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86 Comments
- smittyfree, on 02/09/2009, -14/+64Opera FTW.
- stutimandal, on 02/09/2009, -4/+45Opera is innovative -- still never picked up the market that it deserves.
- RyomaNagare, on 02/09/2009, -3/+34while other browsers struggle with updaters, plugins.
Opera is constantly working on the back-end, making sure we can have the best browser for years to come.
hopefully people will realize and give opera its rightful market share.
Also here is hoping that html5 will help remove focus from flash. - cubicledrone, on 02/09/2009, -7/+23At least Opera supports standards.
- TrellSaracen, on 02/09/2009, -8/+24I suppose, after being the innovator for so long, Opera can be forgiven for falling a little behind in some aspects.
Good to see they're catching up on this, though - V8 must have been the kick in the pants that they needed.
Now if only they'd stop trying to promote their (otherwise fantastic and vastly superior) product by attacking Microsoft - Haavard, I'm looking at you! - fuckinlogin, on 02/09/2009, -0/+15Whilst some of those are not ubiquitous yet because they are in the process of being copied or haven't been copied yet, here are the most blatantly obvious ones:
- 1994: Tabbed browsing. 15 years ago. When did this come to other browsers? Netcaptor was in 1997, 3 years later, although its tabs were better and closer to what tabs are now.
- 1994: Instantaneous back/forward history by caching to RAM instead of disk. Not even done in many other browsers yet.
- 1996: Full page proportional zooming. Instead of ***** text only or image only zoom.
- 1996: Session saving/editing/loading/insertion including full history and page position for each tab. Copied later in an FF extension then integrated into FF.
- 1998: Nicknames in address bar and bookmarks. Shortcut url access (e.g typing inthe address bar (without quotes): "g digg", creates a search url for "digg" on google (g is google by default, you can create any shortcut for any url combinations if you want)
- 1998: User CSS. Load user defined css on webpages, to fix/customise them. E.g remove ads, make link colours standard, change layouts.
- 2000. Proper (customisable) clearing of private data. Copied in FF and some IE shells.
- 2000. Mouse gestures. Best timesaver ever if you do a lot of browsing. Can be copied partially with FF extensions
- 2000. Integrated search, now copied in all other browsers via toolbars or built-in features.
- 2000. Pop-up blocking
- 2001. Small screen rendering (now copied in other rendering engines that also target mobile platforms). Also available in desktop version so developpers can test their websites quickly.
- 2003. Fast-forward, including integration into mouse gestures and filter list to guess forward links that don't embed the proper tags to make this explicit.
- Spatial navigation. Including forms, sub-headers, links etc... Mozilla devs have been tryint to to it since 2005. There are some extensions that partially implement it, and they want to add it to FF at some pt.
- 2005. Fit-to-window-width and removal of horizontal scrolling, by reflowing page contents. Copied in some other browsers?
- 2005. Voice navigation
- 2005: User javascript. First annouced by Opera, but technically, the first non-beta browsers to implement it first was when Mozilla adopted the idea and released greasemonkey. User JS can run greasemonkey (a few functions are missing but are available in a free javscript library to ensure compatibility or can mostly be worked around quickly). User JS is a bit more powerful because it's part of the core browser and can do a couple more advanced things like "magic variables/functions"
- 2005: Browser Javascript. Taking the concept further this is an automatically updated file from Opera that fixes popular websites that accidentally or intentionally in the case of MS (served/still serves bad css on purpose to Opera to make it look like Opera could not render the page) serve bad/old/non-compliant CSS/Javascript or (try to) block Opera.
- 2006: Bittorent support. Useless for now but illustrates the idea that once mainstream content providers adopt P2P (doesn't have to be BT, could be something else) browsers will need to be able to handle those and not just standard prototocols. I am willing to bet this will become more and more prevalent as people ask for more HD content.
- 2006: Widgets. Copied, vastly extended and done much much better by google with Gears.
- 2007. Speed dial (the concept of a local startpage). The concept could be done much better imo, but given Opera's focus on the mobile platform I think this format will persist for them, and the other browsers that are starting to copy this.
Generally speaking:
- Enforcing standards compliance (and thus forcing others to do so)
- Gmail is a basically a webased version of M2, Opera's email client, at least in terms of what people generally think are the "innovative" features of Gmail and its interface.
- Fast rendering as a priority in the rendering engine
- Extensive interface customisation that is now common in other browsers like Firefox
- Developper-oriented debugging tools inside the browser
- Realising, before others, that money in the browser market lies on mobile phones, not desktops (hence why Opera desktop is a free promotional software with some revenue from deals with search engines, rather than their focus)
Of course I did not list all the features that Opera themselves copied from other browsers, but the only relevant one I can think of is better Ad-blocking and per-site preferences because ad blocking was popular on FF.
Webkit is a great rendering engine and FF is a good alternative to IE. But do not be mistaken as to who leads the field when it comes to innovation and market share on the mobile platform. I have FF 3 installed and use it sometimes for testing, but my main issue with it is that to start getting to the same functionality level as Opera I have to install many extensions that should have been in the core code (and thus faster and consuming less memory and more integrated with one another). - kyxi, on 02/09/2009, -0/+14I see a lot of people complaining here saying that Opera is not open source, but come to think of it, who the hell really cares if a program is open source or not?
The only thing that really cares is that both Firefox and Opera are independent browsers, not controlled by any big corporations, such as Microsoft, Google or Apple.
That said, I applaud Opera's move and hope it gains more market share. - johnnysaucepn, on 02/09/2009, -2/+15Yes, because a product is only good if you have to install a dozen other products to make it useful.
- cl2yp71c, on 02/09/2009, -2/+12Buried as a ReverendDick.
- inactive, on 02/09/2009, -1/+9Die.
- johnnysaucepn, on 02/09/2009, -1/+9That's just not true.
- johnnysaucepn, on 02/09/2009, -0/+8HTML5 does include a standardised version canvas element, which can supplant most of the reasons that people use Flash unnecessarily. It also provides audio and video elements.
- barktwiggs, on 02/09/2009, -2/+10It's time to get Carakan!
- benologist, on 02/09/2009, -1/+9If you refuse to use something just because it's not open source you're silly. Also digg's not open source, ciao!
- xutopia, on 02/09/2009, -11/+19I blame it all on the user interface they use. They seem to think that more buttons is better.
- johnnysaucepn, on 02/09/2009, -1/+9What that document talks about is what you must do if you want your software to be free. It doesn't talk about why you must make your software free.
Being able to modify and redistribute someone else's work is a privilege, not a right. - Xmoneyx9, on 02/09/2009, -1/+8I hate how people think Open source = better. Opera's closed source, and it's an amazing browser. Firefox is good, too, though you need to install 20 extensions to get all of Opera's features. IRC client needs an extension, ad block needs an extension, user agent needs an extension, web developer tools need an extension, sidebar needs an extension, notes needs an extensions, speed dial needs an extension, synchronization needs an extension, etc.
- GeeZuZz, on 02/09/2009, -0/+6You should use it because it's a LOT faster to use in a real browsing scenario. I'm not talking about rendering times (who cares about 0.3 seconds), i'm talking about how you visit a page/bookmark, going back/forward, searching, opening tabs in backgrounds, working with 10+ tabs etc.
The problem is that it takes much time to learn how to do this effeciently. But when you've learned all the hotkeys, mouse gestures, "hidden" features and tweaked the interface there's nothing that can compete with Opera.
A real solution for extensions is the only thing Opera needs. - SilverRocket, on 02/09/2009, -0/+6Use the built in debugger called "Dragonfly" and get debuggin'
- svivian, on 02/09/2009, -0/+6Like what? There aren't really many extra buttons at all. Apart from the Rewind button they all have great functionality. And the stop/reload is combined into one. IE has way more buttons.
- UnitedOceanic, on 02/09/2009, -1/+6i tell you why
quote:
"...many major websites don't render or behave correctly..."
every opera user knows that some pages aren't opera friendly. BUT it's not operas fault! on most sites it's enough to turn on the option "identify as IE" and --BANG-- --Magic-- the site works just fine. - johnnysaucepn, on 02/09/2009, -2/+7And I think a lot of people have just had that feeling with that post.
Damn those small companies and their desire to pay their employees! How could they? - colincornaby, on 02/09/2009, -0/+5"Quick question to any web developers. I am working on a website, I make sure its compatible with IE and Firefox. Inturn its compatible with everything else (safari, konq, chrome etc.)"
Ummm... Safari and Chrome do NOT use the same engine as Firefox, and therefore are not automatically compatible just because you test FF and IE. You need to add WebKit into your testing. - thecheatah, on 02/09/2009, -0/+4Thanks.
- ethana2, on 02/09/2009, -2/+6If they open source it, how is Microsoft going to quietly buy and replace IE with it?
Open sourcing Opera is a horrible idea. -we already have gecko and webkit that are Free anyways. - svivian, on 02/09/2009, -0/+4"Who cares if they've changed, that one bad experience ruined my perception of them forever."
That's the most retarded thing I ever heard. Firefox was ***** when it first came out, wasn't well supported and so on.
And there hasn't been an ad in Opera for like 4 years. - cl2yp71c, on 02/09/2009, -4/+8I respect FireFox and Opera users alike, however, you give FF a bad name you ignorant child.
- svivian, on 02/09/2009, -0/+4Some web sites don't work on Opera because the developer didn't test them. This is because it only has a couple per cent share. Firefox was exactly the same until it got over 5% then suddenly everyone was like "if your site doesn't work in Firefox, you're a ***** developer."
- vizpix, on 02/09/2009, -1/+5opera has always been the leader in innovaton, look at how google chrome stole the speed dial feature, the password mamnagement has always been better, you decide if you want to give your info to any site by hitting the magic key buttton, smart thinking, great customising, snappy action, have been using it for ages, too bad it does not have the bells and whistles that FF does, such as a SU toolbar..
- ethana2, on 02/09/2009, -1/+5"while other browsers struggle with updaters, plugins"
A nasty shame, really. Updating is an operating system function. Packages shouldn't even be /able/ to update themselves, that's horrible security. - benologist, on 02/09/2009, -0/+4Or even quicker, just go Tools -> Advanced -> Error Console and you'll see any errors Opera encounters rendering / running the page.
- nutmac, on 02/09/2009, -3/+65 buries without any explanation on why I should set Opera as a default browser. None of the Ubuntu Opera users can explain why it is set as your primary browser? "Opera FTW" is the most I can expect?
- benologist, on 02/09/2009, -0/+3Why doesn't it apply to web platforms? Software is software, why demand one group give you a broad spectrum of rights while happily accepting that the other group can pick and choose what rights you have *including* over your own content you submit to their service?
- thecheatah, on 02/09/2009, -0/+3I test on all 4, its just that there so close in compatibility that I usually have no problem.
- svivian, on 02/09/2009, -0/+3- Zoom
- Fast-back (caching pages in RAM)
- Fast forward (one of my favourites: coupled with left-click+right0click mouse gesture it's speedy to browse through paginated results) - cl2yp71c, on 02/09/2009, -2/+5He must've made a time machine in order to post that.
- venir, on 02/10/2009, -0/+3DeathRay2K,
I have to say your comment about nobody using mouse gestures is ridiculous. They are the main reason I haven't switched to another browser since adopting Opera a few years ago. If I ever have to use another browser I always find myself trying to use mouse gestures. They have to be the best feature Opera has going for it. They are incredibly useful. - paulsmith288, on 02/09/2009, -5/+8competition is good for everyone - good to see opera doing its thing (again)
down with iE, up with the masses! - trex279, on 02/10/2009, -0/+3Opera has been my main browser since version 7.0, and still is. It's mouse gestures rock (the ff extension isn't as responsive), it's fast, and the developers have paid a lot of attention to details resulting in a very good UI. FF is nice, but for major browsing, is way too cumbersome. Go Opera.
- UnitedOceanic, on 02/09/2009, -1/+4Tabs!
- barktwiggs, on 02/09/2009, -0/+2Actually, first version of Opera Browser was released by TeleNor back in 1994. Netscape couldn't have been that much ahead of them.
- novemberdobby, on 02/09/2009, -3/+5I think it's about time you tried a later build than 4.0 ;)
- RobotBuddha, on 02/10/2009, -0/+2QT based browser integrates better with KDE. That's about it for me, but it's 'almost' enough.
- UnitedOceanic, on 02/09/2009, -1/+3try "identify as firefox" on those sites, most of them should work fine.
- svivian, on 02/09/2009, -0/+2Uh... the Opera 10 beta that was released has an auto updater...
- desifitness, on 02/09/2009, -2/+4Except for the fact that some websites (even major ones) do not work correctly, I am with Opera!! I use it as my second browser (FF being the first). Did anyone notice that Gmail brings FF to a crawl? I use Gmail with Opera.
- DeathRay2K, on 02/09/2009, -1/+3Tell me, what ubiquitous features came from Opera?
- smittyfree, on 02/11/2009, -1/+2Opera 10.0 is a leap beyond those browser currently on the market. And it's only in Alpha.
- fuckinlogin, on 02/10/2009, -0/+1@DeathRay2k.
I'll have a go at confirming the dates for the tabs/MDI. I did a quick summary of info on the opera wiki and things I know first hand. I myself have used Opera since 2002 (when you had to pay for it, well worth the money), so for info before that, I relied on the wiki.
Innovations are almost always improvements to existing features or ways of doing things. Mouse gestures for example: sure it's been used before (and there are macro-like apps that allow system-wide use of mouse gestures freely available), and sure you can do all that just by clicking via menus or using keyboards shortcuts. But putting those together within the context of a browser yields an innovation that personally saves me time everyday. As for it not being ubiquitous, IE only adopts features when they become a market requirement. FF relies on extensions and sometimes absorbs the most popular ones into its core. Safari, I have no real experience with, but it seems rather stagnant, apart from webkit, of course. Chrome I won't make a judgement on yet, but Google being Google I think we can hope to see innovative and interesting ways of doing things from them.
And apart from the basic features of a web browser that have stayed constant since the days of Mosaic, how many ubiquitous or popular features can you attribute to a specific browser that came after the first initial generations of browsers. If you look back at the last 10-15 years, the only browser makers that have not been lazy and kept on pushing features is Opera ASA. It's a good thing that there is this new browser war, maybe others will wake up. What else would you call innovations in web browser features over the last 15 years or so, and to whom would you attribute them?
As for ubiquity, I think a large number of those on the list above are present in enough browsers or available through plugins/extensions/toolbars with a large install base that they fit the criterion perfectly well; and they originated in Opera. Only a few (which I hopefully made explicit above) are not widespread yet, because others are still trying unsuccesfully to copy it, are focused on the mobile platform (which many browser makers still foolishly treat as a secondary market) or lack the vision to see that market pressure will dictate they need to implement them in a few years anyway. On the subject of mouse gestures, I'll speculate that this will be mainstream feature on touch phones, although cursor gesture or some such might be a better label in this context. It's a natural extension to what is increasingly being done with the touch interface. This reminds me that while FF hasn't managed to add spatial navigation for 4 years, Google has done it pretty well on the G1's webkit-based browser (it's not Chrome, not sure if it's implemented in Chrome as well). It is really well done actually, and feels very natural combined with the trackball on the G1. Makes navigating links on a small screen much more efficient. -
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