How to: Desktop-like browsing on a handheld

Skyfire is an intuitive new web browser that looks set to provide the discerning mobile internet user with a desktop-like browsing experience

Operating System: Windows Mobile, Symbian S60 (3rd edition)
Difficulty: Beginner

Skyfire is a free mobile web browser designed to enhance the web experience on Windows Mobile and Symbian S60 (3rd edition) handsets. Although still in beta, this intuitive application lets you shop online, watch Flash video, listen to internet music and stay connected to your social network just like you can on a PC. Skyfire could well prove the cure for iPhone envy, so read on and we will walk you through the installation and give you a taste of just what Skyfire has to offer the discerning mobile web user.

Step 1: Download Skyfire
The first step is to download and install Skyfire. Visit www.skyfire.com, click the Get it Now link and choose your OS and preferred method of download. The Windows Mobile version of the installation program is a CAB file and this will need to be transferred to your device

Step 2: Installation
Open File Explorer and browse to the location of the CAB file. Tap the file and follow the instructions that guide you through the installation process. When prompted, our advice is to choose storage card rather than main memory as the preferred location.

Step 3: Blazingly fast
Perform a soft reset, boot up your new browser and familiarise yourself with the main menu and navigation buttons. The browser is easy to use and pages load remarkably quickly. You can now tap into the full power of the internet, without many of the restrictions and limitations associated with the current ‘mobile web’.

Step 4: Go anywhere
Skyfire certainly outshines IE Mobile and its only real competitor is Opera Mini. The interface is intuitive and the content and layout of every page is preserved. The browser can be used to undertake a range of tasks, including secure online shopping.

Step 5: Desktop-like browsing
Navigate to some of your favourite sites and you will see that Skyfire brings a desktop-like experience to your handheld. To see what we mean, navigate to www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer and use the BBC iPlayer to stream one of your favourite BBC television programmes to your handheld

Step 6: Easy to use
In fact, Skyfire lets you perform all the online tasks that you would normally do while sat at the desktop. For example, you can get maps, check the news headlines, view weather forecasts, check flights and keep in touch with your friends via the popular social networking sites.

Step 7: Social networking
The browser supports a number of technologies and these include Ajax (asynchronous JavaScript and XML), QuickTime and even Microsoft Silverlight. This means that intensive sites such as Facebook load quickly and without errors.

Step 8: Flash video
One of our favourite features is the ability to be able to view both streaming and full Flash video on a handheld. Skyfire supports the desktop PC version of the Adobe Flash application, so sites that use this popular software to deliver music and video are rendered on the small screen of the PDA in a way that mimics the screen on a PC. To see what we mean, point your new browser to www.youtube.com and watch some of your favourite video clips.

Step 9: Handy features
Skyfire includes a host of built-in features. Your favourite sites are never more than a tap away courtesy of easy access to your browsing history and bookmarks (Fig 9). As a bonus, you can even bookmark your individualised view preferences.

Step 10: Simple search
On a final note, Skyfire makes the task of searching the internet a whole lot easier. The optional Today screen plug-in lets you perform a search or enter a URL from a single field. The most commonly used search words are suggested as you start typing and results are presented with easy to read tabs for each category (web, images, videos and maps).

FAQ
Question: Exactly which Windows Mobile platforms are supported by Skyfire?
Answer: The current beta version is compatible with Windows Mobile 5 Phone Edition and Windows Mobile 6 and 6.1 Professional. PDAs running Windows Mobile 6 Standard are not supported and neither are WVGA devices.

Question: Which Symbian phones run Skyfire?
Answer: You can install Skyfire on any Symbian S60 (3rd edition) handset. Supported devices include the Nokia E-Series and N-Series range of smartphones.

Question: Does Skyfire support the use of Wi-Fi?
Answer: You can indeed use Wi-Fi to browse the internet, but for obvious reasons, a data plan is recommended.

Popularity: 3% [?]