Nokia E71x: Another success, previous Skyfire client runs just fine
One of the biggest disappointments I have been reading about from people concerning the Nokia E71x is the lack of support for the latest version of Skyfire (version 9.x) that works fine on the unlocked E71. I have been bummed too because I used it before to watch Hulu content on my E71. Well, I am very pleased to tell you that my searches online were finally successful in finding a download (sis) file for Skyfire version 8.5.x that runs just fine on the E71x. I would have posted it here for you, but it is just a bit too large for my blog settings to host here for you. Visit this page and scroll down just a bit to download the .rar file.
Skyfire is a proxy-based browser so all the heavy lifting is done on their servers. This allows you to browse to and visit virtually any website on the internet. One issue with version 8.5.x on the E71x is that you will need to use the left soft key to access and use the Menu even though the words “Menu” appear over the right soft key. There may be other small issues with the right and left soft key and this version does not have all of the social networking integration, but it does work.
Also, when prompted to upgrade Skyfire, select cancel. I tried the upgrade (for your sake) and it did not work since only 8.5.x works on the E71x at this time.
This also tells me that the issue with Skyfire’s latest version on the E71x is unlikely an AT&T issue, but may be related to Feature Pack 2 on the E71x. I read on the Skyfire forums that the Skyfire folks are aware of the issue and their Symbian developers are working to fix it.
I think this version 8.5.x is fine for the interim period and am fairly certain Skyfire’s developers will work out a solution soon.
FYI, you can also use the Opera Mini proxy-based browser on the E71x as an alternative to the default web browser. I like the keyboard shortcuts and the speed of Opera Mini and use it often.
Another proxy-based browser that I just installed on my E71x is the Bolt browser. This latest version seems to start right up and run just perfectly, with the right and left soft keys working as designed. Hulu.com does not play in Bolt and I get constant network connection pop-ups too.
36 Comments to Nokia E71x: Another success, previous Skyfire client runs just fine
Version .85.0.7935 is stuck on my E71x. I have a splash screen that says Locating… and it has been there for 10min. I have full signal strength in a 3G area.
Paul, that is the exact version I have and it is working like a champ (just tested it a second ago). BTW, I don’t know if this matters, but I installed mine on the device memory and not the storage card. Also on 3G with AT&T.
Gotta go Google ‘Hulu’ now to see what this is..
Brad, are you kidding me? Hulu lets you watch streaming TV content and they have some awesome shows available on there like The Office, Fringe, and MUCH more. It takes a bit of scrolling around in Skyfire, but the audio and video work so you can watch the shows if you don’t have a Hava, Slingbox, or Cellular Video connection up and running.
PaulMay 14, 2009
Ah, I installed mine on storage card. Will install to memory.
Let me know if this is the issue and if so, then I will update the post to make sure others know too. I didn’t think it would cause issue, but it might.
PaulMay 14, 2009
No luck with program stored to phone memory 
Hmm, during my testing I was able to install, run, and uninstall a couple of times and it worked flawlessly. Wish I knew how to help.
PaulMay 14, 2009
Yea, too many variables. I will try downloading from the website directly. I saved to my desktop and bluetoothed it to the phone, but the install process should have picked up a error if there was one in the transfer. Who knows lol
Paul, I was getting weird stuff like that with Google Maps today and Last.fm too. Seems like it was all connection related and not software related. I’m using Smart Connect (free download for E71) to automagically swap between WiFi and 3G.
Also, my WiFi and Bluetooth performance get almost useless when I try to use both at the same time.
Home some of this can help!
And PS, always install to the phone memory! The E71 has a ton of room and things will run/boot faster.
brad
ScooterGMay 14, 2009
@Paul, mine hung for a bit too, but finally responded, letting me know I need an upgrade to 0.90(9156)…we’ll see how that goes.
Follow me on Twitter @ScooterG
ScooterGMay 14, 2009
Version 0.90 was unable to install. 0.85.0.7935 takes forever to load….and battery pull time…
RobinMay 14, 2009
Matthew – I just got an e71x and for some reason I cannot connect to the Internet at all with 3G – would you suggest a different browser, or perhaps Brad’s Smart Connect app? I’m pretty techy, but the user’s guide is no help at all 
Skyfire starts right up for me. Like I said in my post though do not upgrade yet to version 9 since it will not run on the E71x. They will hopefully fix this soon and I will let you know when/if they do.
Robin, what do you have selected for you General access setting? Mine is now on Internet in the default browser.
ScooterGMay 14, 2009
Wow….this is awesome!
RobinMay 14, 2009
Where do I find the General Access info? Also, is the app thats available from get.skyfire.com the newest version? I downloaded both, but not speaking portuguese, I wasn’t exactly sure what was in the RAR file!
RobinMay 14, 2009
Ok – got the v. 85 installed, but having the same problem as others, splash screen stalled, I can’t seem to get to an options menu for Skyfire, just full screen or exit…
ScooterGMay 14, 2009
@Robin, how long do you let it wait at the splash? Mine took a couple mintutes to get past it.
Follow me on Twitter @ScooterG
Great timing, Matt. I just got my $150 E63 in the mail today, and the thing is awesome, but (and it’s FP1, I believe) Skyfire 9 did not work. 8.5 is working beautifully and just watched Office on Hulu on it. The zoom works much better and more accurately than it did in .6 or whatever I used last.
SkyfireMay 15, 2009
Skyfire’s next release will support E63, E71x, E75 and many more Nokia models. Much improved performance compared to 0.85 and 0.9. Stay tuned for the release coming very soon.
Awesome news Skyfire, I can’t wait! I just listened to the last half of The Office via Skyfire/Hulu on the drive into work since I fell asleep early last night. I understand battery life improvements are present in version 0.9 too so that is great.
EdMay 15, 2009
Is there a language setting on the browser? When i click on the skyfire link it loads the page in french. I noticed this also happens on a different link as well. Thanks in advance.
ParanimalMay 15, 2009
I tried downloading the .rar file onto my phone by goin directly to the link on my my E71x, but I cant seem to get the .rar file to open, am i missing something?
I am not sure you can open .rar files on the phone itself. I did this through my PC and then installed using Nokia PC Suite.
ParanimalMay 15, 2009
thank so much, Im new to the smart phone world and had no idea i had to do it that way… love the site but i wish they gave some step by step ways to do things like this for dumb people with smart phones like me lol
JasonMay 15, 2009
Just wanted to say thanks to Matt for his E71x posts. So far I’ve successfully installed/ran:
Google Maps Nokia Maps Nokia Messaging Gmail Sportstracker (although the diary is screwed up) Opera Mini Skyfire Fring
…and I’m just getting warmed up.
Cheers!
Ivaylo IvanovMay 15, 2009
Thank you very much. I have been looking for this version forever, and I just got the E71x last week.
Do you happen to live around Seattle? I just moved from Bellevue. 
ParanimalMay 16, 2009
So im havin trouble gettin skyfire beta 8.5v to work it gets stuck the locating screen, left it for ten minutes doesnt work. Also i installed it on the phone memory so its not that problem, I cant close the prpogram or acces any options the only way for me to get out is to hit the home key and to shut it down turn the phone off, anyone know whats up with that?
ScooterGMay 17, 2009
I have issues getting past the locating screen while on 3G. Wifi takes a bit, but works fine.
May 18, 2009
[...] Via: Nokia Experts [...]
May 18, 2009
[...] a Q&A roundup since so many questions are pouring in about the E71x. Did you also know you can watch Hulu via Skyfire and listen to your Zune Pass subscription tunes on your Nokia E71x. We aren’t the only ones [...]
abeMay 22, 2009
Installed skyfire using link from this site and skyfire working fine. i was just wondering, when installing the application, it came with 2 other applications : llbssl common and llbssl patch. What are they ?
May 24, 2009
[...] are pouring in about the E71x. Did you also know you can watch Hulu via Skyfire and listen to your Zune Pass subscription tunes on your Nokia [...]
ScooterGMay 27, 2009
Version 1.00 is out and works very well with the E71x. http://m.skyfire.com from your browser.
[...] just released version 1.0 of their software today (see the PDF press release) and in talking with them yesterday I was told the AT&T Nokia E71x fix was not yet implemented. [...]
May 14, 2009