tamster@my.opera

Yesterday I tried Google Gears, and I must say - it's kind of cool. If some of you don't know about this technology (I didn't know, somehow missed) - it enables AJAX-y, online applications to work even when you don't have an internet connection.

One particular use of Google Gears I'm excited about is Google Reader. I migrated from Opera's built-in newsfeed aggregator to GReader some time ago. Main reason why I was looking for an online RSS reader was that I wanted my newsfeeds/read/unread items to be same - anywhere I go. It's not fun to read feed entries at work, and then skip over them again at home.

Google Gears (which is a kind of plug-in with built-in SQLite database, etc) now enables to use Google Reader even when I'm offline - on a train, for example. Another application that is actively making good use of "GGears" is ZOHO Writer (Techcrunch coverage here).

Let's take a look at..
System requirements:
• Windows XP/Vista
• Firefox 1.5+ and Internet Explorer 6.0+

So.. no Opera support for now.. which sucks. Google Gears still is in beta, though, and press release is promising:
"Opera and Google share the common goal of making Web applications richer and more robust," said Håkon Wium Lie, CTO, Opera Software. "Developers have long desired the functionality and flexibility Google Gears can offer browsers. Because Opera has always prioritized giving our users what they want, we're excited to work with Google to extend the reach and power of Web applications."

So.. seems that Opera will support Google Gears. My question is.. when?
It's been 3 months since press Google's press release that quotes Opera's CTO and there's been no word from Opera since. What's cookin'?
Is it coming with Kestrel? Anyone?