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Opera update keeps sites from hijacking your browser to mine bitcoin
Did you know that your browser can be tricked into mining cryptocurrency like BitCoin without your knowledge? Apparently, there are scripts floating around out there on various servers and website plugins that can hijack your web browser and use its CPU for mining purposes, even after the browser window is closed. Yikes. Opera version 50 releases tomorrow at 10 AM CET, and it includes with cryptocurrency mining protection built right into its ad blocker software.
Allo web chat now works in browsers other than Chrome
When Google brought its Allo chat app to the web, it only supported Chrome. That partly defeats the point of an app-independent client, doesn't it? Thankfully, Google agrees. It just expanded Allo's web support to get it running on Firefox, Opera and iOS devices (including Chrome and Safari). You do have to start by scanning a QR code on the desktop using your phone, which is more than a little unwieldy, but this does mean you don't have to live within Google's software ecosystem just to avoid a native app. No, this probably won't get you to ditch Hangouts or another messaging app, but it does open the door to those who otherwise wouldn't give it a shot.
Opera adds a shortcut to push videos straight to VR headsets
While Google's Chrome team has been busy working on VR web browsing, Opera decided to focus on solving one particular pain point: switching online videos between desktop browsers and VR headsets. Today, you can finally get a taste of Opera's solution via its Developer 49 build. Basically, as long as there's a VR headset plugged into your Windows, macOS or Linux PC, this Opera build will show a "Watch in VR" button at the top of any video -- be it a normal clip, a 180-degree video or the full 360 video. Just click the button and the same video will show up on your VR headset right away. It's as simple as that.
Opera's new browser comes with WhatsApp and Messenger built in
Thanks to add-ons and extensions, modern browsers are capable of much more than just accessing websites. However, unless you know what you're looking for, finding useful tools isn't necessarily easy. Instead of relying solely on its extension marketplace, Opera hopes to claw back market share from Google Chrome by incorporating additional features into its eponymous software. We've already seen it roll out low-power mode and a fully-featured VPN, but now it's making things a lot more social by integrating messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger and Telegram into its sidebar.
Opera Neon turns your web browser into a mini desktop
As much as modern desktop web browsers can do, their basic concept is stuck in a rut. It's not really designed for the way many people use the web, such as chatting while you surf. Opera wants to climb out of that hole, and it's trying an unusual approach to make that happen: it's launching Opera Neon, a separate "concept" browser that shows where software could go. It's much more visual, with an uncluttered look, tabs and shortcuts as bubbles and a side control bar that largely gets out of your way. However, the real fun starts when you want to juggle multiple sites -- this is more of an intelligent desktop than your usual web client.
Browser add-on caught selling identifiable web histories
When you include the word "trust" in your internet company's name, you're under more pressure than most to respect the privacy of your customers... and one firm is learning that lesson the hard way. Web of Trust Services' browser add-on has left the extension libraries for Chrome, Firefox and Opera after a German broadcaster's investigation revealed that Web of Trust was collecting and selling users' web histories to third parties. While the company said that it was anonymizing data, that didn't hold up under scrutiny. The broadcaster managed to identify over 50 people from sample data, and uncovered everything from active police investigations to the implied sexual orientation of a judge.
Opera's latest browser can cope with your mountain of open tabs
Many web browser creators like to boast about performance in ideal conditions, where there's only one tab and the app is already open. But that's not how it works in real life -- many people launch their browsers with numerous tabs left over from their last session, and that can be glacially slow if you don't have speedy storage or loads of memory. Opera thinks it can do better. It's releasing a new version of its desktop browser (41) with a smart startup sequence that prioritizes the tabs you've been using recently, dramatically reducing the time it takes to get going.
Opera's VPN-equipped browser is now available to everyone
You no longer have to grab test software to try Opera's VPN-toting web browser. The company has released the finished version of Opera 40 for desktops, which revolves around a free virtual private network (provided by SurfEasy) that offers both a more secure connection as well as access to foreign content that would otherwise be blocked. Hi, Hulu and Pandora! It can automatically choose whichever VPN server will provide the fastest connection, but you can specify one of five countries (Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore and the US) if you're more concerned about visiting region-specific sites.
Opera warns that its web sync service was hacked
Data breaches happen all too often, but it's rare that they target your browser's sync service... and unfortunately, Opera just became one of those exceptions. The company is warning users that it detected a hack in its sync system that may have given intruders access to login details. While your passwords are likely safe (all synced passwords are encrypted, for example), Opera isn't risking anything. It's resetting all sync account passwords, and it recommends that you change any linked third-party passwords to be on the safe side.
Opera's free unlimited VPN service is coming to Android
Opera previously launched an unlimited VPN service for iOS earlier this year as a result of its 2015 acquisition of SurfEasy, and now it's doing the same for Android users.
Opera Mini can download videos for offline viewing
If you're often in areas where mobile data is spotty or pricey, the Opera Mini browser for Android has a helpful new feature: video downloading. When you're at home or have solid WiFi, you can visit sites like Facebook, IMDB and GQ.com and download videos directly to your phone. Later, if you're without a signal or want to keep your cell bill down, you can watch the videos offline at your leisure.
Opera browser sold to a Chinese consortium for $600 million
After a $1.2 billion deal fell through, Opera has sold most of itself to a Chinese consortium for $600 million. The buyers, led by search and security firm Qihoo 360, are purchasing Opera's browser business, its privacy and performance apps, its tech licensing and, most importantly, its name. The Norwegian company will keep its consumer division, including Opera Apps & Games and Opera TV. The consumer arm has 560 workers, but the company hasn't said what will happen to its other 1,109 employees.
Microsoft trashes Chrome's impact on battery life
Your choice of web browser can have a tremendous effect on your laptop's battery life, and Microsoft is determined to prove that its Edge browser is the most efficient of them all... at Google's expense, of course. The crew in Redmond has posted battery tests showing that Edge lasted longer in web video playback and standardized surfing tests than any other browser (including Opera in low-power mode), and over 3 hours longer than Chrome in the video test. And this is with the current version of Windows 10, Microsoft notes. Edge in Windows' Anniversary Update should be downright miserly thanks to lower resource usage and tighter restrictions on Flash.
Opera's battery-saving web browser is now available to everyone
You no longer have to live on the bleeding edge to see how well Opera's low power browser mode works on your own computer: the developer has released a finished version of its desktop web browser that incorporates the promised battery saver. As before, flicking the virtual switch tones down background tab activity, site rendering and video playback in the name of keeping your laptop alive for a little while longer. Opera is promising up to 50 percent more running time, though that's undoubtedly going to vary depending on your machine and your habits. However well it works, it's likely worth a try if your regular browser saps all the life out of your system.
Ex-Opera chief's new browser gets custom mouse gestures
Jon von Tetzchner, former Opera CEO, launched Vivaldi with the intention of making a "true successor" to the Opera browser. Today, his company is releasing the latest version of Vivaldi, and it comes with the fancy features Opera was famous for, starting with custom mouse gestures. They're pretty easy to set up: simply go to Settings, choose a command, such as "reload page" or "close tab," and trace the gesture you want associated with it.
Opera's desktop web browser gets a low-power mode
Opera's bid to claim loads of web browser firsts isn't stopping any time soon -- the company has released what it says is the first major desktop browser with a power-saving mode. Grab the latest developer version of Opera and you'll have an option to scale back energy use by tweaking page redraw behavior, background tab activity and video playback. In Opera's tests, that gets you about 3 hours of extra surfing on a Windows 10 laptop (a Lenovo ThinkPad X250 with a Core i7 and 16GB of RAM, if you're curious) when compared to both earlier versions of Opera and Google Chrome.
Opera's free VPN for iOS offers more control over your browsing (updated)
Opera's fondness for virtual private networks isn't limited to the desktop. The browser maker is releasing a free VPN app for iOS that should give you more control over how you surf the internet. It's helpful for usual VPN tasks like dodging corporate site blocks and regional content restrictions (shh, don't tell Netflix), but Opera sees it as particularly handy for the privacy-conscious -- it gets rid of advertisers' tracking cookies and makes you that much more anonymous. You can only pick from one of five simulated locations for the VPN (Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, the UK and the US), but hey, it's the first free VPN app for iOS from a well-known tech company. Right now, just having that option is a big deal. Update 5/11: SurfEasy, which Opera acquired last year, says that the VPN app will "likely" include ads (albeit ones that can't identify you) in the future. That's the cost of going free, apparently. If you like the technology but don't want sales pitches, SurfEasy's paid VPN service is sticking around.
Opera's speedy built-in ad-blocking goes wide and mobile
Back in March, Opera introduced its native ad-blocking feature to developers. Today, the feature is available to everyone -- on desktop and mobile. The company claims that compared to Chrome, browsing with its native ad-blocking on is 45 percent faster than Google's browser with third-party ad-blocking extensions running. Beyond that, Opera says that the update makes pages load up to 89 percent faster than without the feature activated.
Opera is the first big web browser with a built-in VPN
If you've wanted to use a virtual private network to improve your web privacy or (let's be honest) dodge content restrictions, you've usually had to either install a third-party client or use a relatively niche browser with the feature built-in. As of today, though, you have a more mainstream option: Opera has released a developer version of its desktop web browser with native VPN support. You only have to flick a virtual switch to get a 256-bit encrypted connection that hides your connection details and prevents sites or governments from blocking content they don't want you to see.
Opera's ex-CEO releases his finished web browser for power users
Do you miss the days when it felt like Opera was focused more on avid web surfers than the broader public? So does Opera's former CEO Jon von Tetzchner. He just released the finished version of Vivaldi, a web browser that caters primarily to power users that thrive on customization and shortcuts. It has Opera mainstays like Speed Dial (quick access to favorite sites from new tabs), but it also has tab stacks, mouse gestures, annotation, browser sessions and even the option to view websites in a sidebar. In short, it's all about removing clutter and speeding things up. Vivaldi even supports Chrome extensions (it's based on Chromium), so you shouldn't have to scrounge for replacement add-ons.
