By Jennifer LeClaire TechNewsWorld Part of the ECT News Network
04/21/06 9:10 AM PT
Opera is the first browser to add BitTorrent support. Instead of having to use a separate BitTorrent application for downloading large files, users can now simply click a torrent file and start the download. That could spark controversy from file sharing critics, analysts said.
Opera Software on Thursday announced the first public Beta of Opera 9. Opera has been testing the free browser software since last October.
The Norwegian software company's latest version includes widgets, small Web programs that run in their own windows on users' desktops. The Opera 9 Beta also features support for BitTorrent, a popular file downloading technology, in addition to a content blocker and thumbnail previews of tabbed sites.
"We're proud to release this Beta of Opera 9 to Web users around the world," said Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO of Opera Software. "Opera 9 brings powerful new features to enhance the Web browsing experience and empower Web 2.0 developers. Opera 9 unlocks new levels of productivity for the Internet ecosystem."
New Features
Widgets are a key new feature in Opera 9, and include multimedia Web applications, newsfeeds and games intended to make the desktop experience more fun. Any Web developer can create their own widgets and share them, regardless of operating system.
"Everybody should love widgets. You can get just what you want and nothing else," JupiterResearch analyst Joe Wilcox told TechNewsWorld. "In some ways, the programming is going back to the old days when software was lean and mean and more modular. Widgets are very small and they serve a specific purpose."
Opera's Widget Rendition
Most widgets are informational in nature. There are widgets to collect stock prices, widgets to tell you the local weather and widgets to scan for song lyrics on the Web. Konfabulator was an early widget developer. Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO) snapped up the company and presented the technology as Yahoo Widgets. Even Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is getting into the widget game.
"Opera is looking at widgets with respect to the browser. Microsoft is taking a similar approach with Live.com with widgets there. Widgets are part of your personalized Web site," Wilcox noted. "But with respect to browsers, Opera is usually at the front of the line with adding interesting technologies."
Controversial Waters
Opera is the first to add BitTorrent support. Instead of having to use a separate BitTorrent application for downloading large files, users can now simply click a torrent file and start the download. That could spark controversy from file sharing critics, analysts said, but it could also attract a young demographic to the Opera browser.
"The presumption is that much of BitTorrent's traffic is from young consumers," Wilcox remarked. "The rule of thumb is that it's easier to keep a customer than to acquire one. Everybody wants to catch them while they are young."
Opera Beta 9 also removes ads or images according to user preferences and offers improved rich text editing, according to the company. Right-clicking on the site's search field and select "create search" from the menu allows users to customize their search engines. Finally, Opera rounds out its latest version with the ability to hover any tab to see a thumbnail preview.
Big-Four Fight Gaining Ground, Slowly but Surely April 18, 2006
It's a given that the law acts for people with money. Ordinary people have to look after themselves as best they can, something Sony BMG, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Warner Music count on.
Related Stories
Nintendo Calls on Opera for DS Browser February 15, 2006
"Opera offers Nintendo DS users a lot of flexibility. They can go to any site they want and view it in its original format," said Current Analysis Senior Analyst Brad Akyuz. "This will give Opera great exposure among gamers, who can be considered technophiles.
Opera Mini Makes Mobile Headway January 24, 2006
"Opera Mini allows full HTML browsing even on devices that aren't smartphones," Jupiter Research Analyst Michael Gartenberg told TechNewsWorld. "That brings the mobile browsing experience all the way down to the most standard feature handsets. That's pretty big."
Related News Alerts
More by Jennifer LeClaire
The Digital Car: Cool Automotive Accessories, Part 2 January 16, 2007
Not all the latest high-tech automotive electronics are built to entertain. Many give the driver more information and more control. Vehicle tracking devices can tell where the car is at any time, software installed in a smartphone can turn off a vehicle's security system whenever the owner approaches, and diagnostic tools can tell what's wrong with the engine -- and how much it'll be to fix it.
'World of Warcraft' Wows 8 Million Subscribers January 12, 2007
"World of Warcraft," the massively multiplayer online role-playing game, has reached the 8 million subscriber mark. Since debuting in North America in Nov. 2004, "World of Warcraft" has become the most popular MMORPG in the world. The franchise is available in seven different languages and is played on at least four continents.
AT&T Bids Goodbye to Cingular Brand January 12, 2007
Starting Monday, AT&T will launch a multimedia campaign to transition the Cingular Wireless brand name into its advertising and customer communications. The campaign will integrate popular imagery, phrases and icons from Cingular's traditional advertising, including the "raising the bar" tagline, the "Jack" character and the color orange.
Headline Feeds
Talkback: 
