SkyfireForIphone
Latest
Skyfire browser headed for iPad
Skyfire, the internet browser that transcodes Flash video content into HTML5 so that it can be viewed on Apple's iOS devices (which, in case you didn't already know, don't support Flash), is coming to the iPad. Alongside its main function, Skyfire for iPad will introduce some additional social networking features directly into the browser -- most notably for Facebook users, but Twitter and Google Reader users are included, too. Basically, you're now able to view feeds in pop-up windows while you are browsing the web. Sharing websites with your Facebook buddies is also made really simple and it's super easy to "Like" a website you're visiting by making a couple taps; there's no need to go directly to the Facebook website. In November, Skyfire for iPhone sold over 300,000 copies of its WebKit browser in its first weekend alone. There was so much demand for the browser that the app had to be pulled from the App Store because Skyfire's servers were overwhelmed by the traffic. The browser was then sold in limited quantity batches on the App Store to help ease the take up. Now that Skyfire's teething problems are over, we're assuming the same won't happen for the browser's release on the iPad. Skyfire for iPad is expected before Christmas and will cost about US$5, according to Wired's Gadget Lab. We'll let you know when we see Skyfire for iPad on the App Store. For now, check out a demo of the app in action in the video after the break.
Flash video on iPhone with the Skyfire browser coming 11/4
If you've been craving an iPhone but you consider the lack of Adobe Flash video support on iOS devices as a dealbreaker, there's nothing standing in your way anymore. At 9 AM ET on Thursday, November 4, the Skyfire browser will hit the App Store for US$2.99 and provide a way to watch Flash video on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The app has been available on the Android platform, and was finally approved by Apple after a "rather rigorous review." The app is a standalone WebKit browser for the iPhone (like iCab Mobile and others), with a key difference; when visiting a page with a Flash embed, a thumbnail appears that allows the content to be streamed to the device. The video is transcoded on Skyfire's servers and converted to HTML5. Flash games won't work due to the interactivity required, and Hulu has also blocked Skyfire to guarantee that users who want to watch the streaming TV service on the iPad have to continue to pay $10 per month for Hulu Plus. Skyfire is sure to be popular on iOS devices, as it provides an viewing solution for the half of all Web video that is still Flash-only. The Android version of the app has sold over 1.5 million copies, so the new iOS version may well be a hit in the Apple App Store. There's a video clip on the next page demonstrating how the app works. [via AppleInsider and Download Squad]
