Bitcoin Forum

Hi guys,

Edit: QR Scanning has been added in the form of a third party application.  Android users will need to download the Barcode Scanner application.  iOS Barcode scanning is/will be built into the application.  This may change for Android as well soon!  Thanks for the suggestions.

The largest Bitcoin Exchange, MtGox.com, has rolled out an amazing new feature for Bitcoin and MtGox users which allows you to create voucher codes which can be redeemed by yourself or another user at any given moment.  This feature makes it very easy to pay for things with Bitcoins when you are out and about, or even online.  While decentralized transactions most definitely have its place, there are many times where a central payment processor makes things much easier.

http://mtgoxlive.com/apps/btc_shot11.jpg

http://mtgoxlive.com/apps/btc_shot8.jpg

http://mtgoxlive.com/apps/btc_shot7.jpg

MtGox Live has built an Android and iOS application which helps you use the functionality of MtGox.com from your handheld device.  Nearing version 1.6, thanks to all of the feedback and support from this board, our support forums and IRC (#MtGoxLive), many of the usability changes and issues have been stamped in/out.  In addition, the app already has support for MtGox.com's new voucher system and QR codes!

Now, when you are charged .001 BTC for your meal, you can simply create a voucher for .001 BTC and a QR code will be generated instantly.  The merchant can then scan the QR code and instantly gain the value in his/her MtGox account.

http://mtgoxlive.com/apps/btc_shot5.jpg

http://mtgoxlive.com/apps/btc_shot2.jpg

http://mtgoxlive.com/apps/btc_shot9.jpg

More screenshots, information and support/help http://forum.mtgoxlive.com/showthread.php/3-MtGox-Live-Bitcoin-Trader-Android-iOS-Open-Source (http://forum.mtgoxlive.com/showthread.php/3-MtGox-Live-Bitcoin-Trader-Android-iOS-Open-Source) Android Market Link https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mtgoxlive.trader (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mtgoxlive.trader) Apple Appstore Sorry!  Please wait a few days. (QR/Voucher will be slightly delayed due to Review Duration/Process) Github https://github.com/andysl/Bitcoin-Trader (https://github.com/andysl/Bitcoin-Trader) btc.to http://btc.to/ (http://btc.to/) MtGox http://mtgox.com/ (http://mtgox.com/) Come chat on #MtGoxLive on IRC.Freenode.Net

* To send bitcoins to a bitcoin address, get a bitcoin address shortened on http://btc.to and enter it on the send tab. * To create a voucher, just press create with the value.  If you want a QR code, just answer yes. * If you close the voucher QR on accident, you can goto history (reload if necessary) and click on the item in history.  Instantly you'll see the QR again and the voucher code. * There is absolutely no automatic refresh aside from during an action (buy/sell/send/vouchers/cancel order).  Besides that, you must manually refresh. * Depth is limited to 14 records for buy and sell.  More will be added later.. IF there is demand. * A lot of cool new stuff coming soon.  ;D * Come chat on irc.freenode.net #mtgoxlive

Brought to you by MtGox Live
http://mtgoxlive.com/ (http://mtgoxlive.com/)
We are not affiliated with MtGox.com/Tibanne Co., Ltd. - but we love them. \o/

Looks very nice.

btc.to looks really well done, but do you need their database for look ups? And the site has to be up to get assigned an address?

I humbly suggest looking at the firstbits rule. FirstBits.com is the only convenient place for look-ups right now, but the rule is simple and the only database is the blockchain.

Yes, you do need the btc.to db, which will be publicly available.  We will be doing everything to ensure great and rapid service.  As mentioned in another thread, MtGox Live is also the proud new and official mirror of blockexplorer.com.  We will be adding as much bandwidth, hardware, etc. necessary to provide the best service to all of our users.  Also, there are better ways to advertise your service than to self promote hijacking another's thread. >_>

nice job.

will you support other exchanges if they give the similar voucher system?

Neat, now just missing ability to read QR codes ;)

Watching this thread.

Thank you, personally I feel this kind of app is critical to Bitcoin development.

+1

Fantastic, can't wait for it to come out on iOS! This has been desperately needed. Personally using an exchange as an online wallet makes much more sense to me than trusting the current online wallets.

how exactly does the voucher system work? it sends them from mtgox to an address? I'd love more info, not sure where else I can find it heh

also, as someone mentioned above, I prefer the way firstbits shortens bitcoin addresses, and there is a good algorithm to determine the addresses using the block chain

also, with different settings for the android's screen "size" - like editing the build.prop - everything on the screen is all wacky:

https://i.imgur.com/x7UtQ.pnghttp://imgur.com/9t7Ce.png

1) The voucher system that MtGox.com has implemented is very straight forward.  Visit MtGox.com and checkout the Withdrawal page.  Choose to create a voucher and create a voucher for whatever amount you wish.  If your account is funded properly balance wise to cover the amount of this voucher, then it will automatically generate and provide you a code for the voucher.  The balance will be deducted from your account.  Anyone can then enter this voucher code to "redeem" the value on the Add Funds page.  Hope this helps you understand it a little more.

2) Usually, before editing the build.prop people are instructed that there may be some sort of incompatibilities with the UI on many apps.  There are not that many applications that are tailored for rooted users so this is actually common.  There are serious repercussions as you have seen above when making modifications to the build.prop or any modifications to a rooted android thereof, and one should tread with caution.  Luckily, screen dimensions are a pretty minor thing.  But yes, it's one thing for rooted applications including Rom Manager, Titanium Backup, etc. to cater to a rooted market, but at this time for the benefit of the bitcoin community we wanted to make sure this app worked with the masses first with the functionality that everyone wants and needs first.

However, we'll build a more universally globally dimensionally artistically proportionally compatible APK soon, as we too love rooting and customizing our androids, but for now you may need to revert your build.prop or edit the manifest and rebuild this application first, as right now the primary focus is adding barcode scanning so we can help to make bitcoin bigger, more popular, more accepted, and more awesome for the masses.

Please come find me on IRC if you need assistance sir! ^_^

This is really exciting.

This is something that was desperately needed in the Bitcoin community.

I'm not sure how I feel about an exchange, any exchange not just Mt. Gox, handling central processing and essentially banking duties in addition to it's normal line of work.

I think a lot of people would be happier to see this integrated with an online wallet that is essentially the same as a checking or savings account but not tied to the exchange. However, since MagicalTux and Mt. Gox is currently the only one, that I know of anyway, to offer this type of a service via their API, I applaud the efforts to get this up and running and out the door.

Great job guys!

sounds good, I'm not actually sure if my build.prop is modified, I just put on the leaked gingerbread for my Atrix 4G - and it came up with what I recognized as different screen settings than froyo.  But it being a non-official flash, I just assumed the build.prop was modified by someone else.  Glad to know it will eventually come - if it's any help, I think it may be an issue of designing the UI using regular pixel sizes instead of the Density-Independent Pixels ( http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html ).  A good example showing what's currently happening vs. what should be  happening is further down the page ( http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html#density-independence ).  Probably a bit more to do if you really want to support all kinds of screen sizes and densities.  But yeah, looking forward to this, as of right now it's not to usable for me with everything tiny haha. 

And this voucher and payment system sounds like it may be pretty sweet - I didn't even know MtGox did that.  And to be able to swap coins with people using QR codes would be pretty cool.  It'd be even cooler to be able to do something like Bump - where you tap your phones together and it transfers the BTC.  But yeah QR codes is a nice fallback - that will be able to cross over to other devices/OSes much easier if this gains traction.

QR Code Scanning functionality has now been built into version 1.7 which has been uploaded to the Android Market just now.  Now you can easily create vouchers and redeem vouchers on your Android smartphone.  The iOS version is still in review and will be available very soon.

Please use this thread for application feedback and discussion.

Please let me know application problems/issues here, to keep this thread clean:
http://forum.mtgoxlive.com/showthread.php/3-MtGox-Live-Bitcoin-Trader-Android-iOS-Open-Source

Why can't you make this available via Cydia? Even if you choose to charge for it, Cydia has that option. I'd like to use this instead of waiting for Apple's approval. Fuck them, it's my phone.

No, we are not going to charge. ^_^
It will be available via Cydia soon.  There are a few other protocol specific changes that we are making now.  :)

Incredible work!

But I have one question...

What is stopping me from "modding" this qr code creation and immediately storing (and redeeming) my codes as soon as I "gift" them to another merchant?

Seems like it would be a pretty easy thing to do, no?

Say "here is 0.1 btc for that coffee, thanks!"

And then immediately redeem the copied code I sent them, essentially stealing the coffee?

If the code is used, when they redeem it (right away by scanning the code on your screen), it will reply with an error indicating such.  Then, they would ask you to pay with a valid code I would imagine. (i.e., like a CC decline)

nice to see this.  what is to prevent: "lost my phone, now all my mtgusds are gone!"?

Not one single user credential is saved. (Albeit, of course, this leads to a hassle when re-entering your password but we are working on a secured solution to this.)

Way cool


So who provides this address? The merchant at POS  ???

As a user I see firstbits more of a technique than a service (although there is also a service imlementing the technique) that I hope will gain widespread adoption amongst bitcoin software. I actually wish it was part of the original bitcoin 'spec'. This feature, combined with 'vanity' addresses http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=1387.0 could really help to simplify making payments.

just my thoughts.

The btc.to is simply just a shortener to make it easier for anyone to enter an address into the mobile (sometimes, it's difficult typing on a mobile screen - of course everyone's experience with this will vary).  Whoever is providing the address would visit btc.to and create the address.


^_^ It's definitely a cool idea, and I will be watching it closely to see how it progresses and improves... it was more a matter, I guess, that for one, it's usually better for thread and project progression to keep a thread on topic.  It didn't help that the user was coincidentally the same user who introduced the service in his/her own thread.

So just to clarify, it's a great idea and I hope that he/she can find great ways to spread his/her service and idea, respectfully. I am even considering adding support for this into the app once I learn more.  We just need to make bitcoin as easy (and safe) as possible for everyone, so if something proves to be safe and provide ease, I agree we should embrace it as a community to benefit the community.  ^^

--

And with that sorted - let's hear some feedback on QR.  What needs improvement?  What do you guys like so far?  Please let this thread know!  It's your feedback that makes this possible! ^_^

what am i doing wrong at btc.to?  when i enter my address to receive a shortener, all i get back is a link to http://btc.to/1

I just tried a whole bunch of different addresses, bitcoin address -> shortened and shortened -> bitcoin and it worked very well for me.
Please give me your address and I will try it. :)

i'm using a laptop browser.  is it only meant for Android phones?

It's obvious that you are trolling.  If you wish to prove otherwise, give me the exact URL you are going to.  Please visit http://btc.to/your_address_here and you will receive the short address.  Try that on your "laptop browser."

there are many new users here who miss some basic concepts relating to bitcoin.  this might be one of those situations.  796 posts, probably not one of those situations.



the reason http://btc.to exists is to let you register your bitcoin address with the service and get an an easy-to-remember url for future use.

so to get a btc.co url, you first need to register with them your bitcoin address.

step 1.) http://btc.to
step 2.) paste your own bitcoin address (a new address from your own bitcoin client, or from your ewallet, or wherever)
step 3.) click the go button

you then will be given the url, something like http://btc.to/blah123

you can then give out that url to receive payment, or to use with the mobile app described earlier in this thread.

thank you koin.  f*ck the OP.  

as a Firstbits tester, that site is much more intuitive than remembering an url like this.  all i have to do there is remember the first 5 characters of the same original address.

Here are the instructions on the home page of btc.to:

"How do I use btc.to?
Simply enter a bitcoin address to receive or create a shortened btc.to address. If you have a shortened btc.to address, enter it to receive the original bitcoin address."

nowhere does it say you will receive an URL nor an example of what it will look like.  it returned what i thought was an error.

this is an great example of the stupidity of some programmers in relation to the real world.

this is where Firstbits shines and no, i have NO vested interest in Firstbits.

Looks great!

Now Mt. Gox just needs to give me access to my account again. Two weeks is ridiculous.

I apologize if you feel this way towards me :/

If you view the timeline of this thread, you'll see that I initially, happily, attempted to help you even though I should be busy attending to functionality issues reported to me for the app (on holiday weekend T_T).

When I simply asked you to give me the address, so I could verify the statement you made above, you responded with a completely different question.  Further, the "error" which you had claimed occurred:


This SERIOUS claim is pretty serious.  These claims need to be responded to immediately, and anyone should understand why.

Finally, as you had 700+ posts under your belt, I took the liberty of reviewing your previous posts and I found you to be a very respectable, intelligent individual which did not match with our interaction within this thread.

I hope you can understand why I handled and responded the way I did.  Once again, I apologize if you hate me and I hope that can change in the future.  Please come to IRC and I know that we can be friends man. :o

^_^

actually i don't.  i only put up 2 post questions which i think are understandable and straightforward and you call me a troll.

i hope you consider carefully the points i made above b/c it IS confusing and the wording is not clear.  i spend a great amt of time testing other peoples products around here and making what i hope are meaningful suggestions to help this community.  your impatience did put me off.

as far as your request of me did u ever consider that my address may contain amounts of btc that i don't want to share with you?  i plugged in your example address which is why i get back http://btc.to/1 i assume.  i also tried a couple of other people's addresses which look similarly simple to the point its hard to believe you can identify a hash address from it.


having said the above, its all ok, man.  i know you're just trying to help out the community and i think the mtgox android app is killer.

Looks great, can't wait for the iOS app to be approved.

A good start. Looking forward to a more fully developed client ecosystem.

Any word from Apple?

Not yet, but hopefully very soon.   :-\

Not sure if this is related to the acquisition of MtGoxLive.com by Mt. Gox but I no longer have access to the project on GitHub.

a.) Does anyone have a recent repo?

b.) Will the MtGoxLive Trader continue to be an open source product?

 - http://github.com/andysl/Bitcoin-Trader
 - http://mtgox.com/press_release_20110719.html

any news from apple?

Dear sgornick,

As we discussed on IRC, the source will continue to be available shortly.  Things have been very busy over here due to the recent acquisition and subsequent merge which has been taking place over here.



Dear andrepcg,

We are currently experiencing a few roadblocks due to policies within the Apple App Store which we are aggressively attempting to overcome as we speak.