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Opera's next move is to keep your online data private and secure
For years now, Opera Software's been creating speedy and data-saving internet browsers for consumers, making them available on desktop and mobile devices at no cost. But it doesn't want to stop there. The company, which is responsible for web-browsing products like Opera, Opera Max and Opera Coast, has announced its acquisition of SurfEasy, a firm that focuses on online privacy. According to Senior Vice President of Products Nitin Bhandari, this move isn't just to strengthen the company's portfolio, but also to show its users that it is committed to serving tools that keep their data extremely secure and private. With SurfEasy now a part of Opera, Bhandari says that the goal is to offer features that Opera browser users have requested -- such as encrypting personal information, among other things.
Opera's Coast iOS browser gets faster, smarter and more social
The Coast browser from Opera has come a long way since its early days on the iPhone, and it's about to get better. Not to be confused with Opera Mini, Opera Coast is a mobile browser focused on providing users quick access to their favorite websites, sporting a tile-based user interface and the ability to support multiple homes screens -- which makes it feel slightly like a mini OS. Today, Opera's bringing a few new things to the Coast app, including its trademark Turbo data-compressing tool for speedier browsing. Furthermore, Opera Coast is getting a Discover feature that easily finds stories related to the topics you're searching for, while a newly added button lets you share those links with friends on email, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. To round things up, Coast is now friendly with Apple's Continuity trait when browsing, allowing you to pick up right where you left off from any device, so long as you're on iOS 8 and have Handoff enabled.
Opera has a new way for you to share your favorite bookmarks
Not long after the release of Opera 25, which brought with it a completely redesigned, visually rich Bookmarks menu, the browser is getting another update today. In similar fashion to the release from a couple of months ago, the newly introduced Opera 26 also focuses on bookmarks, but this version is more about how you can share content with your friends. Put simply, Opera now makes it easy for you to turn some of your favorite sites into privately linked, shareable folders.
Opera is working on a subscription-based storefront for apps
For entertainment services such as Netflix and Spotify, the all-you-can-eat model has been tremendously beneficial -- both have racked up millions and millions of subscribers to date. When it comes to offering mobile applications, though, that idea of subscriptions hasn't really taken off. Regardless of whether you're an independent developer or a major brand, you depend heavily on storefronts like Apple's App Store or Google Play to sell and promote your content. But Opera Software, known mostly for its web browsers, wants to change this. With its new Subscription Mobile Store initiative, Opera wants to give companies a platform to offer their apps through, as the name suggests, a subscription service.
Opera redesigns its desktop browser with visually rich bookmarks
Even though Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox and Safari are what most people use to browse the web on their desktops or laptops, this hasn't managed to lower Opera's spirits one bit. And that's definitely a great thing for people who prefer the Opera desktop browser over the aforementioned alternatives from Microsoft, Mozilla, Google and Apple, respectively. Today, Opera 25 is being introduced for Mac and Windows, which features bookmarking options that are highlighted by image-heavy thumbnails -- it's similar to what Safari's Top Sites window does in the browser nowadays, only with slightly different purpose.
Facebook could be looking to buy Opera browser
Since its IPO earlier this month, Facebook has wasted no time in expanding its empire -- it's already purchased the Karma mobile gifting service and launched a standalone camera app -- and talk about the social network's next steps doesn't seem to be quieting down. The latest rumor, from Pocket Lint, says Facebook is looking to buy the Opera browser as part of its larger effort to compete against Google, Mozilla and other internet mammoths. According to a source at Opera Software who spoke with Pocket Lint, the company is shopping around for potential buyers and has even imposed a hiring freeze. While it's not too hard to believe that Facebook is readying its horse to enter the browser race, this rumor is just that: a rumor. But given the social network's tendency to whip out new features at warp speed, we should have something more solid than speculation soon -- if the Opera purchase story has any legs, that is.
Opera 12 opens its beta doors: improves performance and stability, adds new themes
Similar to that other, foxy browser, Opera reached numerical version 12 (although in beta form), promising to be as fast and smooth as it's ever been. Included in the new revision are a slew of under-the-hood enhancements, along with a few cosmetic alterations. For starters, Opera 12 now offers complete 64-bit compatibility for both Mac and Windows, while "experimental" hardware acceleration and WebGL support are also in tow. Furthermore, the browser added a "smarter" tab-loading sequence, speed improvements for faster page uploads and a way to customize the look with a bundle of new themes -- of course, you can create your own as well. As for the backend tweaks, Opera announced it's abandoning its Unite and Widgets features in favor of an extension-driven model. Those of you eager to take it for a spin can hit the Opera link below to get started. [Thanks, Yousef]
Opera browser headed to Sony TVs and Blu-ray players
Opera has officially announced its much-loved web browser will be appearing on Sony TVs and Blu-ray players. There's no specific details, but it given its low-key presence at CES a few weeks ago (Sony Insider grabbed a video of it in action on the show floor -- embedded after the break -- unfortunately hampered by slow connection speeds) it will spread at least across the company's 22 new connected HDTVs. Since the browser is based off of the Opera devices SDK backbone, it's also not a stretch to imagine that Opera-enabled web applications, widgets, or other content using standards like HTML5 (no Flash, at least not yet) could piggy back onto Sony gear at some point. The real elephant in the room though is how this move relates to the Japanese tech giant's Internet TV initiative that's powered by Google TV. While we can't imagine it signals Mountain View's solution is destined for a dumping, between this and a similar move by Samsung including a browser in its own Smart TV platform, a little bit of jealousy could be just the kick Google needs to fix some glaring issues -- which we're all for, especially if it spawns a new round of potato based cajoling.
Opera parodies Google's Chrome speed tests mercilessly (video)
This, dear friends, is the height of comedy. Opera's pair of Scandinavian browser testers are back, this time applying some extremely high-tech speed tests to determine whether the Norwegian browser is faster than boiling a potato. Seriously, if you're not laughing at this, you either work for Google or you have a funny bone missing. In more concrete news, the acceptance of Opera Mini to the iPhone has accounted for a cool 70 percent of the Mini's growth over the month of April, with 2.6 million Apple users downloading the software worldwide. But that's not what you're here for, you're here to see the epic video, which awaits after the break along with Google's original. [Thanks, Ian G.]
Opera files EU antitrust suit against Microsoft for bundling IE
Oh man, here we go again. Opera just filed an antitrust suit against Microsoft in Redmond's least favorite place to litigate, the EU. The suit claims that Microsoft is stifling competition by distributing Internet Explorer in its Windows OS. The Norwegian company, backed by the European Committee for Interoperable Systems (ECIS), a long-time opponent of Microsoft, is asking the EU Commission to force Microsoft to comply with industry standards for web browsers and either unbundle IE from the OS or include other browsers along side IE. That would be the Opera Browser we presume, eh Opera (wink, wink). Unlike Apple, Nokia/Symbian, and others who also bundle a browser with their OS, Opera argues that web designers build their sites with IE in mind due to its dominant position in the marketplace and non-compliance with industry standards for web browsing. As such, other browsers won't render some pages correctly -- a disincentive for users to browse with anything other than Microsoft's IE. Sit tight kids, this ride will be bumpy.Update: Here's Opera's press release on the matter.
Reminder: Opera browser to cost monies after June 30th
No doubt, you're well-informed and have been enjoying the Opera browser on your Wii for months, without a single care in the world. Or, you live a life of danger and have been waiting, in anticipation of almost missing the free grace period to download the browser, in the hopes that your life would become more exciting through stupidity danger. Or, maybe you just forgot.Regardless of which camp you fall in, it would do you well to inform one and all that starting July 1st, the Opera browser will set you back a cool 500 Wii Points ($5 USD). Everyone who downloads the browser before then will have it for free, for the life of the system, obviously. So, if you have yet to even get your own Wii (GASP!), you might want to run out and nab it now, then download the Opera browser. It'll save you 5 bucks![Thanks, Nushio!]
Wii system update brings final Opera browser to your Wii
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Wii_system_update_brings_final_Opera_browser_to_your_Wii_PICS'; Many of you perhaps saw that spectacular glow on your Wii's disc slot and found yourself hypnotized, falling to your knees and drooling out of your mouth like you had just been witness to the Hypnotoad. Upon battling your way out of hypnosis and installing the system update and checking out the Shop Channel, you might've found that the final version of the Wii's Opera browser is available for download. Well, we did and we managed to take some pictures for you (it should be noted we have no way of taking direct feed snapshots, so they aren't the greatest images).Check them out after the break.
New videos and updates for the Internet Channel
We spent the morning crying into our pillows and refusing to come out of our rooms after we heard about the final version of Opera's Wii browser being delayed. Nintendo eventually called to console us though, directing our puffy eyes to an interview with the company's Internet Channel development team at its Japanese site. We had a really good talk.There are several videos and screenshots scattered around the Japanese transcript, demonstrating the changes with the Wii browser's final build. It's clear that Nintendo and Opera Software addressed a lot of common complaints users had with the trial version, making sure to implement variable zooming, improved starting times, and faster scrolling. Here's a list of all the other things we spotted on the page, mixed in with Nintendo's announced updates:
