Choose Opera

Choice in the browser industry

By Jon S. von Tetzchner. Wednesday, 3. September 2008, 13:20:06

Change is probably the aspect of the browser industry I enjoy most. We get to help mold the future of the Web every single day. It's a challenge, but an exciting one.

My friends,

Change is probably the aspect of the browser industry I enjoy most. We get to help mold the future of the Web every single day. It's a challenge, but an exciting one.

A lot of companies want to put their stamp on the Web, and a browser is the primary tool to bring that experience to life. So it was with no real surprise that Google launched a browser yesterday. It is flattering that they chose several features from Opera to include in their browser.

We believe in offering free choice of browsers. We welcome competition because it helps drive the Web forward and offers more robust choices for consumers.

As you know, Google has been a great partner to Opera in the past and will be in the future. Opera Mini, Opera Mobile, and our desktop browser all include Google as the default search. We are also working with them to bring Gears into our desktop and mobile products. Collaboration with Google will continue to be an important aspect of our product development.

In welcoming Google to the browser industry, we also call on them to seize the new responsibility they now have to ensure their products and services work in all browsers. This way, they will protect the free and open Web.

We at Opera are pleased to see a new browser alternative emerge. More people discover Opera as they become aware that alternatives--free, more powerful, faster, and more secure--exist and can make for a more enjoyable time on the Web.

But we have another very powerful ally: the support of a vibrant and active community who helps new consumers discover Opera and make the most out of their discovery. Your support keeps our focus where it must always be: giving people everywhere the best possible browser. And with you in mind we constantly innovate and improve our product to meet your evolving demands. I hope you will continue to help us spread the word and show people how great their Web experience can be when they choose Opera.

Regards/Vennlig hilsen/Kær kvedja...

Jon S. von Tetzchner

Opera Tokyo visits OkinawaVideo: Snorre Grimsby about Opera QA

Comments

Tamil # 3. September 2008, 13:31

thobi # 3. September 2008, 13:34

Originally posted by Jon:

As you know, Google has been a great partner to Opera in the past and will be in the future. Opera Mini, Opera Mobile, and our desktop browser all include Google as the default search.

well, i think it a giving and taking. isn't it true that FF and opera get money out of their users using google-search?

nevertheless i hope too that google doesn't just copy microsoft but has an eye on standards.

Originally posted by Jon:

We at Opera are pleased to see a new browser alternative emerge. More people discover Opera as they become aware that alternatives--free, more powerful, faster, and more secure--exist

let's hope so

edit: ah, needed to long and left tamil the first post

philry4n # 3. September 2008, 14:20

still spreading Opera

FataL # 3. September 2008, 15:03

It is flattering that they chose several features from Opera to include in their browser.

Did you mean bookmarked page "star indicator"?

thobi # 3. September 2008, 15:27

wow, crome allows moving of tabs

but two nice ideas are own processes per tab with an integrated task-manager or the possibility to grab a tab and build a new window with this existing tab.

FataL # 3. September 2008, 15:58

the possibility to grab a tab and build a new window with this existing tab

This kind of ability is existing in Opera for a while. Just grab a tab and drag it to the program title bar or to the Windows task bar -- tab will appears in new window.
BTW, in Opera 9.5 detaching tab behaviour is half-broken (maybe by design, but still).

thobi # 3. September 2008, 16:11

Originally posted by FataL:

Just grab a tab and drag it to the program title bar or to the Windows task bar -- tab will appears in new window.

omg, it really works

(o9.60 b10414)

thx a lot

AleksOD # 3. September 2008, 17:22

It would have been nice if they mentioned Opera for some features that they have copied...

Nonetheless, let's welcome the new kid on the block

DjiXas # 3. September 2008, 17:25

Hi,

As this is the only way I could contact you atm, just want to suggest you to listen to a big part of your community and integrate such a basic features as spell check (real one), auto complete and fix bugs instead of focusing on new features

Just a hint,

By the way, some time ago I wrote to one of Opera's marketing team or so regarding interview and got no reply, so maybe you would like to have one someday at
http://www.FavBrowser.com

Regards,

Luchio # 3. September 2008, 17:31

It's kind of a sad day for Opera desktop though... Opera will fall to 4th position, that's going to hurt its credibity as a true viable alternative in people's mind. Hopefully Opera on desktop will still keep it's 1% faithful followers. (I'm part of that)

kamalesh # 3. September 2008, 17:49

Well said, Jon.

We'll keep fighting the good open-web fight for Opera. (By the way, Speed Dial is greatly appreciated by my parents and other light users, I've found. Great idea that Google is, somewhat, following.)

Your comments on The Register were thoughtful, as well.

The more IE usage goes down or, if hell freezes over, they render in ONLY standards-mode, Opera will be benefited.

owenswain # 3. September 2008, 19:21

A very adult and generous comment. I have to admit that at the beta level I am really liking what I am seeing so far.

Drazick # 3. September 2008, 19:23

We need Opera to be just like Chrome - Focused on the Web Page instead of the Browser.

Fast, Clean and well connected to the on line services.

SteveD # 3. September 2008, 19:59

"It's kind of a sad day for Opera desktop though... Opera will fall to 4th position, that's going to hurt its credibity as a true viable alternative in people's mind. Hopefully Opera on desktop will still keep it's 1% faithful followers. (I'm part of that)"

Opera was already in 4th.

1. IE
2. FF
3. Safari
4. Opera

Now it is in 5th.

olli # 3. September 2008, 20:54

DjiXas, I get confused now.. You want us to add new spellchecker or fix bugs?

IlyaShpankov # 3. September 2008, 21:19

Russian translation of Jon's article:
http://www.myopera.net/jon_about_chrome.html

Drazick # 3. September 2008, 22:56

Off-topic comment removed. Please try to be polite and follow the topic.

Heathen Dan # 4. September 2008, 00:15

I must admit, Chrome is pretty snappy. Opera is feature rich, Chrome is minimalist. Each has its own strengths.

yuku # 4. September 2008, 02:05

I have been using Opera since version 3.6, and watching Opera grows, I observe that:
- Opera was working harder than other browser developers.
- Since the birth of Firefox and Safari, others started to work hard too.
- With resources that Opera has currently, Opera may not have enough power to research on new technology (see how V8 and TraceMonkey surpass Opera's Javascript speed).
- (But I still love Opera Mini and Opera Mobile) Why don't you start concentrating on devices, then? The release of 9.5 is definitely too late, now you only support Windows Mobile

ppass # 4. September 2008, 06:49

Google Chrome borrowing ideas from Opera? Speed Dial? Not quite... I do not use Speed Dial in Opera, while the feature in Chrome is much more useful.

In Opera Speed Dial, you have to define you 10 top web sites, it works more like a graphical favorite tool.

In Chrome, this thing adjusts automatically, by showing you most viewed top 10 sites. There is no setting, nothing to do, it works based on what you view. And this is much superior. This is the way all pieces of software should be written, to actually add value to the user: check in the background what the user's habits are and automatically provide him/her with the best customized interface suiting his habits (or better, based on a web 2.0 community's habits "Users who viewed this page also recommend that page...").

By the way, could you Opera folks tell me if such things as Speed Dial are patented or can even be patented?

ppass # 4. September 2008, 06:55

Chrome also does not have an application title bar, giving more screen space.

I wonder if it is possible to hide Opera's title bar to look like chrome?

mp3geek # 4. September 2008, 11:35

Just a note, when will Opera remove the whitelisting of google adverts in the usercss?

thobi # 4. September 2008, 13:28

Originally posted by ppass:

In Chrome, this thing adjusts automatically, by showing you most viewed top 10 sites.

i'm not interested in what's "hot" for others, i want my links i use every day or every couple of hours

BridgeBuilderKiwi # 4. September 2008, 15:27

thobi, I think that you may have misunderstood what ppass was meaning.

However, I would like to add to what you have stated by disagreeing with ppass about the automatic changing of visual bookmarks being a superior system.

Visual bookmarks changing automatically is not something that would suit every user.

kamalesh noted that Speed Dial is a great feature for light users.
I suspect that many light users would prefer certainty over hope with regards to screen location (or not) of visual bookmarks.

I like being able to lock in my own choices for what is displayed by Speed Dial on my own computer.

IF I was a university student, and I was doing a lot of research online over a period of two weeks, and I happened to access, multiple times over those two weeks, a few pages to do with a specific topic related to a specific assignment, I would not necessarily want those pages to consequently be elevated to "hot page" status by my browser's Speed Dial type feature.

That's just one example of a possible lifestyle related reason for Opera's developers to at least retain as an option the ability of users to define url's in Speed Dial. Even if the capability to have the browser allocate pages to the visual bookmarks was introduced, I believe that it would be best to still have an override option.

One feature that I am hoping the developers add, soon, is the ability to unhide Speed Dial with a single click, in the same way that Speed Dial is already hidden with a single click, even accidentally.

thobi # 4. September 2008, 16:03

@BBKiwi
well, perhaps i'm just not familiar with chrome. if its showing your personal top10 it could make sense, well. so a choice between fixed and relative top10-entries could make sense but wouldn't for me.
as i've got more than 30 tabs open, the top10-list wouldn't be usefull at all

FataL # 4. September 2008, 16:35

Originally posted by ppass:

In Chrome, this thing adjusts automatically, by showing you most viewed top 10 sites. There is no setting, nothing to do, it works based on what you view. And this is much superior.

Opera has "Top 10" button-list since Opera 8

I think Opera can merge Speed Dial and Top 10 somehow in future versions.
Again, here is problem with Opera -- they often have good cards in hands, but fail to play them (they often invent good features, but fail to polish and promote them). Some innovative features that was once quickly added can sit unpolished in browser for couple major versions.

GoJoeGo # 4. September 2008, 16:42

@yuku: geez, cut out the doom and gloom crap, willya! Opera 9.5 is a huge improvement in performance compared to 9.7. Just because the other browsers caught up doesn't mean that Opera will stop working on performance.

@ppass: Chrome did steal Speed Dial from Opera. It might have changed slightly, but it's the same concept. They even mentioned Opera for Speed Dial specifically, IIRC.

@mp3geek: what whitelist? Where?

rilog # 4. September 2008, 17:59

Chrome HAS copied some things from Opera, thats true, but I still like Opera best.

I also agree in that Opera fails to promote its features, I have been using opear since Opera 4 and dind't notice the mouse gestures until Opera 8, by reading it in the Wikipedia

drabsv # 4. September 2008, 18:52

Wow, let's hope Google Chrome would finally make the Opera staff more productive and do something about those simple, easy to fix, yet irriating and never addressed issues such as the impossibility to make the Google search field in the Address Bar longer! That is possible in FF, though... Also, remember how many years it took Opera to make somewhat normal save of pages with images? Nothing more to say...

urlwolf # 4. September 2008, 19:04

"But we have another very powerful ally: the support of a vibrant and active community who helps new consumers discover Opera and make the most out of their discovery. Your support keeps our focus where it must always be: giving people everywhere the best possible browser. And with you in mind we constantly innovate and improve our product to meet your evolving demands."

I'm happy that you appreciate the Opera community. I'm a bit worried that this appreciation doesn't translate well into features that the community asks for being implemented. Opera is the leader in innovation browser-wise. However, most features that users have been asking for years are still not implemented. Instead, new features that user didn't even imagine came out (speedDial, gestures, etc).

To be perfectly honest, It makes me resentful for all the time I spend on Opera that Opera doesn't listen to user as much as other companies.

Could you express your opinion on why Opera behaves this way?

Thanks

GoJoeGo # 4. September 2008, 19:23

@drabsv: the Opera staff is extremely productive. They've been working on 9.6 while at the same time fixing bugs in 9.5 (and I haven't even mentioned all the mobile phone and devices versions). Just because your pet bugs haven't been fixed doesn't mean that they aren't productive.

@urlwolf: Opera listens more to its users than other companies. It's just that there are so many users, and they shouldn't necessarily listen only to the most vocal complaints (like yours). They have millions of users, and have to do what's right for most users, not just you.

Also, Speed Dial and gestures are two of the most useful features in Opera. Opera needs to keep innovating. It's silly to demand that they follow your every whim instead of thinking about what's best for all users. You only have yourself to consider, while Opera has more than 20 million users to consider.

AhmedGhanem # 4. September 2008, 21:22

Well , I still and will still remain an Opera user , but as for now , the opera DEVs must focus on the missing features like " the REAL-TIME spell checker ... take care not just inline like Ospell or whatever "

and about javascript performance , who said that opera team can't spend the time and money to make it surpass tracemonkey and V8 ???? I mean it's still close to them and they're developed hell a lot of time after opera's engine .. I mean V8 has been in development for 2 years and tracemonkey for like 2 or 3 months , yet I've to admit tracemonkey managed to get very close to the v8 taking in account the time spent on development .

Luchio # 5. September 2008, 14:11

Originally posted by AhmedGhanem:

and about javascript performance , who said that opera team can't spend the time and money to make it surpass tracemonkey and V8 ????

I think V8 would be worth the trouble to be integrated to Opera. It's a world of difference loading GMail from Opera than from Chrome, measurable in SECONDS!

I don't buy into the argument that Opera wouldn't want to depend on another "vendor" for its Javascript engine. After all, V8 is open source, so Opera wouldn't have to wait for the "vendor" to make changes when required, just dig in and do the change. Make your own branch of V8 if you need to.

GoJoeGo # 5. September 2008, 14:42

@AhmedGhanem: oh please. This is not the time or place for your personal feature requests. At least have the respect and decency to stay on topic.

@Luchio: there's no need for Opera to integrate another engine and start to depend on that when they can just use the same tricks to make Opera as fast. The latest Firefox JS engine is already faster than V8.

Luchio # 5. September 2008, 15:46

@GoJoeGo

Yes there's a need, and no they don't have to depend on it, Opera can start a branch of their own that they can maintain independently. It's not a matter of using the same "tricks", V8 was designed from the start with totally different perspective (precompile into machine code vs interpretation). That can't be easily changed, it most likely requires a total rewrite.

The only drawbacks I can see from using V8 is the fact that the code needs to stay open-source (Opera ASA might not like that) and that it's a large work order that can't be done overnight. Well, the other drawback is hurting pride. But I believe it would totally be worth it in the end.

Edit: well, actually there's another big drawback, which is lost of all userjs stuff and Opera's history in scripts that detect Opera. I agree that this isn't minor.

AleksOD # 5. September 2008, 17:54

Opera already integrates open-source spell checker Aspell, so implementing V8 is not as alien to Opera's strategy as you may think.

ElGhoti # 5. September 2008, 18:07

I had Chrome for about five minutes....... then deleted it!

mp3geek # 6. September 2008, 00:01

@GoJoeGo,

using the following usercss file should block google search custom ads, this however it seems Opera decided to whitelist google text ads. (test with the google search in my.opera.com)

div[id^="tpa"][class="ch"]
{ display: none !important }

DanEd # 7. September 2008, 11:21

Hello,

I tried chrome, till i read a comment about the 11th statement in google contracts. In short, they take the freedome to do what they want with the informations and docs they collect from users using google's products...

And if you check the "history" that you find using chrome, you'll be surprised of what they keep on theyr serveur. Google promises to change the rules saying "it was a mistake"... Realy?

For me, it make a HUGE difference using Opera. And sorry google, this way of proceeding give even more reasons to use opera.

Dan.

emperordarius # 7. September 2008, 16:29

After using Opera, I switched to firefox 3. Just because it "looked" better. But I still wanted to go back to Opera. When chrome was out, I used it for 2 days. I wanted to go back to Firefox, but it was as slow as hell. Then I switched to Opera. It was a relief. A real Internet suite, the fastest, safest and best browser on earth: Opera. Keep up the good work. Just a few compatibility fixes, and probably Opera 10 will not have any more compatibility problems. Opera FTW!!!

drabsv # 7. September 2008, 21:33

"the Opera staff is extremely productive. They've been working on 9.6 while at the same time fixing bugs in 9.5 (and I haven't even mentioned all the mobile phone and devices versions). Just because your pet bugs haven't been fixed doesn't mean that they aren't productive."

@GoJoeGo: you must be kidding! Productivity is about doing one thing well, not doing 10 things equally bad and bragging that you keep busy all the time... While 9.5 is full of bugs what does it help me that they are working on 9.6??? So we shall have each next version full of bugs but just because they would be working on the version after it, things are ok..!?

I am using the desktop Opera browser and I don't care that they are working on one god knows what else. If they are going to make a good desktop browser but there are too many other projects to divert their attention from it, well that is not productivity.

And, yes, just because my pet (or petty?) bugs are not fixed does mean that they are not productive. Small bugs which can be easily fixed (some of them probably in a day!), dragging on for months and years... Well that speaks for poor organisation, poor management, poor productivity.

By the way those bugs are not only mine...

Don't get me wrong, I love Opera and because of that I feel obliged to voice my ever growing disappointment with it. Lately, one of the most useful features in it for me, has been the "Open in Maxthon" button...

Pier23 # 7. September 2008, 22:32

Speeddial in Opera is weak.

Instead, when a user spins his mouse wheel, a popup should come to focus that shows web page thumbnails from bookmarks.

Opera could control how these get presented -- A to Z, by frequency of use, by user weighting.

thobi # 8. September 2008, 16:27

Originally posted by Pier23:

Instead, when a user spins his mouse wheel, a popup should come to focus that shows web page thumbnails from bookmarks.

omg, never; this would be way too confusing

try to use nicknames for webpages instead?!

GoJoeGo # 9. September 2008, 11:39

@Pier23: why are you posting nonsensical feature requests here? At least have the common decency to not spam a totally unrelated blog post with off-topic nonsense.

@mp3geek: where is it whitelisted? A wild claim that it is "whitelisted" has no merit. Instead, point me to the actual file which shows that it's whitelisted.

@Luchio: Opera already has a JS engine. Mozilla spent 60 days or so tweaking their engine to do what V8 does. It's not rocket science. Opera knows its own engine so well that they will know exactly what goes where.

Switching to another JS engine would not be worth it in the end. They would have to spend all this time getting familiar with it, and by the time they are, they could have implemented all that stuff in the existing engine instead.

@drabsv: if you had paid attention, you would have known that there are bugfixes in every single version. So 9.6 fixes bugs in 9.5. Yes, I know facts are harsh when you've already made up your mind based on ignorance, but that's life...

The way 9.6 helps you is that it's an upgrade to 9.5 which fixes lots of stuff. Are you really so ignorant about softare development that you think each new version is built from scratch rather than based on the old version?

Small bugs that can be "easily" fixed, eh? And who are you to decide which of these small bugs should be fixed? Lots of "small bugs" are being fixed in Opera all the time. Just because your pet "small bugs" aren't fixed doesn't mean that no "small bugs" are fixed.

drabsv # 9. September 2008, 13:43

@GoJoeGo: hahaha, GoJoeGo get a life!

"And who are you to decide which of these small bugs should be fixed? Lots of "small bugs" are being fixed in Opera all the time."

No comment...

mp3geek # 10. September 2008, 06:38

@GoJoeGo,

Opera is whitelisting google ads by denying users blocking them via usercss. You can block all other objects, but when it comes to custom google search ads. Opera wont allow the block, so I can only come to the conclusion that Opera is whitelisting custom google search ads.

Maybe you should try my suggestion? (this was tested in firefox, and works)

div[id^="tpa"][class="ch"]
{ display: none !important }

then visit the opera google search on the top of this page.

thobi # 10. September 2008, 06:49

Originally posted by mp3geek: