Posted on 12/24/2004 7:02:49 AM PST by Eagle9
Opera Software Thursday launched the beta of its next browser for Windows, temporarily dubbing the new software Opera 8.
The final, which is scheduled for release in early 2005, has not yet been given an official name, said Opera executives.
Sporting a simpler user interface -- perhaps in the hopes of competing with Mozilla's Firefox, which has blown by Opera to become the one major rival for Microsoft's Internet Explorer -- and a slew of new features, Opera 8 can be downloaded from the Oslo, Norway-based company's Web site. Currently, the beta is available only for Windows systems.
"We were preparing for the 7.60 release, but as work progressed and we kept adding improvements and functionality, it became evident that we had a browser that exceeds the next logical version number and warrants a major release," said Jon von Tetzchner, Opera's chief executive officer, in a statement.
Among the new features in Opera 8 are Fit-to-Window-Width, which reduces type size or reformats the page to fit the window (sometimes with not-so-pleasant results); improved RSS handling, including an icon in the address bar of sites that offer feeds for one-step subscriptions; and automatic update checks that makes sure users have the newest version.
Opera 8 also boasts some basic speech recognition skills, and will, for instance, respond to commands like "Opera back" or "Opera scroll down," as well as read Web page text to users.
Like all free-of-charge Opera browsers, the v. 8 beta includes text or graphical advertisements as the price of admission. Users who have paid the $39 licensing fee for Opera 7 to skip the ads will receive free upgrades to the new version when it goes final.
I use the Firefox extension called FoxyVoice, with AT&T Natural Voice (female - Crystal) for text reading of very long articles or Encyclopedic/Historical texts. A browser with a built-in capability to respond to basic commands and text reading sounds ... interesting.
Opera! Get me my beer!
Opera! Post Ann Coulter photo!
It's a shame because it's an attractive browser on paper. Would anyone with recent experience with it care to comment?
Crystal can read as fast as Ann can talk ... but that's allll she does.
I haven't tried Opera, but read some good comments about it on some Firefox threads.
I use Opera 7 and love it. When 8 comes out of beta, I will purchase it.
I've been an Opera user for years, but I now must admit that Firefox 1.0 has won me over. I still use both, as Opera has many great features, but I seem to have less problems with Firefox.
I've been using Opera for three years, and have tried the others. It's still my preferred browser.
It does crash from time to time if you have multiple windows/tabs/web sites open, but recovery back to those sites is easy (single click).
I use the $39.00 version.
I went to FF extensions, and Foxy Voice is no longer listed there! I wonder why not?
This is actually neat, I will have to check it out.
It's a good browser but with annoying glitches that prevent it from being a complete package. It often won't handle multimedia content like Flash and such, and it also has a tendency to screw formatting. I do use it as my primary right now, but I frequently have to switch to IE to use a certain site that won't run properly. After tweaking Firefox last night and getting some great results, I'm probably gonna switch to it as primary.
MM
I'll be back later, around noon, with a link. You can get AT&T Natural Voice 16k (female - Crystal -- male - Mike) via mail on disc, and download. Disc only $29.95 via mail - both Disc and download $48.00. I found it with a 15% dicount.
ok as an avid opera user i just tried firefox. Not impressed so far. Here are the features i miss the most:
1) mouse gestures (to go back, forward, close page, reload)
2) mouse clicks (back, forward)
3) status bar that shows download speed
4) zoom box (to change zoom and indicate current zoom)
5) folder of bookmarks on the tool bar
I admit that i did not spend much time searching. Perhaps some firefox users might indicate that these features are within firefox.
1) FF gives you mouse gestures via extensions.
2) My mouse gives me mouse clicks in FF for forward and back.
3) Download manager shows download speed.
4) zoom box-- FF handles this differently.
5) I have folders of bookmarks on my tool bar.
Wooly Booger, my butt!
Thanks for the hints ... now that i know that some of this in FF .. i will check them out.
by mouse clicks, i mean that by holding right button opera goes back one time each time you tap the left. Is that what your mouse does in FF?
Download speed i mentioned was that of a web page, not a file.
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