Behind the Scenes with Opera TV

March 15, 2012 · by Anna Rohleder

TV is one of the big trends on the web to watch (no pun intended!). Opera has been working on a browser made to work on TV for a while now, and it is just about ready to make its debut at a trade fair dedicated to "smart TV" in London next week. We snuck into the super-secret Operations Room to see how things were shaping up.

Kevan, our TV product manager, shows our videographer Jørgen how to sync bookmarks from the iPad using Opera Link.

But as important as demos (including videos) are for a show like this, they are only part of what goes into the preparations. Back in Kevan's office, there was hardware to be sorted, packed and bubble-wrapped...

Vladimir Putin has absolutely nothing to do with the Opera TV browser. We think.

Also, of course, all the wires, cables, dongles and doo-dads also have to be tested to make sure they are in good working order. When the moment comes, everything lights up. Yes! Success!

No matter how much spaghetti wiring you have to contend with, it only takes two red umbrellas to sort it out in the end.

Once the Opera TV browser arrives on connected TVs - fret not, dear readers, that day is coming - it will offer the same full-featured web experience as Opera Mobile, including:

Speed Dials
tabbed browsing
auto-complete and site suggestions in the address field
smooth panning, with the ability to zoom in on pictures and text
pressing the star in the URL field to instantly add a site to your bookmarks or Speed Dials
the ability to sync all your favorite content from the other devices where you browse the most, whether that's your phone, computer or tablet

The only differences will be using your remote control to navigate (you type via an on-screen keyboard) and the TV screen itself. You'll also have access to the Opera TV Store, which will give you lots of apps to play around with.

So - what do you think? Are you looking forward to going online from your TV? Let us know if you have any questions or ideas about TV browsing in the comments!

Readers' comments 23

Left under the original article, as archived.

Yeni SetiawanThursday, March 15, 2012 10:32:22 AM
Fantastic!
I would like to check my Twitter timeline while watching my favorite TV show
Mağruf ÇolakoğluThursday, March 15, 2012 10:43:44 AM
It sems very nice and I need some money to get that kind of TV
Samson AkanbiThursday, March 15, 2012 11:47:03 AM
This is a unique technology, hopefully opera users to say are looking forward to have it. Being an opera user myself i congratulate the opera team. More grease to yur elbow. Cheers.Samson Akanbi(liwinji)
metudeThursday, March 15, 2012 11:51:41 AM
Mod edit: Please stay on-topic.
Charles SchlossFriday, March 16, 2012 4:39:29 AM
Seem to have a lot of wires there for the testing
CarlosprinceFriday, March 16, 2012 4:56:23 AM
That will be interesting to watching tv and checking staffs on the web amasing it will be.
Vlad PaulFriday, March 16, 2012 9:49:56 AM
woaw...magic
paijan dulkipliFriday, March 16, 2012 11:27:30 AM
dream is reality:wizard:
ZodiusFriday, March 16, 2012 2:32:21 PM
http://alltheragefaces.com/img/faces/jpg/surprised-rainbow-face.jpg -
Osita Onuora mbadiweFriday, March 16, 2012 2:37:53 PM
Can thiz work in Africa especially Nigeria?
SaskatchewanFriday, March 16, 2012 3:38:10 PM
Originally posted by ositaonuora23:

Can thiz work in Africa especially Nigeria?
In Africa - definitely yes, but unfortunately not in Nigeria .
nightweelsFriday, March 16, 2012 6:33:10 PM
Absolutely good investment for opera since the future TVs will be even smarter than what we think they will be like what mobiles phones have become now, and whats cool is that opera is one of the first browsers that are working ahead for it so we will take the most of TV browsing experience for long time with it. Hope it will feel Opera and not just like it PEACE
Osita Onuora mbadiweFriday, March 16, 2012 9:58:59 PM
oky which party of Africa countries can it work?
As it can work here??
Cutting SpoonFriday, March 16, 2012 11:47:20 PM
Opera TV Store is using Widget spec applications supported by additional features that are a priority on commercial product first? (Mobile got WebGL in a stable release first so it would make sense if TV received certain features earlier too.)
SaskatchewanSaturday, March 17, 2012 8:08:00 AM
Originally posted by ositaonuora23:

oky which party of Africa countries can it work?
I was joking before . I guess, the only things you need is a so called "Connected TV" and the Internet connection. It can work all over the world (unless it's blocked by ISPs in some countries, for some reasons I can't imagine).
Kate JoanMonday, March 19, 2012 2:13:03 AM
does the opera TV is online now?
dslowmanMonday, March 19, 2012 8:18:58 AM
super...ᒾᒾ wow very fantastic.
SaskatchewanMonday, March 19, 2012 9:47:31 AM
Originally posted by healthlife:

does the opera TV is online now?
Something is here: http://tvstore.opera.com/, but it is unusable on a desktop browser.
NimeshMonday, March 19, 2012 6:49:34 PM
Originally posted by Saskatchewan:

Originally posted by healthlife:
Something is here: http://tvstore.opera.com/, but it is unusable on a desktop browser.

The navigation is working using arrow keys but no apps as of now.
MatheusMonday, March 19, 2012 7:59:17 PM
I hope it doesn't end like the Wii Internet Chanel, forsaken by both Nintendo and Opera.
Stoyan PomakovMonday, March 19, 2012 9:12:54 PM
Opera TV Store is the future!
Cutting SpoonTuesday, March 20, 2012 7:51:21 AM
Originally posted by matheusfernal:

Wii Internet Chanel

There are two N's in Channel. There is also a limit to Wii performance due to system design, primarily very low system RAM. System memory has become very cheap, I expect the Wii U will provide a better browsing experience.
Marvin Enmanuel SalcedoSaturday, March 24, 2012 11:15:00 AM
good looking