12.24.08

Bunkulator Mobile v0.53 Beta Screenshots

Posted in Blog Updates at 6:21 pm by [ b 2 c ]

As I mentioned in the previous posts, the Beta version of Bunkulator Mobile is out and you can test it before the next semester begins.

The latest version as of writing is Version 0.53 (Beta) and you can download it from here.

The screenshot for version 0.53 Beta are added at the end of the post in the following order:

  1. Main Menu
  2. About Page
  3. Settings Page
  4. Add/Edit Attendance Page
  5. View Attendance Page
  6. Date Range Selection for Statistics Page
  7. Statistics Mode 1 (Practicals + Percentage)
  8. Statistics Mode 2 (Practicals + Numbers)
  9. Statistics Mode 3 (Lecture + Percentage)
  10. Statistics Mode 4 (Lecture + Numbers)
  11. Maintenance Page
  12. Speed Test Result

Note that the user interface may change in the final version.

The final version is scheduled to be released somewhere around the end of January 2009.

Please post suggestions, feature-requests and bug-reports as comments to this post.

12.22.08

Beta Release of Bunkulator

Posted in Blog Updates at 7:16 pm by [ b 2 c ]

The Beta version of Bunkulator (Bunk Calculator) is out.

Click the link below to download the application.

Version 0.53 Beta (JAR file)

The next update will also include a Help section that will help you use the application.

But here are a few pointers to begin with:

  • When you first start the application, open the Settings Menu and add your Name, Minimum Attendance Percentage (75), College Start Date (just choose a date about a month before today for testing purposes) and all your Subject Names.
  • In the Add Attendance Menu, the Up key toggles the Lecture, Left Key toggles Practicals and Down toggles Extra Lecture. Press the OK (center key on the joypad) key to move to the next subject. Refer to the image on the attendance screen to help you out.
  • In the statistics page, pressing OK toggles between the Percentage Mode to the Number Mode (Attended v/s Taken) while pressing LEFT or RIGHT toggles between Lecture stats and practical statistics.

Enjoy the application and feel free to comment on this post.

12.18.08

Bunkulator Status

Posted in Blog Updates at 10:36 am by [ b 2 c ]

The Bunkulator Mobile Application which helps you maintain a dirty, yet safe attendance record ;) is making good time as far as development is concerned.

I thought I’d share a little info by showing you guys the basic Design.

Bunkulator Mobile
The Tick Sign represents a feature that I have completed while the Pause Sign refers to a feature which is partially complete and which will be completed later on.
The Start sign shows which feature I’ll be working on next. The Ellipses without any status sign simply mean that these features have not been written yet.
Once the Import/Export Data and the Statistics features have been written, I’ll release the application as version 1.0. The other features will be written after the first release version and will be released as updates (Funny how the Update Checker itself is released as an update huh? ;) )
Meanwhile, you guys can help me test this application. I am looking for people with Symbian S40, Symbian S60 versions 2 and 3 (non-FP, FP1 and FP2), Windows Mobile phones and any other phone that supports Java applications. The Screen Size of your phone should also be 128 x 160 or more. (I’ve put in 2 sets of code in the app. One for devices having display resolution under 200 x 200 and another for those with bigger displays, so I’d like to test them both)
For the really geeky guys, if you are interested in writing this application with me, let me know. This application is written in J2ME for CLDC 1.0 / MIDP 2.0.
I also need people to design funky cool icons for the application.
I’ll upload a test version of the application soon.
Please post suggestions, feature-requests and bug reports as comments on this post.

12.17.08

Fake Dates

Posted in College Updates, Travesty of Life at 5:05 pm by [ b 2 c ]

16122008908

When your notice board has a notice which asks you to pay 9600 bucks within two days, you can’t help but wonder if recession has hit XIE as well.

But the real problem about this notice is the date it was issued (see underline). I read the notice board every time I’m at college and just yesterday I noticed this notice (pun intended) which claimed to have been posted on 2nd December 2008.

I have no idea why they had to fake a date to claim to have given the students ample time to pay the remainder of the fees. Even if the notice was put up 2 weeks late (which is more likely as the paper seemed a little faded), I don’t see why they couldn’t make the date change with a pen or a pencil on the notice.

Let’s analyze the text a little more to realize the amount of desperation of ’recession-hit’ XIE.

Firstly, how is it even possible to get a demand draft in so little time? Secondly, who are we supposed to pay to? There’s nothing mentioned about writing anything in the "Payable To" field. Even if we did take our chances with that field, even a little screw-up would mean a straight rejection by the bank which would lead to the office hunting down our asses for something which is really all their fault.

With an exam that’s only a few days away, I don’t think I’m gonna pay it before the 18th. It’s totally unfair to fake a date and expect the entire college to pay the tuition fees in 2 days. (actually just 1 day)

Unfortunately, to save myself from the relentless nagging I guess I’ll have to pay up before the 18th much against our ethics.

12.13.08

Upcoming Events

Posted in College Updates at 2:10 am by [ b 2 c ]

College Reopens somewhere around February 20th 2009 after the semester exams are over.

In the same month, we’ll be having our intra-college cultural event – Spandan.

In the next month i.e. March, we’ll be having our first inter-college Technical festival which is still yet to be named.

Although I’m happy with the move, I don’t really think two festivals can be conducted in such a short time especially when students have just given their semester exams a few weeks back.

It would be interesting to see how things unfurl and something tells me that I’ll be overworked during the tech-fest chaos.

P.S : The Cell Phone Bunking Calculator development is progressing really well. I still need testers though. Let me know ASAP.

12.05.08

Need Mobile-Phone Testers

Posted in Blog Updates at 5:19 pm by [ b 2 c ]

As some of you might know, I’ve already been using an application that I created when I was in F.E. that kept track of our attendance records so that I could bunk whenever I want and yet maintain 75 % attendance. At times when the attendance list goes against you (yeah, that stuff happens occasionally), I had solid proof to back it.

Anyway, as useful as the application is, it was still a pain to come home and enter all the data on the computer. Some people don’t have everyday access to a computer as well, so they can’t use the application to its full potential.

So, I’ve decided to write a cell phone version of Bunkulator (Bunking Calculator) so that our attendance can be managed on the fly, no matter where you are as long as you have a phone that supports Java. If you don’t know if it does, visit gsmarena.com and check if it does. If your phone was manufactured in the last five years, chances are that it supports Java.

I’m still in the planning and designing phase of Bunkulator Mobile, so I’ll need a few volunteers who can help me test the application from time to time till it’s done.

You don’t need to devote much of your time for this. All I expect you to do is check a particular feature on your phone(s) and email/call me about any problems that you are facing along with screenshots of the same.

To be eligible as a Tester, you should satisfy these requirements:

  • You should have a phone that supports Java. I am more interested in having testers who have Nokia S40, S60 ver. 1/2/3/FP1/FP2 or Windows Mobile phones.
  • If you have a Nokia phone, you should know what S40 and S60 is. If you do not, then I’m afraid you don’t qualify.
  • You should have access to the internet at least once a week. (I don’t care if you surf from your phone or computer as long as you can connect to the interwebz)

That’s all. If you do choose to help me out, I’ll add your name to the application credits.

I plan to finish this mobile application before the next semester commences.

My planned feature-set for Bunkulator Mobile is as follows:

  • Attendance Management for Lectures, Practicals and Extra Lectures.
  • Statistics and Reports (How Many Lectures can you afford to Bunk?, How many lectures should you attend to get 75% ?)
  • Tag-Notes for each Day.
  • Assignment Manager. (Adds Assignment in the phone’s TO-DO list.)
  • Time-Table Manager. (Adds Lecture Timings in your phone’s Calendar. Useful if you have a Series 60 or Windows Mobile Phone)
  • Import/Export Data from other phones. (If you’ve missed out on the attendance info, import from a friend)
  • Update Checker (Updates the Application to the latest version)

If you want to volunteer as a tester, add the following information as a comment to this post or call/scrap/email me.

  • Full Name
  • Your IM username (Yahoo!/GTalk/Windows Live/ICQ/Skype) OR Orkut/Facebook Profile Link OR Twitter id. (don’t enter your email address unless you want spam)
  • Your Phone Manufacturer and Model Name.

Let me know if anyone is interested. I’ll add a small tracker to the Blog Sidebar that displays the development status soon.

Thanks.