Singapore air quality site and why another one?

Let’s be honest - Singapore isn't short on places to check the haze or PSI. Between official portals and various weather apps, the data is definitely out there.

So why build another one?

Because mainstream either focus heavily on 24-hour averages (which don't tell you what the air is like right now) or drown you in cluttered tables and complex charts. When you're deciding whether to go for a run in 10 minutes or keep the windows open for the afternoon, you need immediate, actionable details.

That’s why I created airquality.hongjun.sg.

Here is what makes it different and why it might earn a bookmark from you:

1. 1-Hour PM2.5 & PSI Readings (What's happening right now)

A 24-hour average can look totally safe even if a sudden cloud of haze or localized burning just rolled in an hour ago. My site highlights 1-hour readings front and center, so you get an accurate, real-time snapshot of the air you’re breathing at this exact moment.

2. Trends for the Day

Air quality fluctuates throughout the day. Instead of just giving you a single frozen number, the dashboard shows you day trends. You can quickly see whether conditions are improving, staying steady, or worsening over the course of the day.

3. Fast, Clean & Zero Clutter

No heavy ads, no unnecessary menus, and no lag. It's lightweight and optimized for quick checking on your phone while walking out the door.

Give it a try

Whether you're planning your outdoor workouts, keeping an eye out for haze season, or just prefer a cleaner dashboard:

👉 Check it out at airquality.hongjun.sg.

Good News for North-East Commuters: Free Early Morning Off-Peak Rides Extended!

If you live in the North-East and commute early, your daily transit routine just got a whole lot sweeter. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced that residents in the North-East can continue to enjoy free morning off-peak rides on the North East Line (NEL) and Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT).

This programme is now extended till 26 December 2027.

How It Works

All you have to do is tap and go (no registration required):

• Where: Tap in at any NEL station (from Punggol Coast to Kovan) or any station on the Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT).
• When: On weekdays (excluding public holidays), tap in either:
• Before 7:30 AM, or
• Between 9:00 AM and 9:45 AM.

The waiver applies to the first train trip of your morning journey.

Singapore Bus Arrival Timing: Never Miss Your Bus Again: Introducing Bus Arrival Alerts!

Ever looked up from your phone, realized your bus was pulling away, and had to sprint like you were running the 2.4km NAPFA test?

We are putting an end to the awkward bus-stop sprint once and for all.

Say Hello to Bus Arrival Alerts

Our latest update introduces a feature designed specifically for the easily distracted (aka all of us): Bus Arrival Alerts.

Instead of constantly refreshing the app or staring down the road, you can now set a live ping to nudge you right before your bus reaches the stop.

How It Works

Find Your Bus: Open the app and search for your current bus stop as usual.

Tap the Bell: Look for the brand-new 🔔 bell icon next to your bus service number.

Get Pinged: Go back to your reading, messaging, or video scrolling. We will send a notification straight to your phone when your bus is 2 minutes away.

One Quick Thing Before You Go...

To make sure our alerts reach you, please check that system notifications are enabled for the app in your phone's Settings. If your notifications are muted, we won't be able to give you that crucial heads-up!

Update your app today, tap the bell, and enjoy a much smoother daily commute.

Download [ Singapore Bus Arrival Timing ] from Google Play now!

P.S. If you prefer a web app instead, you may want to try Singapore Bus Arrival [ https://singaporebus.hongjun.sg/ ] too.

Navigating Singapore Made Easier: The Singapore Bus Arrival Companion

For anyone living in or visiting Singapore, mastering the public transport system is a rite of passage. While the MRT is efficient, the extensive bus network is the true lifeblood of the city, reaching into every corner of the heartlands.

However, we have all been there: standing at a bus stop, humidity at 90%, wondering if my bus is two minutes away or twenty. I am excited to share the Singapore Bus Arrival Web App, the perfect companion to the Singapore Bus Arrival app on Google Play.

If you find the web app useful, you will love the convenience of having it natively on your Android device. The Singapore Bus Arrival app on Google Play includes location-based features that automatically show you the stops closest to you, making your daily commute even smoother.

Check out the tools today:

• On the Web: Singapore Bus Arrival Web
• On Google Play: Download the Android App

Introducing the Singapore NRIC / FIN Utility (Generator and Validator)

For developers, data analysts, and QA engineers working within the Singaporean digital ecosystem, handling NRIC (National Registration Identity Card) and FIN (Foreign Identification Number) data is a common task. Ensuring that input data follows the correct checksum logic is vital for maintaining data integrity and providing a smooth user experience.

This web-based tool is designed to simplify the validation and generation of identification numbers through a clean, functional interface.

Key Capabilities:

• Bulk Generation for Testing: Need dummy data for a database migration or a software stress test? The utility can generate valid identification numbers across various series (S, T, F, G, and M) instantly.
• Instant Validation: Quickly verify if a specific NRIC or FIN is syntactically correct. The tool applies the weighted checksum algorithm used by Singaporean authorities to ensure the prefix and suffix match the numeric sequence.
• Smart Suggestions: The tool predicts the remaining digits and the final checksum letter based on the series (S, T, F, G, or M).

Try it out here: Singapore NRIC/FIN Utility

Is this a prelude to plastic bag charge to increase to 10 cents?

Despite the implementation of a mandatory plastic bag charge in local supermarkets in July 2023, recent data reveals that consumers still purchased over 119 million disposable plastic bags in 2024. Interestingly, while approximately 70% of shoppers now bring their own reusable bags to save money and protect the environment, the report notes that overall usage rates have remained relatively flat or even increased slightly. This creates a puzzling contradiction: if the vast majority are switching to reusables, why hasn't there been a significant drop in plastic bag consumption?

To further discourage usage, experts suggest that authorities may need to increase the current five-cent fee to ten cents or introduce more robust reward systems.

Is this news or study a prelude to a mandatory plastic bag charge increase to 10 cents?

 

Recursively List All Files with PowerShell

If you are working with PowerShell and need a fast way to list all files in a directory, including those buried in subfolders, this one-liner will work:

Get-ChildItem -Path . -Recurse -File | Select-Object FullName

This script performs a recursive search starting from the current directory (.), finds all files (excluding folders), and outputs their full paths.