March 28, 2016

Android N Developer Preview

Three weeks ago, Google released the first developer preview of Android N. In the past years, they announce the developer previews during Google I/O but this time they did it earlier.



Developers can now download Preview 1, the updated SDK, system images, and tools from developer.android.com/preview. Google has also announced Android Beta. By enrolling devices to Android Beta, they can try pre-release Android versions and automatically receive OTA updates as soon as they are available.

Some of the new features of Android N includes Multi-window, Direct Reply from notifications (via RemoteInput API from Android Wear), Bundled notifications, Java 8 support, Doze improvements, and more! Check out the video below for a summary of what's new:


March 14, 2016

Android for Beginners Study Jams



Google Developers Groups Study Jams is a free series of global, community-run, in-person study groups. Last year's Study Jams focused on the Android Fundamentals Udacity Course. Check out the video summary below:



The second Study Jams series is presented in partnership with Udacity and will follow their Android Beginners curriculum. GDG Philippines is partnering with schools/collleges/universities for the Study Jams. I am facilitating an Android for Beginners Study Jams in Cavite State University (CvSU)-Bacoor for March-April. On April, there is also a tentative Study Jams in Caloocan.

Here are some photos from our first Study Jams session in CvSU-Bacoor last week:




March 12, 2016

Yakult 10-Miler Run 2016

I ran 16k in the 27th Yakult 10-Miler Run at Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex on March 6. This was my first run in a Yakult 10-Miler Run, which is the longest running 10-mile run in the country.



The registration was only 500 pesos for the 16k. It should have been a red flag for me but I have joined free runs before which were good enough.

The route were not good and I'd say dangerous. There were a lot of people and some vehicles on the road and there weren't many race marshalls.

There were also a lot of runners not wearing the official singlets. Some were obviously not part of the run as they don't even have the bibs. In the early part of the run, a runner bumped into a vendor selling something with a light. These non-runners were so visible but there are nobody implenting any rules.

Based from Runtastic, I finished 15.99 km in 2:19:30. Joining this run is the worst decision I have made this year. Hopefully, my next runs will be better. This is now my second 16k and third run for 2016. I'm still hoping I can run more this year.


March 6, 2016

STI App & Running 2016

STI invited me to be a judge in the National Finals of their App & Running Android App Development Competition. The other judges are Gerald Cayabyab from TIP and Jose Bartolome from TechnoTrek.



There were nine teams in App and Running. The participants who came from Malaybalay, Zamboanga,Angeles, Lucena, Caloocan, Marikina, Rosario, San Jose, and Ormoc are the regional cluster champions.


The participants

The teams were given 20 hours to develop a faculty consultation application. We chose as winners the teams from Rosario (first place), Ormoc (second place), and Zamboanga (third place).


March 5, 2016

Bohol Trip

I was again invited to be a judge in the National Finals of the STI's App & Running Android App Development Competition. This year, the venue is in Bohol.

We arrived in Tagbilaran Airport on the morning of March 2. I found out that the competition will be in STI College Bohol in Panglao. It was around 21k (around 30-minute travel) from the airport.

We went to the campus to drop off some things for the competition and went straight to Hennan Resort Alona Beach were we will be staying. Our rooms are not yet available so we had lunch first at the Coral Cafe.We were able to checkin around 2:00 PM. We're supposed to go to back to the campus by 4 but we were told late we can have the day off.

I decided to visit a few places in Tagbilaran in less than 2 hours because I need to get back at around six in the evening. I talked to a habal-habal driver outside so he could tour me to a few places in the city and bring me back.

Our first stop was in the Blood Compact Shrine. The blood compact between Sikatuna and Legaspi in 1565 was the first international treaty between Spaniards and Filipinos. Before going to our next stop, I bought Kalamay and a few keychains.


Blood Compact Shrine

Baclayon Church (Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception) was our next stop. It has been declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum. The church was closed because it is still under repair due to the 2013 earthquake damages. There was an ongoing mass at that time in a covered area (which is the temporary church) when we arrived there. I just took some photos and prayed before leaving.


Baclayon Church still being repaired

The last stop was Bohol Python and Wildlife Park. This was the home of the biggest and longest snake in captivity, Prony. There were other snakes there too. I just took a few pictures.


The biggest and longest snake in captivity

In the evening, we had dinner with STI organizers and the other judges at Trudi's Place Restaurant.

This was my first time to visit Bohol. More photos of my trip is available here. Hopefully I can be back to visit the Chocolate Hills and other places.