opera 9 released
After all the betas and weekly builds, Opera 9.0 has been released! If you've never tried Opera before, this is really the time to do it.
I still recommend much the same settings and configuration changes as I did for Opera 8. Some aren't needed any more - eg. it now identifies as Opera by default. Some are more powerful now, too :)
Key points about Opera 9:
- First Windows browser (and first multi-platform browser) to pass Acid2. Actually they achieved that with a build back in March, but now it really counts :)
- Native BitTorrent support
- Site-specific settings (eg. allow popups for just one site) and content blocking
- Tab/window terminology (and keyboard shortcuts) now match other tabbed browsers
- Rendering and scripting changes mean sites which didn't work in Opera 8 work just fine in Opera 9. This includes Gmail and Blogger, along with some major corporate applications I won't bother naming. Really the sites are still at fault, but users never cared - now things just work :)
- MSI installer for Windows version - corporate admins be happy!
- Widgets (although to be honest I'm not wild about them, sorry Chaals :))
- ...and much more. See the Opera features overview for more.
If you already use Opera (or you want to know the specific rendering/scripting/security/etc updates), you might be interested to see the Opera 9.0 for Windows Changelog (or your relevant platform's changelog, obviously).
Enough talk! Go check it out :)
I think it is fantastic :)
Seriously, I like lots of things about it. I think widgets are seriously cool, but not for everyone.
I don't use a lot of them, and I don't use them all the time, but I have a handful that I think are close to being really what *I*want. A little animated SGV talk timer that says "shut up now" goes nicely with my clock, for giving talks.
I really like the SVG support, BitTorrent, and a bunch of other stuff. I like XSLT even though I don't use it - because I run across it every so often.
Anyway, I am looking forward to getting to Norway, having a mac again, and installing it there too :) (I'm also looking forward to being able to install an early internal build of Opera 10... but you'll have to wait and see for that one :) )
Chaals - I know it has only been a few days, but I really think 9 is the best version yet! I'm not sure how I ever lived without content blocking, for instance ;) Site-specific settings are awesome too.
I still hate the default toolbar choices; and I suspect this loses a lot of trial users (wouldn't hurt to ship Opera with some pretty skins either). But otherwise this has to be the version most likely to win people over - far more killer features, far more robust (more sites just *work*).
I've nearly adjusted to the new tab terminology and keyboard shortcuts, too... :)
Thank you for the information! I have to try it!
Post a Comment
Got something to say? Leave a comment! If you don't have a Blogger or OpenID account, please use the Name/URL option.