Just2me

My Body Building Regime - Only 12 minutes a week!

2011-12-20T21:47:00.000+08:00

I was looking for a body building regime.. for obvious reasons..

At first, I was considering a very popular program - P90X. However, upon finding out more and watching some of its workout videos, I felt very discouraged, because

you need to spend 1 hour a day,
you need to do it for 90 days,
and the workout is very very tough.

I am lazy, busy, and prefer playing Xbox 360. Need I say more?

Luckily, I was introduced to Body by Science, a research based program to get results you want in 12 minutes a week.

Body by Science

The book is very lengthy, with all the sciences and explanations. So I am providing the gist here:

The purpose of exercise is not to make the weight go up and down; it is to achieve a deep level of inroad, to reach the point where you can NO LONGER move the weight but still keep trying.

When your muscles reach a state where it is fully exhausted, yet you are still trying, it will recover and get stronger. That is body building. To do that, you do NOT need to train 1 hour every day (in fact, that is harmful to your body).

Body by Science recommend their Big 5 Workout, and doing it only once a week (which takes only 12 minutes). The 5 workouts are:

1. Seated Row

2. Chest Press

3. Pulldown

4. Overhead Press

5. Leg Press

How to perform the Big 5 Workout

Do each of the workout for 2 minutes, with a 30 sec rest between each (total 12 minutes)
Choose heavy weight (around 80% of the max you can)
Do each repetition very very slowly (10-20 sec per rep)
Breath continuously and naturally
Do until you reach the point where you can NO LONGER move the weight, but still keep trying. If the weight doesn't move, you are doing it correct!

The last point is especially important. If you don't reach that point, then you should choose a heavier weight, or do it slower.

Let your body rest and recover for the rest of the week.

PS: I have not finished the book, and yet to go to the gym to try it. However I am so impressed that I want to write down the steps first, to remind myself what I have learnt.

Hoiio Wave Wins National Hackathon

2011-12-20T09:24:00.000+08:00

Last post I mentioned teaching a 1 day Android workshop for 48hacks.. joining into the fun, Hoiio formed a team too. We indulged into hardware hacking for 48 hours, and emerged as one of the 5 winners!

I am also very proud to show you the video presentation that I directed and edited, for our prototype – "Hoiio Wave".

There are also some photos from the hackathon.

Android + Arduino Workshop For 48hacks

2011-12-15T00:06:00.001+08:00

I conducted a 1 day workshop on Android and (connectivity to) Arduino in preparation for 48hacks.

48hacks is a 48 hour hackathon organized by NTU Venture, so if you read this before 16th Dec 2011, you can consider joining the contest.

Following are the slides that I used for the workshop. It covers

setting up Android development environment (Eclipse IDE, Android SDK and ADT plugin),
Android programming foundation (Activity, UI), and
connecting Android to Arduino via Bluetooth modem (aka FireFly)

Android Workshop

View more presentations from Junda Ong

A New Template: Dynamic Views

2011-11-23T23:05:00.001+08:00

I changed the template for this blog to a new template provided by Blogger.

It’s a all new template, totally refreshing, and seemingly modern. That’s because it is built with the latest web technology (AJAX, CSS3, HTML5), and built by awesome Googlers!

There are now 7 different views for the blog – classic (the default), flipcard, magazine, mosaic, slidebar, snapshot and timeline. I don’t know if I even need so many different ways to view my blog, but it is definitely a good show off!

With the new template, I also created a new Page about myself!

If you want to know what the previous template look like, this is the old skin.

My 2nd Hackathon in One Month

2011-10-23T17:01:00.001+08:00

I participated in Lenovo Android hackathon last month, and here I go again, hacking an app without sleep for 24 hour!

This time, I joined THack, and created Guidebnb, an app for finding local guides. I have introduced the app here, and talked about development experience at here.

For this blog, I want to share photos (:

Post thoughts:

Venue at sentosa resort is lovely
Pizza, red bull, coffee, banana, etc.. I am pampered
Sleeping beside the pool, under the stars, is shiok

Steve Jobs died today

2011-10-06T23:21:00.001+08:00

Following his death, I have friends and colleagues who said things like:

"What is the point of earning so much yet you cannot live to enjoy"

"He retired too late, and didn't get to enjoy"

"Why work so hard when you cannot bring the wealth to your grave"

They probably never knew this. Steve Jobs was enjoying his work, enjoying his mission, and enjoying the products he creates. Retirement probably never crossed his mind. He didn't do it for money either. Just look at how he, an Apple CEO, fix a yellow gradient.

I will remember you for how you changed my life.

mypaper: Execs use skills to do good deeds

2011-10-03T21:44:00.001+08:00

In 2010, I was interviewed by mypaper for socially conscious apps, and SG Blood was introduced in the newspaper.

This time, an article is written about how working executives use their skills to do good deeds.

For my case, I used my mobile development skills to create SG Blood - an iPhone app for blood donations.

Oh, and they included a photo of me and my app!

Please download SG Blood for your iPhone too!

A Doctor Who Develop Apps

2011-09-27T09:51:00.000+08:00

I attended HP WebOS Connect in Singapore hoping to know about the future of WebOS (and also carrying a hope of winning a TouchPad through a raffle).

Unfortunately, they were tight lipped about the WebOS future during a firesale. (Neither did I win any of the 10 TouchPad..)

However, something left me with a deep impression that night.

There is a presenter, Dr Alan Teh, a Consultant Haematologist, who talked about WebOS that night. At first, I thought it is a mistake.

A doctor, as in a practitioner, talking about mobile development? How does that make any sense?

It turned out Dr Alan Teh is no doubt a doctor, who took an interest in coding rather than golfing. He developed WebOS apps simply because he wanted to use them on his Palm Pre.

I presume he is at the age of 50, with family, and with a busy occupation. Yet he had created more than 20 apps! Full time developers ought to be ashamed for not developing more apps than Dr Alan Teh!

Lenovo 24hr Android Hackathon

2011-09-19T09:30:00.000+08:00

I participated in Lenovo Code-a-thon, an event which let developers fight it out over 24hr, while creating Android tablet apps.

The last time that I joined a 24hr hackathon was 4 years ago, in a game development competition.

This time, I joined as a one-man-show team, and develop on Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet.

But Levono hackathon did not disappoint.

The event was very well organized – nice classrooms to work in, good auditorium for presentation, lots of helpful staff, and awesome lunch/supper/breakfast/snacks! The only peeve I had was with the Wifi on very slow ADSL.

And I was proud to finish Poll On The Go! Some screenshots:

Unfortunately, I did not win any prize :( But it is still a great contest for me :)

Spending first half of my time to get my server-end working, then starting on my Android app only after midnight, and finally presenting in the morning... all without a wink of sleep... I felt like superhuman!

My Review of Review in Haiku

2011-09-06T01:54:00.001+08:00

Long winded movie review
Is anyway useless
So makes haiku awesome

reviewinhaiku.com is by MG Siegler.

Watch how he reviews movies like Transformer 3 and Source Code.

Nicely done.

Groupon Copywriting is Awesomely Absurd

2011-08-30T14:37:00.000+08:00

I recently read a post about Groupon and the value in their copywriting.

Indeed, Groupon has a very unique character when it comes to copywriting. Every deal is carefully drafted, injected with creativity, and adhering to their Groupon's Editorial Manual.

Like today's Waraku deal, it is no exception.

Aside from being the greatest piano ballad ever written, chopsticks are the favored instruments of the world’s most skillful eaters. Practice your forkless feasting with today’s Groupon: for $20, you get $40 worth of Japanese cuisine at Waraku at Marina Square.

That is awesomely absurd.

Yet, I always like to read each deal's introductory paragraph. That reminded me: All mandate copywriting should emulate Groupon's.

Singapore Presidential Election

2011-08-25T09:03:00.000+08:00

This Singapore Presidential Election is harder to make a decision than the General Election. I am still undecided over the 4 candidates..

Diverting away from the serious issue, I have created a voice polling app..

You can also ask 5 friends the question. And the result is here ^^

iTunes Connect Auto-ingest Tool

2011-08-24T13:19:00.000+08:00

I realized today a lot of traffic is going to my post on iTunes Connect Tools for Sales Reports.

It has got to do with Apple release of their auto-ingest tool, a new tool that let developers automatically retrieve their daily and weekly reports.

~~Strangely, that isn't any instructions in the email sent to developers.~~ The instructions are here.

Let me explain in short how to use:

Download from http://www.apple.com/itunesnews/docs/Autoingestion.class.zip and unzip
Open your command line, go to the directory with Autoingestion.class

The command to download is:

java Autoingestion username password vendorid report_type date_type

Username & Password: Your iTunes Connect account
vendorid: It is a 8####### unique number which you can find in iTunes Connect.
report_type: Sales
date_type: Daily or Weekly
report_subtype: Summary or Opt-In
Date: In YYYYMMDD format

For example:

java Autoingestion ongjunda@me.com mypassword 81234567 Sales Daily Summary 20110824

Fed up with Government Websites that support only IE6

2011-08-10T09:05:00.015+08:00

I was helping a teacher to file her claims on PaC@Gov, after which I wrote Pac@Gov website sucks.

I was helping her not because she doen't have a computer. It is because her Mac's Safari/Chrome/Firefox cannot display Pac@Gov website. It also doesn't work on another laptop with Window's IE9.

I can help only because I own a 5 year old laptop running IE6..

It is pretty disgusting to see PaC@Gov on Chrome.

Come to think of it, all Singapore government websites are as terrible in browser support, and also having a caveman website design.

If Singapore leaders is serious in connecting with our generation, they should first improve their websites.

Send thousands of SMS using SMS Spreader

2011-08-05T07:30:00.000+08:00

I have created my first app using Google Spreadsheet + Google Apps Script + Hoiio API.

The result is Google Spreader – A Google Spreadsheet app that helps you send thousands of SMS.

To use, simple open up this spreadsheet template and make a copy.

Unsubscribe M1 Roaming is a Hassle

2011-07-31T17:50:00.000+08:00

One year ago, I subscribed for M1 mobile plan. Automatically, it comes with a roaming package, free for 1 year. Thereafter, it will charge you without notice!

I wished there is a easy way to uncheck a box in the website for unsubscribing. Of course I knew better that I have to call in to discontinue a service.

I called in their customer service number (1627), keyed in half a dozen responses to their IVR (interactive voice response) system, and finally unsub-ed.

That took me 2 min.

Good thing with M1: At least I don’t have to wait to talk to a CSO just for unsubscribing.

Groupon Suspended my Account

2011-07-29T09:10:00.000+08:00

Following my post on cheating groupon, Groupon sent me an email to express their disappointment, and they rightfully suspended my account..

Many friends asked me: Why not just keep quiet and continue exploiting?

This is because

Coming from a engineering background, it agitates me when there are glaring loopholes. Comparing to Hoiio referral program, I think Groupon is not being vigilant in their business.
I can’t hold it.. I want to share the cheat with you!

Discontinue Service Responsibly – LivingSocial Books

2011-07-26T08:33:00.000+08:00

I had been a avid user of LivingSocial’s Books app on Facebook. This is because I felt it is a rightful app on Facebook, to share books with friends.

Unfortunately, the app is discontinuing. I saw this notice:

Their team and company have redefined a new direction, in which the app is not in the plan. They can’t support the app going forward.

As such, they are liberating their services and users’ data, and recommending another similar service – GoodReads.

I am disappointed, but also applaud them for being responsible to their users.

“Dr Tan Cheng Bock” iPhone App

2011-07-24T13:21:00.001+08:00

Dr Tan launches his Singapore presidency campaign with an iPhone app!

The app was reported to be created by four volunteers – Appsolutrends I think.

I have a confession: I cheated on Groupon

2011-07-22T09:21:00.000+08:00

For every deal I buy from Groupon, I create a new account, and earn a $10 referral fee.

I don’t know how long this can go on until Groupon fix the loophole..

But it is absolutely a good deal, such as buying a $10 for $20 worth of MPH products, and earning an extra $10.

I am now a Developer Advocate in Hoiio

2011-07-06T08:47:00.002+08:00

Since a couple of months ago, I have took up the role of Developer Advocate in Hoiio.

This Developer Advocate role is new in Hoiio. It is new, because we have a new product - Hoiio API. With an API as a product, we now have a new customer segment – developers.

Since I have always have being a developer, and loves working like a ninja developer, I understand the developers.

What is a Developer Advocate?

A developer advocate is a person who helps developers in using a development product. In my case, I help developers who use Hoiio API to build communication apps.

For example, Google has its team of advocates.

Ahem.. the Google team also includes my role model – captain timothy.

So what do I do?

I talk to developers
I introduce our API and how it helps developers
I provide my experience in building communication apps
I provide technical help

I do the above, and anything that helps developers.

If you think I can help you, please contact me. That is my job.

The pleasures all mine to help (:

My Reflection of 10 days back in Army

2011-07-01T23:57:00.001+08:00

It is my 3rd ICT (in-camp-training), which I spent 10 days back in army. Some reflections:

Achievement: Finished 5 books

The only achievement that I can list is that I finished 5 books, in a span of 10 days. The best book I finished is:

If you do not know, I have a goal of reading 8 books a year, so 5 is a lot!

Signal training

My vocation is signaler. Going back to ICT includes revising how to use the radio, and setting up physical line exchange.

I can never come to grip with one thing – that very old technology. This is year 2011, and we are still using radio technology that are in the 80s. I can’t reveal much, but I can tell you the equipment are huge, heavy monster.

Yes I know it is ruggedized, but hey, can’t it be also light, and work in a modern way?

How army waste our time waiting

When I was an active NSF, I probably wasted thousands of hours, waiting for something to happen; waiting for end of the day routine orders, waiting for commanders to give briefing, waiting for someone/something..

These kind of waiting is painful, because you cannot do other things while waiting. You are either standing up waiting, or sitting down waiting in a restrained area.

Now that I am an inactive soldier, army is still wasting my time waiting. In this 10 days, these are some instances where I wasted my time:

Waiting for end of the day routine order to be printed, then read to everyone. Waste 45 min each day.
Waiting for all soldiers to finish doing a survey. Waste 90 min.
Waiting for bunk inspection. Wasted 180 min.

Call me arrogant. But I wondered: In another 5 years, when I am in my prime, and being impatient to earn all the money in this world, all these waiting will be a big insult.

iPad in Army

This is a popular topic raised when I was in ICT - introducing iPad to SAF soldiers.

You can also listen to mrbrownshow humorous podcast on how the iPad could be used.

I welcome the adoption of good technology. But more importantly, upgrade our signalers equipment first!

I can activate iOS 5 beta for you, my friend

2011-06-08T22:21:00.001+08:00

Update: I have reached my quota; sorry I can’t help further (:

I tried iOS 5 beta on my iPad for a day, and it felt stable enough for daily usage.

I thought I should help some of my friends activate iOS 5 beta, since I am a fortunate iOS developer. If you do not know, an iOS developer can activate up to 100 devices (which I still can activate another 70).

As such, I would like to help any friends, or avid iPhone users, to install iOS 5 beta now, and not wait until Fall 2011.

All I ask for is a simple return: sign up for testflightapp, and be my app tester in the future.

After signing up, use your device to open up the welcome email from TestFlightApp. Login, and I will know your device UDID.

After that, I will activate your device, email to let you know, and you may follow these instructions to install iOS 5 beta.

Don’t Make Me Think

2011-05-24T09:08:00.000+08:00

Don’t Make Me Think! is one of the best books on web usability.

Whether you are a web designer, developer, project manager or CEO, read this book if you ever want to dictate how your website should look.

These are what I gathered from the 12 chapters:

1. Don't Make me Think, is the first law of usability.

2. You don't need to know everything, just like Sherlock Holmes doesn't know that the earth travels around the sun.

3. Conventions over innovation in a webpage design

4. Make choices mindless for users. Don't give them hard to choose options like "Home" or "Office".

5. Omit needless words. Happy talk must die. Instructions must die.

6. Webpage elements: Site ID, Section, Sub-section, Local Navigation, Search, Breadcrumbs.

7. Homepage

8. The farmer and the cowman

9. Usability testing with 10 cents a day

10. Usability as a common courtesy (mensch). Goodwill will diminish and increase.

11. Accessibility, CSS and You

12. If what your advise to your CEO bear no effects, ask Steve Krug to send your CEO an email, in the name of an author of a bestseller book on web usability.