Category: Opera
An Interview With Opera’s CEO, Jon von Tetzchner
The Register recently published an interview with Jon von Tetzchner and there are some very interesting questions and answers as well.
Andrew Brown, a big fan of Opera, wrote that he chose to move to FireFox because it was more compatible with new websites, partly citing Flickr compatibility. Do you feel you’re falling behind?
…
It’s a chicken and egg situation, which means we need to get more users.
…
I don’t want to agree with that. It’s not all about users. Of course, big market share helps a lot but let’s see the following situation:
Let’s say 1000 potential users decides to download Opera and surf their favorite sites, some of them found them incompatible with Opera. What they do? They are switching back. So you get more users for a week or so but then lose some of them due incompatibility with their favorite sites. Of course, market share still grows, but very slowly. As posted in 2007 July Browsers Market Share Results, Opera lost 0.02% of their market share that time. I tend to believe that decrease was not due the fact that users didn’t like Opera’s interface or features, but due incompatibility.
Opera can’t grow so fast due incompatibility with some sites.
Incompatible sites are incompatible due low Opera’s market share.
Paradox?
If Opera would get 20% of the market share in one night, this would help for sure. But that won’t happen.
So it’s up to Opera Software.
Another interesting answer was:
We just try to focus on our side. We’ve always focused on a somewhat richer interface. We’ve had a lot of negative comments ourselves over the years; for example, when we introduced tabbed browsing a lot of people said it doesn’t make sense. We’ve introduced things like zooming, mouse gestures and the like – and we find they find their way into other browsers; tabs found their way into IE7. We are being copied, but we would like to focus on features and giving users a good experience.
It’s fantastic that Opera is being copied, that means they are doing very good job in providing users best web experience, but how long can it happen? How long can you brainstorm and add new features without seeing rapid Opera’s market share growth while competitors with those new features becoming stronger (more popular). Why It’s Not Enough To Have All The Greatest Features?
Web Browsers Flame War. Wanna Join?
Just kidding, don’t do that.
There’s an interesting thread (Have Firefox pre-installed as default browser) posted.
I haven’t read it all, just 1 out of 50 comments or so and found that it’s just another flame war (or will be the one soon).
There’s even a comment from Daniel Goldman (Opera Software).
I’m sure we (I work for Opera Software) could work some revenue sharing plan with Dell. Part of our revenue from the desktop browser comes from Google.
Any other companies wanna join too and try to get their stake from Dell? Everyone is just talking about how good or bad their favorite browser is.
One more interesting comment by sazar
There are other options besides Firefox, why promote one over the others? This will simply create a browser monopoly of sorts with Firefox. IE comes bundled with the OS and allows people to get online for the first time, this shouldn’t be a handicap. If the user is savvy enough, they will be able to download the browser by themselves.
I agree.
Opera 9.23 Final Released
Oh yes, this could mean that we will have something (maybe Opera 9.5) in the following Friday, or maybe not. OK, let’s go back to the topic.
Opera team just released Opera 9.23 Final. Here’s the changelog (since Opera 9.22):
- Fixed 4 crash bugs found using Mozilla’s jsfunfuzz tool.
- Fixed a stability issue with Speed Dial.
- Fixed a JavaScript security issue discovered with Mozilla’s jsfunfuzz tool.
- Scrolling problem with some Microsoft mice fixed on Windows Vista.
Since this is a final version, I strongly suggest you to upgrade your Opera browser to the latest, stable release.
Internet Explorer (IE) vs. Safari vs. Firefox vs. Opera
It’s about time for another article. I really like unusual things to do, so will try something different this time too. You probably read dozens of articles with the similar name. Yes, it’s “Internet Explorer (IE) vs. Safari vs. Firefox vs. Opera”. However, I am not interested in web browsers features, speed at this moment. No, I will compare those web browsers web pages design. That’s right, enough of those regular “Internet Explorer (IE) vs. Safari vs. Firefox vs. Opera” articles. It’s time to try something new.
“Internet Explorer (IE) vs. Safari vs. Firefox vs. Opera” – Web Design Battle
I will analyze every web browser main web page and see how does it looks, what is good or bad, see if it renders correctly in every web browser (using browsershots.org), etc.
Before starting to review web design itself, let’s see how well it’s coded. We will use validator.w3.org.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/default.mspx – This page is not Valid (no Doctype found)! Failed validation, 209 Errors
Ouch.
http://en.www.mozilla.com/en/firefox/ – This Page Is Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict!
Good coding. No errors.
http://www.apple.com/safari/ – This page is not Valid HTML 4.01 Transitional! Failed validation, 3 Errors
Haven’t passed this test, but only 3 errors were found. Not bad.
http://www.opera.com – This Page Is Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict!
Good coding. No errors.
Now we will use browsershots.org to see if web pages are being rendered correctly in any web browser.
Internet Explorer – didn’t rendered correctly in a few web browsers.
Firefox – renders correctly in any web browser.
Safari – didn’t rendered correctly in a few web browsers.
Opera – renders correctly in any web browser.
Please note: rendering tests maybe be not accurate due rendering software.
OK, we’ve passed some regular tests, let’s review start pages web design now.
Firefox
Click to Enlarge.
When you open web page for the first time, it gives you a very nice impression. Colors are very well organized; whole interface is not messed up with no need stuff. In the left there is very catchy “Download Firefox – Free” text/button so everyone will understand that this web browser is free. That’s a very good thing. Right after the text there is a version number, another great thing, helps you to know about the latest version and “Release Notes” tells you what’s new there.
Right after that, Firefox team presents some cool features, for example: “active protection”, “thousand useful add-ons”, etc. Although I think they should remove blue background from those red “check” markups, let’s go the right side now. We see awards, yet another great thing which can attract more potential users. In the footer I’ve also found a language selector, another plus. Now one more thing I didn’t like was their links system. “Download Firefox – Free” link is underlined which tells you that it’s a link, while links with text like “Enjoy a Better Web Experience” are more like promotional words than links, they are not underlined so you can’t say it’s a link (unless you mouse over on it). In the “Special Editions” corner there’s another different kind of link. This time when you mouse over, text become underlined. So there is like 3 different styles of linking which can confuse not experienced web surfers a bit.
Pros
- Catchy download button.
- Includes “FREE” in the start page.
- Version number included.
- Release notes.
- No validation errors.
- Site renders correctly in any web browser.
- Reasons to try Firefox.
- Possible to change language.
Cons
- Links system might be confusing to new web users.
Internet Explorer
Click to Enlarge.
Although Internet Explorer start page contains so many errors, it does look nice. Actually, for me Internet Explorer page is more beautiful than any other web browser. It contains nice glassy buttons, some effects and well chosen colors. In a few words I would call it “Vista style”. Right after navigation there are some new features listed, for example: New Look, Tabs, Printing, etc. which gives you a nice impression of what you can expect from Internet Explorer browser. You can’t instantly find “download” button as it’s not really separated from whole content, that’s a bad thing. Links (in the picture) also needs some improvements, “download”, “take a tour” and “watch video” are same size, color, but only two of them are links. Yes, there is a small “arrow” which should tell you something, but I think that “watch video” shouldn’t look same as links because it’s not a link and it’s not a good idea to confuse site visitors. Right after promotional picture you can find a list of new features and reasons to try this browser. One more thing which I didn’t like was advertising in the right corner, that’s not professional.
Pros
- Good looking site.
- New features listed.
- Reasons to try Internet Explorer 7.
Cons
- Lots of validation errors.
- Doesn’t renders well in all web browsers.
- Links system might be confusing to new web users.
- Advertising in the right corner.
Safari
Click to Enlarge.
Right after I’ve opened this page, thought: grey… Grey color is dominating there, from top navigation to background. For me grey color is more like a depression color so I really don’t like Safari start page color scheme. However, not everything is bad here. Big screenshot instantly allows you to see how does Safari look and it’s pretty easy to notice “Download Beta Now” button too, although it’s not so catchy as Firefox one. If they could add a full version number, that would be great. Right after button you can find word “FREE”. Another great thing; before downloading users should know, whether this browser is free or not. What we see next is the top 12 reasons to try Safari, yet one more plus. I kind a like their way of showing those 12 reasons with some fading. Looks nice and doesn’t require new page loading. First reason is “Blazing Performance”, and here you go, we see performance graph. Of course, Safari is the winner there. Yes, that’s another big plus to Safari web design. This trick helps to convince users and try Safari 3 Beta.
Pros
- Reasons to try Safari.
- Includes “FREE” in the start page.
- Safari screenshot in the start page.
- Performance graphs.
- No new page loading required when viewing 12 reasons to try Safari.
Cons
- 3 validation errors.
- Grey (depressing color) dominates there.
Opera
Click to Enlarge.
OK, no offense, but for me this new design is the worst one. I used to like their previous tries, for example this one:
Not a perfect design (After Opera 9.2 it used to look even better), but much better than the current one. In the top I see old style grey buttons, not a good thing, it needs upgrade. After old navigation there’s a big picture, no idea why but it contains my.opera.com stuff and no browser screenshot, bad idea I would say. After that strange picture we see promotional text which says “The coolest, fastest, and most secure Web browser available”. Although that’s not a bad thing, but they should include some reasons why it’s so cool or so. In the right side we see green “Download” button. This button should include “FREE”, this is a MUST for Opera, click here to see why and that’s almost all, after download button we can find other “Opera Software” products promotions.
Pros
- No validation errors.
- Site renders correctly in any web browser.
Cons
- Old style navigation.
- No “reasons to try”.
- Only a few words of text.
- Where’s “FREE”?
Conclusion
If there would be a beauty contest, Internet Explorer start page would win, but it’s not all about beauty. Web design should render correctly in any web browser, contain most important information in the start page, have nice user friendly interface, etc. So… And the winner is… Firefox. It had no validation errors, nice interface, most important information listed, well chosen colors and much more. Regarding second place, probably that would be Safari, it had nice navigation and performance graph. Third goes Internet Explorer. I know, it’s cute design, but that’s not enough. And the last one… Opera. Start page needs serious improvements, maybe they will make a new design after Opera 9.5 is released, I don’t know.
Also, this is only my opinion.
EDIT: I’ve just rewrote my conclusion, Internet Explorer was in the second place due it’s beauty and third one – Safari. It’s really hard to decide.
What’s your favorite web design?
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EDIT2: Why those pages?
I have used Google Search and thought what would users type in order to find that web browser.
So it was like: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Opera. I took a first result (which most searchers clicks) and analyzed that page.
[digg-reddit-me]
Just Another Opera 9.5 Topic :-)
It’s Friday and seems there won’t be any Opera 9.5 build today. But that’s not the main point. Today I’ve asked then they will provide any more information about Opera 9.5. I am just curious, that’s not a crime (I hope so). After few minutes my question was deleted (even all other times it wasn’t), so maybe Opera Destop Team are just too tired to answer questions about Opera 9.5. Anyway, just a friendly advice: you could save more time by writing 1 line with text “No Opera 9.5 this week” instead of deleting people questions (me included) :-)
Opera 9.23, Build 8808 Released
It’s Thursday (not a Friday) today, but we got a new Opera 9.23 series release: Opera 9.23, Build 8808. This is not a final version, use it on your own risk.
Here’s a changelog:
- More Speed Dial stability fixes
- Fixed issue with some mouse wheels and scrolling up on Vista
- Fixed another fuzzer crash
Download:
Windows MSI
Windows Classic
Macintosh
Unix
I guess we won’t get any new release tomorrow, or will we?
Opera 9.5. Is Tomorrow That Day?
Everyone is waiting for the very first Opera 9.5 public release. Tomorrow we should have another weekly or just some more news, so maybe Opera team will release it tomorrow? Since we are waiting for so long I think that it won’t be released tomorrow. Why not? My guess is that to get more time on Opera 9.5 polishing they will release Opera 9.23 Final as Opera 9.23 weekly (not a final version) was released last week already.
Oh well… I can be wrong, let’s wait and see.
Opera 9.23 Build 8805 Released
Today Opera pleased us with a new weekly verion of Opera 9.2x, althought everyone expected to see Opera 9.5, but updates are good anyway. There wasn’t something like a “changelog” in their post… But this new build contains security and stability fixes.
Windows MSI
Windows Classic
Macintosh
Unix
It’s not a final release, only a weekly, use it on your own risk.
10 Reasons Why Opera 10 (Peregrine) Will Be Special
I know, I know, it’s still long way to go and we even haven’t tried Opera 9.5 yet, but it’s worth to read anyway (I guess).
1. Come on, it’s Opera 10. That already makes it special.
2. New rendering engine.
3. Stunning performance.
4. More stability than ever before (no lies).
5. Increased security.
6. Very user-friendly interface. New skin I guess.
7. More applications that runs outside web browser.
8. Advanced stuff for web developers.
9. No more problems with various web pages. I guess that before Opera 10 first releases, Opera browser will already have like 2% +- market share (maybe more, depends on their strategy), so less web developers will ignore it.
10. Something BIG which makes you excite about it. We know that with every new Opera web browser release, they add something fantastic. That’s probably the best reason why Opera 10 will be so special.
Most of those features are basically announced with every new any web browser release… Oh well… Just my 2 cents… They keep hiding all the greatest information :-) So it’s more like a guess. Keep waiting for Opera 10.
More Details About Opera 9.5
While we are waiting for some new releases, “Opera Desktop Team” revealed more details about upcoming Opera 9.5 (codename Kestrel) release.
As it says in their “Screen reader support” post, here are some finished stuff:
Windows:
- Good support for the Microsoft Accessibility API (MSAA).
- Close cooperation with other screen reader vendors.
Mac:
- Excellent support of the Mac API for Accessibility.
- Excellent support of VoiceOver.
Yes, no Opera 9.5 builds today, maybe we will get it another day (hope so).
