Opera web browser

Opera

Opera is a web browser and software package for working on the Internet. The manufacturing company - Opera Software - positions its product as a fast and easy way to navigate the Internet. In addition to its direct functions, Opera has a mail client, an address book, a download manager, a WAP browser, a peer-to-peer system for working with BitTorrent and an RSS aggregator. Designed for use on computers with Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, QNX, OS/2 and BeOS operating systems.

Popularity

Global market

2022: Browser's global market share - 3%

As of June 2022

2013: The total number of browser users reached 300 million

Opera Software announced in February 2013 that the total number of users working in its browser on phones, tablets, TV and computers reached 300 million. In recent years, the share of Opera mobile browsers in the global market has been steadily declining. According to Statcounter monitoring, it fell from 26% in January 2009 to 15.35% in January 2013.

History

The first version of the popular web browser and software kit for working on the Opera worldwide network was developed back in 1994 by a group of researchers from the Norwegian company Telenor. This browser is written in C++. The Opera browser was released in 1995 by two Norwegian programmers who created Opera Software ASA.

2021: Suspension of support for VPN services in Russia

Opera decided to suspend support for VPN services in its browsers in Russia in the form in which it turned out to be earlier. This was announced on June 17, 2021 to Izvestia by the senior public relations manager of the company, Yulia Shinzelorts. She stressed that Opera expects to continue to "remain committed to the privacy and security" of users.

Roskomnadzor previously announced the introduction of restrictions on the use of VPN services VyprVPN and Opera VPN from June 17 "in accordance with the regulations for responding to threats to bypass restrictions on access to child pornography, suicidal, pro-drug and other prohibited content."

2020: Vulnerability to circumvent content protection policy

A vulnerability in browsers based on the Chromium engine allows attackers to bypass the content protection policy (Security Policy, CSP) on sites in order to steal data and inject malicious code. This became known on August 12, 2020. The problem is present in Chrome, Opera and Edge. Read more here.

2019

Tracking Technology Blocking Feature in Opera 64

On October 9, 2019, it became known about the release of the updated version of the Opera 64 browser. One of the main innovations was the function of blocking tracking technologies used by advertisers (and not only) to spy on user actions on the Web. Blocking trackers not only increases data privacy protection, but also improves browser performance. According to Opera, this feature, coupled with a built-in ad blocker, increases page download speeds by up to 23%.

Like the ad blocker, tracking technology blocking is disabled by default. It can be enabled for all sites or disabled for individual sites.

The tracker blocking function runs on the EasyPrivacy Tracking Protection List and does not allow third parties to track and collect any personal data using known tracking technologies, including analytical scripts and tracking pixels.

Recently, browser manufacturers have been actively implementing "anti-tracking" functions in their products.

EasyList and EasyPrivacy are a set of rules originally developed for Adblock to automatically remove unwanted content from the Internet, in particular annoying ads, banners and trackers. If EasyList is the primary filter for removing ads, including frames, images and objects, then EasyPrivacy is an optional additional list of filters that completely block all forms of tracking, including web errors, tracking scripts and information collectors ^[1].

Introduction of Yandex.Zen

On April 3, 2019, it became known that Yandex.Zen"" from March 29, 2019 was introduced browser Opera in. Turkey More details. here

2018

Announcement of a browser for PC with a built-in crypto wallet

On September 24, 2018, Opera announced a computer internet browser with a built-in cryptocurrency wallet. Thanks to the new feature, users can transfer tokens and pay for purchases without installing additional extensions.

A web browser with a crypto wallet from Opera is available for PCs on macOS, Linux or Windows operating systems. By September 24, the program is in beta, but you can already test it by making a corresponding request on the official website of the company.

The wallet is powered by dApps blockchain technology - decentralized applications based on Ethereum. With its help, the account can store "ethers" (in the future, support for other cryptocurrencies is promised), transfer currency to friends or carry out other financial transactions. Opera claims that the system is completely protected from hacking, passwords are encrypted. At the same time, encryption keys are stored in the user's phone.

The problem of hacking crypto wallets is one of the main threats to token owners. Blockchain cannot be rolled back , and theft of funds from an anonymous wallet usually means their complete loss. So the promise of reliable protection against hacker attacks using the built-in cybersecurity tools of the mobile operating system can really attract cryptocurrency users.

Opera announced a browser with a built-in crypto wallet

Users can link a desktop browser to Opera for Android and confirm cryptocurrency transactions using a fingerprint.

Opera mobile browser for Android devices with built-in crypto wallet was announced in July 2018. Then the project manager of Opera Crypto said:

Paying  with a browser-built crypto wallet is like transferring digital money directly from your phone without credit cards  or bank permissions. This opens up new opportunities for online sellers and content creators.

Synchronization with Opera Touch, instant search and preview mode

On April 26, 2018, Opera announced an update to the desktop version of its main product, the Opera browser for computers. According to the developers, they embodied a number of elements from Opera Neon and Opera Reborn in the browser update.

The updated version is synchronized with the Opera Touch browser using the Flow function. Each time one or another content is added to Flow on one device, the same content instantly appears on another device. Flow uses end-to-end encryption and works regardless of the operating system or device manufacturer. The Flow function allows you to transfer links, files and other information between devices. Synchronization between a computer, smartphone and tablet takes place using a QR code without entering logins and passwords.

The updated version of the browser has the ability to instant search, which allows you to quickly find information on the network and manage open tabs. To find a tab, you need to start Instant Search, press the Tab key and enter several keywords. You can search using Ctrl + Space.

Preview mode allows you to see search results over the tab. They are displayed in the middle of the page in the form of a small window, which can then be closed and returned to viewing the previously opened site.

The update is part of Opera 52, released at the end of March 2018.^[2]

2017

Opera Software renamed Otello after selling browser business

On December 18, 2017, the renaming of the Norwegian company Opera Software was announced. The rebranding comes after a massive divestment of assets: a browser business and assets related to TV content streaming software and the SurfEasy VPN service. Opera browsers began to develop the company with the same name, but owned by a consortium led by the Chinese investment fund Golden Brick Silk Road.

Opera will have a function of protection against cryptocurrency miners

Opera will be the first browser to provide protection against miners built into sites and using the power of users' computers to mine cryptocurrency. A feature called NoCoin is in development at the end of 2017, Bleeping Computer reported. It is included in Opera 50 Beta RC and should appear in the stable version of Opera 50, which will be released in January 2018^[3]

NoCoin is part of the ad blocker built into the browser. By default, the blocker is disabled, and in order to use the function, you need to activate it. The decision of Opera developers to add protection against miners to their product is dictated by the advent of the Coinhive service. The service was launched in September this year and allows site owners to use the power of their users' computers to mine Monero directly in the browser.

Coinhive is used on thousands of sites. Many of them are hacked and use computing power without permission from users. Coinhive is the first, but by no means the only service of its kind. Almost every week, new copycat services appear, and one of the last to appear is HashUnited.

The problem attracted the attention of not only Opera developers, but also Google engineers. In October, they began discussing the possibility of adding a feature to Chrome asking permission to run JavaScript code that uses processor power.

Google deliberately interferes with Opera and Vivaldi browsers

The co-founder and former head of Opera Software, Jon von Techner, accused Google of obstructing the work of the Opera and Vivaldi browsers. About this, he wrote a post on the personal blog^[4][5].

According to Jon von Tetzchner, some Google services have recently become incompatible with Opera and Vivaldi. In order for users to continue to use them, the developers hid the User Agent - the identification data that the browser transmits to the site when it visits it: name, browser version and others. Von Techner also said that he discussed this problem with Google co-founder Sergei Brin, but this did not bring any results.

At the end of May 2017, Jon von Tetzchner gave an interview to Wired, where he expressed his opinion on the methods of collecting personal data from Facebook and Google. Two days after the interview was published, Vivaldi's ad campaigns on Google AdWords were blocked without warning. The company had to follow Google's new terms, which concerned user data and content on the Vivaldi website. Three months later, the lockdown was lifted.

Jon von Tetzchner said that Google's monopoly among search engines and advertising platforms negatively affected the company's policy. Also, the co-founder of Opera believes that it is necessary to begin to seriously regulate Google.

Opera introduced Reborn

On February 20, 2017, Opera introduced a version of the Opera browser with a modified visual design. The project was named Reborn.

In addition to the dark-colored theme, Opera Reborn offers a permanent sidebar, as in Opera Neon's "browser of the future," and integration with Facebook Messenger^[6].

Screenshot of the browser window, (2017)

The released experimental unstable browser assembly differs from the current version in a radically changed design. This version is intended for developers, the serial name of the Opera 44 Dev version. In addition to design changes, there are no innovations in the assembly. Introducing the Reborn version, the company said - this is the code name for a more extensive project and promised to tell all the details later.

Opera 43

On February 7, 2017, Opera announced the release of a version of the Opera browser with instant page loading technology and a compiler program optimization mechanism (Profile Guided Optimization).

The February update focuses on browser performance, the developers said.

Opera, (2017)

Web browsers need to evolve even faster to meet user expectations. Last year, we accelerated the Opera browser with built-in ad blocking, optimized page loading speed and faster launch. Now with instant page loading technology, we have further increased the speed of the browser, reducing the page loading time to almost zero. Krystian Kolondra, Head of Development, Opera Browser for Computers

The instant page loading technology is based on an algorithm that allows the browser to predict which website the user enters in the address bar and start loading the page in the background before pressing the key<Enter>^[7]

This technology is able to remember which URL input led to the loading of a particular web page. For example, if a user repeatedly enters a kommersant.ru, then the browser will learn how to download the Kommersant website already at the stage of entering the site address. In addition, each time you search for certain information using the address bar, the browser will load the most relevant pages for the user into the background.

The developer estimates that version 43.0.2 launches 13% faster than Opera 42. The browser engine has become more productive, this was confirmed by measurements of Speedometer (60.3% faster than Opera 42), JetStream (7.7%) and Octane (3.35%).

These achievements have become possible through Profile Guided Optimization technology, which helps to increase the speed of software on Windows. With PGO, Opera can process compiled data faster by selecting the most important scripts, while the compiler is able to determine the importance of a particular code.

2016

Opera 42 and the Browser War

On December 13, 2016, Opera Software announced the release of the Opera browser version for computers. In this version, in particular, a built-in currency converter appeared. According to the vendor's press service, Opera is the first browser to have this function built into its interface.

The intelligent browser quick launch mechanism works in Opera 42. Now it takes into account the order of the tabs to prioritize the launch of some of them when you next open the browser and remembers which tabs were used immediately before closing.

Opera Review 2016, (2016)

Back at the beginning of the year, we gathered to think about what people online really needed. And we quickly realized that modern browsers do not pay due attention to the needs of users. People wanted a free VPN service, and for their browser to help them interact in a new way with their favorite websites. Krystian Kolondra, Head of Opera Browser

As part of the list of add-ons in the Opera browser, in 2016:

• built-in ad blocker,
• battery saving function,
• the ability to "take" the video into a separate window,
• personal news feed,
• accelerated browser start
• built-in currency converter.

Browser wars are really back. We have activated them this year, introducing a completely new way to work on the Internet with a desktop browser with a focus on speed, privacy and more rational battery use. It is interesting to watch how other browsers are also trying to follow this path and respond with similar solutions. Krystian Kolondra

Opera 41

On October 26, 2016, Opera Software introduced the Opera browser version at number 41.

The developers announced an acceleration in page loading, with a large number of tabs open at the same time, an increased battery life when using video calls in applications with support for the WebRTC standard and when watching videos in pop-out mode^[8].

Battery life in videoconference mode in Opera 41, (2016)

The developers called the main innovation an improved browser loading process. The first to load are those of the previously opened tabs that the user last worked with before closing. Then the browser loads the docked tabs, then all the others.

According to the company's tests, with 42 or more tabs open, the browser download speed increased by 86% compared to the previous version. When tabs 10, the loading time is reduced by 50%. This is not the first browser to offer intelligent loading: it appeared in Chrome 45.

When video messaging with WebRTC and with the power saving function active, Opera will use a codec that supports hardware acceleration, if any. In power saving mode, the browser will try to display fewer pixels on the screen to reduce the load on the processor. The video viewing window mode will use hardware acceleration. This mode displays the video in a separate process from the site where it is located. It is assumed that this will reduce the CPU load by 30%.

Opera sold the browser business to the Chinese

In July 2019, Opera sold its browser business to a consortium led by Chinese investment fund Golden Brick Silk Road (the group also included game developer Beijing Kunlun Tech, antivirus software maker Qihoo 360 Technology and investment firm Yonglian Investment).

For $600 million, assets related to the release of web browsers for phones and tablets, applications to improve the speed and security of the Internet were sold, as well as a stake in the Chinese browser developer nHorizon and a technology licensing business.

Opera 12.8 - Complete Support

On February 16, 2016, Opera announced the release of the latest update to its Opera 12 browser, which was abandoned in 2013 after replacing the Opera engine^[9].

Version 12.18 adds support for the ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography) encryption algorithm. This fixed the problem when Opera 12 was unable to connect to websites using the specified method.

The release disabled the TLS RC4 encryption algorithm. Mozilla, Google and Microsoft agreed to waive its use in September 2015. This algorithm was developed in 1987 and does not meet safety requirements. Vendors planned to completely remove its support from browsers in early 2016.

Opera 12.18 is only available to platform users. Windows For other platforms, the company did not release an update. Downloading the release for Windows is available from the official website.

VPN built into Opera browser

Opera released a browser with a built-in VPN in spring 2016. It became the first of the popular browsers to implement such a function. The browser allows you to view sites through servers in three countries - the USA, Canada and Germany. Over time, Opera promises to expand this list. To connect a VPN, just select the corresponding function in the settings. The VPN function in the browser can be used for free and without restrictions.

VPN allows you to remain anonymous while working on the Internet and bypass site locks, and also provides additional information protection when accessing the Network via public Wi-Fi.

Opera has an Opera Turbo feature that "compresses" traffic, speeding up page loading for users. At the same time, all traffic passes through Opera servers, which indirectly helps to bypass site locks. Functions similar to Opera Turbo are also available in Google Chrome and Yandex.Browser.

Battery saving mode in Opera browser

This battery mode of the Opera browser extends the battery life by up to 50% compared to earlier versions of the Opera browser and with Google Chrome ( developer data). A web browser is one of the most commonly used programs on your computer. It is the browser that helps people work in the cloud, search the network, listen to music and watch videos. However, a large number of open tabs often lead to very fast battery consumption, which reduces laptop performance.

How does it work

As soon as the laptop cable is disconnected, a battery icon will appear next to the search and address bar in the Opera browser. You can enable the mode by clicking on this icon. The browser will also determine if the laptop's battery is running out soon and offer to activate battery saving mode.

Increased performance

This version for developers of the Opera 39 browser contains even more performance improvements that will also extend the life of the battery. In particular, some parts of the code were simplified and animated themes were optimized. In addition, in this version, we are testing a more efficient way to manage memory, thanks to which constantly open tabs such as Gmail and Facebook will be more responsive.

2015: Opera 31 - name, logo change

September 22, 2015 it became known about the refusal of Opera Software from the word "Software" in the name and change^[10] logo^[10].

Opera Presentation, 2015

Opera has introduced a logo and shortcut image for all Opera browsers. The new logo and label is drawn in 3D format and looks like a flattened torus. According to the company, the logo should be associated with a portal connecting users with what users are looking for on the network.

Browser Logo, 2015

Three-dimensional "O," according to the company, symbolizes the path leading to more: "More content, more discoveries, more answers, more communication, more data savings, more life - whatever the user is looking for online, Opera will give them more options!"

Opera Software itself abandoned the word Software in the name as a sign that it is now engaged not only in software development, but also in Internet services.

Opera was rebranded by agencies - DixonBaxi, UK and Anti, Norway. The first created a global brand and creative strategy, the second - visual materials, a background drawing with the new Opera logo for the desktop, which the company published on its website for desktops and smartphones.

The logo and shortcut received a version of the Opera Mini mobile browser for the iOS platform.

The company will have to introduce the brand into all products over the next few months. Opera for, Android Opera Mini for Android and for Opera computers - next in line, the changed brand in them will appear in several updates. After that, Opera will change the logo and shortcut in the application for managing data Opera Max, browser Opera Coast for iOS and other programs.

2012

Opera 12.10 beta

In addition to the new extensions, Opera 12.10 provides web developers with new features. Using the Context Menu API, web developers are able to integrate their services with browser context menus, improving user experience. The Resource Loader API tool allows extensions to interact with enhanced CSS and JavaScript capabilities on web pages.

In addition, the company has improved support for MacOS devices. Opera 12.10 now supports features such as Notification Center in the latest version of Mac OS X, and also supports Retina display in new Mac models.

• Context menu APIs. Now the developers of the Opera extensions will be able to change the context menus of the browser (also known to users as the right-click menu). Thanks to this API, it became possible to add new functionality to context menus that makes it easier to work with social networks, online translators and many other popular services.
• API for taking screenshots. Taking screenshots is not always easy (do everyone know where the Print Screen button is on the keyboard?), And it is even more difficult to share them with friends. By using the API to take screenshots of extensions by developers, Opera users will get an easy and quick way to show friends what they see in their browser window.
• Data loading API. The new API allows Opera extensions to use their own CSS and JavaScript to improve or change the functionality and design of web pages. For example, you can change the fonts of the Comic Sans family to Helvetica or use advanced JavaScript capabilities on all viewed web pages.
• And yet again the standards. This is not all news regarding the API. Increasing the number of supported web standards, we added support for the Fullscreen API and Page Visibility API, which will allow developers to better manage the display of page content and optimize the use of browser resources.

For developers using web sockets, we also have good news. Opera 12.10 includes support for the most recent implementation of web sockets with advanced functionality for developers and improved work for end users. And this support is enabled by default.

• SPDY. At the head of a long list of performance and speed improvements, we present the SPDY network standard as an addition to the HTML protocol, promising significant acceleration in web page loading. In Opera 12.10, SPDY support is enabled by default and works with web pages that support this standard. For example, massive websites such as Twitter or Gmail support the SPDY standard in addition to the traditional HTML protocol.

Both worlds - Windows and Mac - have seen tangible operating systems changes this fall. The new version of Opera 12.10 includes several innovations that allow you to more fully use the new functions of these operating systems.

With the release of Mac OS X Mountain Lion, there are many new features built directly into the system. Opera 12.10 for Mac supports new products such as Notification Center, Retina Display and built-in tools for publishing content on social networks.

Windows 8 will soon be publicly available, and Opera 12.10 includes support for some features of this OS. In particular, we added touch support for Windows 8 Classic mode, and as a bonus, similar support for Windows 7.

Opera 12 (Wahoo)

There are several innovations in the new version of the program. There is support for new improved themes, support for web applications with access to the personal computer webcam, support for writing from right to left, new web standards and new programming interfaces (APIs) that allow extensions to interact with tabs, create tab groups and manage windows.

Added experimental support for WebGL hardware acceleration. Opera 12 can use a computer graphics card to gain additional power. This acceleration provides improved operation of web applications and games with a large number of graphic operations.

The security level icon is more informative, which provides a better understanding of the security policy of websites visited by the user. The icon indicates whether the site uses location information and requests access to the webcam.

Plugins in Opera 12 work in separate processes, so in the event of failures, the browser continues to work. The browser received an increase in speed compared to the previous version - page loading, browser launch and HTML5 rendering accelerated. Support for 64-bit architecture on Windows and Mac has improved performance on modern computers.

New localizations were added: Arab, Persian, Hebrew, Urdu and Kazakh. Now Opera is out in 60 languages.

However, it was not without losses. The new version lacks support for Opera Unite, widgets and voice control. The abandonment of Opera Unite and widgets occurred due to the transition to a new universal add-on platform, and from voice control due to the fact that the necessary library is no longer supported by a third-party provider.

Opera changes engine and turns into Chrome

Opera browser developer Norwegian company Opera Software officially announced in February 2013 that it would not use the original Presto engine in further versions of the browser and that it would switch to using WebKit. The development of Presto will be discontinued.

WebKit is an open source engine used browser in Safari, Chromium and all its derivatives:, Google Chrome Yandex.Browser, etc.

Part of Opera Software's original developments, in particular, the Opera Turbo traffic compressor, is used in Yandex.Browser, which is also being developed by a domestic search engine based on the Chromium project. The press service of Yandex told CNews that the transition of Opera to WebKit will simplify the interaction of development teams, since now they will work on the development of the same engine.

In addition to WebKit itself, Opera Software developers plan to switch to using other components of the Chromium project, for example, the open JavaScript engine V8. Simultaneously with the use of open source developments, the company's programmers will participate in their development.

Interestingly, despite the use of open source, Opera does not plan to disclose the final code of its browser. This opportunity is provided to her by the BSD license, under which Webkit is distributed.

As Opera Software promises in a press release, the transition of products to WebKit will be gradual: first, the new engine will appear in the Opera Mobile mobile browser for Android and iOS, after which the desktop version of the browser migrates to WebKit.

By abandoning the original engine, Presto Opera Software intends to "optimize its resources and take a leading position in the field of mobile browsers for Android and iOS."

The company admits that the use of Presto in Android and iOS gadgets has put the company "in a less advantageous position compared to the WebKit engine, which is originally optimized and integrated into these mobile platforms, which is used as a benchmark in the development of most mobile web applications."

Support for existing add-ons and add-ons for Opera will continue: the developers will receive a utility for automatically converting their programs to a new platform.

It is worth noting that Presto's commitment did not have a very beneficial effect on the state of the company: in May 2012, Thenextweb reported that Opera Software froze the hiring of new employees and suspended some of the existing employment contracts.

2011

Opera 11.50

One of the key innovations of Opera 11.50 beta is the extensions for the Express Panel. They are able to turn it into a set of informers showing the current content of their favorite web resources. How does it work? For example, instead of a static icon-bookmark of the site about the weather, you can add an informer of the same site to the Express panel. Then the latest weather information in the area where the user is located will be displayed and updated directly in the Express panel.

Another important innovation in Opera Swordfish is the secure synchronization of passwords using the Opera Link service. This feature is offered in response to requests from Opera browser users on different computers. Now they can "seamlessly" go to their pages on Facebook, Vkontakte, Twitter or open a mail web service from home and office computers without entering passwords from their accounts every time. For those who are worried about the safety of their data in the Opera Link settings, it is possible to disable password synchronization. Recall that this service also allows you to synchronize bookmarks, Express and search bar, notes, history of visited pages between several computers with the Opera browser.

Opera 11.10

Today, April 12, a new stable version of the Opera web browser, Opera 11.10, has been in beta testing since the middle of last month.

The new version, codenamed Barracuda, uses the new Opera Presto 2.8 web page engine, advanced support for modern web standards, and a number of improvements. For example, a search by phrase appeared in the built-in mail client.

Added support for the Google WebP lossy image compression format proposed in October 2010. "JPEG format is 20 years old. It's time to change it to something newer, "the company's blog wrote. Opera claims that according to their own tests, the new format offers much higher image quality with a smaller file size.

Significant changes have affected the "Speed ​ ​ Dial" - in fact, Opera 11.10 has a new panel in which there is no longer a clear grid of screenshots-links. Now the tags are assembled into a multi-story tape, the scale of which can be reduced or increased, freeing up space for new tags or increasing the size of images.

In addition, the company has significantly improved Opera Turbo technology. This unique feature among desktop browsers allows you to increase the speed of opening web pages on slow connections by compressing traffic on the company's servers before transferring to the user's computer.

Opera Turbo is now almost 4 times faster, Opera Software said. According to the company's internal tests, the updated technology compresses the BBC website page to 724.1KB, whereas previously only to 1111.0KB. The original page size is 1562.5 KB.

The same for the high-tech blog Wired: the updated technology compresses the page to 398.7 KB versus 546.9 KB earlier, while the original size is 1152.8 KB. We managed to achieve improvements partly due to the optimization of the company's servers, partly due to the transition to the WebP graphical format.

Opera Turbo web loading acceleration technology first appeared in the tenth version of the web browser. In addition, it is used in the Opera Mini mobile web browser. The technology is most useful when connecting to the Internet slowly, for example, over the EDGE channel, when the mobile phone plays the role of a modem.

2010: Opera 11

Opera 11 is the first Opera browser with extensions - software add-ons created using the Opera API and implemented based on open web standards such as HTML5 and JavaScript. Extensions allow users to increase Opera functionality themselves by adding new options directly to the browser. Until now, this was only possible using Opera Unite widgets and applications running "on top" of the browser.

Developers can create extensions based on the same web standards used to create websites and web applications. Moreover, small changes in the code will allow developers to port extensions to Opera 11 that they have already created for other browsers.

According to statistics, the top five most sought-after extensions include NoAds (ad message blocker), LastPass (free password and form manager), FastestTube (YouTube video downloader), Image Preview (pop-up preview of images) and Translate (automatic translator of web pages).

The new version of the program also has the function of grouping open tabs - by analogy with the Firegfox Panorama function implemented in the beta version of Firefox 4. To create a tab group, drag one tab onto another. Tabs can also be docked - in this case, they move to the left side of the screen.

Improved control of mouse gestures. This feature was first implemented in the Opera browser in 2001. Now users will see visual prompts for manipulator movements in the browser window.

In order to make traveling on the web safer, the developers changed the address bar. Now the user immediately receives the security information of the page that he opened. Opera 11 displays the security level in a special icon in front of the address field. By clicking on the icon, you can get detailed information about the security of the page.

Finally, browser performance increased, and the installation file shrank by 30% (compared to Opera 10.60). The Opera 11 browser is available for free for Windows, Mac and Linux platforms at this link.

2008: Opera 10

On September 1, 2009, Opera Software introduced the final version of its Opera 10 browser with the new Opera Turbo feature, which significantly increases the download speed of web pages. Opera 10 is available to users in 43 languages.

Opera Turbo is a special engine that can automatically detect the speed of a network connection and, if it decreases, compresses the contents of web pages, which allows you to download the site faster.

The best indicator that Opera Turbo has achieved during testing, according to company representatives , is an eightfold acceleration in loading web pages compared to other browsers.

The Opera 10 interface has been completely redesigned, in addition, a number of new functions have appeared in the browser. So, now it is possible to change the size of tabs, place them at the bottom or side, configure a special express panel.

In addition, the Russian version of the new Opera browser has added access to many popular Russian-language services, including the Yandex search engine, the VKontakte social network, the Mail.Ru portal, the Ozon.Ru online store and others.

Opera 10 also has functions for automatically updating to the latest version of the program, proofing, e-mail client  , etc. A new version of the special Opera Dragonfly application is available for web developers, designed to edit and optimize sites.

Functionality

The Opera browser has a high speed of operation and is compatible with the main web technologies. Opera's distinctive features for a long time were a multi-page interface (a system of tabs in the program window) and the ability to scale the entire displayed documents, along with graphics; subsequently, these functions appeared in other browsers.

Opera has expanded the functionality of using the mouse: in addition to standard navigation methods, the so-called "mouse gestures" are provided. The browser security system includes:

• Built-in phishing protection
• additional coding of the information flow when working with pages containing requests for confidential information;
• the ability to delete HTTP Cookies, clear the history of visits with one click of the mouse, as well as the "Speed ​ ​ Dial" start panel.

One of the features of the browser is the ability to quickly navigate to the most frequently visited pages.

This browser also supports the so-called "widgets" - small web applications that can be launched from within the browser. Opera also supports voice control and the ability to connect "on-screen announcers," which is very important for people with visual impairment or motor disabilities: there is voice control and the ability to connect "on-screen announcers." Using various settings, the user can customize the interface to his liking.

Notes

Links

• Official website