Thoughts: Opera 9.5 Alpha

I am currently using Opear 9.5 Alpha to write this. Within the past few weeks of using the test version of the latest Opera browser, I have certainly been pleased.

Continue Reading Add comment September 10th, 2007 browsers, internet, opera

Article: Opera 9.5 Alpha Features

This cybernetnews article outlines a few key features of Opera 9.5 in their Alpha release. Of course, there have been numerous bug fixes as well.

The features listed in the article are:

• Opening the page in a new browser through the context menu (without a hack!)
• Restoring windows through the trashcan (instead of just tabs)
• Syncronizing bookmarks through myopera (see ya later del.icio.us)
• Full history search through the url!

All of which just add to the efficientness of the Opera web browser, along with a speed rendering increase which keeps Opera very very speedy!

Article: http://cybernetnews.com/2007/09/03/cybernotes-exclusive-opera-95-features-video/
Opera: http://my.opera.com/desktopteam/blog/2007/08/31/focus-areas-during-kestrel-development

Add comment September 3rd, 2007 browsers, internet, opera

Useful Thing: Opera’s Block Content Feature

When it comes to blocking content there are two options: 1) import a list of sites and file names that will be blocked; or 2) manually block the site/file as it appears.

FireFox’s AdBlock extension uses the first method, while Opera implements the second.

The Block Content feature in Opera can be accessed by right-clicking in a blank area of any website. Right-click > Block Content. The page will then turn hazy and only the ads will be clickable. You can then left-click on an ad to make it disappear forever! Or shift-click if you want only that one image rather than ads with similar file names.

It is a bit tedious because you have to do this for every website. However, for the sites I go to the most, it is great to not have to see those ads because once I click the ads to disappear, I never have to do it for that site again!

2 comments November 8th, 2006 browsers, internet, opera

Article: Browser Speed Tests

nothing new.

link: http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html.

Add comment November 7th, 2006 browsers, firefox, internet, opera

Article: Javascript Speed Tests

summary: The site documents and tests the speed of javascript in three web browsers. The results: Firefox 1.5 - 1974ms, Internet Explorer 6 (SP2) - 1622ms, Firefox 1.5 (Safe mode) - 1752ms, Opera 9.0 - 442. The article states, “Well, the conclusion is quite clear: Opera beat the shit out of everything else. It’s more than 3.5 times faster than all of the other competing browsers.”

link: http://celtickane.com/projects/jsspeed.php

Add comment August 2nd, 2006 browsers, firefox, opera

Article: Opera 9 Review by PC Mag

Summary: I was all set to make it my pick for Editors’ Choice among the most popular general browsers (with the Firefox 2.0 beta close behind, and the ever-economically named IE7 for XP Service Pack 2 Beta 3 a distant third). But because I’m still trying to get to the bottom of several error messages I encountered, Firefox 1.5 will hold onto the title for now. [...] I can say, though, that after spending many hours visiting a wide range of Web pages and online applications, I encountered only a handful of bugs and rendering problems.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1994120,00.asp

Add comment July 27th, 2006 browsers, internet, opera

Article: All The Lovely Browsers

This is a great browser comparison article using the latest versions of browsers on both windows and mac platforms.

All The Lovely Browsers

Add comment May 31st, 2006 browsers

Opera & WII

http://opera.com/products/devices/

Add comment May 12th, 2006 browsers, opera

Released: Opera Mini 2.0

http://www.opera.com/products/mobile/operamini/campaign/

Add comment May 4th, 2006 browsers, opera

Released: Opera 9 Beta

http://opera.com/pressreleases/en/2006/04/20/

As with all new versions of Opera, the latest will continue to make the browser more user-friendly, less overwhelming, more unique, and easier to switch to.

Notable Features

Rather than looking at the changelist and going over all of the features that Opera spouts for you on their press release, I’ll mention the features that i notice and use every day.

1. Block Content: Allows you to manually block images and content on a page so it will not be displayed. Perfect to let you remove ads and annoying images.

   I was always flustered that Opera did not have an AdBlock as FF did. However, this new feature is much better! It is all manual yet very easy to customize.

   Simply click on any website, then click “Block Content” now click the content you want to block. Click “done” at the top and those images will now be completely removed from your viewing.

2. Thumbnail Previews within Tabs: Hover over any tab and you’ll see a pop-up info box that has a thumbnail of the tab, along with the usual information of title, address and encoding.

   FireFox Extension Equivalent: Tab Catalog

3. Tabs!: I know I know, Opera has always had tabs. However, the browser had called them pages and tried to use them as such.

   They still offer the multiple-document interface ((i.e. you can resize tabbed windows within the large window)) but the default setting is the same as FireFox: to use tabs and have close buttons on each physical tab.

   This ctrl+tab feature makes it a lot easier for people to switch to Opera from FF and also makes it easier for IE users to fully understand the tab concept. I always felt that the pages made Opera unique, but as long as I can still turn that feature on ((Tools > Preferences > Advanced > Show close button on each tab ))

   FireFox Extension Equivalent: Tab Mix Plus ((this allows you change your tab preferences and give your FF tabs the flexibility and customization that Opera provides you))

4. Page Rendering: I always hear the complaint from people trying out Opera that suchandsuchwebsite won’t load. Recently I found myself in this situation.

   After spending an hour looking for a decent online bookmarking tool, I found the perfect one except it’s neat gadgets didn’t work in Opera 8; at all. So, upon viewing the site with 9beta, as long as I have the browser identify itself as IE ((Quick Preferences F12)), the site looks great!

   Not quite the support I’d like but since Opera is flexible enough to let me change it’s identity, then I have no problems with trying to find a hack around a botchy site.

5. Create Search: This is a feature that I loved in FireFox and am very glad that Opera decided to implement it. On any website, simply right-click in the search box on that site, then click “Create Search” now give the search a keyword and you’re good to go.

   By default, Opera has a bunch of pre-set search keywords but that was never enough for me. I use “g” for google, “e” for ebay, and “z” for amazon allthetime!

   I recently set up “m” for imdb, “p” for wikipedia, and “t” for rotten tomatoes. So, now I just type into the address bar ((F8)) “t saw2″ and it will simply go to the search resuilts, without me having to go to the main page.

There’s also widgets for your desktop and an auto BitTorrent downloader but I have little use for them.

Old Features but New To Me

Opera’s RSS Feeder: I have no idea why it took me so long to get into rss feeds. On a page that allows it, there will be the nifty orange “rss” image box in the address bar ((next to the url)) if you just click it, then hit “ok” to subscribe, you will now be getting feeds from the site.

No more having to check the website constantly to look for updates, now the updates come to you! And most importantly, it’s sfw.

3 comments April 20th, 2006 browsers, opera