Released: Skyfire 1.0

Earlier this yr, nosotros took a look at the Beta version of the mobile browser Skyfire for Windows Mobile Bear on and not-Touch Screen phones.  We liked the potential Skyfire had but found it to be noticeably slower than the contest.  Well the developers over at Skyfire have been working diligently to iron out all the bugs on the mobile browser and today released Skyfire 1.0 for Windows Mobile Touch and non-Touch Screen phones.

According to Skyfire,

"Skyfire remains committed to providing everything the PC web has to offer in a mobile feel with blazing fast speeds. For the first fourth dimension, consumers can utilise their phones to picket any web video and live events, stay connected with friends, share web pages instantly, and use the full-featured PC versions of their favorite websites. Skyfire is the only mobile browser to support popular web standards and plug-ins such equally Wink 10, Silverlight two, Ajax, Javascript and more, then the rich media on websites work on phones just like the PC. Known for its speed, Skyfire launches quickly and loads web pages quicker than other mobile browsers."

"Skyfire users can customize the start folio with RSS feeds from their favorite websites. In add-on, they can integrate their Facebook and Twitter accounts to import condition updates and tweets, and hands publish their status to these networks. Skyfire is the only mobile browse to share and publish any web folio to Facebook and Twitter networks with one click."

Follow the break for some screen shots and our impressions on the Skyfire 1.0.

The major drawback of the Beta version we tested earlier was the lack of zip Skyfire presented in that pages loaded noticeably slower than other mobile browsers. Skyfire 1.0 page load speeds have improved and the browser moves along with a picayune more zip than the Beta.  In downloading the WMExperts website on my AT&T Fuze using Skyfire, the complete download took 14 seconds. Using Opera Mobile, the download took 20 seconds.

While page load times improved there is a noticeable slow down whenever you pull up the browser's menus, go to enter text on a website (due east.g. search fields) or checking an option box. It took 3-5 seconds from borer on the WMExperts.com search field and being allowed to enter the text. These delays aren't consistent but noticeable.

Granted, download speeds aren't entirely dependent on the application with network speeds and reception playing a pregnant role in the scheme of things. But the delays in entering a username or keyword in a search box aren't noticeable with other browsers (if they exist at all).

Skyfire does a lot on the server side to reduce the workload on your phone and information connection. The delays in inbound text into search, username, password, and other fields may exist related to the server side work Skyfire does.

Key Features of Skyfire one.0

While functioning has improved from the Beta version, here is some of what Skyfire 1.0 offers:

• Thumbnail interaction: Now you tin click on links immediately after the folio loads without having to zoom in. This enhancement is especially helpful for high resolution phones, and for familiar sites where y'all know right away where yous want to click.
• Improved Zoom: Double-tap or double-click to zoom over any element, including links, images or videos. The zoom interaction is smoother and more responsive too.
• Enhanced Navigation: When you navigate dorsum or forrard, you render to the last viewport (e.chiliad. zoom level and portion of the page). Skyfire remembers even the viewport when you select a page from your history. You also have shortcut keys, (nine) for forward and (7) for backward navigation.
• Fast kickoff: Skyfire changed both the sequence and behavior of the browser launch so you get started as apace equally possible. You tin type a search or URL in the Superbar while Skyfire is connecting in the groundwork.  Beginning up was noticeably faster with ane.0 than the Beta versions.
• Reconnect to last state: When you lot leave Skyfire in the background Skyfire will disconnect to preserve bombardment life. When you restore the browser it will reload the aforementioned page to the aforementioned zoom level and focus.
• Enhanced search results: Google results now include video, news articles, local results all blended on a single results page and ordered by relevance. Vertical search categories are still bachelor.

Known issues with Skyfire 1.0

Skyfire does accept some known bug with this release which include:

• HTTP Hallmark (e.g. the native browser dialog that asks for username and password when going to certain sites) is not supported.
• Text entry into Flash or Silverlight plug-ins is not supported.
• Skyfire does not back up 'local storage' fashion for plug-ins. Thus the following volition be affected: Netflix media player, Pandora media histrion, Rhapsody media player.

Overall Impressions

Equally expected, Skyfire 1.0 is a much ameliorate awarding than Skyfire Beta. The awarding itself is very stable with no crashes, lock-ups, or ghostly possessions noted in the pre-release copy that was tested.

Skyfire'southward homepage has the potential of being a good, one-finish source for news and data with the ability to add RSS feeds, Facebook and Twitter integration, and other news feeds. The entire layout of the home page from the RSS feeds to the tabbed history and bookmarks pages is a nice design feature.

Skyfire's speeds are upward to a respectable levels and a vast improvement from the Beta.  There were some delays in folio loads just no slower than whatsoever other browser.  Unfortunately, interaction speeds (using text fields such as "search", checking options, customization commands, etc.) are noticeably deadening. Information technology also took a considerable amount of time to pull up the browser's history.

Skyfire has taken a major pace in the right direction with Skyfire ane.0. If the "interactive" delays tin can be addressed it would be hard to overlook Skyfire for your mobile internet needs. Equally it stands now, Skyfire 1.0 is worth trying.  Y'all tin can check it out yourself by downloading a gratuitous copy here.

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/released-skyfire-10

Posted by: davisanney1978.blogspot.com

Share this post