So it appears that the internet has blown up about the Skyfire download being pulled off of iTunes in the US. This comes as a huge surprise to us.  Skyfire is charging users $2.99 for downloads; unlike for windows mobile and android where it is FREE! This was happening so fast that Skyfires servers crashed, and resulted in Skyfire pulling the app from download.

Articles floating around the internet have shown that it was a global pull from the app store. Skyfire pulled it because so many users wanted flash and features not offered in Iphones native browser Safari; when they all began to download the system went haywire. Skyfire then pulled the app because they did not want to give users sub-par experience. This also comes to shock that if and when they become stable and reopen downloading, this might continue to happen because of an overload of users wanting/using.

Should this surprise you – our current Iphone users? Do you guys really miss the ability to watch flash videos on your devices? As it appears you guys do! Should this be something that Apple fixes in the very near future, or do you think that third party is the best way to go? Let us know and your fellow PPCG’s how you feel on this subject, as we hear more news we will update this article. Stay tuned for more Skyfire/Iphone related news!

Source: engadget.com & mobileburn.com

We already knew Skyfire was working on an Android version of their popular Windows Mobile browser, and that it was in Alpha testing. Now, on the same day that the Droid Incredible hits Verizon stores, Skyfire has released a public beta, available in the Market and on the web. The big news is the new SkyBar, which allows for automatic Flash video streaming, where normally there would be broken video links. It also has some social networking integration.

The browser doesn’t actually play Flash videos as such – it uses a remote server to convert them, on the fly, to HTML5 and other formats that mobile devices are happier streaming. So, if you come across a YouTube link, for instance, you can hit the video button and choose Skyfire’s version instead, watching it in the browser rather than having to use a standalone YouTube app.

Source: Slashgear

Download it from the Android Market:

Or go here.

Next up is a little thing that we like to call Skyfire, the widely popular Internet browser currently available for Windows Mobile and Nokia Series 60 phones. Skyfire has announced that they have entered the Alpha stage of testing for their release of Skyfire for Android. They are currently looking for users willing to test their app on devices running Android 1.5 or higher and space is limited. For more information on their Alpha program, and to get on the list to try Skyfire for Android, head over to their site.

Lastly, it is noteworthy to mention that prior to their official release, the HTC Legend and Desire have already been rooted. Root access allows a user to have full access and control over Android’s system files and resources, thereby giving them the freedom to remove carrier bloatware and run apps requiring root access. It is not certain yet how HTC will answer to the root access on the Desire and Legend but rumor has it that they are already looking for a fix.

That’s all the Android news that we have for the moment, but rest assured that our eyes are open for more. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Definition of workaround–

• A workaround is a bypass of a recognized problem in a system. A workaround is typically a temporary fix that implies that a genuine solution to the problem is needed. Frequently workarounds are as creative as true solutions, involving outside the box thinking in their creation.

Google has definitely engaged in a workaround of Apple’s App Store as they have updated their mobile Google Voice web site to make Google Voice features accessible to iPhone, WebOS and Windows Mobile users (see below). Through a HTML5-based web app, anybody with a HTML5-capable web browser can access now Google Voice.

HTML5-capable mobile browsers include all Webkit-based mobile browsers, which includes Safari in iPhone 3.0+,the Palm WebOS browser, and the S60 web browser for Symbian as well as Chrome on Android. For Windows Mobile devices, Skyfire 1.5 (verified by myself) and presumably the Iris browser works. However, Opera Mobile 9.5 on Windows Mobile does NOT work  nor does Internet Explorer Mobile (also verified by myself).

After the break is a video by Google showcasing this new-found workaround.

Source- DailyMobile.se

Download it from http://get.skyfire.com!

Read what our forum users are saying about it here.

Skyfire’s Twitter account is a buzz about version 1.5 coming today. Nothing seems to be published on Skyfire.com yet, and it hasn’t been pushed to phones yet, but its coming, and based on the hype, we won’t be disappointed!

Enhancements in the new version include full support for high-resolution screens, a sleeker user interface that is more finger friendly, crisper text, smoother zooming, and a full-screen mode that maximizes screen real estate. Skyfire will now provide native support for the VGA and wVGA resolutions and has added Kinetic scrolling to improve smoother browsing. In addition to adding more touch capabilities, Skyfire has added a mode for touch screens that allows users to remove all UI icons and elements from the screen to enlarge visibility of the browser.

The new version will also be speedier thanks to a server upgrade and keep any text entry box visible when the virtual keyboard is used. And the latest versions of Adobe Flash 10 and Microsoft’s Silverlight. 1.5 rich media technologies have been updated in the browser. Additionally, Skyfire features a customizable and high-resolution homepage, known as the “Fireplace,” integrating RSS feeds, Facebook and Twitter feeds, and Gmail, into one stream.

Source: TechCrunch and Gizmodo (Thanks for the tip pknyo)

Changelog:

• Full VGA Support. Skyfire now provides native support for the VGA and wVGA resolutions as seen on many recent Windows Mobile phones.
Smooth Scrolling. Kinetic scrolling has been added to Skyfire. Flick and you will see that scrolling has become very smooth.

• Finger friendly UI. There are many UI updates to enable finger friendliness, increase the ease of use and add a bit of fun to the Skyfire experience. We updated as well the start page to be simpler-to-use with high-resolution devices.

• Full screen mode. For touch screens we have a mode that will completely remove all UI elements from the screen to provide maximum visibility onto the page. Tap the bottom right corner to bring back the toolbar.

• Auto-Move text entry. This keeps any text entry box visible when the virtual keyboard is used. This convenient feature assures that web site forms are easy to use, in case the SIP (i.e., virtual keyboard) covers it.

• Latest versions of Flash 10 and Silverlight. 1.5 has been updated to the newest and most stable versions of both rich-media formats.

• Performance enhancements. Both Skyfire’s client and servers have been upgraded for faster, more responsive browsing.