Download Opera 15 Next
The first preview version is here.
For better or worse, Opera has just released the very first build of its WebKit based web browser that aims to blend some of the key Opera features with a far superior rendering engine.
However, before you start giggling like a little school girl, it should be noted that this is a very basic build that lacks tons of features, including basics such as: bookmark importer, bookmarks (that could be replaced with a “Stash”) and other, lesser used features like RSS Reader, customization options, Opera Link, Linux builds and so on. Also, since it uses WebKit, there are no 64 bit builds for Windows.
Basically, what we are saying that this is indeed a preview build.
Ironically, the first link I opened turned out to be a mess due to the tiny fonts, or that’s what I thought. Turns out, this is how text is supposed to look like as the latest browser builds from Google, Microsoft and Mozilla rendered them like this:
Reality can be hard sometimes.
Opera has also decided to remove a mail client from its desktop build and release it as a separate program, which, at least for us, makes no sense. Basically, if you’ve been using Opera to read RSS feeds, you are better of switching to something else (or just keep using Opera 12). Why? This is how it used to work:
Opera > RSS Feeds > Click on a link > Read article > Close tab > You are now reading other RSS items
And this is how it works now:
Opera Mail > RSS Feeds > Click on a link > Opera browser opens > Read article > Close tab > Nothing happens > You now have to navigate back to Opera Mail and waste your time > Click on another link and you are back to the Opera browser
Whoever thought this loop was a good idea is insane.
Anyway, not all is doom and gloom for Opera yet. The team managed to do a pretty good job at porting some of the key features like Speed Dial (now with folders!) and even add new ones. Particular, a feature called “Stash” looks pretty neat, think of it as a way to temporary save great pages without overloading your tab bar. Most importantly, pages load much faster and there are no rendering issues that always bugged Opera users.
So what do we think about Opera 15? Project reboots are hard and require tons of resources (just look at the Windows Phone 8, which still lacks basics that were introduced 10 years ago in Windows Mobile like VPN support, separate volume controls, etc.). Given the timeframe, we are pretty happy with the build that they have managed to come up with and as long as this is not the final build, you should reserve your judgment for the future.
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Opera 15 Next
About (Author Profile)
Vygantas is a former web designer whose projects are used by companies such as AMD, NVIDIA and departed Westood Studios. Being passionate about software, Vygantas began his journalism career back in 2007 when he founded FavBrowser.com. Having said that, he is also an adrenaline junkie who enjoys good books, fitness activities and Forex trading.
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AMAZING!!!
Still the features set for this Next build was so little, actually this was kinda feel like quick clone of Chrome. I will download once it have tab stacking, trash bin, integrated RSS and other old Opera features
Trash bin is there, just click the opera menu and then recently closed. RSS will not be in this version since it was always part of opera mail, and that has been removed.
They basically made a totally new browser. The user interface was remade from scratch. It’s pretty obvious that with a huge task like that you won’t be able to add tons of features in the first version.
I thought it could be better…
RIP Opera.
Similar to Opera for Android love the new features , really hope notes mail & the side panel make it into the final.
I like it. But with no bookmark importer I need to wait for a next release.
It would be nice if they add ctrl+enter (.com) completion too! :v
I’m used to it, since the very first time I used internet! :v
”The new Speed Dial with folder replaces bookmarks” tweeted by @opvard
You are right — > https://twitter.com/opvard/status/339385546042388480
but I can’t put 150+ bookmarks in the speed dial. So…. (stay in Chrome I think).
lol i wish i had only 150. This is gonna explode
Actually yes, you can. I think the idea is that bookmark importer which is already there opera://bookmark-importer will import all your bookmarks with folders as you have them, not matter how many. And then there is a search bar at top left that will let you easily find any bookmark.
Thanks man, I’ll try this.
Well you will have to wait till they implement it first I guess. Bunch of features don’t seem to work fully yet and bookmark importer is one of them. So once they fully implement bookmark importer I think the idea is to combine bookmarks with speed dial with search. To have just 1 place for all websites rather than two. That’s only my thought’s, I could be wrong.
That’s just… Stupid
Originally posted by thefreeman55: i want all features of opera 12 back
Daniel Aleksandersen ”I can say for sure that that is not going to happen. Have you seen some of the new stuff? The downloads experience should be much better now, for instance. We’ve focused on the core experience of web browsing”
^^^Lets give it up for Opera. For selling out and taking the Google Chrome apporach. The only way Google Chrome knows best as being generic as f*ck. Take out all features that made it unique. For all Opera users out there this is the end my friend. Stick with version 12 forever becuase I PROMISE you this will be the last time you enjoy the browser.
Why all the hate, this is just a preview. They have lots of work to do, at least websites aren’t borken now… I qoute Vygantas – “So what do we think about Opera 15? Project reboots are hard and require tons of resources (just look at the Windows Phone 8, which still lacks basics that were introduced 10 years ago in Windows Mobile like VPN support, separate volume controls, etc.). Given the timeframe, we are pretty happy with the build that they have managed to come up with and as long as this is not the final build, you should reserve your judgment for the future.”
Im hearing they removed the infamous mail cilent because it was ”dependent on the presto engine”. With Blink they will have to rebuild a new interface code and whatever from scratch. Im sure notes suffered the same fate as well and many more =(
Yes because Opera 15 was made completely fom scratch (nothing survived just do the math).
So yes they’ll have to rebuild the Mail interface from scratch IF THAT’S WORTH IT. The percentage of users that use the intergrated Opera Mail may not worth it.
thefreeman55: “i want ***all*** features of opera 12 back”
daniel: “I can say for sure that that is not going to happen”
Obviously not all will come back, only the useful ones.
So basically in Opera 12 my worflow is:
Start Opera -> Click RSS -> click item -> read on web
In Opera 15 it will be
Star Opera -> Windows button -> Start separate RSS reader -> Click RSS -> click item -> read in Opera -> switch back to separate RSS reader -> close it -> switch back to Opera -> … makes perfect sense O.o
Mine reads as: “Start Opera.”
I don’t use RSS and I’m sure the majority doesn’t, so let’s wait for future updates where *important* features are added. I hope they have time to give you integrated RSS though.
R.I.P. Opera
They killed Presto in favor of Webkit. And now they announced they will use Blink. I think Opera is servant of Google. Shame on you, Opera!
That isn’t true. They announced they would base of Chromium, and a few weeks later Google announced Blink. Opera never mentioned webkit, idiots and sheep assumed.
Im so far impressed, it’s a solid foundation to build a great browser upon. Opera have already said it’s not feature complete, but it’s a fine start. I hope some form of RSS panel comes back, that was the core of my workflow too.
yep. and later they said they knew about blink all along, they couldn’t just say it before google did.
I am actually pleased they went with blink in the first place, instead of staying on webkit. Now let’s hope they focus on bringing old features back.Gonna try it now
Not impressed, when Opera engineers tried to say that Webkit was diverse enough for Opera to remain unique, they were lying b/c this is Chromium ver 29 reskin through and through, uses the same everything, menus, extensions api (able to install Chrome extensions), and rendering engine.
I thought Opera would be the third major wheel in webkit, like how Safari and Chrome were different, but Opera is just a Chromium clone like every other on the market right now.
In fact it is worse from a security standpoint, b/c Opera ripped out the integrated Chrome Flash sandbox.
AppleWebKit/537.36 Chrome/28.0.1500.20 (Opera Next)
vs
AppleWebKit/537.36 Chrome/27.0.1453.94 (Chrome)
This is not a reskin. Apparently the interface was written from the ground up.
That it’s able to install Chrome extensions is only natural since it’s using Chromium. That doesn’t mean it’s just a reskin.
Opera IS dead . job well done .
Opera ceo should be fired ASAP .Opera 15 whatever onwards sucks hell.
It’s such a shame that Opera has decided to do this to their browser. They are going for quantity over quality. They are trading the loyal Opera users for a new careless type of users. :(
I can understand why fans are upset. Change is a concept met with skepticism and fear. But please understand. They had to do this. They needed to hack at the beast. It simply was becoming too convoluted. All these “features” were just too much. I always said that a modular design will be best for Opera. Allowing users download individual components and remove others. For a browser catering to the advance and th novice, it is a great prospect.
Now lets come to the positives. Websites do not break. It starts much much faster, It FINALLY terminates itself correctly and releases ram.
I will continue to use chrome until Opera brings most features back and my password manager (dashlane) supports it. It is a much better, simpler, elegant browser than it once was
It’s good.
I tried and it seems to support NTLM authenticated proxies. This is very good for me, so I can use Opera at work, and for them to increase their market share in corporate environments.