Metro style Opera for the upcoming version of Windows

Hello everyone,

what do you think? Would it be nice to have a Metro style Opera for the next versions of Windows?
An interesting question would be, whether a Metro style Opera can perform the whole bunch of functionality the Desktop Opera offers, or not.
would a Metro style Opera just be a new version of Opera Mini/Mobile?

Personally, I would like to have such one instead of having to use the Metro IE.

Thanks in advance for contributing the discussion.
ChuckOne

PS: Don't know what Metro is: visit http://www.buildwindows.com

I am using windows 8 (developer preview) and IE 10 looks and feels good in metro ui, so i must say GO for Opera metro!
And it should not be mobile version, IE 10 offers same functionality as desktop IE 10(and use same engine), so why not Opera?

Originally posted by mubaidr:

IE 10 offers same functionality as desktop IE 10(and use same engine)

Opera Mobile uses the same engine as Opera Desktop.

Anyone has any pictures of IE 10 Metro? What I feel is that Opera skins are enough for that but without pictures I can't be sure.

Well, I'm gonna say yes, IF it will not affect performance and responsiveness of browser, cause I'm using quite old hardware P4 + 1GB RAM +Windows XP and don't want to spend extra money to upgrade, because this configuration enough for my needs at home.

Swapnil99pro, as I understand Opera Team usually change skin/layout for all OS versions at once, because currently I don't see big differences between XP and Win7 except "glass" effect, so that way I think Opera will also have metro style under XP just with a little differences, and I can only guess what effects this will have.

Originally posted by Swapnil99pro:

pictures of IE 10 Metro

I think this blog will help: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/09/14/metro-style-web-browsing-one-engine-two-experiences-no-compromises.aspx
Beside the pictures/videos the text is also helpful for understanding the design choices.
Also the the videos from the build conference show IE Metro in action.

@stepdev: Well, I am not sure what you are anticipating. But the support for Windows XP expires in the near future; which also leads to security issues for you when using XP. Likewise there won't be Metro on XP, I believe.

@serious & @mubaidr: What I have seen so far of the Opera Mobile is that, it hasn't the capabilities as the Desktop one. And perhaps it isn't clever to transform all features of Opera to one single Metro style application. The most Metro style applications I have seen so far are feature-reduced.

Windows is far from RTM, but I think, Opera will have to consider, whether implementing a Metro style Opera or not, when the whole world will be using the next Windows.

Originally posted by ChuckOne:

But the support for Windows XP expires in the near future; which also leads to security issues for you when using XP.

Hey you, Support is not a matter here, Windows XP still operates more than 40% of the world's computers.

Originally posted by Swapnil99pro:

than 40% of the world's computers.

And the market share is declining. Likewise there won't be Metro on XP, because Metro isn't just a new theme or skin for Opera. It is new paradigm to implement applications. Nonetheless, that isn't the topic of that thread.

Would be interesting to know the motives for choosing 'No.'

I think the Metro style could be a opportunity for Opera to build on the success of Opera Mobile (touch interface etc.). It could be an change to increase market share on desktop computers above the 2-3%.

I think no. Metro is not for desktops, it is for 4" and smaller screens.

This topic is of no use until the release of Windows 8 in 2012. And once Windows 8 is released, it would be interesting to see: Is IE 10 Metro really good for web browsing? from Windows 8 users.

Originally posted by Swapnil99pro:

This topic is of no use until the release of Windows 8 in 2012. And once Windows 8 is released, it would be interesting to see: Is IE 10 Metro really good for web browsing? from Windows 8 users.

Yes i agree, wait for windows 8 release!

IE 10 metro is indeed very usefull for touch screen tablets.

whatever be the thing, opera metro will be a good idea to keep the pace, even some testing edition will do the job while the developers preview is in great progress.

EDIT:- Atleast in my community, we all are liking the new innovation from MS, but i think its a delayed action. I was just thinking a similar thing a few years back though.

I had no idea what metro was and after clicking the link, I still don't know other than it has something to do with windows 8. Do you have a link that actually explains it(I could spend time on google trying to find out, but I just don't care enough to do it)? It would help more people deciding if they want it or not.

P.S. I'd like to precise that I didn't watch the videos since I don't want to listen to a bunch of useless things just to maybe learn something that could be explained in a few lines of text.

Originally posted by Swapnil99pro:

This topic is of no use until the release of Windows 8 in 2012.

I disagree. Microsoft stated explicitly that the Developer Preview is dedicated for developing Metro style apps in order for them to be available as soon as the next version of Windows goes to market. And here lies the opportunity for Opera. Providing a new browser format capable of serving users with both touch and keyboard/mouse interface as conveniently as possible (which the IE Metro does not well for the latter ones) and being one of the first offering it to the customers searching for alternative browsers; who may be influenced by Opera Mini/Mobile positively.

Originally posted by utkarshbisht:

[...] opera metro will be a good idea to keep the pace, even some testing edition [...]

Totally agreed. That is what the purpose of the Developer Preview is.

Originally posted by utkarshbisht:

but i think its a delayed action

Sadly true. But better late than never.

@SamKook:
Hmm. The very first one (keynote#1) gives you an broad overview about the next Windows. Without actually seeing or experiencing (downloading and installing the Developer Preview) it is hard to imagine what Metro really is and does.
Metro is not just a new collection of window themes or the like. It is a new way of experiencing your PC. As siealex mentioned the next Windows be just for tablets or smaller form factors (which is indeed not the case) Metro brings you the look and feel from your smartphone to your desktop PC. Additionally it combines the Desktop experience and the Phone experience in a convenient way (just my impression). Most apparently they took the old Start menu and transformed it to a Start screen showing apps' live tiles (giving you the possibility to start the apps) and the option to search for objects on your computer (apps, files, setting etc.).
I think it is not advisable to have glances on just single features separately (they made a lot of changes depending on each other). The Metro experience should be discovered more or less in its entirety at once (in my opinion).

Originally posted by ChuckOne:

I disagree. Microsoft stated explicitly that the Developer Preview is dedicated for developing Metro style apps in order for them to be available as soon as the next version of Windows goes to market.

I still disagree with you. First keep one thing in mind, Opera Software is not going develop even an Metro Opera testing build before January 2012 since Opera 12.00 is a very big release.

Opera SHOULD definitely consider a METRO-Opera.
It's like on smartphones. Opera does have mobile versions and it will definitely eventually have a METRO-version since that is the future first-hand-environment to run applications and not the desktop anymore.
Every browser that will not be ready when Win8 is released will lose a market-share! Most of the guys who update to Win8 right away are technically interested and thus potential Opera users...

Will Opera ever come to metro desktop?? Look at this https://wiki.mozilla.org/Windows_8_Integration#Internet_Explorer_10_vs_Regular_Metro_Apps I hope I won't be forced to use IE...

Quite interresting read, many thanks.
According to this it seems that normally metro apps may not use the default win32 DLLs and APIs, right? I just wonder then: is it possible the other way around, eg. use WinRT in normal desktop apps ... and how would that affect older versions of Windows (eg. would there be a WinRT compatibility pack)? ... questions over questions.

@dizlexik: Thank to you for that interesting summary page. Concise and clear.

One thing I might be interested in is why Browsers do need to allocate executable memory and similar low level features like shared memory and pipes. Appears to me that using them is necessary for sophisticated and efficient implementations of a JavaScript engine.

Perhaps, other Browsers vendors can use the MS engine for displaying Web sites.

@serious: As far as I know, WinRT is not available for regular Win32 applications.

"Opera's looking into it": http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2012/03/chrome-coming-to-windows-8-metro-too-opera-looking-into-it.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

I recently came to the conclusion that it might be best if Opera ASA does not develop a monolithic Internet suite like Opera browser is today; instead a bundle of three or more slim applications (browsing, mailing, chatting, etc.) which are capable of providing the same functionality like the current Opera browser is more likely to succeed.

+1 to Opera metro

Firefox and Chrome just announced about Metro version of their browser. why not Opera metro?

The Metro is not about Engine (It's fine to use Mobile Optimized Engine) But it's about UX which must go the same way with OS. Opera Desktop's UI is not a good choice on touch screen, And Opera Mobile's UI is quite alien to Windows 8 Metro.

+1

Eventually I'd like a new metro skin for Opera

Please make that "metro" browser, Opera.

+1

I have stopped using Opera because I am getting accustomed to using Metro versions of Chrome and IE10. Having to go back to the Desktop just to browse the web doesn't feel consistent. I love Opera, but Chrome doesn't make me go to Desktop, and soon neither will Firefox.