PHostpaid

A few days ago, I published an update to PHostpaid, a utility app for postpaid mobile phone services in the Philippines (Globe, Smart, Sun Cellular).

PHostpaid is one of the first Android apps that I have developed. I started developing it back in 2011. That time, I just bought a Nexus S, and had a new Globe postpaid plan. Nexus devices do not (yet) have a SIM tookit and Globe does not have an app for it. To check my balance and unbilled charges, I have to always text some keywords to a number. It was annoying for me so I decided to build a simple app for myself. I was also thinking of an actual app to build that time.

A few days after developing and using the app for personal use, I decided to publish the app on Google Play Store. Before publishing, I wanted to add the other mobile operators in the Philippines (Smart, Sun) offering postpaid mobile services. I had to do extensive research (including asking existing subscribers from these telcos) to be able to update the app.

I was never that good in choosing titles for my articles so I was not sure how to name the new app. The name I chose was just "Postpaid" and I just changed the first letter P to PH (for Philippines ).

In the next few months, I had published a few updates to the app. The last update I had was in the third quarter of 2014. I decided to update the app now with the Material Design toolbar and handling Marshmallow permissions.

If you want to try the PHostpaid app, download it now on Google Play Store.

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Originally published at Jomar Tigcal's Blog

Android Gradle Extension

Have you tried browsing the Android reference pages and tried to use classes only to find out you would need to add some lines to your Gradle dependencies? Sometimes, I do; that's why I developed a Chrome Extension for this.

Android Gradle Extension is a Google Chrome extension that adds Gradle dependency to use for Android API class reference pages. Users can then copy the Gradle dependency text and use it in their codes. There is also a button to copy the text to the clipboard automatically.

Android Gradle Extension works on class references at developer.android.com. In the future, I'll add reference pages for Google APIs for Android. If you are an Android developer, this Chrome Extension might be useful to you. You can download it now on Chrome Web Store. There might still be some bugs though in the extension. If you find one, please let me know so I can fix it.

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Originally published at Jomar Tigcal's Blog

Sweldong Pinoy At 4

Sweldong Pinoy is now 4! The first version of Sweldong Pinoy was released on April 3, 2012. You can check out highlights of the past 4 years at http://timeline.sweldongpinoy.com.

Sweldong Pinoy was originally made as a salary calculator for Filipinos in computing net pay, withholding taxes and contributions to SSS, PhilHealth and PAG-IBIG. Since then, we have added additional features (like OT, night differential, etc). We have also added versions for Minimum Wage Earners, RHQ/ROHQ employees, government employees, etc.

Other than Sweldong Pinoy, we have also developed Thirteenth Month, a tool for Filipinos in computing their 13th-month pays. We are also working on iOS versions of the existing Android apps (sorry for the delay! for the meantime, you can go to sweldongpinoy.com on your iOS devices). We'll also be launching a new app that could help you in budgetting your salary.

Thanks to everyone who have used and who are still using our apps. There are still a lot of things to be done and we welcome your messages, comments, and suggestions. Email us at info@sweldongpinoy.com or send us a message.

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Originally published at the Sweldong Pinoy Blog