SkyFire 1.0 is out!

Mobile web browser Skyfire 1.0 is easily the best phone browser out there. I was already using the previous version regularly to stream my favourite movies and to view flash sites. The only thing holding me back previously was speed. In version 1.0, browsing the web is much faster and the app feels a lot more snappy.

Websites load on this browser, and things just work.




Skyfire CEO and co-founder Nitin Bhandari demonstrates the 1.0 browser features.


With 1.0, we improved navigation, speed and predictability. Here’s a snapshot of some of the highlights:
  • Thumbnail interaction. Click on links immediately after the page loads without having to zoom in. This is especially helpful for high resolution phones, and for familiar sites where you know right away where you want to click. It makes getting to the content you want on the page simpler, quicker and more efficient.
  • 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 as well. Best of all: when you zoom in you will get readable text instantly.
  • Enhanced navigation. When you navigate back or forward, you return to the last viewport (e.g. zoom level and portion of the page). Thus eliminating the need to pan and zoom into the section you were viewing on the previous page. We remember even the viewport when you select a page from your history. We have also added shortcut keys, (9) for forward and (7) for backward navigation.
  • Improved page handling. AJAX-intensive sites such as Facebook and Gmail work smoothly. If larger parts of the page get updated then the client will more quickly and accurately reflect this.
  • iFrame handling. We have a solution for full-width iFrames in Skyfire
  • Fast start. Put Skyfire to work before the start page is even loaded . Now, you can type a search or URL in the Superbar while Skyfire is connecting in the background.. Plus, we’ve improved connection performance.
  • Reconnect to last state. Leave Skyfire in the background Skyfire will disconnect to preserve battery life. Once you come back to it (after minutes, hours, days) it will reload the same page to the same zoom level and focus. Thus you can continue right where you left off. When you exit and start again, Skyfire you will always land on the start page.
  • Connection helper. Skyfire provides suggestions when a network connection cannot be established. If it’s due to a network configuration (common in GSM land), then we provide suggestions to help out. This is especially useful if you are with a carrier/data plan that places restrictions on certain APN configurations, which interferes with Skyfire.
  • 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 available.
  • Improved RSS feed search. Find your favorite custom RSS feeds through the improved Add-Feed feature, found under the Customize menu on the start page. Search by site domain, feed URL, or even topical keywords.
  • Easier sharing of RSS items from start page. We’ve exposed a simple “Share this article” link below each RSS story displayed on your start page to make it easier to share interesting items to Twitter and Facebook
  • Remember last connection (Symbian only). Skyfire can now remember the last connection for you, so you will not have to choose a connection every single time. In addition if you want to change the connection type while you are in Skyfire you can do so.

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