NRIC Checker Android Application

So I’ve recently started developing Android applications! First application published was my NRIC Checker application for which I have a web version on (http://nric.biz) since 2009!

Many of my friends asked “Why the hell do I need this?”

There are many apps out there which you don’t essentially need.

This is a utility, a tool, to help people who have to deal with data entry.

I’ve got people telling me that they need to key in NRIC numbers into their computer database from handwritten forms and it proved to be a nightmare when they encounter handwriting that is illegible. Admittedly, my web application, though still being used, isn’t the most convenient way to access on the go.

With recent motivations of becoming an app developer, here you go … my NRIC Checker application on Android:

NRIC.biz NRIC Checker

 

iOS version is coming soon .. just need to sort out some limitations I faced with getting my app launched and approved for the App Store 🙁

HDB Renovation Loan

I don’t know about you guys but during our massive short-listing of Interior Designers (ID), almost all of them could not answer simple questions / concerns about renovation loans.

A search on Google showed that renovation loans in Singapore are capped at S$30,000 per person or 6 times the monthly gross salary. I was concerned because renovations nowadays can cost above S$30,000.

Since none of the IDs could give me a good answer, I decided to approach the banks myself. Now, from my research, I know that Maybank and RHB currently offers the best rates (2.88%).

So for example, a loan of S$30,000 (assuming you earn S$5k SGD a month) under the 2.88% interest over 5 years (60 months) will cost you S$34,320 at the end of the loan period. That’s a whopping S$4,320 in interests! Still, this is much lower than a personal loan which can go up to 18% per annum!

Wait, we’re not done yet. What if your renovation is going to cost S$40,000? Further checks with the banks revealed that you CAN actually submit a joint application with somebody related to you*. The most common type is of course the husband-wife joint application where both parties must submit a list of supporting documents to prove their relationship, their joint-ownership of the house and of course, their income. This way, it is more likely for couples to afford a reasonable renovation.

Before I forget, there is a 1% processing fee charged by the bank on top of interests. This 1% will be deducted from the loan amount so a loan of S$30,000 will see S$300 deducted as processing fee. Don’t forget to budget this 1% as your ID will see a shortfall in the loan amount and ask you to pay cash for it. Ask your ID to include both you and your joint-applicant’s name on the quotation. This quotation, signed by both you and the ID, must be submitted to the bank together with the loan application.

One last thing – most IDs will ask for milestone payments for example:

– S$2000 deposit (To start drawing your 3D diagrams, etc)
– 30% (less deposit) -Upon commencement of work
– 40% (less deposit) – Upon completion of wet works
– 25% (less deposit) – Before commencement of carpentry
– 5% (less deposit) – Upon completion of all works

Do note that the banks will charge you money for each additional cashier’s order that you need. RHB charges S$10 per cashier’s order (1st one is complimentary). Joint-applicants will obviously have two free cashier’s orders but will still need to fork out S$20 for the additional 2.

I hope this article on renovation loan helped you 🙂

* Certain conditions apply – check with the banks!

#AsusGate : Vulnerability in certain ASUS routers

This isn’t new but has recently surfaced because of a hacker group’s posting of almost 13,000 IP addresses of Asus router owners suffering from this vulnerability. Asus took very long to fix the bug and had made no effort to tell customers to update their firmware to apply the fix. 

According to security researcher Kyle Lovett, the following Asus router models are vulnerable. (Unless you have already updated your router firmware)

  • RT-AC66R Dual-Band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router
  • RT-AC66U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router
  • RT-N66R Dual-Band Wireless-N900 Gigabit Router with 4-Port Ethernet Switch
  • RT-N66U Dual-Band Wireless-N900 Gigabit Router
  • RT-AC56U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1200 Gigabit Router
  • RT-N56R Dual-Band Wireless-AC1200 Gigabit Router
  • RT-N56U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1200 Gigabit Router
  • RT-N14U Wireless-N300 Cloud Router
  • RT-N16 Wireless-N300 Gigabit Router
  • RT-N16R Wireless-N300 Gigabit Router

If you suspect that you are affected, quickly disconnect all USB storages from the router, disable AiCloud as per the screenshot below and contact Asus for assistance.

Asus Customer Product Support
Tel: 6636 9163

Operating hours:
Mon~Fri: 09:30-17:30
Sat: 09:30-12.30
Closed on Sunday and Public Holiday.

 

Sources and references: 

– http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57619079-83/asus-router-vulnerabilities-go-unfixed-despite-reports/

– http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/526942

– http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/02/dear-asus-router-user-youve-been-pwned-thanks-to-easily-expl

– http://seclists.org/bugtraq/2013/Jul/87

– http://nullfluid.com/asusgate.txt