Skyfire (web browser)

Skyfire

File:Skyfire Logo.png
Screenshot  File:Skyfire-starting-screenshot.jpg Wikipedia English Homepage using Skyfire 0.85 for S60 on Symbian OS 9.2
Developer(s)	Skyfire Team
Stable release	1.5 / December 9, 2009
Written in	Unknown
Operating system	S60 for Symbian OS 9.x Windows Mobile 5 & 6 (Including Touch Versions)
Platform	Cross-platform
Size	S60 for Symbian OS 9.x installer SIS: 878kB Windows Mobile 5 & 6 Non-Touch installer CAB: 634kB Windows Mobile 5 & 6 Touch installer CAB: 679kB
Available in	English
Development status	Active
Type	Mobile browser
License	Freeware
Website	Skyfire

Skyfire is a mobile web browser for Windows Mobile 5 and 6 and Symbian S60 v3. On May 27, 2009, version 1.0 was released.

It is the first browser software for Windows Mobile which can view Adobe Flash content and streaming video.^{[citation needed]}

In Skyfire, a webpage is fully rendered by a server separate from the mobile device, similar to the operation of a thin client. This approach is also used by Opera Mini, and is usually faster and supports better rendering techniques, however the browser fails to load simple web pages, such as the mobile version of facebook.

How it works

Skyfire is a web browser which operates by rendering requested web pages on a server using the Gecko rendering engine before sending the rendered output to the browser. The output is sent as images annotated with interactive items such as links and text-fields.

Consequently, the browser is able to use features from a fully-featured desktop web browser without the need to have a powerful mobile device. Features such as Adobe Flash, Silverlight and QuickTime are usable without additional plug-ins on the device, and can be easily updated server-side without the need to update the client.

Supported devices and platforms

Supported Screen Resolutions (pixels) 240 x 240 320 x 320 320 x 240 (QVGA) 400 x 240 (WQVGA) 640 x 480 (VGA) 800 x 480 (WQVGA)

Windows Mobile phones

AT&T (Cingular) 8525 HTC Touch Pro Palm Treo 800w Samsung SGH-i780 HTC Diamond HTC TyTN II Palm Treo Pro Samsung SGH-i907 Epix HTC Diamond II HTC Vox Palm Treo Pro 850 Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 HTC Fuze LG Incite Pantech Duo Sprint Touch HTC S720 Motorola Q9 Global Pantech Verizon PN-820 T-Mobile Dash HTC S730 Motorola Q9C Samsung i910 Omnia T-Mobile SDA HTC Touch Motorola Q9m Samsung SCH-i760 T-Mobile Shadow HTC Touch Dual Palm Treo 700wx Samsung SGH-i1671 BlackJackII Verizon SMT5800 HTC Touch HD Palm Treo 750 Samsung SGH-i607 BlackJack I Verizon XV6800 HTC Touch Pro II HTC Imagio ATT/HTC Pure Samsung Omnia II

Nokia/Symbian phones

3rd edition phones: E-series 51, 55, 61, 61i, 62, 63, 66, 71, 71x N-series 71, 73, 76, 78, 81, 85, 95, 96 5th edition: 5230, 5320, 5530, 5800, N97, N97 mini

[1]

For a complete list of devices visit the support site

Awards

• 2008 Read Write Web's one of six must have applications for Windows Mobile
• 2008 Laptop Magazine's Mobile Maverick Award
• 2009 Webby People's Voice Award for Best Mobile Application

References

Roy. App of the Week: Skyfire Loads Flash in a Flash. The New York Times. May 20, 2009

Kim, Ryan. Skyfire 1.0 Mobile Browser Available Now. The San Francisco Chronicle. May 27, 2009

Chris. Skyfire Aims High In Battle of Mobile Browsers. The Financial Times. May 27, 2009

Herman, John. Skyfire Leaves Beta, Steals Windows Mobile Browsing Crown Gizmodo. May 27, 2009

Kumparak, Greg. Skyfire Burns Through The Beta Tag, Coming Soon For BlackBerry. Tech Crunch.May 27, 2009

Chris. Skyfire Browser Hits Version 1.0 -- But Not For BlackBerry Just Yet. Engadget Mobile. May 27, 2009

Zeman, Eric. Skyfire Mobile Browser Reaches 1.0 Release, Officially Kicks Other Browsers' Tails. The Information Week. May 27, 2009

Jennings, Richi. Skyfire: A Better Handheld Browser? Computer World Blogs. May 27, 2009

Nations, Daniel. Move Over iPhone, Skyfire 1.0 Has Arrived. About.Com: Web Trends. May 27, 2009

Dolcourt, Jessica. Skyfire Mobile Browser Reaches 1.0. The Download Blog. May 27, 2009

Ha, Anthony. Rich Mbile Browser Skyfire Launches Faster Version 1.0. Venture Beat. May 27, 2009

Tofel, Kevin. Skyfire Mobile Browser Hits the Big 1.0. JK On The Run. May 27, 2009

Spoonauer, Mark. Skyfire Beta Review Verdict: Sweet Flash Goodness, Lots ‘o Speed.Laptop Magazine.February 13, 2008

External links

• Official Website