User Interface

Subsequent to the first time startup, whenever you activate Credit Usage (either from your notification menu, if you haven't disabled this feature as per the Advanced Configuration topic; or from your application list) you will be presented with a screen similar to that shown to the left. Most of the interface elements should be self explanatory; but we will go through them anyway.

At the top of the screen, the current billing period is displayed; with buttons to the left and right which take you to the previous and next billing periods respectively. At any time you can return to the current billing period using the Menu → This Month option as described in the next section. Note that you can also slide your finger from left to right accross the screen to move to a previous period; and vice fersa to move to the next period.

The next visual feature is the usage bar; which shows a break down of the month's usage. If you have used less than your included credit; this bar will not be completely filled. If you exceed your credit, the bar will be rescaled such that it remains completely filled (and not overfilled). The white arrow above the bar shows you where your should be if you were to ration out your credit usage evenly throughout the month. While you have not exceed your included credit, this white arrow doubles as a monthly progression indicator; for its position is also rescaled if you exceed your included credit, so that it continues to show where you should be with your usage. In the example shown to the left, it is clear that this user has been overusing their credit considerably.

The next element is a breakdown of a user's credit usage. Note that filters are shown in the section corresponding to the type of thing they filter; and that user of the phone shown to the left has underutilised his free calls. You will, of course, also have noted that a user's usage is colour coded: blue for voice, green for sms, orange for mms and purple for data. This colour choice is consistent throughout all Credit Usage widgets.

The last element of this screen is the usage summary bar at the bottom of the screen. As per the labels, the first field is the Plan Usage field. It shows you the amount of "virtual credit" you have used. For example, if you have used $300 of a $330 included cap, this value would show $300, as to the left. If you had exceeded this cap by $40, it would show $370.

The next element of this bar is the Excess Charges field; which tells you how much excess charge you have accumulated in this billing cycle. For example, if you had a filter which said that data was always charged as an excess charge; the user to the left would have an $8.40 excess charge. Note that this quantity is not summed into the Plan Usage field.

The last field is arguably the most important; which tells you how much money Credit Usage estimates you will have to pay this month for your phone service; and is labelled Total Charge accordingly. This is the sum the Plan Usage and Excess Usage fields, less the amount of included credit your plan has.

Pressing the menu key will reveal a menu similar to that shown to the left. The top row of options duplicates the functionality of the top bar; with the addition of a shortcut back to the current billing cycle.

The second row has allows you to access the preferences in order to change your plan configuration and modify Credit Usage settings; and access this documentation. The last entry in this row exposes more functionality, and is shown in the next section.

Pressing Menu → More will bring up a menu similar to that shown on the left.

The top and most interesting feature in this list is the Usage Log; which gives you an item by item breakdown of your monthly usage; which can be directly compared to your bill. This is show in the next section.

The second entry allows you to review the initial tutorial. The third allows you to view the changelong. The second last to view the known bugs found in Credit Usage on the offical credit usage bugs site; and the last shows some information about Credit Usage; and is depicted in the last section.

This is the Usage Log found in Credit Usage; which scrolls horizontally and vertically; to give an item by item list of all your phone usage; which you can directly compare with your bill. This may help you to find errors in your bill; or probably more likely, help you to fine-tune your Credit Usage settings.

In the future you will be able to export this Usage Log.

This is the About Dialog; which shows, at the moment, fairly minimal information about Credit Usage.