A bright future for Opera extensions; end of the road for Unite apps and Widgets

By Andreas Bovensandreasbovens. Tuesday, April 24, 2012 12:00:00 PM

, , , ,

As part of a streamlining of our add-ons platform, we're sunsetting support for Unite applications and Widgets in our upcoming Opera 12 release. They will be turned off by default for new users, and support will be completely removed in a release later on this year. This will allow us to focus more strongly on Opera extensions, which will also help clearing up confusion about the types of browser add-ons Opera supports and is committed to.

Looking back at the last six years, we have learned a lot from both our Widgets and Unite implementations, and certain bits of functionality live on in other parts of the Opera browser. Opera extensions, for instance, are another implementation of the W3C Widget platform that became an official W3C Recommendation in September 2011. And our upcoming UPnP support in Opera Dragonfly, which allows you to automatically find instances of Opera Dragonfly on the local network, is directly based on the work we did for finding local Unite users.

Together with this announcement, we want to highlight that we are very committed to our Opera extensions platform, which is a huge success with millions of extensions downloads every week, and will be expanded with more APIs and cross-platform functionality over time. If you haven't checked it out yet, we've released a Labs version of Opera Mobile with extensions support a few weeks back.

So, if you have created Widgets and Unite apps, we are now recommending that you start converting them to Opera extensions, or maybe even normal web applications: you now have AppCache, CORS, and other APIs available in Presto and other browser engines, allowing you to create powerful JavaScript-based applications straight in your browser.

As always, we're interested in your feedback and questions.

Camera access from a web page in Opera NextA quick look at what's in Opera 12 beta for developers

Comments

Charles SchlossChas4 Tuesday, April 24, 2012 3:16:25 PM

Interesting move

The Unite Media player would be cool is it did not have to rely on flash player

The Whiteboard is cool, maybe some of these will be made into extensions?

Necroman Tuesday, April 24, 2012 3:19:03 PM

Whoa, you're removing Unite from Opera? I've been using File Sharing a LOT - it was the easiest way for sharing files among friends without the need for setting up custom FTP server and other stuff. Please keep File Sharing at least as a single feature no

QuHno Tuesday, April 24, 2012 3:26:16 PM

Bad decision as long as extensions are as limited as they are.

Unite UJS Manager included the option to share the scripts - how to do that with the extension API?

Çağlar Yeşilyurtgreench Tuesday, April 24, 2012 3:41:50 PM

Originally posted by QuHno:

Unite UJS Manager included the option to share the scripts - how to do that with the extension API?


I think we won't need to use applications like Unite UJS Manager. For file write purposes, W3C proposes File Writer API(http://www.w3.org/TR/file-writer-api/). Opera has gained lots of knowledge and they will deal with those issues smile In my opinion, Opera started to support more web technologies quickly than past.

SteveKong Tuesday, April 24, 2012 3:52:45 PM

I did not use widgets much but Unite is pretty useful and innovative a feature. I'd really like to see the idea living on in Extensions. Do you have plans to integrate the Unite APIs or something similar into extensions?

Daned4n3 Tuesday, April 24, 2012 3:58:54 PM

You really need to enable file API in Opera extensions for it to really be a replacement.

Also, will any of the server code be transfered to the extension API?

Thomas Scholztoscho Tuesday, April 24, 2012 4:03:46 PM

Before you do this, *please* get the spam in the extension directory under control. Right now this is just embarrassing.

m910q Tuesday, April 24, 2012 4:09:50 PM

Sounds good to me... Mainly because it requires less maintaining, and possibly more focus on extentions.

But what about those Unite applications that hosted stuff?
Do you have plans to extend the extention capabilities to do similar stuff in the future?

Creating a site that can replace these features would require hosting of some sort, which Unite did before. Creating your own hosting environment is not easy for most users.

Sam Van den VonderHuRRaCaNe Tuesday, April 24, 2012 4:24:23 PM

I really, really don't want Unite to go. Making it a subset of regular 'extensions' is perfectly fine, but don't remove it. Unite is great.

Johann AntonioJohann-7 Tuesday, April 24, 2012 4:49:43 PM

What???? really????
it's a joke, no?
Maybe turned off by default for new users, but never removed please.
They will lose many old users, probably.
Please, if you want to hide them around and join (panels off) but never never removed.

Johann AntonioJohann-7 Tuesday, April 24, 2012 5:08:00 PM

Unite it's a a unique feature of opera, when promoted opera is the first things that mention and all them it has liked

QuHno Tuesday, April 24, 2012 5:22:28 PM

Originally posted by greench:

For file write purposes, W3C (...)

... and for sharing the scripts?

Eli Mitchellcyberstream Tuesday, April 24, 2012 5:29:56 PM

Originally posted by toscho:

Before you do this, *please* get the spam in the extension directory under control. Right now this is just embarrassing.



+1

I'm surprised it even makes it there. Aren't extensions individually reviewed?

FransFrenzie Tuesday, April 24, 2012 6:49:20 PM

From my end-user perspective I'd rather see the extension's functionality added to Unite than vice versa. Which is to say that I like the instant web server and the Unite control panel, and don't really like the way extensions are currently controlled all that much.

Çağlar Yeşilyurtgreench Tuesday, April 24, 2012 6:54:59 PM

Originally posted by QuHno:

Originally posted by greench:
For file write purposes, W3C (...)
... and for sharing the scripts?


What is the meaning of the "sharing"? If you want to use Widget and Unite APIs, you must use Javascript language to develop something. That means if somebody install your application, s/he extract it and see what is inside because it is actually a zip file.

FransFrenzie Tuesday, April 24, 2012 7:26:32 PM

Originally posted by greench:

What is the meaning of the "sharing"? If you want to use Widget and Unite APIs, you must use Javascript language to develop something. That means if somebody install your application, s/he extract it and see what is inside because it is actually a zip file.


Unite is a web server that can be set up in less than a minute even if you know nothing about port forwarding, virtual servers, etc. In the case of the UserJS Manager that means you can share any UserJS you have if you want, making your own script collection into a public UserJS repository instantly.

Çağlar Yeşilyurtgreench Tuesday, April 24, 2012 7:51:26 PM

Originally posted by Frenzie:

Originally posted by greench:

What is the meaning of the "sharing"? If you want to use Widget and Unite APIs, you must use Javascript language to develop something. That means if somebody install your application, s/he extract it and see what is inside because it is actually a zip file.


Unite is a web server that can be set up in less than a minute even if you know nothing about port forwarding, virtual servers, etc. In the case of the UserJS Manager that means you can share any UserJS you have if you want, making your own script collection into a public UserJS repository instantly.

A. I missed this point. smile The key term is serving contents that are in your device. That is why Opera Unite is important. However, I am talking about Unite API's capabilities.

FransFrenzie Tuesday, April 24, 2012 8:19:58 PM

Originally posted by greench:

A. I missed this point. The key term is serving contents that are in your device. That is why Opera Unite is important. However, I am talking about Unite API's capabilities.


I suppose the File I/O API is irrelevant if it can be replaced by the File Writer API, but any web-server-related capabilities in the Unite API would obviously be necessary? smile

Martin RauscherHades32 Tuesday, April 24, 2012 8:34:06 PM

Great decision, it was a waste of time in its current form.

BUT I really hope that you'll make Unite available as a separate software!

Çağlar Yeşilyurtgreench Tuesday, April 24, 2012 8:58:23 PM

Originally posted by Frenzie:

Originally posted by greench:
A. I missed this point. The key term is serving contents that are in your device. That is why Opera Unite is important. However, I am talking about Unite API's capabilities.
I suppose the File I/O API is irrelevant if it can be replaced by the File Writer API, but any web-server-related capabilities in the Unite API would obviously be necessary?


I am not expert on web technologies but I think both should have same functionality. Unite is obviously useful tool, because everybody shares photos, documents, etc. That makes Unite unique. In my opinion, Opera became fail to promote Unite and its applications to be more popular. By developing an API, they learned some new things. Although I love Unite, it is not significant for an user. They can track how many people use this feature and they gather information from polls. They notice the trend of Unite is going down. In my opinion, they will mixture widget-unite-extension apis in next major release. So, I can't believe that Unite vanished.

Eli Mitchellcyberstream Wednesday, April 25, 2012 1:42:15 AM

Originally posted by Hades32:

BUT I really hope that you'll make Unite available as a separate software!



That is unlikely as it would defeat the purpose of this decision. They are making this decision because maintaining the development of Unite is wasting time and resources that would be better spent on developing the extensions API.

Abhinavdecodedthought Wednesday, April 25, 2012 5:37:43 AM

removing Widgets is a good move because its kind of redundant but removing Unite sad
as long as its in the best interest of Opera up but still I don't see why you have to remove Unite though ... I really like it even though I use it occasionally only

Knut Remi "DrLaunch" Løvlidrlaunch Wednesday, April 25, 2012 7:08:40 AM

I'm all streamlining the development of Opera or whatnot. But Unite applications actually served a good purpose. Please put the unique features of Opera Unite into Widgets and Extensions.

Xobrtdoclinux Wednesday, April 25, 2012 6:31:09 PM

bigeyes awww
(en) If Unite will not exist at all - it's very bad. If the replacement will be made, where I can do all that done before - then fine.
At this time, I'm already looking for alternative solutions. I'm upset., I'm sad because I do not know what is happening and what to do next. cry
---------
(ru) Если Unite не будет существовать вовсе - это очень плохо. Если будет сделан заменитель, где я смогу сделать всё, что делал раньше - тогда хорошо.
В данное время я уже сейчас ищу альтернативные решения. Я досадую, мне грустно, потому что не знаю что происходит и как быть дальше.cry

Raavi Anveshandarivaadu1 Thursday, April 26, 2012 1:40:57 AM

Unite Replacement is fine but not the unite feature

bondbase Thursday, April 26, 2012 11:59:23 AM

For a long time (since 2002) Opera use to be my default browser. But over the past couple of years it has become a second browser for me. Main reason for still keeping it is partly due to the 'baggage' that comes with it e.g. Unite, Extensions, Note, ease of import n export of bookmark and not to leave out 'Notes'. Am just guessing if Unite is taken out of the equation without any alternative I might just above let it go as a browser of choice entirely.... R.I.P Maybe?

eonblue Friday, April 27, 2012 3:03:36 AM

Moderator edit: This comment has been removed for breaching our terms of use.

BridgeBuilderKiwi Friday, April 27, 2012 11:13:29 AM

There are lots of comments in response to Espen's posting of this announcement (http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=1374852), too. Many of the comments there concur with the above requests to retain most of the functionality of the Unite apps.

Tiago Wakabayashiozoratsubasa Sunday, April 29, 2012 4:16:16 AM

helllo, what about the Voice? It's funny how each post title you simply forget that feature.

Xobrtdoclinux Sunday, April 29, 2012 6:05:10 AM

I'm also going to use Opera 11.62 still a long time afterward.
Unite can be used separately. Even without a server of the Opera! Here are detailed instructions:
http://dev.opera.com/articles/view/custom-domains-opera-unite/
http://my.opera.com/daniel/blog/2011/09/21/opera-unite-without-account
(same in russian) Я также собираюсь использовать Opera 11 все еще долгое время после этого.
Unite можно использовать отдельно. Даже без сервера Opera! Вот подробная инструкция: (urls)

Babiuc Neculai-Petrubabiuc-neculai-petru Tuesday, May 1, 2012 10:54:21 AM

Well i am searcheing an answer,in many cases i have errors about email adresses,it could be an incopatibility between opera mail and athers? for an answer please send me an email at babiuc-neculai-petru@myopera.com ,or onmy wall on facebook Babiuc Neculai-petru.thanks.

areteichi Tuesday, May 1, 2012 11:21:49 PM

At least keep Unite (and Widget) available in the future versions of Opera, even if turned off by default, until Opera replicates and reintroduces the key features of such services in the form of extensions and such. I particularly have in mind the following services: Photo Sharing, File Sharing, File Inbox, Lounge, Media Player, and Messenger. I would certainly welcome if further improvements will be made but not if they will disappear in entirety.

I would really like to hear from the Opera developers about the proposal and plan regarding such concerns. Does Opera have any intention of developing and offering the same kind of features through extentions? I suppose many of us will find ourselves relieved if Opera would only clarify whether the services that are soon going be abandoned will be made available in another form within a reasonable timeframe.

d4rkn1ght Wednesday, May 2, 2012 5:07:05 PM

Is there a way to make Opera reconsider about keeping Unite? sad

Eli Mitchellcyberstream Wednesday, May 2, 2012 10:45:59 PM

Originally posted by d4rkn1ght:

Is there a way to make Opera reconsider about keeping Unite?



If another browser introduces a similar feature and it takes off...

Xobrtdoclinux Thursday, May 3, 2012 8:36:45 PM

Firefox addon (windows-only)

nkjulanoff Friday, May 4, 2012 7:15:12 AM

Unite UJS Manager included the option to share the scripts - how to do that with the extension API?

norton2001 Friday, May 4, 2012 7:46:30 AM

If you just keep an older copy of Opera installed as well you can run the widgets separately.
An embarrassment of riches

areteichi Friday, May 4, 2012 8:37:22 AM

Originally posted by d4rkn1ght:

Is there a way to make Opera reconsider about keeping Unite? sad


Perhaps you can contribute to the following online petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/openoperaunited/

(I personally don't care if one thinks an online petition is useful or not. Please do not start such a discussion.)

d4rkn1ght Friday, May 4, 2012 3:22:06 PM

Originally posted by areteichi:

Perhaps you can contribute to the following online petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/openoperaunited/


I did already! up

onsen-00 Saturday, May 5, 2012 12:52:25 PM

Originally posted by Frenzie:

From my end-user perspective I'd rather see the extension's functionality added to Unite than vice versa. Which is to say that I like the instant web server and the Unite control panel, and don't really like the way extensions are currently controlled all that much.


+1

Unite is superior to extensions in the sense, that after installing applications for unite they work like you would expect. With extensions you first have to figure out how they work and maybe have to uninstall them because they don't work at all. But I wouldn't want to miss out on extensions like autopager either.

btw, instead of focusing on extensions try focusing on WYSIWYG functions. They are more usefull than most extensions. WYSIWYG is like HD. If you never used it, you won't really feel you are missing out, but once you experienced it... going back is a difficult thing to do.


PS: Is there anybody that knows about extensions that accomplish what NoScript, BetterPrivacy and ImageBot from FireFox 3.6 do? I'm currently using "NotScripts" but it feels inferior to NoScript....

Tiago Wakabayashiozoratsubasa Monday, May 14, 2012 1:47:14 AM

Originally posted by areteichi:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/openoperaunited/



anyone knows who's the petition creator?

Ray S. Buencuchillowarco07 Friday, May 25, 2012 12:36:43 PM

I am using File Sharing most of the time and other Opera Unite applications.
There are no other shareware/freeware that gives me the same function. So if Unite wont be retained, Sorry, I think, I won't be upgrading my Opera until it reaches to the point that It will have the same feature I always love with opera and only in opera. sad

OJCMomarjoel Saturday, May 26, 2012 7:21:52 AM

Unite is awesome, please keep it!

Lollo Andersenlollo10 Tuesday, May 29, 2012 7:54:07 PM

yes, awesome

jhilla Thursday, May 31, 2012 4:29:04 AM

OpenOperaUnited: Preserve Opera! Our fight has changed, we need your help. So far "204" have joined our efforts, but we need more signatures to show Opera to not allow Facebook to take over. Much more is at stake then anyone can imagine.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/openoperaunited/

George Blacktennisfan1978 Monday, June 4, 2012 9:06:04 PM

Well i liked the old good widgets more...just my opinion!

jhilla Tuesday, June 19, 2012 2:40:12 PM

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/openoperaunited/ = 320 Have Voiced, have you? Help Preserve Opera!

Use Internet Keyword: OpenOperaUnited

Tiago Wakabayashiozoratsubasa Tuesday, June 19, 2012 6:26:16 PM

320? good boost. Maybe till end of month we'll get 500 votes?

Bill McCorkindaleMcBill Saturday, July 7, 2012 3:29:02 AM

It would seem to be a good time to look for a new browser. Opera Unite was the big selling point for me and I have used many of the widgets a great deal. Without this functionality Opera is just another browser.Good-bye to an old friend.

Write a comment

New comments have been disabled for this post.