Speed Dial as Home Page

Speed Dial as Home Page

My apologies if this has already been requested - my search did not return something similar.

I think it would be excellent to be able to select Speed Dial as an option for the home page, so upon clicking the Home button I get taken to the Speed Dial screen.

I usually have a search engine as my homepage, but the Speed Dial gives me so many more options. Surely this wouldn't be too difficult to implement.

Thanks.

Originally posted by spaninc:

My apologies if this has already been requested - my search did not return something similar.I think it would be excellent to be able to select Speed Dial as an option for the home page, so upon clicking the Home button I get taken to the Speed Dial screen.

It has been requested before, a few times, but what's the point? If you want to go to your home page then use the Go to Homepage shortcut (Ctrl spacebar), or add the Homepage icon to your toolbar and use that. When you want a speed dial page, then click the new tab icon or use the New page shortcut (Ctrl T).

Home Drag the link next to the New tab icon and drop it on the floating toolbar (not on the pagebar). Click to go to your home page; click and hold to open a new tab (speed dial). Then you don't need two separate buttons.

New The same button, but in reverse. Click for speed dial; click and hold for your homepage.

Originally posted by Pesala:

... what's the point? If you want to go to your home page then use the Go to Homepage shortcut (Ctrl spacebar), or add the Homepage icon to your toolbar and use that. When you want a speed dial page, then click the new tab icon or use the New page shortcut (Ctrl T).

I already have the home button and I know that opening a new tab gives me the speed dial....the point is that I don't want separate functions (or a separate homepage) for this. I don't want to have to open a new tab, close the current tab and switch to the new tab just to get to speed dial. I think that's a lot more operations than necessary. With a search engine and all of my favourite sites in my speed dial, it would be far more useful for me as my homepage, plus fewer operations.

I think this would add more flexibility for little effort.

With a search engine and all of my favourite sites in my speed dial, it would be far more useful for me as my homepage, plus fewer operations.

Home So use this button instead.

Actually this was a feature in an earlier (not too long ago) version of opera, but it dissappeared.

It seems simple to say "just click a button", but the same should then apply to the usual home page feature. Imagine if a user could set their home page, but had to click a button everytime when opening Opera to go to that home page. Yes, it is only one button click but it defeats the idea of home page, which means you open the browser and it is immediately there. I often open the browser with the intention of going to one of the pages on my speed dial, and I used to be able to open Opera with the speed dial as the home page, allowing me to immediately select the page I needed.

Originally posted by rarturo:

Yes, it is only one button click but it defeats the idea of home page, which means you open the browser and it is immediately there.

If you want to open your browser with the home page, then set that option in Preferences, General, Startup. Likewise, if you want to start up with the speed dial.

Originally posted by Pesala:

With a search engine and all of my favourite sites in my speed dial, it would be far more useful for me as my homepage, plus fewer operations.

Home So use this button instead.

Thanks a lot dude!!!! I love the button!!!

On topic: the option to select speed dial as home page should be there!!!

I think I used it before some time ago, but that it was removed

Originally posted by svenhassel79:

On topic: the option to select speed dial as home page should be there!

There is no point to this. If you want to go to your home page, then click the home page button, or use the home page shortcut, or use the Start with Home page option.

If you want the speed dial, then click the New tab button, or use the New Tab shortcut, or use Start with speed dial.

The purpose of "New page" is not "Go to homepage."

The purpose of "Go to homepage" is not "Open speed dial."

To go to the speed dial in the current tab, use the rewind button or shortcut (Shift Z by default).

Simply assigning the Speedial a proper URL would solve the problem.

Why not use opera:speeddial for Speeddial page?? Would even fit into concept, Opera got lots of special pages (history, cache , etc ), but the SpeedDial is the only one without any URL.

Originally posted by Pesala:

Originally posted by svenhassel79:

On topic: the option to select speed dial as home page should be there!

There is no point to this. If you want to go to your home page, then click the home page button, or use the home page shortcut, or use the Start with Home page option.

If you want the speed dial, then click the New tab button, or use the New Tab shortcut, or use Start with speed dial.

The purpose of "New page" is not "Go to homepage."

The purpose of "Go to homepage" is not "Open speed dial."

To go to the speed dial in the current tab, use the rewind button or shortcut (Shift Z by default).

Why do you insist on replying to every post on here saying that there is no point to this?

Clearly, if users are requesting this, then there is a point to it. I know what a homepage is and I know what a new tab is. These options clearly have defined roles, but I don't see speed dial as something that needs to be exclusively associated with new tabs. There is no reason why speed dial cannot be associated with "go to homepage" and it is just as logical for the home button to go to speed dial as it is for the new tab button to go to speed dial.

Originally posted by spaninc:

Why do you insist on replying to every post on here saying that there is no point to this?

I don't. I only reply to those threads/posts that request things that are pointless in that way.

Originally posted by spaninc:

Clearly, if users are requesting this, then there is a point to it.

I have been visiting here long enough to have seen many requests from those who migrate from other browsers, and immediately request Opera to be just like their previous browser, before even spending a few weeks adapting to the way that Opera is designed. Implementing every option of every other browser is futile.

This user requested virtually the opposite of you — I would like the option for new tabs to open my Homepage. He gave up and switched back t Firefox. His request has not been implemented yet, but there are plenty of ways to accomplish what he requested.

If someone actually suggests something useful, I will support their request. If not, I will say why I think its unncessary. If you expect Opera to be changed to match your previous browser, you're likely to be disappointed. It is much more productive to learn how to use what is already available than to get upset just because long-term Opera users don't support your request.

Just click CTRL+T and you will be on speed dial...

OP, your poll is completely flawed. I do use speed dial but I certainly don't want to be able to set it as my home page. Under normal circumstances I would say "make it optional", but what concerns me greatly is the URL/address bar is kept blank when opening the speed dial page, and I don't want that to change. The last thing I want is for the Opera devs to glitch out and create a page something like this:

about:speeddial

That would be very annoying, so I say keep it blank. Of course in order to keep it blank it cannot be set as a home page, so there it is.

Poll needs 3rd option: "No - for another reason not listed"

Originally posted by Pesala:

Originally posted by spaninc:

Why do you insist on replying to every post on here saying that there is no point to this?

I don't. I only reply to those threads/posts that request things that are pointless in that way.

Originally posted by spaninc:

Clearly, if users are requesting this, then there is a point to it.

I have been visiting here long enough to have seen many requests from those who migrate from other browsers, and immediately request Opera to be just like their previous browser, before even spending a few weeks adapting to the way that Opera is designed. Implementing every option of every other browser is futile.

This user requested virtually the opposite of you — I would like the option for new tabs to open my Homepage. He gave up and switched back t Firefox. His request has not been implemented yet, but there are plenty of ways to accomplish what he requested.

If someone actually suggests something useful, I will support their request. If not, I will say why I think its unncessary. If you expect Opera to be changed to match your previous browser, you're likely to be disappointed. It is much more productive to learn how to use what is already available than to get upset just because long-term Opera users don't support your request.

Thanks for assuming you know anything about me or my browser usage history.

I've been using Opera for many years, with a mix of other browsers. I find it interesting that you post as if you speak for all long-term Opera users, and purely because I'm not a long standing member of the online Opera community you assume that I am not a long term user.

Your opinion of what is pointless is exactly that - your opinion. You'd already clearly stated your opinion in earlier posts, and I don't understand what you feel is to be gained from continuing to tell new posters that their posts/requests are pointless. This sort of attitude is not at all conducive to an open community that encourages new users to participate.

Originally posted by Guest703:

OP, your poll is completely flawed. I do use speed dial but I certainly don't want to be able to set it as my home page. Under normal circumstances I would say "make it optional", but what concerns me greatly is the URL/address bar is kept blank when opening the speed dial page, and I don't want that to change. The last thing I want is for the Opera devs to glitch out and create a page something like this:

about:speeddial

That would be very annoying, so I say keep it blank. Of course in order to keep it blank it cannot be set as a home page, so there it is.

Poll needs 3rd option: "No - for another reason not listed"

My apologies for not providing a third option in the poll. I totally agree that anything like this should be optional. I'm a software engineer by trade, and a strong believer of making software as flexible as possible not restrictive.

What I envision is an option where in the preferences to set the homepage, there might be an option to use Speed Dial. This would be without URL and would actually open with a blank URL bar. I see no reason why this could not be achieved - hitting the home button could go to Speed Dial with no URL.

@Pesala

That home button that closes the current tab and opens a new tab with speed dial is exactly what is needed but there are two issues with it.
1. It does not keep the history, so the back and forward buttons are disabled.
2. Users should not have to go and read forums to have this feature. What's wrong with having it as an option? Those who don't care can ignore it. Those who want it should not have to jump through hoops to get it.

I am a long time Opera user and I don't think I'll be switching to another browser anytime soon. The good stuff in Opera outweighs its deficiencies. But I would love this option to be available somewhere in Opera's options.
Cheers,

Corneliu

Originally posted by spaninc:

I'm a software engineer by trade, and a strong believer of making software as flexible as possible not restrictive.

That's where extensions come in.

I've also been an Opera user for many years, and I am also an IT professional.

This feature used to be in earlier versions of opera but dissappeared. It was actually using it in Opera that made me see how useful a feature it was. This feature is now in Firefox, for example, confirming that there is a need for it in general.

Update: Also seen the feature in Chrome. The Start With Speed Dial solution in an earlier post will have worked, but in the version of Opera that I am using (11.62), this is not an option in the dropdown list.

Originally posted by rarturo:

this is not an option in the dropdown list.

It is...if you disable "Allow window with no tabs" (Preferences>Advanced>Tabs>Additional tab options).

HomeTry dragging this instead. I believe this is what you wanted.

Source

I'm a long and old user of Opera, even when Opera was still struggling to have all the webpages loaded properly in the browser. But this feature is a very useful feature that has to be there if Opera wants to compete with other browsers. Newbie users would not know if the browser hogs memory or CPU. But having good features certainly buys them.

I've been using this button since Opera 9. It really bothers me that this feature is missing. I did a tough search in Google to get it. But the pain is still there whenever I change/upgrade my computer, or install it in another computer.

It is embarrassing when my friends tell me Opera can't do this and I had to kept them waiting while I look out for the button at that webpage. Much as we know different browsers offer different strengths, we cannot prevent (or blame) users from comparing usability with other browsers.

I'm afraid that that webpage would one day be closed down and Opera users will suffer this loss. I sincerely hope that Opera will look into this feature and reconsider about recovering this feature again.

Sincerely,
wclim17

now i see why opera is stuck at 2% market share.........

Thanks wclim17, that's a great help!

To the rest of you, I think it's obvious that the real reason the speed dial is not allowed as a homepaege is because they want people to use the cluttered Opera Portal.

Speed Dial is one of the most elegant features that Opera has. A search bar with cleanly lined up links that are easy for users to set. Simple and brilliant.

I don't want to have to open a new tab to get to the speed dial. When I'm done with my current task, I want to click on one button and be back at my list of links so that I can go on to my next thing. Duh. Mother F**king duh.

Also I don't want to have to explain to people like my wife, my mother etc that they have to open a new tab if they want to go back to their home page (aka their pretty list of links).

Google "Opera Start Page" and the first things that come up are people trying to workaround setting the speed dial to the home page. How could the programmers be so blithely ignorant of the demands of users? Just because they use their browser a certain way doesn't mean that it should be totally inflexible to the way that so many others browse the web.

Originally posted by chasinwind:

Speed Dial is one of the most elegant features that Opera has. A search bar with cleanly lined up links that are easy for users to set. Simple and brilliant.

Interestingly Opera uses a kind of speed dial in Opera for Wii. There is no homepage, just this "favorites" page where users' favorites are arranged as little thumbnails. Of course there are immense technical restrictions for this console browser, but the fact that Opera uses such arrangement for people who may be too young, too old or too dumb to use "real" computers means that this no-nonsense collection of favorite websites is good enough for many users.

Originally posted by chasinwind:

When I'm done with my current task, I want to click on one button and be back at my list of links so that I can go on to my next thing.

Rewind That should do it in most cases.

Originally posted by wclim17:

HomeTry dragging this instead. I believe this is what you wanted.

Source

Sincerely,
wclim17

Thanks for posting the "speed dial button".

Originally posted by Pesala:

Originally posted by chasinwind:

When I'm done with my current task, I want to click on one button and be back at my list of links so that I can go on to my next thing.

Rewind That should do it in most cases.

Rewind requires: long pressing, reading the pull down list, selecting the right target, and releasing the mouse/pen.
This home/speed dial button is one click, for me in the upper left corner, and my preferred speed dials right underneath. I can do it with my eyes closed :-)

Hi, everyone. I wanted to point out an alternative solution (/workaround) that I found sometime by searching for something like "speed dial shortcut".

So, what I have been doing for a long time is just to assign a keyboard shortcut for the action "Show speed dial". So, instead of clicking home, I just hit the corresponding key combination and there I have my speed dial.

To achieve this, go to Settings --> Preferences --> Advanced --> Keyboard setup --> highlight an entry to your liking (such as Opera standard), edit --> Application --> highlight any line and press add, enter the new shortcut keys in the Input context and shortcuts column, and Show speed dial in the actions column.

I have "i alt" and "Show speed dial", so by pressing alt+i I get what I want.

I hope this helps.

Edit: Forgot to mention that it functions as a toggle, so you can just hit the key combination again to return to the page you were viewing.

Originally posted by wclim17:

HomeTry dragging this instead. I believe this is what you wanted.

Source[/URL" target="_blank">http://vangeijt.home.xs4all.nl/opera/dndbuttons.html]Source[/URL]

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I wanted. I love Opera and this just makes it so much better!!!

Originally posted by hunternine:

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I wanted.

Maybe not :
Speed Dial Button does not work anymore

Originally posted by Pesala:

It has been requested before, a few times, but what's the point? If you want to go to your home page then use the Go to Homepage shortcut (Ctrl spacebar), or add the Homepage icon to your toolbar and use that. When you want a speed dial page, then click the new tab icon or use the New page shortcut (Ctrl T).

Pesala, other browsers do offer their start screens to be set as the user's home page! Why lag behind?

Originally posted by Pesala:

Rewind That should do it in most cases.

Tabs' propagation happens out of automatic new tab opening from active tabs - so you can have a significant number of tabs without this item in their history.

Using Opera 12.10 RC3 here. On a standalone (portable) install, the address opera:speeddial can be used to access Speed Dial (which returns Invalid address on Opera 12.02 and some earlier versions). So yeah, looks like this was a bug and is solved.

Hope it stays like that till Opera 12.10 Final and then just set Opera Menu > Settings > Preferences > General tab > Homepage to opera:speeddial and Speed Dial is set as the homepage.

Originally posted by Swapnil99pro:

Using Opera 12.10 RC3 here. On a standalone (portable) install, the address opera:speeddial can be used to access Speed Dial (which returns Invalid address on Opera 12.02 and some earlier versions). So yeah, looks like this was a bug and is solved.

Hope it stays like that till Opera 12.10 Final and then just set Opera Menu > Settings > Preferences > General tab > Homepage to opera:speeddial and Speed Dial is set as the homepage.

You are right Swapnil99pro, just updated to 12.10 and I can now use opera:speeddial as my homepage!

why close a tab? so many people have like a closing-mania, be it windows or tabs...
Ctrl+T takes you about 0,4 seconds to exec
w/ setting "Click-on-tab-minimize" active