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Steel mobile browser hits the Android Market, comes equipped with an on-screen keyboard

06 December 2008 by Staff Editor


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+9 [13 votes]


It seems as soon as the one new application hits the Android Market, the floodgates are opened and more quickly follow. Opera just recently launched their very famous Brower for Android and now we are seeing other companies release their browsers as well. Steel is the latest to give us more options when it comes to browsing the Internet on our T-Mobile G1.

Kolbysoft’s Steel is based off WebKit just as the G1’s browser and iPhone’s Safari. Eventually Steel will have plenty of great features including multiple windows, downloads, configurations, clear application history and cache and an on-screen keyboard. Yes you read it right, an on-screen keyboard will be added.

This come from behind browser is still in the early stages so don’t expect it to outshine Opera anytime soon, but definitely give it a spin. For those who cannot live without an on-screen keyboard, this just may be the browser for you as there has been no word on keyboards in other browsers at this time. We are certainly happy to see very useful applications come to the Android Market rather than another version of the tip calculator.

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  1. Theirs not an On Screen keyboard yet on Steel
  2. Where exactly is this virtual keyboard? Because IIRC the virtual keyboard isn't going to be added until the new update is out.. When I tap any places with text input, no keyboard comes up..
  3. In the market, the Steel description says it does not support multiple windows. I installed it just now and it rotates, but there is no on-screen keyboard and I can't get any menus to come up. I get the icons at the bottom for forward/back, zoom, add bookmark, bookmarks. When I clicked the bookmark icon, I got a black screen and could not back out of it.

    Ideas?
  4. Just installed it - and I like it. I don't see the online keyboard however. I do like this a lot better than Opera...
  5. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Gardenwife View Post
    In the market, the Steel description says it does not support multiple windows. I installed it just now and it rotates, but there is no on-screen keyboard and I can't get any menus to come up. I get the icons at the bottom for forward/back, zoom, add bookmark, bookmarks. When I clicked the bookmark icon, I got a black screen and could not back out of it.

    Ideas?

    As far as the Bookmarks screen goes - the app doesn't come default with Bookmarks built in, I just added a bookmark and went to the screen, it shows my bookmark.
  6. There's no option to clear cache. So if you're already running low on space, this will eat up a little more space without the ability to clear it.
  7. The above mentioned features are on the roadmap and will be added as they updated as newer visions come out.
  8. Quote:
    Eventually Steel will have plenty of great features including multiple windows, downloads, configurations, clear application history and cache and an on-screen keyboard. Yes you read it right, an on-screen keyboard will be added.
    Keywords: "Eventually" and "will be added"

    Going to be a nice addition once these features are added.
  9. Looks like on screen keyboard will come out with the next update.
  10. The folks who downloaded "Steel" should keep us informed about those updates...

    :-)
  11. Thanks for the word about it not coming with any bookmarks set. As for the bookmarks screen, shouldn't the back button get me back out of the black bookmarks screen and to the browser? It doesn't, and I end up having to go to the homescreen and/or switch to another app to get out of it.
  12. this is nice and all,.. but soft keys ARE coming to g1 as a function of the OS so hopefully the developer will spend time on other areas.

    i like the auto rotate and i hope this is added as a system level function as well.
  13. Its an ok browser a little buggy rite now. I like the auto rotate feat tho. Like someone stated earlier I'm a little afraid 2 use it often since u can't clear the cache yet. All in all tho I c a lot of potential once they add the virtual keyboard and other features. Man I love my g1 more everyday
  14. That app quickly got up to 11mbs for me, so i had to deleted it, i reinstalled it, i guess i'll just keep doing that till they make a way for you to delete your cache
  15. And with no popup blocker, I would get a lot of ads.
  16. Guys,

    I'm working hard on the next update. The bookmark screen is black if you don't have any bpokmarks yet. Use the "+" button at the bottom to save a bookmark.
    Also, you should be able to back out of the bookmarks using the "back" key of your phone, at leats it works for me.
    I have added some config settings (including clearing cache etc), and modified/fixed the url input/focus issues. I will try to post it to the market tonight. It is a lot better to use already.

    Most of the memory used by it is actually the browser cache (I can't set a limit on that). When I clear the cache it gies down to 350kB on mine right now.

    Anyway, look for an update later today, and give it a shot.
    The virtual keyboard will come, just not this time around yet. Sorry.

    Michael
  17. wow that was a poorly written "article"
  18. no offense to you michael because its really not your fault, but i find the webkit too slow for quick web browsing... yes, i love the functionality and its the best mobile browser engine period, but its just not the fastest... if you can find a way to render pgaes faster than google's browser and safari, i would throw some donation money your way
  19. good work on the browser... is there a way to make the app clear the cache when the app closes.. but chosing to do it on your own would prob be better.
  20. Quote:
    Originally Posted by kolbysoft View Post
    Guys,

    I'm working hard on the next update. The bookmark screen is black if you don't have any bpokmarks yet. Use the "+" button at the bottom to save a bookmark.
    Also, you should be able to back out of the bookmarks using the "back" key of your phone, at leats it works for me.
    I have added some config settings (including clearing cache etc), and modified/fixed the url input/focus issues. I will try to post it to the market tonight. It is a lot better to use already.

    Most of the memory used by it is actually the browser cache (I can't set a limit on that). When I clear the cache it gies down to 350kB on mine right now.

    Anyway, look for an update later today, and give it a shot.
    The virtual keyboard will come, just not this time around yet. Sorry.

    Michael
    Take your time (kinda lol), I prefer your browser over the default and opera, it'll be the only one im using when you fix the cache thing, whatever your doin your doin right...keep it up.
  21. Thx for the update so quick, testing it out now
  22. i would like to see some interesting ZOOM options.. like tap to zoom, holding the trakball down zooms in, or longpress zooms in..

    also an option to customize the popup toolbar would be cool.. including button size (i find them a lil small)
    popup time length and what functions to have.. a page up / page down would be slick
  23. How about imorting boomarks? and sorting with folders and stuff?
  24. nice updates looking forward to more
  25. I like this browser far more than opera and a little more than the default. The update made it even better. The screen orientation part is awesome! I too, would like to see some options for zooming... whole page, maybe some longpress options, or others.
  26. Would be AWESOME if we could get compatibility with Adobe Flash!
  27. Any plans on giving the ui a graphic overhaul to make it looks similar to the styling of the caculator? cause that would actually be pretty nice...
  28. is there any way to go between the mobile view of a page and the html view of a page because when i went to espn it gave me the mobile view.

    maybe add that as an option
  29. Quote:
    Originally Posted by illini2011 View Post
    is there any way to go between the mobile view of a page and the html view of a page because when i went to espn it gave me the mobile view.

    maybe add that as an option
    thats up to the website designer BUT i did notice steel has variable user agents, so maybe he could include Firefox or IE as a User agent choice(or just let us define our own custom ones)..(which would then make websites think you are using a desktop browser)
  30. Quote:
    Originally Posted by illini2011 View Post
    is there any way to go between the mobile view of a page and the html view of a page because when i went to espn it gave me the mobile view.

    maybe add that as an option
    I just tried going to ESPN in desktop mode (set user agent to Desktop). It loaded the page like on my desktop (without Flash of course), although it sometimes came back with an empty page (probably related to popups).

    Most major pages these days use flash, so rendering it in desktop mode is far less useful on the phone.


    The only user agent settings that webkit allows are Android, iPhone, or Desktop. Unfortunately, the User agent string can't be set directly.

    Michael
  31. I don't know if this question was answered yet in this thread but to delete cache, clear form data, and clear history are there. Just hit the menu and at the bottom of the list they are there.

    Nice browser
  32. I have been using this a lot, but I do have a question. How do I set the home screen?
  33. Quote:
    Originally Posted by kolbysoft View Post
    I just tried going to ESPN in desktop mode (set user agent to Desktop). It loaded the page like on my desktop (without Flash of course), although it sometimes came back with an empty page (probably related to popups).

    Most major pages these days use flash, so rendering it in desktop mode is far less useful on the phone.


    The only user agent settings that webkit allows are Android, iPhone, or Desktop. Unfortunately, the User agent string can't be set directly.

    Michael

    oops, didn't realize desktop was a choice there. sorry Michael!
  34. Hi everyone,

    check out the website, I've posted the first screen shots of Steel with the virtual keyboard. The code is there, but it's still very buggy, so more testing will be in order. But hey, it works both for url entry and web forms.


    Michael
  35. What website? I can't find the link.
  36. Quote:
    Originally Posted by kolbysoft View Post
    Hi everyone,

    check out the website, I've posted the first screen shots of Steel with the virtual keyboard. The code is there, but it's still very buggy, so more testing will be in order. But hey, it works both for url entry and web forms.


    Michael
    lookin good, sir. keep it up!
  37. So do we have an eta on the update?
  38. I tried it out but I just deleted it . Didn't really have anything over the andriod browser besides the auto rotate. Still nice work. Keep em comming devs.
  39. that keep board looks very good

    cant wait to test it out

    can i be a beta tester?
  40. The keyboard is really not there yet in the looks department. But it works. I did notice however that the smaller physical screen makes the on-screen keyboard harder to type than on the iPhone (am I allowed to use that word here?)/

    You can be a beta tester, if it ever makes it to beta

    Btw, added a blog to the website, to leave comments and feedback.

    Michael
  41. Quote:
    Originally Posted by kolbysoft View Post
    The keyboard is really not there yet in the looks department. But it works. I did notice however that the smaller physical screen makes the on-screen keyboard harder to type than on the iPhone (am I allowed to use that word here?)/

    You can be a beta tester, if it ever makes it to beta

    Btw, added a blog to the website, to leave comments and feedback.

    Michael
    sounds good michael keep up the good job
    really appricate your work and yea if you ever release it for beta testing post a thread about it here at android community many will be intersting in testing this app for you
  42. any new updates lately sir?
  43. You guys at Android Community need to do a MUCH better job checking out the applications before you post your articles about them. This article was pathetic and if someone did that at a newspaper or web news site their head would have rolled. It looked very very immature. A 5th grade kid would have done better. Oh, Merry Christmas!
  44. Luckily this was for free. Imagine if people had paid for this and found out it was like you said. If I had depended on your article and paid for it I would have been pissed off finding it did not match up with what you wrote. It seems you did not even try it first. I do hope you test all the programs before you write them up. Makes me afraid of buying anything you write about when the applications go on sale next month.
  45. so the article made you that mad ???
    geezz I wonder what you think about the G1 !!!!
    lol
    Lighten up
  46. Quote:
    Originally Posted by JohnnyLicious View Post
    any new updates lately sir?
    I've been busy fixing bugs with the keyboard. Also added some new features:
    - homepage can be set
    - phone, email, map links work in the browser now
    - downloading files to sdcard

    I'm still planning for the next release to appear on the weekend.

    Btw, I also thought the article was badly researched. Of course I appreciate the publicity, but I don't like the users to be disappointed b/c the app doesn't have all they expected.

    Michael
  47. great work on the browser =] wayyyyy better then opera ...as of now
  48. Quote:
    Originally Posted by kolbysoft View Post
    I've been busy fixing bugs with the keyboard. Also added some new features:
    - homepage can be set
    - phone, email, map links work in the browser now
    - downloading files to sdcard

    I'm still planning for the next release to appear on the weekend.

    Btw, I also thought the article was badly researched. Of course I appreciate the publicity, but I don't like the users to be disappointed b/c the app doesn't have all they expected.

    Michael
    Nice job michael, i like the updates can't wait for the next verison to be on the market and hope the virtural keyboard isn't far also.
  49. The next version includes the virtual keyboard. It's coming, just 2-3 more days...

    Michael
  50. Great!

    Just in time for my Birthday!

    :~}
  51. The update should/hopefully will be here sometime today/tonight. Word straight from the developers blog.

    http://blog.kolbysoft.com/
  52. Sweet!

    Thanks "fleshdeep"
  53. I have downloaded the steel browser but I dont have the VK? What gives?

    Still a great browser

    never mind it works as expected

    i love this phone
  54. Quote:
    Originally Posted by atlmatt View Post
    I have downloaded the steel browser but I dont have the VK? What gives?

    Still a great browser

    never mind it works as expected

    i love this phone

    Tap the browser, it should pop up from the bottom
  55. updated verison is on the market
    A new release of Steel has been uploaded to the market. It fixes several annoyances and bugs, some severe. Here are the release notes:
    • Address bar now overlays the web page; this eliminates the page jumps when it disappears
    • Fullscreen Mode is a preference
    • Layout Algorithm is a preference
    • Keys on the virtual keyboard are spaced further apart and their sensitive area is restricted to the center; this gives each key a more distinct spot
    • Key input provides vibrate feedback as a preference
    • Default rendering algorithm and viewport size is fixed and behaves like the default browser
    • Downloads are running in the background (one at a time only) and have a progress update; a failed download is still fairly quiet
    • URL input field getting stuck after hitting the Back button is fixed.
    • Cursor jump after pressing “Enter” on the virtual keyboard in multi-line input forms is fixed
    • ‘.’ and ‘/’ keys are swapped
    • “Google Reader” bug has been fixed
    • Image downloads still don’t work
  56. great app! works better than opera mini!
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