Opera Software has rolled out Opera 9, its newest Web browser for PCs. Opera 9 is set to enhance the way users access, share and use online content by including mini web-based "widget" applications, and support for BitTorrent - a popular file distribution technology. Security has also improved with a stronger pop-up blocker and additonal measures against phishing.
"For Opera 9, we worked hard to push the limits of what people expect from a Web browser, with increased speed, new Web standards support and innovative features such as widgets and BitTorrent," said Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. "Even though we shaped this browser for the Web’s future, we have the powerful features people want and need for their surfing today. I truly feel Opera 9 has something for everyone."
Figure 1: Integrated BitTorrent Support
Efficient, Productive Surfing
Opera 9 includes features that help a user to stay organised online and improve productivity, such as saved sessions, the trash can (to get those closed tabs back), notes and the ability to start exactly where you last closed Opera.
Figure 2: Choose your own Search Engine
Secure, Safe Browsing
Opera 9 introduces a security bar to prevent scams like phishing. The pop-up blocker has also been strengthened in an effort to weed out annoying or potentially malicious pop-ups.
Style Choice
Opera 9 even allows the user to improve how individual sites behave or block advertisements on a site-by-site basis. Users can also change the look and feel of the browser by downloading new skins or altering buttons to suit individual usage preferences. Opera 9 also offers a thumbnail feature, which enables users to mouse over an open tab to see a thumbnail preview of the page.
Figure 3: Keep Tabs on your Tabs
Choose Content
Widgets are fun, small and useful Web programs that can make everyday browsing fun and useful by bringing a variety of Web content and data right to the userr's desktop. Widgets can be created using open and common Web standards including JavaScript, CSS, HTML and SVG and technologies like AJAX. Opera notes that its widget support can be used for multimedia, news feeds, games and more.
Figure 4: Widgets Menu
Innovate
Opera 9 includes tools to make it easier for sites to code for open standards. Built-in Extensible Rendering Architecture (ERA) helps developers ensure their sites work well on any Web-connected device. Opera's browsers are built on the same core technology, making it easy to test once in Opera 9 and ensure compatibility with a variety of devices - from mobile phones to Nintendo's Wii.
Opera 9 can be downloaded free in more than 25 languages for Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and other platforms. |
