Opera Desktop 9.6 - Lifehacker - Top Download For The Week.
By Henry . Sunday, 12. October 2008, 03:40:26
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Windows/Mac/Linux: Popular web browser Opera just pushed out a new stable release featuring overall speed improvements, several cool feature updates, and a laundry list of bug fixes. Opera still has all the excellent features that made us declare that Opera is still in the browser race with its previous release, but this latest release is faster, and it continues to add innovative features that most browsers only support through third-party extensions. Keep reading for a closer look.Better Syncing...
Opera Link, the feature that syncs Opera browser settings across multiple computers (sort of like previously mentioned Mozilla Weave but built into Opera), has expanded to support custom search engines and your typed URL history in addition to the information it already syncs (which includes Speed Dial, Bookmarks, and more).Feed Previews...
The new Feed Preview feature lets you view a site's RSS feed before you subscribe to it in Opera's built-in RSS reader. It's nicely formatted so you can get a quick glance at what kind of content is included in the feed (e.g., whether or not it's a full or partial content feed) similar to the RSS preview feature in other browsers.
Low-Bandwidth Email...
Opera's built-in email client is also sporting several cool new features, including a low-bandwidth mode that reduces data downloads for faster email along with two new thread options to alternately help you keep a closer eye on an email thread or ignore a thread that's not important to you.
Speed Dial...
Of course, the latest Opera still sports the excellent stable of features we focused on last time we took a close look at Opera. Serving as a default homepage, Opera Speed Dial is a handy launchpad for your browsing experience. Laid out across the screen in like a telephone keypad, screen captures from your selected websites act as links to help you quickly navigate to your favorite locations.
Note Taking...
Opera's built-in note taking feature ensures you always have a scratch pad handy. Access notes directly through the menu bar or using the Ctrl+6 key combination. The note feature is well integrated into Opera, too. Highlight text on a web page and hit Ctrl+Shift+C to copy it to a note. You can also right-click in a web page form (like a new email message) to paste in note contents.
BitTorrent...
Too engrossed in your browsing to fire up your BitTorrent client? No problem. Opera includes a spartan but effective BitTorrent client built-in. Keep an eye on both your torrents and regular downloads at the same time, both are managed through the Transfers window to make grabbing the newest distributions of your favorite software even easier.
Voice-controlled Browsing...
If you're feeling particularly adventurous or just have a strong desire to shout from your cubicle, Opera has a voice control feature. Note: the feature requires an additional 10.5MB download, but is more than worth it to be able to issue commands to your web browser like Jean Luc Picard standing confidently on his bridge. Unfortunately, upon further investigation "Opera: Take us to warp 5" did not yield the anticipated outcome. Aside from accepting commands the Voice feature will also talk back. Highlight the text you wish to listen to, and you're one "Opera: Read" away from browsing with your eyes closed.Saved Login Details with the Wand...
Auto-Complete's younger and more observant brother, Wand makes filling in login prompts and applications text boxes a breeze. Logins and prompts that Wand recognizes are highlighted in yellow. Click the Wand icon to the left of the address bar or Ctrl+Enter and the Wand auto-completes logins and forms for you. Have multiple logins for the same site? Wand remembers and will prompt you to select the proper login.
Fit to Width...
Another small but handy feature in Opera is Fit To Width, which reduces pages to fit the size of the browsing window. Mileage varies depending on the web site—CSS style tables sometimes realign themselves poorly—but Fit To Width is still useful and often cited by the users of other browsers as a small feature they'd love to see in their browser of choice.OPERA DRAGONFLY - MY FAVOURITE FEATURE...
(41%)
WIDGETIZE
Henry # 12. October 2008, 03:45
steven # 12. October 2008, 13:23
(..and keep working at the browser
Eliane a/k/a Elly # 13. October 2008, 00:25
I like to read, so I don't think I want to use the voice feature, though...
Opera is really working well now!
Henry # 13. October 2008, 12:32
Yes..
I'm pleased Opera is working well Elly..
Henry # 13. October 2008, 13:41