MyTranslator Version 1.7 - More Languages Included

Today, we have released MyTranslator version 1.7. More languages have been included including Malay, Japanese, Chinese and Italian.

The app can do all the translation but it cannot speak in all languages depending on its availability. We have also brushed up some coding in this latest version.

You can get the upgrade here.


~mytikus

MyTranslator Version 1.5 - A Talking Translator

Yesterday, we have released a translator app. However, we found it difficult to pronounce the word in French. My tongue is just not that fluent, may be because of budu.

So today, we came out with a new version 1.5. In this latest version, we made the app talking using the text-to-speech (TTS) engine.

For those SPM leavers or students who are going to France to further their studies, this app is very useful for your express learning. The app can pronounce the word for you correctly so that Eric Cantona can understand what you are talking about.

For your info, the app needs internet connection before it can do the translation for you. Also don't forget to install TTS to do the talking. We'll try to include more languages in future upgrade.

The upgrade is free. Get the latest version from our official site here.

en profiter (now I also can speak French),
~mytikus

More New Android App Release - Translator

Just now, we have released another android app, "MyTranslator". This app is for language translation for English, French and Spanish. Here, in Malaysia, English is being taught as second language but we have no clue at all about French or Spanish.

Suitable for students, if you're currently preparing to study in France or Spain, this app is a must study tool. We know students always carry along their phone and with this app, the translator is always in your pocket. It can become your best friend.

As for tourist, if you plan visiting France or watching Messi playing in Barcelona, this app can become a pocket tool when it comes to language translation. You'll have no more problem placing orders in restaurant, hopefully.

With this app, gone are the days when you have to carry along thick dictionary or translation pocket book. Just withdraw your android phone from your pocket, and the translator is ready to assist you.

Again, we've developed it for free and you can download from Android Market.

Kita enjoyyy....
~mytikus

Colorblind Tester for Android Phone

KalerBlind is another android application for colorblind test. This application is based on Ishihara test.

Select any picture from the gallery to test if you can read the number given. It's free and you can download the .APK file here.


~mytikus

App Review - Dog Whistler

DogBuzz is a dog whistler application for android phone. This application has been developed based on ultra sound theory. We cannot guarantee its effectiveness but the app will let you choose different ultra sound frequencies ranging from 12,000 Hz up to 44,000 Hz. Some say the suitable frequency is 20,000 Hz but we do not have any dog to give it a try, even in our neighborhood.

This app also depends on your speaker. We provide alternative frequency (High Pitch) which is actually audible to human hearing and it can be annoying. I've used it to get rid of certain people around me. This option has been tested and it did work. Ha...ha..

Choose any sound frequencies available from the listing and click on the Green Speaker button to start playing the frequency and a progress indication will appear on top of it. The player will play the sound continuously. You can adjust the speaker volume to get most out of it. To stop the player, click on the Red Speaker button and the progress indicator will disappear.

With this app, you can now shoot your neighbour's dog with your android phone but we shall not be held responsible for any consequence, ok. Consult your dog trainer.

You can also test on mosquito and other insects. Some say insects do react to sound frequency it you get it right. Some say it's rubbish because they do not have any ears... haha... funny. Well, it's up to you.

You can download your weapon here to start shooting. It's free.


Happy shooting,
~mytikus

New App Release - Suluh (Flashlight Application)

Mouse Click Ent has released another application for android phone called Suluh. A simple pocket tool which can convert your phone into flashlight. The application will display bright white light on your phone screen.

Useful when you are in the dark with no light, you can run the application to turn your phone into flashlight. You are advisable to have this app for emergency. You may need it when you're traveling in a bus at night or may be when you're out for a movie.

Suluh application is free and you can download it from our official site here.


Roger n out,
~mytikus

App Upgrade - TraffiCam

TraffiCam version 2.0 has been released. This app will allow traffic users in Malaysia to snap pictures of traffic condition in Malaysia using the traffic camera. In this upgrade we have included more cameras such as AKLEH, PLUS, SHAPADU and Federal Route 2.

No charge for the upgrade and the app is still free. You can download the latest .APK file from our official site here.


Roger n out,
~mytikus

Application Review - Kompas

Kompas is a small pocket compass for android phone. This application will utilise your phone sensor to point direction to north. We can't say that it's 100% perfect, depending on other conditions but it does point to the north.

Suitable for traveler, tourist or jungle trekker, the compass is now in your pocket. For muslims, you can use it as a guide to find your kiblat. The app itself does not indicate the kiblat direction but it can assist you during emergency.

This app is also free and you can download the .APK file here.

Enjoy it,
~mytikus

Android ListView Example

This is another tutorial on android application development. It's about ListView where you have several options or list of options for the users to view or select.

We'll show you how:-
1. to create the ListView
2. to add items into the ListView
3. to pop up the item chosen by the user

Step 1
Go to res/layout and open up the main.xml file. Add the following code:-

<ListView android:id="@+id/ListView01"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content">

</ListView>

Step 2
Go to src folder and open up your .java file. Add the following code:-

import android.app.Activity;
import android.app.AlertDialog;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.AdapterView;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;
import android.widget.ListView;
import android.widget.AdapterView.OnItemClickListener;


public class activityTestListView extends Activity 

{
    private ListView lv1;
    private String lv_arr[]={"Option 1","Option 2","Option 3"};
         
    /** Called when the activity is first created. */
    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) 

   {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);
       
        lv1=(ListView)findViewById(R.id.ListView01);
        lv1.setAdapter(new ArrayAdapter<String>(this,android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1 , lv_arr));
        lv1.setTextFilterEnabled(true);
        
        //this line is what will happen when user click on the item
        lv1.setOnItemClickListener(new OnItemClickListener()
         {
        @Override
         public void onItemClick(AdapterView<?> a, View v, int position, long id)
            {
            AlertDialog.Builder adb=new AlertDialog.Builder(activityListView.this);
            adb.setTitle("LVSelectedItemExample");
            adb.setMessage("Selected Item is = "+lv1.getItemAtPosition(position));
            adb.setPositiveButton("Ok", null);
            adb.show();
            }
         });

    }
}

Note:-
~ replace "Option 1", "Option 2" and "Option 3" with your own preference

Run the project and click on any item from the listing.

Roger,
mytikus

Making Simple Toast Notification

We use toast notification quite often, especially during testing. Toast notification is a pop up window to show certain message to the users. Toast notification does not involve user interaction (there is no OK, Cancel, Yes, No etc). It will automatically fade in and out. See the sample code below:-

In .java file, put the following code:-

import android.widget.Toast;

public class activityTestToast extends Activity 

{  
    /** Called when the activity is first created. */
    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) 

   {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);

        //this line will pop up the message when the application is created

        Toast.makeText(this, "Cikucak!!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

   }

}

NOTE:-
1. Replace the work "Cikucak" with any message you prefer.
2. Try LENGTH_SHORT or LENGTH_LONG and see the difference

It's quite simple, right?

Android App Review - TraffiCam

TraffiCam is a small app to view traffic condition in Malaysia. The app will utilise traffic cameras which have been installed by the authority. The condition of the camera is beyond the app control. If the camera is broken, blurred image etc, that is because of poor maintenance. Until now, the camera in SMART highway is still not functioning and we decide not include into the app. We also hope if the authority can get camera with better image, maybe with the capability to zoom in or out. The positioning of the camera is also important so the users can have better view. Well, that's beyond our jurisdiction. We can only help to hook-up the facilities to the people. Maybe they can use it as crime prevention too.

With this app, you can view the following highway or route in Malaysia:-
1. SILK
2. NKVE
3. LDP
4. KESAS
5. PNB (Penang Bridge)
6. SPRINT

There are several cameras installed at each highway/route which you can select to view. Once you've selected the camera location, click on "Snap" to snap the traffic picture. It will snap the latest picture or the moment you snap it. Below is the image captured using camera in NKVE - Bukit Lanjan KM20.9. As you can see, the traffic on your right is quite congested... so, avoid this route.

The app will snap only picture file and there is no video streaming. That will be a lot faster than playing a video file. The picture will also reveal the date and time it's being captured.

The petrol is getting expensive and more expensive. So, avoid wasting your petrol in traffic-jam, ok? Hmmm... if you look in the picture above, how can paid highway also get congested? Sigh! Luckily we're in Kelantan.

Though the petrol price is rising and rising, we are distributing this app for free. You can download the .APK file here

Below is the sample when the camera is not maintained properly. We do not know what has caused the problem but it was taken from Kesas Highway - Kewajipan KM36.8.

Kita enjoy,
mytikus

Playing Audio File from Raw Resources

We'll share some info on how to play audio or video which can be stored in application's resource folder (res > raw).


Step 1: Put the audio/video file in (res/raw) folder of your project. If the "raw" folder does not exist, create one.
Step 2: Put in the following code:-

Private MediaPlayer mp;

mp = MediaPlayer.create(this, R.raw.audiofilename);
                    mp.setLooping(true);
                    mp.start();

Note:-
1. Change the audiofilename according to your own audio file name.
2. When you mp.setLooping(true), the audio file will play continuosly until you stop it.

Roger,
mytikus

How to Use Button Click

Button is the most commonly use function to fire up an event or action. We'll show an example to use button with android. How to get an action when you click on a button?


In your main.xml file, create the button like this:-

<Button android:id="@+id/Button01"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:onClick="myClickHandler" 

    android:text="Click Me"/>

Then in your .java file, put this code:-

public class buttonclick extends Activity
{
    private Button btnclickme;    

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
    {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);
        btnclickme = (Button) findViewById(R.id.Button01);

        btnclickme.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener()
        {
            public void onClick(View v)            
            {

                 //what happen when click            

                 //put your code here

             }
         });               
    }
}

How's that? Hope that's helpful.

Radio Button and Radio Group

You use radio button to allow users to select certain item from several options. What if you want to allow user to select only one item? You can use Radio Group.

In the layout folder, open the main.xml file and put in the following code:-

<RadioGroup android:layout_width="fill_parent"

android:layout_height="fill_parent"

 android:orientation="vertical"
 android:id="@+id/QueGroup1">

            <RadioButton android:text=" Option 1..........."
            android:textColor="#ffff00"
             android:id="@+id/RadioButton01"
             android:layout_width="wrap_content"
             android:checked="true"
             android:layout_height="wrap_content">
             </RadioButton>
            
             <RadioButton android:text=" Option 2.........."
             android:textColor="#ffff00"
             android:id="@+id/RadioButton02"
             android:layout_width="wrap_content"
             android:layout_height="wrap_content"></RadioButton>

</RadioGroup>

User can only select one item (either Option 1 OR option 2) from the Radio Group. Hope that will help.


Roger,
~mytikus

Start Blogging

We start blogging to share info and knowledge on android application development, news or other related info. We did some reading about android sometime around November 2010. To date, we have developed 8 apps for fun which are currently available for free.

Our official site is at www.mytikus.com where you can get all the official info, news, download or updates. We tend to blog to share our knowledge and info about android with the rest of you.

Roger,
~mytikus