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5 Features Opera Did First

June 13, 2012 · by Espen André Øverdahl

The popular and aggressively named website SlashGeek recently did a feature on Opera where they looked at 5 of the top browser innovations by Opera that has been copied by others that we now take for granted:

1) Browser tabs:

The idea of tabs in browsers was first implemented in Opera before tabs were "cool". Remember having 10-15 browser windows open for each website you visited? That used to be norm until we changed all of that. :up:

2) Speed Dial:

We first released Speed Dial back 2007 with Opera 9.50 beta 1. The final release was in 2008. Speed Dial displays web sites in the form of thumbnails on your startup screen.

For the complete list and more details about our innovations, check out the article 5 features Opera Browser did first.

Readers' comments 39

Left under the original article, as archived.

  • Martin KadlecWednesday, June 13, 2012 11:30:40 PM

    but nothing much since tab stacking :sad:

  • d4rkn1ghtThursday, June 14, 2012 12:18:02 AM

    Originally posted by BS-Harou:

    but nothing much since tab stacking :sad:


    ...and we are loosing Unite. :cry:

  • Rafael LuikThursday, June 14, 2012 12:27:53 AM

    "The first browser to offer tabbed browsing was InternetWorks, created by Booklink Inc., and winner of the Comdex show's Rookie of the Year Award in 1994."

    I don't get it... Is there a specific reason why do you claim you made it first?

  • Charles SchlossThursday, June 14, 2012 12:53:52 AM

    Opera the first others like to play copy :cat:

  • iamadmmThursday, June 14, 2012 3:10:09 AM

    my opera my love :smile:

  • FavThursday, June 14, 2012 5:41:43 AM

    So what's new in the last 4 years? It's all good to remember how you innovated 10 years ago but how about now?

  • Jirayu YingthawornsukThursday, June 14, 2012 8:04:45 AM

    You should change Browser Tab to MDI Browser

    I see Opera is the first browser with Multi Document Interface but at first did not comes with Tab

    first tabbed browser is NetCaptor

  • zoomtronicThursday, June 14, 2012 9:07:52 AM

    i am using Opera about 10 years, and still it have no alternative.

  • D1sasterp1eceThursday, June 14, 2012 9:52:21 AM

    Didn't Speed Dial actually appear in 9.2x final? I wasn't an avid beta tester back then like I am now...

  • ZodiusThursday, June 14, 2012 11:28:43 AM

    Opera Software people are the pioneers!

  • slackwrdaveThursday, June 14, 2012 2:46:25 PM

    Remember having 10-15 browser windows open for each website you visited?


    The good old days. The popups were a royal pain. I almost couldn't believe it when Opera offered a way to control those.

  • André TorgaThursday, June 14, 2012 3:01:46 PM

    Originally posted by D1sasterp1ece:

    Didn't Speed Dial actually appear in 9.2x final? I wasn't an avid beta tester back then like I am now...


    It actually did. I started using Opera in version 9.10. A few days later, they had launched 9.20 that introduced Speed Dial. You might want to correct the post, Espen. :wink:

  • Rafael LuikThursday, June 14, 2012 4:14:10 PM

    Originally posted by DjiXas:

    So what's new in the last 4 years? It's all good to remember how you innovated 10 years ago but how about now?

    You might have a problem?

    4 years?? Ok let's go...
    Opera 9.5 - June 2008 - Opera Link
    Opera 10 - September 2009 - Opera Turbo and on-demand plug-ins setting in :config right after.
    Opera 10.1 - November 2009 - Opera Unite
    Opera 11 - December 2010 - Tab stacking

    Not considering features other browsers had first as extensions. Also the performance, speed, security enhancements, standards and improvements to some parts of the browser as Speed Dial, UI and a genial Opera Mail overhaul.

    Maybe you could cite what kind of innovation would make your internet use better though?

  • Fathima Rifqa GhaffarThursday, June 14, 2012 4:32:26 PM

    I'm so PROUD of OPERA.:love: Highly advanced innovative browser... :wizard:

  • eTonćiThursday, June 14, 2012 9:22:40 PM

    I'd add a sixth feature Opera did first. Big version of browser numbers! Opera is now 12.00, but before, even at Opera 8or9, other browsers had smaller version numbers. In Opera's favour bigger is better, but it's deserved. Firefox and juvenile Chrome got jelous and started pumping up the ver. numbers to appeal to the crowd in a smaller timescale then Opera did and I see it as a proof of Opera honest quality! :bigsmile:

  • D1sasterp1eceThursday, June 14, 2012 9:59:28 PM

    Originally posted by LazarusLedd:

    I'd add a sixth feature Opera did first. Big version of browser numbers! Opera is now 12.00, but before, even at Opera 8or9, other browsers had smaller version numbers. In Opera's favour bigger is better, but it's deserved. Firefox and juvenile Chrome got jelous and started pumping up the ver. numbers to appeal to the crowd in a smaller timescale then Opera did and I see it as a proof of Opera honest quality! :bigsmile:


    Sadly, it seems that Opera is going the same way. Opera 12's release was a rush. Many before me said it and I also think so: 12.00 (1467) does not deserve to be called 'final', it's just a snapshot...

  • Rafael LuikFriday, June 15, 2012 6:16:00 AM

    Originally posted by D1sasterp1ece:

    Originally posted by LazarusLedd:

    I'd add a sixth feature Opera did first. Big version of browser numbers! Opera is now 12.00, but before, even at Opera 8or9, other browsers had smaller version numbers. In Opera's favour bigger is better, but it's deserved. Firefox and juvenile Chrome got jelous and started pumping up the ver. numbers to appeal to the crowd in a smaller timescale then Opera did and I see it as a proof of Opera honest quality! :bigsmile:

    Sadly, it seems that Opera is going the same way. Opera 12's release was a rush. Many before me said it and I also think so: 12.00 (1467) does not deserve to be called 'final', it's just a snapshot...
    LOL! 12.00 release was a rush? The first publicly available build was presented back in July 7th of the past year (2011)! Quit slobbering.

  • Pallab DeFriday, June 15, 2012 6:34:52 AM

    Opera might have pioneered tabbed browsing, but it didn't invent tabbed browsing. The InternetWorks was the first tabbed browser, and I think even Netcaptor had tabs before Opera.

    What Opera had from the beginning was MDI, which was essentially multiple windows inside a parent container. But, it was different from what we understand from tabbed browser.

    Opera has plenty of "firsts" to its credit, that it doesn't need to hold onto things that it didn't do. Slashgear made a common mistake, but I am surprised to see Choose Opera encouraging that mistake instead of rectifying it.

  • D1sasterp1eceFriday, June 15, 2012 8:02:18 AM

    Originally posted by rafaelluik:

    Originally posted by D1sasterp1ece:

    Originally posted by LazarusLedd:

    I'd add a sixth feature Opera did first. Big version of browser numbers! Opera is now 12.00, but before, even at Opera 8or9, other browsers had smaller version numbers. In Opera's favour bigger is better, but it's deserved. Firefox and juvenile Chrome got jelous and started pumping up the ver. numbers to appeal to the crowd in a smaller timescale then Opera did and I see it as a proof of Opera honest quality! :bigsmile:

    Sadly, it seems that Opera is going the same way. Opera 12's release was a rush. Many before me said it and I also think so: 12.00 (1467) does not deserve to be called 'final', it's just a snapshot...
    LOL! 12.00 release was a rush? The http://my.opera.com/desktopteam/blog/2011/07/07/introducing-opera-wahoo]first publicly available build was presented back in July 7th of the past year (2011)! Quit slobbering.

    I don't remember any more when was the first 12.00 build released, but the current one has too many bugs and crashes a lot. Just look at the comments for the six (!!) RC's. One or two weeks more hard work could have fixed a lotta bugs for sure - I don't know about an announced release date, so why race against time?

  • Rafael LuikFriday, June 15, 2012 9:39:12 PM

    Originally posted by Indyan:

    Opera might have pioneered tabbed browsing, but it didn't invent tabbed browsing. The InternetWorks was the first tabbed browser, and I think even Netcaptor had tabs before Opera.

    What Opera had from the beginning was MDI, which was essentially multiple windows inside a parent container. But, it was different from what we understand from tabbed browser.

    Opera has plenty of "firsts" to its credit, that it doesn't need to hold onto things that it didn't do. Slashgear made a common mistake, but I am surprised to see Choose Opera encouraging that mistake instead of rectifying it.

    Well, MDI was very like tabbed browsing, you could switch "windows" with Ctrl + TAB and that's practically all about it, but I'd like to get a reply from Opera on what they consider "tabbed browsing" to be so we could understand why they claim it.

  • shashanksri99Sunday, June 17, 2012 8:09:22 PM

    can please anybody tell me how to apply for opera internship please.

  • tashajworkmanMonday, June 18, 2012 10:16:22 AM

    i m using opera more than 6 years

  • Cristian SecarăTuesday, June 19, 2012 7:47:56 AM

    Originally posted by DjiXas:

    So what's new in the last 4 years? It's all good to remember how you innovated 10 years ago but how about now?


    Maybe there is nothing left to innovate :jester:

  • IvanTuesday, June 19, 2012 2:13:47 PM

    Make a feature called "Tab Password" or something..like you have to enter a password so you can access the tab..but its your decision if its password protected or not..this would be really cool if you share computer or like you would be AFK and someone will use the computer..

  • UnklAdMWednesday, June 27, 2012 4:15:27 AM

    I've been using Opera since version 3.1 on Windows 98 and it is still 5 years ahead of any other browser. Consistent cross platform operation and cutting edge technology has kept me a loyal user for over 10 years. Go Opera!

    - UnklAdM

  • El MeñinWednesday, July 11, 2012 3:39:40 PM

    personally, Opera browser is #1! Been usin' browser since....can't remember. Love Speed Dial, like Extensions in Speed Dial...niiceee, use Torrent integration & Opera Turbo. keep up da excellent work Opera.

  • drachenchenFriday, July 13, 2012 5:35:44 PM

    I tried to go read the full article, and SlashGeek's webcode is pathetic. Even Opera can't make lame webcode load in a reasonable length of time. Opera has tried to stay standards-compliant since at least around when I first started using it, back around version 6. -So why send us to a website that can't be bothered with web standards? Over 120 errors on that article page??? Lovely. For anyone that can't pull up source and know what they're looking at, or who has never heard of the W3C, sending them to this site will only make Opera look bad.

    BTW, I had a major failure of GNOME several years ago, and Firefox became useless. Opera remained functional throughout, even though I could BARELY get the desktop to even load. For that alone, Opera will always be in my toolkit. Thanks, Opera!

  • Josh RobertsonTuesday, July 24, 2012 12:28:38 AM

    Originally posted by d4rkn1ght:

    Originally posted by BS-Harou:

    but nothing much since tab stacking :sad:


    ...and we are loosing Unite. :cry:
    Unlike others, I'm glad Opera have made that move, especially that they have got rid of Widgets (which most of them were god-awful). Before, there was so many different types of "extensions", and seperate pages for them - Speed Dial extensions, Unite extensions, Themes, Widgets, etc. Even I found it most confusing. I'm really glad at what Opera have done to simplify it - a page for themes, a page for a extensions (and explaining what they do, whether they are a speed dial extension, or a button, etc.). End of story.

  • furibundFriday, July 27, 2012 6:45:39 PM

    Unfortunately 'the others' improve these inventions.
    Look at FF's Speed Dial: tabbed, multipage, free choice of thumbnail placement...
    :awww:

  • FitriSaturday, August 4, 2012 12:45:46 PM

    its will be great feature opera hav, go opera..i love you

  • BobSunday, August 5, 2012 9:56:21 AM

    Please don't get too fancy or bloated - all I need is a fast, good looking and user friendly browser with some useful bits. I changed from Firefox about 2 years ago and love Opera so much more - keep up the good work!

  • Pedrok TaoFriday, August 10, 2012 7:21:00 AM

    What can I say, Opera is the best.

  • Maninder Singh DhawanTuesday, August 21, 2012 7:26:11 AM

    i am using Firefox because it has master password option which save my passwords with security and i not need to enter my id and password again and again
    and now it is also in Opera so i switched to opera

  • Maninder Singh DhawanTuesday, August 21, 2012 7:27:11 AM

    i am using Firefox because it has master password option which save my passwords with security and i not need to enter my id and password again and again
    and now it is also in Opera so i switched to opera

  • seol2Thursday, August 23, 2012 2:20:19 PM

    Only thing is that there are not many plugins for opera

  • XING_CJ-CHINAFriday, August 24, 2012 5:17:23 AM

    opera,love you forever.CHINA______下次见。

  • HanvordFriday, September 7, 2012 10:03:05 AM

    Opera is the best.

  • Kari KlawiterThursday, October 4, 2012 8:03:48 AM

    These features are ones I use often,
    Thanks!

  • deddotTuesday, October 23, 2012 3:04:44 AM

    Originally posted by furibund:

    Unfortunately 'the others' improve these inventions.
    Look at FF's Speed Dial: tabbed, multipage, free choice of thumbnail placement...
    :awww:

    no.. Firefox didn't do anything.. it came from add-ons.. its the add-ons developer who try to mimic and perfecting Opera's feature..

About this article

Published inChoose Opera
DateJune 13, 2012
AuthorEspen André Øverdahl
Tagsinnovation, article, opera
OriginalInternet Archive

The Red O » Developers » Choose Opera » 5 Features Opera Did First

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