Copyright © 2011 Gecko Software, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Stocks Futures Forex Product: TradeMiner Review Gecko Software, Inc. 271 N. Spring Creek Pkwy. Ste. A Providence, UT.  84332  USA Phone: 800-862-7193 Email: gecko@geckosoftware.com Website: www.TradeMiner.com Product: TradeMiner, Software for finding seasonal cycles, trends, and patterns in Stocks, Futures & Forex. Requirements:  WinXP/Vista/7/Mac OSX/Lynix 200 MB free hard disk space, 1024x768 screen resolution (minimum) Larger recommended. RAM 2GB (more is better).  Requires Internet connectivity for installation, but not to run the application itself, CPU: 2.4 GHz or higher. Price:  $197.00 each version, Stocks, Futures & Forex, no monthly fee, one time a year data cube update $69.00 each version. -------------------------------------------------------------------- by Thomas J. Hansen, PitNews Magazine -------------------------------------------------------------------- TradeMiner is available for Stocks, Futures & Forex, although this review primarily covers TradeMiner Stocks, while reviewing each version, I found that other than the actual data within each version, there were only small differences between the three different user interfaces that pertain to each individual market, such as pips in Forex, and points in Futures; these subtle differences should make for a very short learning curve between the three packages, and allow users to quickly get up and running between markets. The general concept of the software is that markets have a tendency to repeat themselves over and over again, creating recurring price patterns, trends and market cycles.  Therefore, by performing a historical back test of the market reveals markets that have proven to be highly repetitive in nature, and by utilizing this repetitive nature to our advantage is meant to give traders who use this information an additional advantage over the market. The design of the software is very intuitive, easy to grasp, and simple to use.  Well laid out and easy to install.  You can accomplish a number of tasks with just a few mouse clicks, and all the tools are close at hand and well in view. A row of tabs across the top enhanced by a row of buttons down the right hand column provide all the user inputs required to make TradeMiner perform its task. SETUP After purchasing the software, you are immediately presented with a clear and concise graphical webpage, where directly below the 3d cover image you find the installation button.  Clicking the button begins the installation process, which is done over the Internet.  The software has been written in Java, a very popular graphical software design platform that allows Java based programs to install and run on all three operating systems, Windows, Mac, and Linux.  I'm using the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system for my testing. Although Gecko Software has chosen not to allow clients a free trial of TradeMiner, they do offer a longer than usual 60-day money back guarantee.  I find that laying down $197.00 for 60-days should not be any trouble for individuals that are in this line of business, if it is, then they should probably not be trading stocks, futures or Forex anyway. Keeping with their graphical user interface, TradeMiner is very visually appealing, maintaining their emphasis on visual investing.  The motivation for creating this software follows a somewhat unique path.  The company's president contracted with a popular market analyst to create this package as an exclusive tool for their own private use.  When one of the members died in a swimming accident, the CEO of the company decided to start selling the software in an attempt to help fund further development of the software.  Although TradeMiner is fully functional, and performs its intended duties in a masterful manner, Gecko Software mentioned that they are always open to additional suggestions. MAIN SCREEN There are really only two screens within TradeMiner.  The first screen, or tab, is the "Mining" or research tab.  This is where you enter your search parameters.  Gecko Software has created a simple paragraph method of entering the variables needed to perform the search.  The entire software program is designed around the theme of mining, therefore the paragraph that requests the variables is playful, yet professional in its approach, it reads as follows:  "Prospect for trades in the month of: (A drop down window is presented for you to select the month that you are interested in researching.)  Find trades that win at least (provides a text box to fill in a percentage of performance.) % of the time, showing (drop down box with buy, sell, and both within.  This allows the user to select if they want TradeMiner to show them short recommendations, long recommendations, or both.)  List trades that last at least, (There is a check box and a text box that allows you to specify the minimum number of trading days, or de- select the box if you don't want to specify a minimum at all.) trading day(s), but no more than (another check box and text box allows you to specify the maximum length of time you want the trend to last, or de-select the box for no amount of time specified.) trading days.  Mine at least (text box, allowing you to specify the minimum number of years that the trade must have been profitable.)  years of history."  At the end of the paragraph is a 'Dig Now!' button that puts TradeMiner to the task of searching through a rather large historical databank.  The stocks version, according to the President & CEO, Lan Turner, includes the DOW Industrials, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq 100; which are the cream of the crop high volume stocks. RESULTS:  In my first attempt at using TradeMiner, I filled in the following parameters:  I searched for stocks that were 95% winners, (I started with a high standard, if I do say so myself…I'll be surprised if I get any results at all at this rate.) in the month of March, for both buys and sells (longs & shorts), that lasted a minimum of five trading days, but no longer than 30 trading days, and must show as profitable during at least the previous 15 years; then I clicked the "Dig Now!" button. The company claims to have developed a masterful way of searching through a 3D data cube, which is their proprietary method of storing and searching the market data using brute force mathematics and artificial intelligence.  Admittedly, the search was extremely fast, as I've reviewed other software with market search capabilities that can literally take hours; TradeMiner does have a "Cancel Dig" function as well, in case you change your mind half way through the search. With a stop watch, I timed my first TradeMiner search, which took exactly 77 seconds to return my results, and literally two to five seconds for my subsequent searches.  Apparently, it's the artificial intelligent component of the software that makes each subsequent search move more quickly with each additional search. The first thing you notice when TradeMiner returns the results, is the quantity of opportunities listed next to the search bar.  In my case, TradeMiner returned a results listing of 11 opportunities.  Directly under the listing, you see a table of results, with the first column being lit up with green, yellow and red lights. Mr. Turner, explained that they score each return with a ranking between 0 and 5, with five being the highest score you can receive, and a green light for every return with a three or higher score.  He went on to explain that the ranking system was based on which returns gave the highest profits over the shortest amount of time, with the least amount of risk. The first return in my list of stock opportunities was the symbol ADBE, or Adobe Systems, and was automatically selected as our first stock in the list.  Having it selected also provides you with four thumbnail charts on the right column, and one large chart on the bottom column.  Clicking the small thumbnail chart pictures rotates the larger chart at the bottom of the chart, representing different views of the displayed data; a total equity curve, a yearly histogram representative, a risk vs. reward pie chart, and a listing of each historical trades detail. According to the stats kicked out by TradeMiner, ADBE Systems Inc., has risen in price between March 11th and April 8th, (29 Calendar days) 100% of the time, over the past 16 years, for an average return of 17% or $1,665.99.  This trade scored a perfect five on their ranking scale.  Double checking the 2011 chart, I confirmed that once again, this year, 2011, ADBE system, held true to this 100% rise in price during this particular time frame. This is TradeMiner's claim to fame, being able to identify historical winning trading opportunities, and making future trade recommendations, hopefully putting the odds more highly in your favor. By clicking on any of the title headers, I'm also able to sort in ascending or descending order, I can click and drag any column to a new location, and can scroll vertically and horizontally across the data set to reveal more column statistics than can be listed here in this review, but suffice it to say, they've included every statistic I could think of and a dozen beyond, both in dollars as well as percentages.  The results are all based on a $10,000.00 account size, so all stats are weighed equally one against the other. In the very first column labeled "Add," we are given check boxes that can be clicked and are used to select which opportunities are moved over to the portfolio view, listed as "Step 2: Portfolio." In the portfolio tab, this is where we see the selected results from the Step1: Mining Tab.  I can continue to do further scrutiny by clicking headers to sort and refine my search.  As a last step, I clicked the "Enter (Open)" date column header, and sort my results in ascending date order.  Clicking this header puts the trading opportunities in order with the next upcoming opportunity at the top of the list and so on. Clicking the "Print" button, gives me a quick print preview of my selected portfolio, and allows me to print both a detailed printout of each individual opportunity, or a summary of all the opportunities in my portfolio. EDUCATION "In my opinion, education is the key to your trading success."  Quoted by Lan Turner, and with TradeMiner, Mr. Turner holds true to this statement, including a third tab, dedicated to and labeled "Education."  When clicking this tab, you are taken to a complete website dedicated to educating you on not only how to trade using TradeMiner, but a number of additional videos that teach advanced Fibonacci, Elliott Wave, Stop Loss Strategies, Why Trade Futures, Why Trade Forex, and much, much more.  Gecko Software, in my opinion, truly follows the old rule of give the customer way more than expected. SUMMARY In summary, I would like to say, that I am very impressed, TradeMiner is a wealth of knowledge in a compact, easy to use application that stands the test of time, and is unlike anything we've ever seen!"  With the ability to run on PC's, Mac, and Linux, in my opinion, Gecko Software has just hit another home run with TradeMiner. Gecko Software, Inc. is located in Providence UT. Thomas J. Hansen is a Staff Writer for PitNews Magazine. (Reproduced with permission.)