Web Browsers

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Since the early days Opera Software has been renowned for their web browser, their support for (open) web standards, and their strictness in following it. But besides supporting the web they are known as innovators, at a level where other companies, including the oh so beloved Apple, look at for the next step in their own web browsers.

But recently it seems that a lot of (casual) people regard Opera Software entirely differently. While ignoring history and Opera’s innovations, people seem to see Opera as a sore loser, who has failed where Firefox succeeded, and is on the verge of extinction. People especially see the recent case by the European Commission, to bring equilibrium in the browser market, as Opera Software’s doing. But nothing is that simple…

Let’s start with the European Commission case (which currently only applies to EU citizens). Originally Opera Software asked the EC to take a look into the case where Microsoft bundles Internet Explorer with Windows, and causes unfair competition. This applies only to Windows, because Microsoft controls a monopoly (which is specified in the EU rules) and therefor also has a strong grip on the web (which they first failed to pick up in the early days).

Long ago when Netscape was still a good company, everything changed, Microsoft began bundling IE with Windows (especially using OEM releases) and slowly but surely gained enough momentum (in combination with Netscape’s failing in bringing the rewrite on time) to capture the market. After that innovation stalled, IE broke the web with flawed standards support. While Netscape survived in the shape of Mozilla, it was a time when Opera was one of the few survivors that kept working on web standards and innovation. Well, we know how it goes after that, Mozilla Suite didn’t get a lot of people, but with hard good work Firefox came to be, and at the right time with the insecureness awareness of Windows and IE they created enough momentum to become popular. Of course there must have been some jealousy at Opera Software on how Firefox was embraced and gained popularity. But there has never been hate up in the north, and truth to be told, Opera did gain a lot of users as well, as people got aware, awakened if you’d like. Even Opera learned from Firefox, as it became free when enough revenue was gained from other sources, such as Google and Yahoo! searches. Currently Opera Software is financially strong, and has a strong hand in the mobile (Windows, Symbian, Java) market, as well as devices (Wii, DS, Zii). Like any healthy company Opera Software wants more, more market share, more money, etc. But unlike other companies, they still value their own vision, of keeping the web open, on any device, for any one out there.

But back to the EC case against Microsoft. After it was decided that Microsoft needed to create a Windows XP N Edition, without the Windows Media Player, the legal munchos at Opera Software saw fit to ask, I said ask not force, the EC to look into the browser market. As it nearly seems an identical case the EC was quick to pick up, as this time there are several companies still at stake here. Note that from this point on Opera Software hasn’t done anything, the EC was asked to investigate and have found out that Microsoft indeed has been misusing their position for their web browser. Any decision by the EC is done without Opera, Mozilla, Apple, Google or Microsoft. All the companies are free to give their comments, advice and support for the case. So has Opera Software done for the last months, they’ve suggested a ballot screen and apparently EC (and several allies) finds in interesting as well. You’ll have to understand that things like this are more or less organic developments, as you’ve probably read Microsoft has turned around and worked on documents for the ballot screen with their proposal of rules for inclusion and display. It’s up to the EC to approve or disapprove, and the folks at Opera/Mozilla have spoken aloud on the web what they thought of it. So as you can see, Opera cannot force the EC, as they work independently, any justice or injustice directed at Microsoft comes from the EC directly.

However it doesn’t help that several people at Opera Software have said things that were either, ripped from context, or simple reversed questions. A lot of what has been said were advice or (wild) ideas, and yes they sounded bad, like whining as some have said. No, I don’t agree that Opera should be in Windows Update, I would go for a global unified update system that all apps, whether browser or not can plug into, such as the update feature in Linux (though apt, yum, etc.) or App Store (iPhone/iPod touch). Whether then to dismiss or argue any of the comments from some Opera folks you should ask yourself, am I too emotional, could they simply be wrong this time? EC case or not, use Opera, or any other browser because you like it, it’s features, the looks. Remember that everybody is human, and no doubt some people say stuff with emotion or get wrongly quoted (for sensational purposes). Take some distance, and be “nuchter” about it (yeah look that word up… hint, it’s dutch).

Looking at Opera 10 there are of course things missing and we all, yeah me too I confess, say bad stuff about it. It’s not because the entire thing is bad or evil, but because we know, we feel that something could become so much more. Imagine Opera 11, with the super fast JavaScript engine (equal to Chrome), ICC profile version 4 support, Vegas for 3D acceleration, private browsing mode, etc. We know it’s unrealistic to have it all in one go, however we also all know that it should be there to finish of the competition. But the truth is, it’s not possible, not without a healthy balance between work force and financial results. Opera 10 comes already with so much more. First of all the folks listened to us by bringing spell check (with dictionary download), major improvements to the mail client (really there isn’t much else out there that’s free and good), auto-update, a brand new look, and much, much more.

Opera Software is still the same as we know it, innovation and fighting for an open web (heck why do you think they don’t sue people with random patents). Remember this first and foremost, distance yourself from the EC case, and remain “nuchter” while seeking out the “why” someone says something, and remember that everybody makes mistakes.

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The Opera Desktop Team released two new snapshots today both with and without their Opera Unite service. While the development team is making good progress it seems that it won’t be part of the upcoming 10.0 release after all.

Opera Unite was introduced sometime later than the first beta of Opera 10 and it seems that the development unfortunately won’t be able to finish it in time to be included in the Opera 10.0 release. Instead, as the Opera Desktop Team blog suggests, it will be part of Opera 10.10, which will be released as soon as possible.

Of course as soon as possible means once it has met the standards of Opera’s QA department. Of course this will be a slight disappointment, but Opera 10.0 still comes with a lot of improvements on it’s own.

To try the latest snapshots (with or without Unite), as well as the full changelog, go to the Opera Desktop Team blog. Be sure to report any (critical) issues as with the splitting in 10.0 and 10.10 the final release should be relatively near.

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