Features of the Opera internet suite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In addition to the web browser, the other main component in the desktop versions of the Opera suite is the Opera Mail client, previously known as M2. Opera Mail supports regular POP and SMTP mail as well as IMAP. It also has an Address book. Opera Mail also features a newsreader and a newsfeed reader for RSS and Atom, as well as an IRC client for online chat.
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[edit] New features in Opera 9
There are several new features in Opera 9. The most important ones are:
- Simple BitTorrent client, targeted towards novice users.
- Content blocker (also known as AdBlock).
- Thumbnail preview of tabs (when hovering mouse over them).
- Widgets - small standalone applications sitting on top of the browser.
- Site specific preferences (pop-up blocking, cookies, scripts, user style sheets, user java scripts, user-agent masking)
- The ability to create search engines from a textfield.
- Improved rich text editing (WYSIWYG editor)
- Redefined default hot keys to be more like Internet Explorer.
- Fraud-Protection (Introduced in Opera 9.1) is real-time security. Opera tests sites, that you navigate to, against Phishtank database entries to see if they are "Verified" or "Fraud". This feature is disabled by default.[1]
[edit] Technologies implemented/improved
[edit] Accessibility
Opera was designed to run on low-end and small computers, and with a commitment to computer accessibility for users who may have visual or mobility impairments.
- It is possible to control nearly every aspect of the browser using only the keyboard, and the default keyboard shortcuts can be modified to suit the user. Opera also supports the use of access keys to allow a computer user to immediately jump to a specific part of a web page via the keyboard. Opera was also one of the first browsers to support mouse gestures,[2] allowing patterns of mouse movement to trigger browser actions, such as "back" or "refresh".
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An example of Opera's true zooming function, at 150% - note that both images and text are enlarged.Opera offers true page zooming. Instead of just making the text bigger, this feature expands all page elements, including text, images, videos, and other content such as Macromedia Flash, Java and Scalable Vector Graphics to be increased or decreased in size (20% to 1000%) to help those with impaired vision. User stylesheets may also be used to do this and to enable high contrast coloured fonts. True page zooming prevents inconsistencies that occur when regular text enlargment forces the content to be bigger than its container.
An example of Firefox's zooming function, at 150% - note that only the text is enlarged. - Voice control, co-developed with IBM, allows control of the browser without the use of a keyboard or mouse. It can also read aloud pages and marked text. IBM has a browser based on Opera[3].
- A "Fit to Window" feature that relies on technology similar to Opera Mini's Small Screen Rendering (SSR), allowing websites to fit within a smaller screen without the need for horizontal scrolling.
[edit] Browsing Tools
The Opera browser provides for numerous tools and options to improve usability, simplify navigation, and aid the user in performing tasks relating to internet browsing.
[edit] MDI and Tabs
Since: Opera 1 (1994)
Opera supports tabbed browsing and has a true multiple document interface. This means multiple web pages can be opened within the same application window and resized, moved, tiled and cascaded like normal application windows in the operating system.
In subsequent years the default settings have changed from MDI to the simpler concept of tabs. Since version 6.0, Opera offers users the choice of three modes: Tabs, MDI, and SDI (No tabs).
Opera was the first internet browser to offer tabbed browsing.[4] The tabbing features available in the current release include:
- An actual, visible "New Tab" button to aid in usability
- Thumbnail preview for each tab that also provides META information
- Cascading, rearranging and tiling of tabs
- Individual "X" close buttons on each tab
- Tabs can be "locked," in order to prevent accidental closings
- Option of duplicating tabs - both history and settings
- Tabs can be separated and opened in new frames
- Indicator for page-loading progress
[edit] Mouse Gestures
Users have the option of accessing common browsing functions with combinations of mouse movements.[5] This option is similar to using keyboard shortcuts, as it saves time because users do not have to navigate to graphical buttons (thereby avoiding usability problems relating to Fitts' Law). Examples include:
- Back - Either pressing the left-mouse button while holding down the right button, or right-clicking anywhere and dragging the mouse towards the left.
- Forward - similar and opposite to the "back" gestures
- New Tab - holding down the right-click and dragging down.
- Scroll Through Tabs - scrolling with the mouse wheel while holding down the right-click (especially useful during sessions where many tabs are open within the same window)
- Close Tab - holding down the right-click and making an L-shape movement.
- True Zooming - holding down the CTRL key while using the scroll button. Rolling up enlarges the page by 10% increments, and vice versa.
[edit] Download manager
Since: Opera # (#) - download manager
Since: Opera 9 (2000) - BitTorrent support
Opera allows the user to list, pause, resume or restart the downloading of files. It also keeps history of recently downloaded files and allows opening them from within the browser. Since Opera 9 BitTorrent downloads can be handled just like regular HTTP/FTP downloads.
Opera can also be used with external download managers.
[edit] Hotclick
Since: Opera 6 (November 2001)
Hotclick refers to double-clicking any word in a page. Hotclick can be enabled by going to Opera’s Accessibility preferences. It was introduced in Opera version 6. It gives access to all search engines in Opera as defined by search.ini file, as well as giving access to the built-in translation, encyclopedia, and dictionary.
In addition to this, the Hotclick menu also gives access to the 'copy text', 'copy to note' (Opera 7 and later), and 'Send by email' functions.Using Hotclick is the fastest way to search for a word in Opera. Like all other menus, it can be customized in Opera 7 by using a custom menu ini file.
[edit] Panels Manager
The tools relating to browsing and email functions are organized within Opera Panels. Additionally, users may download additional tools or create their own.[6]
- Contacts - serves as an email address book.
- History - provides a log of all pages accessed, in chronological order, starting with the most recent.
- Links - lists all links that the user has clicked on during navigation.
- Notes - allows the user to copy and paste content into a built-in text editor. As the name implies, this tool is aimed towards note-taking tasks.
- Info - desplays page-specific information, including its MIME type, local cache, size, and encoding.
- Windows - provides a summary for all tabs and windows open during an Opera session.
[edit] Pop-up blocking
Opera lets the user control whether web sites can open pop up windows. By default Opera blocks all unrequested popups, but can work in a variety of different ways, such as opening a pop-up as a background window, or only blocking pop-ups when they do not result from a user action like clicking on a link. Windows that have been blocked may be later opened at the user's discretion. Additionally, this behavior may be set on a per-site basis.
[edit] Search facilities
Since: Opera 4 (2000)
Opera provides quick access to a variety of search engines and commerce sites, via the use of search plugins. Many search plugins are included with the browser, but they can also be user-defined or installed from an external sources. Opera also allows a user to translate a paragraph or look for meaning of a word directly by a right mouse click.
Since Opera 9, a user can have access to any Search Engine without opening the corresponding page. Right Click in a Search Field and then use the CREATE SEARCH option. The Search Engine will be listed in Opera in future. Previously this was only possible by editing search.ini file manually.
For example, Opera has a pre-set shortcut for using the Google search engine: "g." Therefore, if a user typed "g wikipedia" directly into the address bar, Opera performs a Google search for Wikipedia. This feature has been available before the Mozilla Firefox browser introduced a similar tool in v. 2.0.[7]
[edit] Sessions
Since: Opera 4 (2000)
Opera allows the user to save a collection of open pages as a session. This set of pages can then be opened later in a new Opera window, or inserted into the current one. Opera can also be set up to start with the pages that were open when the browser was last closed. A saved session includes the independent history of each page and the settings each page had, such as scrolling position, images on/off, etc.
Each session is saved in a file that can be transferred to another computer via mail or otherwise.
[edit] Trash can
Since: Opera 7 (December 2004)
Opera has a "trash can" button, which allows the user to retrieve blocked pop-ups or a tab closed earlier in the same session. A tab restored from the "trash can" retains its original settings (e.g. zoom level) and history. The list of blocked pop-ups or deleted tabs is kept until the user manually empties the "trash can" or the session is closed and can be used as a temporary bookmark during the session.
[edit] Customization
Users have the option of defining the appearance and functionality of nearly every item on the UI. Personal preferences for buttons and menus can be arranged with "drag and drop," while access to .ini files allows one to create, define, or redefine tools and functions
[edit] User defined themes
Opera supports customized user interfaces themes, allowing users to change the location and style of toolbars, buttons and menus. A drag and drop functionality allows the user to easily place links and buttons on toolbars. Many user-created themes, ranging from color changes to OS adaptations can be downloaded and installed with a few clicks thanks to the built-in automatic installer.
Opera also provides drop down toolbars that display different menus for relevant tasks when needed. For example, any activity in the address bar will open up the "start" toolbar, which provids access to address buttons, such as history or bookmarks. Additionally, another toolbar, "view," contains a zooming function.
Advanced users also have the option of directly accessing the .ini files that define the appearance of the browser. In doing so, users can actually create new menus and buttons, or modify existing ones.
[edit] Security
According to Secunia, Opera 9.x has had 4 security vulnerabilities, all of which are currently patched.[8] These figures are better than those of Firefox 2.0.x (1 of 2 advisories unpatched, 1 of 11 vulnerabilities unpatched),[9] Internet Explorer 7.x (3 out of 4 advisories unpatched, 3 of 5 vulnerabilities unpatched.),[10] and Safari 2.x (4 of 6 advisories/vulnerabilities unpatched).[11] The differences are more apparent when comparing older releases: Opera 8.x (All 15 advisories), Firefox 1.x (35 of 39 advisories patched), IE 6.x (91 of 110 advisories patched), and Safari 1.x (14 of 15 advisories patched).
[edit] Privacy control
Opera can be configured to use proxy servers. It has a built-in cookie editor and cache viewer. Also, a password management tool known as the Wand is integrated into the browser. Every page with a password form gives the user the option of storing the password for later use. To enhance usability, when a user re-visits these pages, the password field will highlight yellow to indicate that one only needs to use the Wand to continue.
Additionally, users have the option of setting a master password for use of the browser. This option is intended to protect against unauthorized tampering or access to stored passwords.
[edit] Security Bar
Beginning with the release of Opera 9.1, users can click on a button embedded into the address bar for any particular page to see a security assessment, including information about available SSL or TLS certificates. This tool is directly tied to Phishtank, thereby serving as a phishing filter as well as real-time fraud protection.[12]
[edit] Extensions
Since: Opera 8 (April 2005)
Opera supports User JavaScript extensions. Those scripts execute when pages are loaded and are used to enhance site functionality. UserJS.org is the unofficial central repository for Opera User JavaScripts. Userscripts.org lists scripts designed for the Greasemonkey Firefox extension, but many of them also work with Opera.
[edit] Standards
Since version 3.5, Opera has supported CSS, and Håkon Wium Lie, one of the inventors of CSS, is the CTO at Opera.[13] Up to 6.0 Opera supported most common web standards, Netscape plugins and some other recent standards such as WAP and WML for wireless devices, but its implementation of advanced ECMAScript (better known as "JavaScript") and the HTML Document Object Model was poor.
Version 7.0 introduced the faster and more powerful Presto layout engine (Which is incorporated into Macromedia Dreamweaver, now owned by Adobe Systems, to render web graphics). Opera introduced a completely new browser, which supports the standards of the older Elektra layout engine and has almost full support for the HTML DOM.
Version 8.0 introduced support for Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 1.1 Tiny. This marked the first major web browser to natively support some form of SVG. [14] Opera has a presentation mode called Opera Show, which allows the use of a single HTML or XML document for large-screen presentations, and web browsing.
Version 9.0 is the first Microsoft Windows browser that passes the Acid2 test, proving robustness of its CSS and HTML implementation. This version adds XSLT and improves SVG to 1.1 Basic level.
[edit] References
- ^ Opera’s new fraud protection to be off by default
- ^ Building a better computer mouse, Evan Hansen, October , 2002, retrieved on October 30, 2005
- ^ IBM article on multimodal technology, retrieved on October 25, 2005
- ^ Muchmore, Michael W. Muchmore[1]" Extreme Tech, Accessed January 31, 2007
- ^ Mouse Gestures in Opera
- ^ Opera's Panels Accessed on January 27, 2007
- ^ [2] Opera: Key Features
- ^ Vulnerability Report: Opera 9.x Accessed January 31, 2006
- ^ Vulnerability Report: Mozilla Firefox 2.0.x Accessed January 31, 2006
- ^ Vulnerability Report: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.x Accessed January 31, 2006
- ^ Vulnerability Report: Safari 2.x Accessed January 31, 2006
- ^ Opera: Security Accessed February 4, 2007
- ^ CSS: If not now, when?, Eric Meyer, June 1999, retrieved on October 25, 2005
- ^ Opera Adds SVG Tiny Support to Desktop Browser. svg.org. Retrieved on September 12, 2006.
[edit] See also
 Opera |
|
|---|---|
| Companies | Opera Software • Telenor |
| Topics | History • Features • M2 • Community • Presto |
| Notable individuals | Håkon Wium Lie • Jon S. von Tetzchner • Geir Ivarsøy |
| Devices | Opera Mobile • Opera Mini • Nintendo DS Browser • Internet Channel |
