Skyfire brings full browsing experience to mobile phones everywhere
Skyfire has just launched their new mobile browser client, and if early reports from the beta are any indication, the company has a real contender on their hands. The Skyfire Browser aims to bring a desktop-like experience to your handset. In addition to providing scaling, zoom, and reformatting duties, Skyfire’s real claim to fame is its support for Flash and Ajax. The software manages to provide usable access to Flash and Ajax assets by relying heavily on external server resources to do the heavy lifting, taking much of the burden off of the limited resrouces on your handset. We’re guessing the results will be somewhat mixed, but any attempt to bring this sort of functionality to the palm of your hand is certainly worthy of a round of applause. The client launched today for Windows Mobile, with a private Symbian S60 beta taking place with plans for a wide scale launch soon.
Tags: ajax, Flash, skyfire, Symbian, Windows Mobile
I have been using this beta for approximately 3 months now and I have to tell you it’s amazing. I haven’t launched Opera, Opera Mini, or IE on my Blackjack II in a while. Over 3g pages load extremely fast and navigation is simple. The zooming in/zooming out of websites is simple and very effective. Rendering is fast, and java works. It’s definitely the best browsing experience you can have on a WM phone. Hopefully they will get the word out about their browser because it’s great…I wonder if Firefox mobile is going to be able to compete.
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I have beem using skyfire in my tmobile Dash for 3 months now its one of the best web browser when use with wifi
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im using skyfire right now reading this article. It’s the best WM browers out. The flash support is great. Head over heels better than any opera browser out.
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when you say “just released their new mobile browser” what do you mean? I’m in the beta 1 and have been using it for a long time, I see nothing on their site saying it is releases as they are asking people to sign up for beta 2 and you will be sent a txt.
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Is this a public release? I was in the first beta group and I was able to access the download of what appears to be a new version but only after I signed in to my beta account on the website.
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To clarify, the original beta CAB file that I still have is named Skyfire_4503_PPC50.cab and the new download is named Skyfire_4721_PPC50.cab. I’m going to install and see what happens next. Will report back.
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About to check it out right now.
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I just downloaded skyfire earlier today and absolutely love the full page browsing. The pan and zoom feature is equally amazing.
I am unable to download opera mini on my phone, so have been waiting for an alternative for a while now. Great job skyfire!!!
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Ok when I went to install the license agreement mentioned beta software but then said the old version of Skyfire will be removed before installation. The splash screen still says Skyfire Beta and it’s version 0.610.4721 so I guess a bit of an update but not the final version.
Maybe I’m missing something?
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Is this compatible with the Curve or just windows mobile?
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Windows Mobile and Nokia only? WTF. They gots no BB love damn!
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From the Skyfire Privacy Policy:
Once you have subscribed to and begin to use the Browser, we will collect information about your use of the Browser on your Device (“Browser Usage Information”). Browser Usage Information includes such information as which websites and programs you access or download on your Device, how long you visit such websites and use such programs, your activities (such as products purchased or advertisements viewed) on such websites, which specific areas of a website or webpage you use and for how long, websites you bookmark, search terms you use, referring/exit pages, browser and platform types, the geographic location in which your Device is being used and information you provide on third party websites. All of your Browser Usage Information is stored together by Skyfire under an automatically generated, random identification number (“ID Number”) that will not be associated with or linked to your other Personal Information. By downloading our Browser and accepting our Terms of Use (which includes acceptance of this Privacy Policy), you have given us your express consent to collect and use Browser Usage Information and tie it to an ID Number.
Um…I would want to use this, why again?
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Is this a re-post from like 5 months ago?
Also, note that Skyfire lies about Skyfire’s capabilities. It claims on its website: “Listen to any music on sites like Last.fm, Rhapsody, Yahoo! Music.”
This is 100% false. They do not allow logins to Rhapsody. They used to, but a couple of months ago they removed it, but did not change the claims on their website. They even acknowledge that Rhapsody doesn’t work with Skyfire when I emailed them about it. Pathetic.
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i’ve been running the symbian beta for about a week now - i posted screenshots on ovi and my personal blog (http://bitflung.blogspot.com — don’t get too excited, i never update it, but the screenshots are there).
i can say, the symbian beta is great. from what i’ve been able to cull out of the functionality, mt take on their method is:
1. logging into the service via skyfire appears to launch Firefox on a remote server
2. all rendering takes place on the remote firefox instance - including video rendering
3. their major effort has been in writing a mobile client similar providing an experience similar to a remote X session (perhaps even based on it).
4. they’ done a good job - even over EDGE my N95 can render hulu.com with a watchable framerate (~10 frames/sec) great resolution and audio with almost no compression artifacts.
5. the only usability issue i have is that the app (beta, expected to have flaws) will crash from time to time - notably when watching flash video over wifi: after 15-30 minutes of a movie at hulul over wifi skyfire will almost certainly crash on me. watching over edge i’ve been able to sit through full length (2hrs) movies.
-bit
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Will this app ever be available for Blackberrys?
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I’m a bit confused at the purpose of this article. i signed up for the beta back in April and ever received an invite. I go to their site to download the “new mobile browser client” and there is no download link and when I register it says I am already registered. Thanks for getting my hopes up.
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Q: I don’t have a Windows Mobile or Symbian phone. Will Skyfire run on my…
A: Blackberry: We are currently investigating support for Blackberry, but it’s not on our immediate roadmap.
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Uhh…Skyfire is not new folks. Thanks for the jolt, but get the news straight, or, at least, current.
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I downloaded the new cab (Skyfire_4721_PPC50.cab) and eally see no difference as of yet. Th one thing I like about opera and opera mini is how the text reflows to fit your screen and this doesn’t seem to unless I’m missing something . . .
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I have been an early Beta user for months, and indeed the download available is a newer file although no info. from Skyfire yet. I downloaded it over the older file from May and one thing I do notice is that flash Video is playing smoother, esp. when zooming in. It used to playback like a still slideshow with audio, I am now getting fairly smooth playback. I have a Blackjack I and have not been able to tell if the problem was just a limitation of the Blackjack due to its slower processor. Right now Video when zoomed is better than before, same 3G signal and speed. Anyone else see a difference? Other differences?
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jaxstate, you must work for skyfire or something. the flash in SF is extremely laggy and the interface is a bit too slow for my taste. opera mobile 9.5 is the best native browser out followed by netfront 3.5. opera mini is awesome as well and don’t forget about the bootleg picsel. i’d take all four of those over skyfire anyday even without flash support.
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I have been an early Beta user for months, and indeed the download available (at least to those of us in the beta program) is a newer file although no info. from Skyfire yet. I downloaded it over the older file from May and one thing I do notice is that flash Video is playing somewhat smoother, esp. when zooming in. It used to playback like a still slideshow with audio, I am now getting fairly smooth (but still a moderate amount of chop) playback. I have a Blackjack I and have not been able to tell if the problem was just a limitation of the Blackjack due to its slower processor. Right now Video when zoomed seems to be a bit better than before, same 3G signal and speed. Anyone else see a difference? Other differences?
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No, I dont work for skyfire, I just like the browser. I dont know what type of service u use, but i have no lag on Cingular’s 3G network with three bars.
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JOJO = Lamer wonder why ther hasn’t ben version developed for blackberry or the ibrick yet
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Skyfire has easily become my default browser. I find it to be responsive, fast and everything I need.
For the price, they can keep tabs on my browsing habits. I could care less if they know how often I visit CNN or other sites.
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