Opera 7 now available on Linux
Oslo, Norway – May 19, 2003
Opera Software today released Opera 7 for Linux, offering Linux users a faster and better Internet experience. The new version includes major new features changes from Opera 6 for Linux as well as a built-in e-mail client, not previously available in Opera for Linux.
The first Opera 7 release on Linux is version 7.11, bringing Opera for Linux up to the same level of development as Windows, with Opera 7.11 for Windows being released just last week. Opera’s cross-platform development has now advanced so far that releases on Opera’s numerous platforms can be only days apart.
“With Opera 7.11 Linux is brought up to par with Windows,” says Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software ASA. “Now Linux users can enjoy the most advanced Web browser available with the most innovative e-mail client in recent years.”
Until now, Opera has only offered an integrated e-mail client in the browser to its Windows users. With version 7, Opera introduces a state of the art e-mail client and e-mail organizer, which automatically categorizes and sorts e-mail messages, has an integrated spam filter, and supports POP3, IMAP, and ESMTP.
Opera 7.11 for Linux offers a slew of user-friendly features including the password manager the Wand, the e-mail and news client M2, as well as new features such as FastForward, Rewind, Notes, and Slideshow, which are not only new to Opera, but also completely new to the world of browsing. Popular Opera functions from previous versions including pop-up killer, multiple document interface (MDI), mouse gestures, keyboard shortcuts, Hotclick translation, zooming, integrated search, and many more, are of course included and refined. Now users can even customize and make their own toolbars, mouse gestures and keyboards shortcuts and share with other Opera users.
New features in Opera 7 for Linux
FastForward and RewindOpera has added two new buttons in the toolbar to speed up Opera users’ Web navigation, letting the browser anticipate where the user will want to go next. Opera first introduced FastForward as a part of the Forward button in Opera 7 for Windows, but in this release has refined this feature and added two completely new buttons to the toolbar. The FastForward and Rewind buttons support all major languages and lets users browse much more efficiently.SlideshowThe FastForward button displays photo files on the Web in a slideshow. To see photos full-screen on a black background, simply press F11 to invoke Opera’s presentation tool OperaShow.NotesSpeed up researching with the new Notes features. Jot down a note in conjunction with a Web page, drag the note to an e-mail to send it to others, or simply store your notes for future reference.Cookie ManagerKeep track of the cookies you would like to keep and delete the rest.M2 mail clientOpera’s mail client automatically categorizes and sorts e-mail messages, has an integrated spam filter, and supports POP3, IMAP, and ESMTP.The Wand password managerOpera now offers one-click log-in to password protected sites. Log-in fields with available passwords are marked with a slick golden rim, and access provided by simply clicking the Wand icon or the keyboard shortcut CTRL+Enter.Mouse gesturesNow users can make their own mouse gestures and share them with other users. Simply go to Preferences/Edit Mouse gestures to add your own.Keyboard shortcutsNow users can choose to use the space button on their keyboard instead of the FastForward button in the Opera toolbar, to let the browser anticipate where the user would like to go next on a Web page, or to move forward in the M2 e-mail client when searching through e-mails.SkinningChanging the look of a browser has never been easier with Opera’s new one-click skin install. Just pick and click once on any of the many skins available at MyOpera community. The skin is downloaded and applied, and users can choose to keep or remove the new skin. As a further enhancement, even changes in the coloring skins can be altered by selecting a color scheme from the View menu.Powerful panel managementAll panels can now be shown, hidden or rearranged at will.Links panelOpera 7 includes a new, easier way to navigate pages. The Hotlist now includes a Links panel by default. In the panel, all the links in the current page are listed, with icons for common types like images and movies. Links can then be easily selected for quick navigation or download.Spatial NavigationSpatial Navigation was first introduced in Opera’s iTV business unit. With Opera for iTV on their set-top boxes, TV viewers appreciates how simple it is to use the arrows keys on their remote controls to navigate the electronic program guides or between links in Web pages. Now Opera is bringing the same concept to everyone’s desktop computer. By combining the SHIFT and arrow keys on the keyboard, users can easily move to links or any other navigational element on a page.New navigation barOn sites that support navigation through link tags, users have more control over how they interact with Web pages. The site navigation will be displayed in the navigation bar, and the navigation menu will feel the same to the user regardless of site.Extended and improved drag-and-drop supportRearrange or move toolbar items using drag-and-drop customization. You can even move an Opera button from a Web page to your toolbar to see how it looks. Or choose to move bookmarks, tabs, and window sessions (MDI/SDI) URL as shortcuts on the desktop. Open or save any page link.Multiple user style sheetsOpera comes equipped with 12 new style sheets, varying from helpful features for users and developers, to the more zany like a Commodore 64 browser emulator. By choosing style sheets such as “Accessibility layout” or “High contrast B/W” users can in a snap modify pages for an easy read. Developers immediately benefit from features such as viewing structural elements without constantly reverting to its source code.Window managementInstead of having to choose between multiple and single document interface (MDI/SDI) as in Opera 6, users can now combine MDI, SDI and tabbed browsing — without restarting the browser. Users can also save different window combinations as window sessions, or go back and forth between different window sessions.Multiple or single user accountsSet up different Opera user profiles in one Opera browser to ensure that all your family members have the Opera set-up and look that suits them best.Small-Screen Renderingâ„¢Check out Opera’s Web browser breakthrough for mobile phones and PDAs in your desktop browser! See how Web pages would look on a small-screen device by simply pressing Shift+F11 to enable Small-Screen Renderingâ„¢.Refuse pop-upsOpera can easily be configured to push all pop-up windows to the background, or to not show them at all.HotlistBookmarks and history, windows sessions and e-mail can be now be managed via the Hotlist and shown respectively as a bookmarks, history, e-mail, or windows panel. Manage your downloads and transfers via the floatable download and transfer manager with extensive drag-and-drop support.Built-in searchUse Opera’s search utility to search the Web, just enter your search in the convenient search field at the top of Opera’s window.Improved standards supportThe standards support in Opera 7 has been improved with added support for DOM level 2 and CSS2; improved ECMAScript and HTML 4.01 support; and complete WML 1.3 and 2.0 support. Opera 7 also handles non-standard pages using DHTML, giving Opera’s millions of old and new users a hassle-free Internet experience.
Download Opera
Download Opera 7.11 for Linux from www.opera.com/download
Availability
The browser is available free of charge with a sponsored advertising banner in the top-right corner of the user interface. To remove the advertising banner users must register their version for USD 39. Various discounts apply. Registered users can freely access personal support via e-mail and enjoy six months of free OperaMail Premium.