Jaroslav Stekl - 23/47 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Jaroslav Stekl is a tech enthusiast whose favorite gadgets almost always happen to be the latest Android devices. When he's not writing for Android Police, he's probably hiking, camping, or canoeing. He is also an aspiring coffee aficionado and an avid moviegoer.

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Feb

Say Goodbye To Lite Apps - In-App Purchasing Coming To The Market 'Prior To The End Of This Quarter'

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Android OS, Google

One of my biggest gripes with the Android Market (and mobile app stores in general) is that apps often have lite versions, essentially limited editions of the full app. These lite versions make it harder to find the real app, and a seemingly easier solution would be to simply give users a free app and allow them to buy add-ons for it as they go.

Well it seems Google has finally decided to implement this in the Android SDK via "in-app purchasing." Devs can bake it into their app now thanks to an update to the SDK, though users won't be able to access it until later this quarter.

Feb

Google Body For Honeycomb Official - It's The 'Google Maps Of Human Anatomy'

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Google, Honeycomb 3.0/3.1/3.2

As part of today's Honeycomb- and "Android ecosystem"-event, Google demoed Renderscript - a new 3D graphics library in Android. And part of their demo? A new application called Google Body, aka the "Google Maps of human anatomy."

It looks like it'll be a pretty cool way to explore the human body - just like Maps, you can strip away layers (i.e. skin, bones, etc.), rotate it in 3D, and search for body parts before having them highlighted in the app. Sweet - I can already hear the sound of science teachers across the nation screaming for joy.

Feb

[Updated: OTA Installations Are Here!] Google Announces Android Market Web Store - Online Now At Market.Android.Com

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Android OS, Apps/Games, Google

Oh yes, those juicy rumors about an online version of the Market were true - the "Android Market Web Store," as Google is calling it, is accessible now via market.android.com.

As you can see, a list of featured/best selling games populates the front page, along with a list of categories, a "Sign in" button (~~which, at the time of this writing, leads to an 'invalid request error'~~), and a "Search" function. Once you click on one of the apps, you are taken to a page somewhat like the one in the second screenshot, with a description, links to "Overview," "User Reviews," "What's New," and "Permissions" on top, as well as a list of related apps on the left side and a QR code and a "Tweet" button on the right side.

Feb

Super LCD-Packing Samsung Galaxy SL Official, Could Replace GT-i9000 In Some Regions

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Galaxy SL, News, Samsung

I must admit that I was very skeptical of this morning's Samsung GT-i9003 rumors, simply because they involved a Galaxy S successor with a Super LCD display. This seemed suspicious to me because Samsung has spent a lot of time hyping up Super AMOLED, but it turns out the rumors are true - the Galaxy SL, or the i9003, is now official.

Besides the addition of the aforementioned Super Clear LCD screen, the SL differentiates itself with a 1GHz TI OMAP 3630 CPU; the original Galaxy S devices were powered by a 1GHz Cortex A8 "Hummingbird" processor. The phone will also ship with Android 2.2, 16 GB of internal storage, and a 1650 mAh battery (the GT-i9000 had a 1500 mAh unit) - all in a 9.9mm frame (the i9000's thickness was 10.59mm).

Feb

Dell Streak 7 Review Roundup: 'Meh' Would Be An Understatement

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Dell, Phone Reviews, Reviews, Streak 7

Last Updated: July 24th, 2011

Let's face it: Dell's new Streak 7 isn't exactly the hottest member of the CES Android tablet litter. In fact, the seven-inch tablet's mediocre screen and disappointing performance became painfully visible, even in the short period of time we spent with it at CES.

Well now the early reviews are in - and frankly, they don't give Dell's latest entry into the world of Android much hope, despite its low price tag ($199 on contract) and dual-core Tegra 2 processor. Read on for some of the best Streak 7 reviews yet - as well as some of the best reasons why this isn't the Android tablet you've been waiting for.

Feb

[Updated: It's Back] Android Market Currently Experiencing Downtime - A Sign Of Things To Come?

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Applications, Google, News

Update: And it's back, with no noticeable changes. Nonetheless, we'll be sure to let you know if and when Google announces something Market-related - stay tuned!

We don't want to jump to conclusions here, but it's February 2nd - the day of Google's Honeycomb- and "Android ecosystem"-related event, and the Market is currently experiencing downtime. It makes perfect sense given the rumors we've been hearing about an upcoming update to the Market, though it could, of course, be nothing more than scheduled maintenance. We hope we'll find out exactly what this is about later today - whatever it is, we'll keep you updated (pun intended)!

Feb

Samsung Galaxy S 4G, T-Mobile's Fastest Smartphone Yet, Launching Later This Month Alongside An Expanded HSPA+ Network

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Galaxy S 4G, News, Samsung, T-Mobile

Following several wild conspiracy theories, a smattering of purported leaks and rumors, and an odd semi-announcement a few weeks ago, T-Mobile and Samsung have finally revealed the full specifications of their latest smartphone, the Galaxy S 4G.

While it's not exactly revolutionary, it does pack some unique goodies - most importantly, T-Mobile claims its Samsung ST-Ericsson M5720 HPSA+ 4G modem makes it capable of theoretical peak download speeds of 21 Mbps, whereas the G2 and myTouch 4G are limited to 14.4 Mbps. As an added bonus, T-Mobile just announced that it's expanding its HSPA+ network - it is now available in eight new major metropolitan areas.

Feb

Sony Ericsson X8 And X10 Receiving Software Updates Now, Multitouch Finally Included (For The X10)

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Sony Ericsson, Xperia X10 (es209ra), Xperia X8 (Shakira)

The impossible has happened: thanks to a new software update, the Xperia X10's Internet and Maps applications are finally multitouch-capable. And as if that weren't exciting enough for X10 owners, the update also introduces support for bi-directional languages (i.e. Arabic, Farsi, Thai, and Hebrew) - a nice addition, though definitely not as high up on most users' wish lists as a version of Android more recent than 2.1 (or 1.6, if you're using AT&T's edition of the device).

And here's where things get interesting for X8 users - you guys are also getting this update, albeit with multitouch stripped out. Hey - if it's any consolation, the new software will make your devices compatible with ANT+, which enables support for "things like heart rate monitors."

Rikard Skogberg from the official Sony Ericsson blog says the update is now available via PC Companion, while an OTA is currently rolling out to "most markets." It isn't yet clear whether AT&T X10 users are getting this update, but I certainly hope so - otherwise, Big Blue headquarters might soon be a little...

Jan

Rovio Mobile And 20th Century Fox Are After Your Productivity Once Again With Angry Birds Rio

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Games, News

Rovio Mobile's award-winning Angry Birds. 20th Century Fox's upcoming Rio. A perfect match?

Rovio and 20th Century Fox obviously think so - they've teamed up to develop a new version of Angry Birds based entirely on Rio. They say it's coming to "app stores" in March (hopefully that includes the Android Market), and will feature 45 levels to call its own. Check out this cinema-quality teaser video Rovio released:

Looks like the Angry Birds brand isn't going away anytime soon - which could be either good news or bad news, depending on how you look at it.

Jan

Amazon Accidentally Leaks Pricing Of Motorola Atrix 4G ($150/$600) And HTC Inspire 4G ($100/$500)

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Atrix 4G (Olympus), HTC, Inspire 4G (Ace, Stallion), Motorola, News

The launch of the Atrix 4G is drawing near - yesterday, Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha himself reminded us of this on the company's earnings call, and today Amazon hinted at the same thing by putting up its order page for the phone.

The move probably wasn't intentional (clicking the 'Buy at AmazonWireless.com' button leads to an error message), but it certainly has revealed some juicy details. Most importantly, the on-contract price is said to be a mere $149.99 - not bad for America's first dual-core phone. As for the off-contract price, Amazon lists it at $599.99, which is pretty much in line with what you should expect to pay for a device like this.