Opera Web browser offers the best internet browsing experience available. That is, in my humble opninion of course. This version is by far the fastest browser on my computer at the moment, and 10.50 has got a completely redesigned interface that’s really nice.
New features
Better integration with the Windows operating system
Windows 7:
Aero Glass
Aero Peek
Jump Lists
Opera Carakan JavaScript engine
Cross-platform bytecode interpreter for a new register-based instruction set
Internal object model with automatic classification and inline property caching
Machine code generation (JIT compiler)
Divided garbage collection heap: automatically traverses the memory of active heaps
Caching of compiled programs
Reduced memory usage
Additional Carakan information can be found here.
Opera “O” tab and menu
The new Opera “O” tab and its associated menu (located on the left side of the Opera Tab bar) replaces the traditional Opera Menu bar. This increases vertical space in the Opera desktop window, and centralizes frequently used features and tools in one, convenient location. Optionally, the new Opera “O” tab and menu can be replaced with the traditional Opera Menu bar by clicking “Show Menu Bar” in the Opera “O” menu. This new Opera feature contains the following items.
Tabs and Windows â–º
Page â–º
Print â–º
Bookmarks â–º
History
Downloads
Opera Unite â–º
Synchronize Opera â–º
Widgets â–º
Notes
Mail and Chat Accounts
Mail â–º
Contacts
Appearance
Settings â–º
Help â–º
Show Menu Bar
Exit
Opera Presto 2.5 rendering engine
Opera 10.50 (with Opera Widgets for Desktop) for Windows contains the latest Opera rendering engine: Opera Presto 2.5, and incorporates the following features.CSS
Support is added for:
CSS 2.1 visibility: collapse
See: W3C section 11.2 Visibility: the visibility property
CSS3 border-radius property (rounded corners)
See: W3C section 4.4. The border-radius properties
CSS3 Backgrounds and Borders
See: W3C CSS Backgrounds and Borders Module Level 3
CSS3 2D Transforms
See: W3C CSS 2D Transforms Module Level 3
CSS3 Transitions
See: W3C CSS Transitions Module Level 3
HTML5
Support is added for:
HTML5Opera Widgets for Desktop includes the following features:
Support for View Modes through the W3C Widgets Module API:
See: W3C Widgets 1.0: View Modes Media Feature
A Widget menu located within the new Opera “O” menu, or optionally from the traditional Opera Menu toolbar. Menu options include:
Get Widgets
Manage Widgets… (opens the Widgets panel in the Opera user interface)
What are Opera Widgets?
Widget lifespans are separated from the Opera desktop browser.
Each widget runs in a separate process.
Integration with the operating system includes support for creating desktop and menu-based application shortcuts.
Widget control buttons organize important actions:
Move
Close
Minimize
Settings
Support is provided for different widget modes such as “Application” and “Widget”.
A new widget installation/uninstallation process is supported:
Uninstallation from “Add/Remove Programs” in the Windows Control Panel
Notification pop-ups are supported.
Password manager is supported.
File I/O (Input/Output) access is supported.
The upgrading of installed widgets from current to new runtime is supported.
Improved support for Opera Dragonfly is provided.
Remote debugging is possible; configurable via a widget’s context menu.
Download acceleration software compatibility
Support is added for download acceleration software (user option), which integrates a user’s favorite download accelerator with Opera.
Check box activation is located at: opera:config#UserPrefs|UseExternalDownloadManager
Non-modal notification messages
Notification message windows no longer interrupt workflow
JavaScript alerts, HTTP notifications, password manager, etc., now display as page overlays.
Switching of tabs or windows while these dialogs are displayed is now allowed.
Private browsing
Creating, browsing, and then closing private tabs and private windows removes all records of Web sites visited through them.
Using the new Opera “O” tab and menu, go to:
Tabs and Windows > New Private Tab
Tabs and Windows > New Private Window
Using the traditional Opera Menu bar, go to:
File > New Private Tab
File > New Private Window
Web Storage
Support is established for:
Session storage: offers a temporary storage of data
Warning dialogs when exceeding storage quotas for web storage
The user can increase, or set unlimited quotas for web storage
Local storage: stores data for a longer period until the user explicitly clears it
The Address field autocomplete list now includes opera:webstorage
Added a “Delete Web storage databases” check box item in the “Delete private data” detailed options dialog
See: W3C Web Storage Working Draft
Web SQL Database
Support is established for:
Storage of data in a more structured manner
Querying data using SQL
Warning dialogs when exceeding storage quotas for web database
The user can increase, or set unlimited quotas for web database
Added a “Delete Web storage databases” check box item in the “Delete private data” detailed options dialog
The Address field autocomplete list now includes opera:webdatabases
See: W3C Web SQL Database WWorking Draft
Be nice if the FEEDS could be incorporated in the O menu