Oslo, Norway – March 6, 2007
Opera Software today announced another Widget milestone with the release of the 1001st Widget on widgets.opera.com. Opera users have created more than 1001 Widgets since the launch of Opera 9 last year.
Widgets are small and powerful Web applications that add unique and convenient functionality to browsing with Opera. Widgets improve and personalize the user’s browsing experience, resulting in increased interest and usage for these powerful content sharing tools.
The 1001st Widget on widgets.opera.com was “The Visitors” Widget. Createdby dantesoft, an active and long-time member of the My Opera community,this Widget uses site analytics from Hitslink to create visitor maps thatbloggers can post on their sites.
“Widgets are a community-driven, grassroots movement,” said TatsukiTomita, vice president of Opera Mini for Opera Software. “Hundreds of Webdevelopers, like dantesoft, create Opera Widgets to showcase their skillsat building fun, addictive and useful applications. By creating an OperaWidget, their work will be seen not only by those with PCs, but anyonerunning an Opera-powered device such as a mobile phone or even a TV.”
Widgets mark a dramatic democratization in Web application development.Now Opera users, partners and customers can turn to developers to createthe applications that interest them and their friends. This user-drivenapproach to application development and selection leads to increasedcustomer retention and brand loyalty.
“Widgets are the first true ubiquitous development framework”, continuedTomita. “Instead of coding for a specific platform, developers now codefor the Web. A Widget written for the PC is easily ported to themobile phone, or any platform with an Opera browser. In the future, themost popular application on your phone may have been written for your TV.”