"Reaction [beta]"
Opera's speed dial 13 Apr 2007
The latest version of Opera hit the shelves on Wednesday complete with a new "Speed Dial" feature. Opera Watch provides the lo-down:
"Similar to Speed Dial on Opera Mini (a version of Opera designed for mobile phones), where you can quickly access your top 9 bookmarked sites by simply pressing '*' with the bookmark number on the phone keypad (i.e. *1), the desktop browser allows you to use CTRL+1 to CTRL+9 for the top 9 sites. In addition, these bookmarked sites will also be shown in a thumbnail preview on blank tabs. Clicking on the thumbnail preview brings you to the site."
The idea seems to stem from the fact that "if most internet users only visit a handful of sites on a regular basis, why not make those sites easier to access?" Sounds like a good idea in principle - and its a great example of how innovation in the world of mobile devices is starting to influence the design of desktop PC applications (reversing the trend).
On a related note...A recent survey carried out by NetApplications and SurveyWare found that Opera seems to have the most satisfied customers.
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4 comments so far
Wickyd 11 May 2007 10:07 AM
Opera 9.2, with Speed Dial, compelled me to:
1. Uninstall Firefox.
2. Uninstall Avant Browser.
3. Set Opera as my default and only browser.
I personally have no desire to use any other browser anymore. Why?
1. Internet banking works for me
2. Fast enough application startup speed
3. Speed Dial
4. Ability to lock tabs
5. Use of the Look and Shout skin (the default skin sucks)
Wickyd 28 Jun 2007 02:16 PM
Argh !!!
1. Google docs doesn't work with Opera!
2. My online credit card service provider doesn't support Opera either!
Back to the drawing board.
I tested the latest versions of the top browsers again, and Firefox is the best for me now. Why?
1. Google docs works
2. Credit card service provider works.
3. Faster Google spreadsheet opening and rendering than Avant Browser.
4. Adblock Plus extension! I can hide the tags that display ads in Gmail! No more ads in Gmail!
5. I have abandoned Speed Dial, as the Firefox equivalent is too buggy.
6. Whitehart theme.
Opera is still my favourite browser, but I don't like using more than one browser.
There is no perfect browser for me yet. I will wait and see what happens with Firefox 3.
Daf 17 Jul 2007 11:19 AM
I wish they would add more panes in the opera speed dial, Looking forward to Firefox 3 though....
quixotic-cynic 6 Oct 2007 11:46 AM
Opera lets you masquerade as other browsers - so it doesn't matter that they *try* to stop you using it...
F12 > Edit site preferences > Network > Mask as Firefox
There... screw their stupid required browser games.
PS: Google Docs seems dodgy as hell from a security perspective (imho) - could try AbiWord + Gnumeric (since whilst OpenOffice works it is a slow dinosaur type app ;)