Video Software Review
Visit siteLicense: Free to try; $49.99-54.99 per site to buy
IdleMiner Synopsis
IdleMiner is one of the best data mining applications available. It automates nearly every step so that once you have it configured, your computer will data mine any time that the screen saver is running. It actively manages opening and closing tables at limits of your choice with criteria that you select (such as number of players, game type, and others). If you play at a site on a regular basis and use a Heads-Up Display or table selection software, adding data mining to your list of tools will increase the usefulness of the other utilities.
We recommend IdleMiner to all players who use HUD software on a regular basis.
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IdleMiner Full Review
Data mining software allows you to collect hand histories on tables that you are not playing on. This allows you to have information on people even if you haven't played against them. If you are also using tools such as a Heads-Up Display (HUD) or table selection software, then using data mining programs makes those tools much more effective and valuable.
IdleMiner is an excellent piece of data mining software. It actively manages tables so that there are always a set amount open with a pre-determined number of players. You also choose which limits and game types to mine, with the ability to comb several different types of tables at the same time. IdleMiner comes with a screen saver so that it can automatically run every time your computer is idle. This makes the process of data mining completely painless and you'll be getting fresh hand histories every time your computer is on and you're not using it.
Let’s take a look at some of the details about IdleMiner:
IdleMiner Main Screen
The main screen is where you will actually set up the specifics of the hands you want to mine. For example, your parameters might be to collect No Limit Hold'em hands for cash games with a six-max format and a minimum of five players seated. If any table falls below five people, they will be closed and replaced with new ones. You can then select the number of tables you wish to mine. The number of tables you are able to mine at once depends on the site you are mining. The site’s limit will be IdleMiner’s limit as well.
The main screen is also where you specify the location that you want your hand histories stored. This is usually the same place that PokerTracker, for example, will look for hand histories. You can also monitor some general information about the tables currently being mined from the main screen. At a quick glance, you will be able to tell how many hands have been mined so far, the number of tables running, the average number of hands mined per minute, and how long IdleMiner has been running. Here is a look at the main screen:
Menus
Along the top of the main screen, you will find several menu options. The Site menu will allow you to select with site you wish to use IdleMiner with. In the Game menu, you will select which game type you want to mine.
In the Options menu, you will be able to customize the way IdleMiner operates. More specifically, you can choose any of the following options:
- Automatically Start PokerTracker: When this option is checked, IdleMiner will open PokerTracker and begin to import hands as it gets them.
- Automatically Position Windows: This option will automatically position the windows neatly.
- Quick Close After Screensaver: This option will close IdleMiner and PokerTracker immediately when you come out of screensaver mode.
- Ignore Monster Tables: This option will cause IdleMiner to datamine only regular tables.
- Ignore Speed Tournaments: This option will cause IdleMiner to open only regular sit and gos.
- Manual Operation Mode: This option will stop IdleMiner from opening and closing tables so you can datamine observed hands while playing.
The options menu is very easy to use. Here is a look at the menu:
IdleMiner is a great solution for mining hand histories effortlessly. The team at IdleMiner continuously works to release updates, add new networks, and support their customers with any problems that may come up. IdleMiner is a great product with great support.
One drawback to IdleMiner is that you must purchase a separate piece of software for each site you wish to mine and each one costs $49.99 to $54.99 depending on the package you want. However, this is a lifetime license and if you are playing regularly on a site, it will more than pay for itself in the additional information that it provides you with.
If you are serious about your game, then data mining software is an important tool to utilize. IdleMiner is an excellent choice.
Interview with IdleMiner developers
PokerSoftware.com: Tell us about the origin of IdleMiner.
IdleMiner: We first had this idea in the early days after PartyPoker removed observed hand histories, but before they pulled out of the U.S. The idea was that everyone wants to get hands, but nobody wants to deal with the pain of constantly opening and closing tables. Plus, the time you'd really want to be getting hands is exactly when you aren't at your computer, which is during the night while you slept. Once we started thinking about it, a screensaver that actually grabbed hands for you seemed like the perfect solution. It had some beauty in its simplicity; you set it up and then you forget it exists. It works when you aren't at your computer and you've always got fresh hands when you log in to play the next day. We released a beta on the TwoPlusTwo forums and had such an overwhelmingly positive response that we eventually expanded the IdleMiner brand of products to include Absolute Poker and Full Tilt Poker as well as a wide range of Hand Grabber offerings as well.
PokerSoftware.com: What feedback have you received from customers? How have you adjusted the product accordingly?
IdleMiner: Customers provided great feedback for our products and we have been listening and accommodating their suggestions for years. The most popular requests have always been to add more supported sites and we are now supporting seven of the most popular networks.
PokerSoftware.com: What's been the biggest obstacle to overcome in its development?
IdleMiner: Honestly, the biggest obstacle has been to keep up with the changes and updates of the online poker sites themselves. It has been a lot of work, but we always try to stay on top of the ball and provide a quick turnaround for our customers.
PokerSoftware.com: What separates the program from others like it in the industry?
IdleMiner: The IdleMiner product line can mine hands from several poker sites that aren't supported by any other mining software.
PokerSoftware.com: Talk about the importance of having hand histories on opponents.
IdleMiner: I feel this is pretty much a no-brainier to anyone who takes online poker seriously. You need hand histories if you want to be able to make intelligent and well-informed decisions during game time situations. Most players gather hand histories and use them with a poker tracking software; we simply put out tools to help automate the process.
PokerSoftware.com: What is the future of the data mining industry? How has it changed over the years?
IdleMiner: We find that more and more customers would prefer to buy the hand histories directly rather than spend the time mining them. While it's obviously a lot less work, it also comes at a price.
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IdleMiner Vitals
