Opera browsers remove the hassle of managing your logins, notes, passwords and files
- Sync between browsers can now be set up with a simple, fast and safe QR-code.
- Opera is now also adding support for the popular Flow feature to its Android browser. It lets users create a personal chat to send links, images and files to themselves across devices.
- The new desktop version also makes it easier to attach recently-downloaded files to emails, Opera’s built-in messengers, or anywhere online.
Oslo, September 23, 2020 – Opera is releasing new versions of its Android and desktop browsers today. The release of the newest browsers is happening in parallel to celebrate the completely redesigned sync capabilities between the browsers. Opera for Android is reaching version 60 and Opera for desktop version 71.
The new version of Opera’s flagship browser for Android is shipping with a completely redesigned Sync feature that uses a straight-forward QR-code scan to establish a seamless connection between Opera on an Android device and the Opera desktop browser on Windows, MacOS or Linux.
The Opera browser for Android also comes with the popular Flow feature known from Opera Touch, and the new Suggested Sites feature on the homepage.
Meanwhile, the newest Opera desktop browser comes with the useful Easy Files feature. When attaching files in the Opera browser, Easy Files presents the users’ most recently downloaded files in a visual form, helping them select the desired files quickly, without having to search through folders or to remember the files’ names.
Sync without email and password login
In the new version of the Opera browser for Android, Opera removes many of the traditional hurdles associated with syncing devices: the need to remember various lengthy logins and passwords. Users can now simply navigate to opera.com/connect on their computer or tablet and scan the QR code displayed there with the QR-code reader in Opera for Android, located directly in the search bar.
After that step is completed, the Sync feature will synchronize all their passwords, bookmarks, speed dials, typed browsing history and open tabs, as well as the newly-integrated Flow feature across devices.
“People don’t sync their phones with their PCs because they hate the hassle of having to type in their logins and lengthy passwords,” said Stefan Stjernelund, Product Manager of Opera for Android. “In the newest versions of Opera, we are making their lives much simpler: all they need to do to connect their devices is scan a QR code displayed in their desktop browser with their phone”.
Login credentials are not required for the Sync feature. However, users always have the option to upgrade their connection with their email account and password, so that they are able to restore their data in case they lose their devices.
“Opera was the first browser to offer sync between mobile and desktop browsers 13 years ago. Today we’re taking a big step forward by making it easier than ever,” added Stjernelund.
Introducing Flow to Opera for Android
The new version of the Opera browser for Android also ships with Flow, a feature known from the Opera Touch browser that makes it possible for users to share files, links, YouTube videos, photos, and personal notes with themselves, between their Opera mobile and desktop browsers.
“Flow is very useful for sending notes, photos and other files to oneself for later, and is accessible across the Opera browsers. We received many requests from our users who love the feature in Opera Touch, and we listened to them,” said Stjernelund. “Flow is an extremely useful and popular feature among Opera users, and the redesign of the Sync feature gave us the perfect opportunity to introduce it.”
Users can send items such as website links, text or images to Flow by highlighting them and selecting “Send to Flow” from the context menu. They can also share a current website by clicking on the arrow to the right of the address bar in the desktop browser, or in the page context menu in the top right corner of Opera for Android. Flow also allows users to paste and upload files of up to 10 MB, which wait for 48h to be downloaded on another device before being deleted.
In Opera for Android, Flow can be accessed from the O-menu. Flow is end-to-end encrypted so your personal notes and anything you store there will only be known to you.
Your favorite websites are always available with the new Suggested Sites feature
Opera has always been a pioneer in the browsing industry and was the first browser to introduce speed dials in its desktop and mobile browsers. In the new version of the Opera browser for Android, Opera is making the speed dial section even smarter and more dynamic by introducing a new feature called Suggested Sites.
Suggested Sites identifies the user’s most frequently visited websites. Over time, the browser will display them just below the traditional speed dial section.
“We are creatures of habit online,” said Stjernelund, “Suggested Sites gives us a quicker way to engage with relevant content without the need to manually add pages to the speed dial or bookmarks.”
The feature uses several sources for suggestions, including offline pages and frequently visited articles and domains. All of this provides a more streamlined and personal experience when picking up one’s device. For users who prefer not to use this feature, it can be easily disabled in Settings.
The most powerful browsers of choice
The Opera browser for Android is crafted and designed in Scandinavia to provide modern internet users with the highest quality online experience by making it faster, safer and more personal. The Opera browser for Android comes with a wide variety of features that no other pre-installed or default browser can offer, including a built-in free, unlimited browser VPN, an integrated QR code scanner, an easy to use crypto wallet, and a superior cookie dialog blocker.
The Opera browser for Android recently introduced more than 100 feature updates, becoming the most powerful mobile browser available for free in the Google Play Store.
The Opera desktop browser (Win, MacOS, Linux) is the personal browser of choice for millions of people around the world, distinguishing itself with the highest level of privacy and security, a built-in browser VPN, ad blocker, as well as a user friendly design and built-in messengers including WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and Facebook.