Fifteen years and eleven iterations strong, the Opera Web browser has endured the rise and fall of Netscape, flight from Firebird to Firefox, and gradual ebb of IE hegemony. In spite of its niche desktop presence, the Oslo-based software company has found warmer reception in the mobile market, where Opera Mobile 11 (Free) performs for an audience of tens of millions. The browser's appeal is not unlike that of opera itself: refinement. The browser, at least, also happens to be quick and capable. Opera patrons will appreciate be able to take their bookmarks, Speed Dials, and search engines to go, with Opera Link. Everyone will applaud the browser's silky smooth scrolling. When it comes to customization, Opera doesn't match Add-on-ready alternatives Dolphin Browser HD 4.5 (Free, 4 stars) or Firefox 4 Mobile (Free, 2.5 stars); however, users seeking a svelte web browser with full-throated multimedia support will want to take a seat with Opera Mobile 11.
Unobstructed Views
Opera Mobile 11 hits the right notes for mobile browsing. It lacks the swagger of Firefox's swipeable trays, but the clean bottom-fitted navigation bar, defined by the Opera "O," looks and performs well. The tab-sorting tray, which reveals miniaturized page-views, is a visual treat. On the other hand, minimalists will appreciate how Opera provides a Full Screen Mode as well as the option to individually disable both the navigation and status bars. There's even a Mobile View that compresses full-size webpages for the mobile screen (albeit, with mixed success).
Opera Mobile 11 hits the right notes for mobile browsing. It lacks the swagger of Firefox's swipeable trays, but the clean bottom-fitted navigation bar, defined by the Opera "O," looks and performs well. The tab-sorting tray, which reveals miniaturized page-views, is a visual treat. On the other hand, minimalists will appreciate how Opera provides a Full Screen Mode as well as the option to individually disable both the navigation and status bars. There's even a Mobile View that compresses full-size webpages for the mobile screen (albeit, with mixed success).
Opera supports text wrapping, though the feature is made more potent with the latest release's dynamic pinch-zoom: text responds to the slightest pinch. Unlike Firefox or Dolphin, though, Opera sticks with one decidedly old-fashioned feature: separate search and URL fields. I consider this a frivolous use of limited mobile screen estate; however, I'm certain that some users appreciate the distinction. At the very least, it makes choosing a search option—for example, toggling between Google and Dictionary.com—more accessible.
Dialing Extensions
Every time you open an Opera Mobile 11 tab, you're greeted with a fully customizable collection of your favorite websites called a Speed Dial. The feature is clever enough that it's won imitation bySafari and Chrome ("Top Sites" and "New Tab Page," respectively) and duplication by Dolphin ("Speed Dial"). Your Speed Dial comes pre-populated with some Opera favorites (e.g., BBC News. Unlike some imitators, Opera Mobile 11 forces you to manually configure Speed Dial, as it doesn't automatically populate itself with frequently visited sites.
Every time you open an Opera Mobile 11 tab, you're greeted with a fully customizable collection of your favorite websites called a Speed Dial. The feature is clever enough that it's won imitation bySafari and Chrome ("Top Sites" and "New Tab Page," respectively) and duplication by Dolphin ("Speed Dial"). Your Speed Dial comes pre-populated with some Opera favorites (e.g., BBC News. Unlike some imitators, Opera Mobile 11 forces you to manually configure Speed Dial, as it doesn't automatically populate itself with frequently visited sites.
In the context of alternative browsers Firefox and Dolphin, Opera's greatest drawback is its subtraction of Add-ons. While the desktop client recently gained Extensions, Opera has yet to make them available for the mobile browser. On the other hand, some international users who can't access Google's Marketplace will appreciate that Opera is the only one of the browsers to bundle a mobile store through which users can access free and paid apps for just about any device.
Donning Cufflinks
Opera offers a host of browsers: whether you're surfing on a tablet, desktop, or one of 3,000 different headsets, Opera Link helps you feel at home. As with Mozilla Sync, Link synchronizes your bookmarks, but it also transports those custom Speed Dials and search engines. I would love to see Opera take the feature a step further, and, in the model of Mozilla, add history and passwords to tote.
Opera offers a host of browsers: whether you're surfing on a tablet, desktop, or one of 3,000 different headsets, Opera Link helps you feel at home. As with Mozilla Sync, Link synchronizes your bookmarks, but it also transports those custom Speed Dials and search engines. I would love to see Opera take the feature a step further, and, in the model of Mozilla, add history and passwords to tote.
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