with using electronic devices in the gaming area - but that could be a problem.

[freak]

Here's what the review screen looks like. I can sort the data anyway I want. First pic is sorted by roll. Second is sorted by number. I still need to build automated sub-summaries that will show the total count of each number rolled.

[Craps75]

I know in Tunica if I get a text or something and take my phone out to look at it the box goes crazy. If I have the dice and pick up my phone it's worse. This is a great app and would be a wonderful tool to practice with but I'm not sure how useful it would be live in the places that I play.

[Maddog]

Doing data entry on an electronic device in the casino is always the fly in the ointment with this idea. This is the primary reason most people who have solicited my help in getting an app like this started, have quit shortly after realizing the problem.

However keep in mind freak's usage strategy. He is not doing the data entry at the table. Read his first post carefully, he is writing down his rolls and entering them into his phone after...

... We still have to write the numbers in the book by hand because the casino won't allow my iPhone at the table. But after a session we can then quickly click in the rolls and then review the lengths of our hands and what numbers were hot...

This works fine. In the past we have discussed the same thing as having your laptop with you and entering the information in your room after a session. Having it in the phone is bit more "handy".

I tried to find a copy of the screen I designed for a guy several years back, but over the years and various changing of computers I cannot seem to locate it. It seemed a reasonable way to do the data entry. What we had was two columns of buttons, with 6 buttons in each column labelled 1 through 6. The first column was for the left-die, the second column was for the right-die. Made for a tight screen that can accommodate any result combination. Just an idea to share.

BTW, unless you track left/right results and maintain a consistent dice set throughout, and export to BT would not be usable.

[freak]

I never expected it could be used "live." We always get heat about taking a phone out, but never get any heat about my small note book. Since there are two of us the non-roller writes the numbers in the book. After each session we enter the rolls. It takes just 5 minutes and actually makes for a needed break and strategy review. Sometimes I write the rolls even if I'm shooting. I find that keeps me focused more on the number trends and less focused on hoping my bets win. It serves to calm me.

I had originally invisioned this as a custom made devise like the thing the umpire in a baseball game uses to keep track of the pitch count. I think that would stay under the radar. But I quickly realized there's just too much to record and my iPhone is the perfect tool. So it's a two step process in the casino. Write at table, tap in while sitting by the river or at lunch. At home we just lay the phone on the table and tap the numbers as they roll. Super easy.

[freak]

...snip...BTW, unless you track left/right results and maintain a consistent dice set throughout, and export to BT would not be usable.

I think it's a simple matter of accepting the app could be applicable to two different uses: A) Two-step Casino roll tracking. B) Simplifying the input of at home rolls. It's a single tool that can do two different things. It's not a tool that can help solve the problem of unidentified L/R dice in the casino environment.

[Craps75]

Is there anyway we can get a copy of this app? I would think most DI's would like to have this. Makes me wish I knew more about programming!!

Used as a tool to enter rolls away from the table this app would be great!! I recorded some rolls the last trip out but it was hard for me trying to roll and write my numbers as well.

[Alohajonny]

How about voice recognition software in conjunction...

"New roller"..."Hardways set"..."Seven winner"..."Same Shooter"..."Four-two-six"...etc.

"Who me? Naw, I'm just talking to myself." On second thought, maybe not.

I still would love to have this on my practice table. I'm willing to ante up for some of the time it's going to take to build this app.

[freak]

Thanks for all the comments and interest in this app. I guess something I'd like some feedback on is what people would consider a fair price. It's going to be a lot of work to turn it from a self-serving app to something robust enough to hold up to the masses. I'm not trying to get rich (well, at the craps table I am - not here on the forum) but getting something for my time investment to add to the 401G might inspire me to take this to the next level. Give me some idea of what this would be worth to you. My experience with niche products like this is they rarely work because too few people are interested. Five buyers @ $1.99 isn't going to buy a lot of programming (or a PL bet at a $10 table). So...what would it be worth to have roll tracking in your pocket? Feel free to PM me if you prefer.

Here's the latest revision. I added fields to keep up with our starting and ending bankroll. I'd like to track every bet but that's just too much detail to write in the casino. But starting and ending BR is doable and does allow me to see basic gains and losses. Here's a few screen shots of how things went after a few really nice hands last night at home. L got a nice 22 hand. I scrolled to the end for that screen shot. Start of the hand was 7 - 7 - 5 - 10 - 4 - 8... Gosh I wish we could have caught these hands this past weekend in Cherokee!

[Riggs]

Don't forget the huge number of us folks with Android Google phones!

[freak]

I haven't forgotten you or MP's blackberry. I just haven't worked on those versions yet. Honestly I've barely even looked at the other platforms. Still refining the iPhone version and assessing interest and feasibility of development.

Meanwhile, our home session started with an incredible 36 roll hand last night. Then a few more nice hands. Take a look at the starting and ending bankrolls. Do you think maybe I pressed too much on those last two hands?

[freak]

Added a new review screen in RollTracker to see what numbers are hot. Wow. 49 6s and only 39 7s. Let's hope we shoot like that again this weekend.

[rubin74]

Is there any way to get your program on my Iphone? It sounds great

[heavy]

I believe Freak is trying to get to the point that his program will be downloadable (for a fee) via the internet. This is something he and I discussed beforehand and he has my permission to post about his efforts on the forum. The problem with doing this sort of thing on a small scale is that you have to charge quite a bit initially, just to recoup your investment. I can tell you that determining the best price-point on a product is a pain in the rear. Freak - what are you thinking?

[rubin74]

OK. Please let me know when it is available. If not to expensive I will surely get it

[freak]

At this point I am still just refining it for my own use. I find it immensly helpful because I like having the data from the casino and I don't mind writing initially and then tapping it in over lunch. Based on the comments here it seems everyone wants to use it a little differently. We all have our own style. It's certainly possible that it could go public in the future. But I noticed that WinCraps is only $14.95. And it looks very robust and full featured. I'm not a programmer, I just happen to know how to do a little bit that is perfect for recording roll stats in iPhone. Unlikely I'd be willing to put up with the support hassles for a price point like $15. There are a lot of details that need to be taken care of to make it intuitive to the average user. And the left/right die thing. Frankly, I'd rather use my spare time to play craps. So the biggest push to get me working on this going public might just be a big losing streak that keeps me off of live play for a while. So in summary, maybe but not yet.