News

  • Home > News

        Speedy Windows Mobile browser gets free upgrade

        Jonathan Angel | Date: Dec 9, 2009 | Comments: 1


        Skyfire Labs announced an upgraded version of its free Windows Mobile web browser, claimed to make browsing on a smartphone "just like browsing on a PC." Skyfire 1.5 now includes full VGA support, a full-screen mode, performance enhancements, and updates to the latest versions of Flash and Silverlight, the company says.

        First announced at the DEMO conference in January 2008, Skyfire was touted as the first mobile browser on any platform to be fully compatible with technologies such as asynchronous Javascript and XML (AJAX), Silverlight, Java, and Flash 10. It renders pages exactly as they would appear on a desktop computer, with all the expected content, including embedded Adobe Flash, Apple QuickTime, and Microsoft Silverlight and other multimedia, Skyfire Labs claims.

        Unlike typical Windows Mobile web browsers such as Internet Explorer or Opera Mobile 9.5, Skyfire's browser relies on pre-rendering proxy servers hosted by Skyfire Labs. These servers do the "heavy lifting" of error correction, document object modeling, and page rendering -- then send the results to a phone as clickable images.


        Skyfire 1.5

        According to Skyfire Labs, the newly announced version 1.5 now offers improved performance, plus updates to the Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight plugins employed by its proxy servers. User interface updates are said to include a new full-screen mode, temporarily removing all on-screen "chrome," kinetic scrolling, and improved text entry.

        OUR VERDICT:
        Now more than ever, there's no better mobile web browser, regardless of platform
        Most important, Skyfire now provides native support for VGA and WVGA (800 x 480) resolutions, offered on an increasing number of Windows Mobile phones. In our testing, we found that the new release has eliminated the sometimes-fuzzy text that plagued earlier versions of the browser.

        Background

        While the proxy servers make it easy for Skyfire to support "desktop" technologies, the company's need to scale its infrastructure resulted in a lengthy gestation period for its browser. The product was first available only via an invitation-only private beta, which reportedly impressed testers. In September 2008, it went public with version 0.8, which added better zooming and text entry, among other improvements, but was only open to U.S. testers who were willing to register with the company.

        Later, an 0.85 beta released in December of last year added support for VGA resolution, plus devices such as the AT&T/HTC Fuze, the HTC Touch Pro, HTC Touch Diamond, Palm 800W, and Palm Treo Pro. The company also added proxy servers based in the U.K. to its existing ones in the U.S.

        Skyfire was finally released in version 1.0 in May, supporting WVGA and WQVGA screen resolutions, and adding compatibility with devices such as the Samsung Omnia and Sony Ericsson Xperia X1. Version 1.1, released in August, offered improved page load times, better mobile website support, page up/down shortcuts, plus updated Flash, Silverlight, and QuickTime plugins, according to the company.


        A video demonstration of Skyfire 1.5
        Source: YouTube user "doubleoboyle"
        (click to play)

        Further information

        Skyfire version 1.5 is available for free from the Skyfire Labs website, here. Release notes listing changes in the new version may be found here.

        Skyfire runs on Windows Mobile devices with or without touchscreen displays, and is also available in a version for Nokia's Symbian-based smartphones. A version for RIM's BlackBerry has been promised but is apparently still undergoing closed beta-testing.

        Related stories: