Bringin' sexy back

June 22, 2011 · by Aleksander Aas

Our design team just released some exciting news through the Desktop Team blog. A well guarded secret called Project Featherweight. A first glimpse of some amazing upcoming improvements to the Opera UI. There are many changes, and our favorites is either the brand new toolbar icons, the softer backgrounds and borders or the removal of borders. For OS X you can also see a more native looking gradient in action.

Windows screenshot:

OS X screenshot:

Unix screenshot:

Want to give it a spin? Just go Opera Next!

Readers' comments 50

Left under the original article, as archived; 1 page of comments could not be recovered.

Ismael M.Wednesday, June 22, 2011 1:42:30 PM
I dont like the version for windows, that button takes lot of space
Mağruf ÇolakoğluWednesday, June 22, 2011 1:45:49 PM
It is very nice excepting some details, such as O menü design
Good job. It can be nice if the buttons getting bigger ehn the cursor over the buttons
Charles SchlossWednesday, June 22, 2011 1:48:10 PM
"Are you ready" (from the song)
mirceavladWednesday, June 22, 2011 1:49:38 PM
Personally I feel that the problem is new Speed Dial which very random. Some dials appear as logos, others are zoomed-in pages and the rest are full pages (as I wish all would be). It very frustrating, it feels like a half done job.
ChristianWednesday, June 22, 2011 1:50:26 PM
is the tiny cloud on the bottom-left side another new feature?
Paul Anthony WebbWednesday, June 22, 2011 1:51:30 PM
Originally posted by mirceavlad:

Personally I feel that the problem is new Speed Dial which very random. Some dials appear as logos, others are zoomed-in pages and the rest are full pages (as I wish all would be). It very frustrating, it feels like a half done job.

This is because Opera automatically picks the iPhone "apple clip" image first, and when that is not found, it looks for the full-page preview. I tested this with my own sites.

I do agree that it seems half-baked though because clearly, not everyone has adopted this.
apeyronWednesday, June 22, 2011 1:51:47 PM
yes, nice, but without fixing back the speed dial, it is not so important. i'm still quite nervous when i have to delete one of my speed-dial-links.. and ALL links moves to left, and all this layout, all my set order is messed. this is something to do with opera, not borders or icons. i want my STATIC speed dial back! ... where is this option? where can i enable old static speed dial?
Paul Anthony WebbWednesday, June 22, 2011 1:53:08 PM
I do not like how small the curve right before the tab is on the Windows version. The OS X version looks friggin' awesome. Just nudge that tab a little over to the right guys! Those pixels make all the difference for a sleek-looking browser.
suomi99Wednesday, June 22, 2011 1:54:04 PM
Absolutely DISLIKE!

Why make a copy of Chrome?
I love Opera because it's different...
Mario Jonathan M.Wednesday, June 22, 2011 1:54:48 PM
I agree with z@h3k I think the large button is definitely sexier than the actual one, but it'd took a lil more space.
I think of two solutions, make it only the O and when mouse-over it gets as you showed or Keep it large until the tab-bar is full, or you can do both.
Mario Jonathan M.Wednesday, June 22, 2011 1:58:17 PM
Originally posted by suomi99:

Absolutely DISLIKE!

Why make a copy of Chrome?
I love Opera because it's different...

Actually Opera was the first one, did you know that Opera is the first browser that started using tabs?
chrome could be nothing without Opera
KoveWednesday, June 22, 2011 1:58:59 PM
I don't like it either, it looks so fat. If you do it more skinnier than IE9 or the Netbook Skin for Opera I would buy it without thinking!

http://my.cn.opera.com/community/customize/skins/info/?id=9261 (Netbook Skin)
jonathancombelWednesday, June 22, 2011 2:04:55 PM
do like. i like the continuing trend of cleaning up the icons and their colors to have the flat, modern look. is that a new zoom slider in the bottom right?

however, there was a while in opera 11 where the tab bar was integrated into the same horizontal bar with the opera menu button (which i love, by the way, even liked it when it was just the O) and the minimize/restore/close button. that was really appealing to me, having that much more screen real estate - why have that empty bar taking up space. now that feature seems to be gone, and i can't find how to restore it. further, i was hoping it would get implemented into ubuntu so i could have that nice look there, too.
TomislavWednesday, June 22, 2011 2:06:32 PM
Originally posted by MrMetal:

I dont like the version for windows, that button takes lot of space

It takes more space only when NOT in fullscreen mode. But you can always remove the main button as i do.
abdur92Wednesday, June 22, 2011 2:09:09 PM
I think I would want the address bar to be a little slimmer.
Takes up quite a bit of real estate. I use the 2dARk 0.2.8 skin, and the address bar is the perfect size. The rest, though I dont want it to look too much like chrome, I could bare the rest.

Otherwise, great job Desktop Team with all the work you guys have been putting in, kudos.
Charles SchlossWednesday, June 22, 2011 2:14:46 PM
Originally posted by Sy0t0s:

is the tiny cloud on the bottom-left side another new feature?

Nope Opera Link
anakleinWednesday, June 22, 2011 2:15:19 PM
please make the tab go to top with no space between them:) and please mak e it optional when restarting Opera with a pinned tab make it to do like Firefox. i mean when opening browsers the pinned tab is opened too but no in focus
techlawsamWednesday, June 22, 2011 2:18:15 PM
this looks great keep up the awesome work guys!
huxrWednesday, June 22, 2011 2:19:02 PM
And what's with the *huge* unused space on the top (title bar + the space between title bar and tab bar)?

It's kinda ugly too.

Why not make tabs appear at the very top?
AnhWednesday, June 22, 2011 2:19:27 PM
Originally posted by Mind-Influx:

Originally posted by suomi99:
Absolutely DISLIKE!

Why make a copy of Chrome?
I love Opera because it's different...
Actually Opera was the first one, did you know that Opera is the first browser that started using tabs? chrome could be nothing without Opera

Yep. Opera's original, you must ask why Chrome copy Opera.
Just see my friend using Chrome and I wonder is it just a merger version of Opera and FireFox.
Ricardo M. RubertWednesday, June 22, 2011 2:27:19 PM
Remvoe the status bar, opera was the first browser that do. Then Chrome, firefox and IE did it, and now Opera puts it again.
The status bar can be replaced in the adress bar to show the url and the turbo, opera link and unite could be next to the O button.

Also I think the 'menu' text must be removed.

And why do you removed the lateral bar, is the most useful bar, you can see the boomarks, links etc... I put the extension buttons in that bar also.
Daniel ZiltenerWednesday, June 22, 2011 2:28:23 PM
I can't see any difference to how it's now, except for the Opera Link icon...
ZodiusWednesday, June 22, 2011 2:29:28 PM
LOVE IT!!!
Manuel de la FuenteWednesday, June 22, 2011 3:03:51 PM
I think it would be a good idea if you remove the box of search engines. I took it off since a long time because I do all my searches from the address bar.
Manuel de la FuenteWednesday, June 22, 2011 3:32:37 PM
I don't like the new look of the trash can, is too small and almost invisible.
MindentityWednesday, June 22, 2011 3:40:57 PM
I really love the linux version of the skin!
Can you make a linux skin on windows for people who want it?
or it's based on gtk theme or qt?
SerpherWednesday, June 22, 2011 3:46:42 PM
Version for Windows looks like second Chrome! Opera Design Team - COME ON, YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS!
Felipe BarrosWednesday, June 22, 2011 3:51:26 PM
Oh yes OPERA!!!! THANK YOU FOR THAT! It looks great, very minimalistic and in accordance with what is expected this days. The old looks are old, as the skins repository, etc (PLEASE make it possible for transparency on linux this time).
I LOVE the new New Tab page, LOVE, can't even describe how much, you guys are LIGHT YEARS forward the competition in this aspect.
My humble opinion about what should go next, and although I don't know if any important developer will read this, I really think this is important, and Im an user for a looong time.
1. Abandon exclusive My Opera integration... we need a more universal integration. It is a major drawback that sync works only with my opera, which, you guys must understand, although I'm sure is made with love, can't compete with other services on the internet. Sounds crazy perhaps.
2. Please (please) get away with those widgets. Its old, and old, and old and buggy and horrible and whaaa.. we don't need them anymore, destroy them!!!! (Opera is a browser with a LOT of functionalities, and such things makes it feel "dirt" for the new user (i can ignore it) when it isnt)
3. the extentions page is kind of a suicide in my opinion. IT IS HORRIBLE. please take a look at that and PLEASE, understand, ICONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US, what are those icons? You must ask some responsibility from the developers in this aspect, define some guidelines...
4. try harder to get in contact with the developers of the main extentions available for chrome and firefox... like Apture Highlights, Diigo, Springpad, Readability, Instapaper, Evernote and, the lord almighty, FEEDLY. you must find a way to get the interest of this people.

thats it for now, I love the new looks!!!! im really looking forward the new apps for the new tab page (neat idea!)!!! OPERA, I love you and I betray you every day, feeling guilty, for this details...
Bogdan MoonfireWednesday, June 22, 2011 3:55:41 PM
Integrate it with Unity (Ubuntu) and let us change fonts for websites. I mean, really change them.
lul3fWednesday, June 22, 2011 3:58:26 PM
Can't u do it more webby?
Jirayu YingthawornsukWednesday, June 22, 2011 4:13:16 PM
Toolbar is very fat

I really don't like glossy o menu.

and context menu still alien.

btw, Toolbar look more like google chrome
PozsonyiMarkWednesday, June 22, 2011 4:15:50 PM
Looking cool
BugfixerWednesday, June 22, 2011 4:54:34 PM
How to make the speed dial background transparent?
MichaelWednesday, June 22, 2011 5:27:08 PM
I am usually not responding to things like that, but I found couple of things very disappointing lately:
Just dont make the "O" button so big, why is that? Why tabs are not next to that "O" button anymore? You want to waste more space? Success...
Also Make sure not to put the tabs buttons to very top edge of the screen (like chrome have them), because it will prevent you from easily swapping the window without changing the tab. I like to have opera maximized and just move my cursor to very top of the sceen and switch to current (or should I say last viewed?) tab just by clicking anywhere above tabs.
Next - you should implement a choice to get static speeddial so even "blind" person can select his speed dials easily. Hate the way they reorganize every time (but I know some people like that). If they are static, I dont even need an icon on them, I know where to look for them, you got me?
Next - May be it is my lack of knowledge but if I block flash as a plugin, it is bocked for all sites, no chance to allow on some picked ones. Grooveshark doesnt work because of that for example. On the other end - some content is blocked even I dont want it to be blocked, like some redirections or the icon to "play flash" wouldnt appear... dont have example ready now :-(
May be you can try to improve the compatibility with Google applications, but it is not necessary.

Please dont get me wrong, I love Opera and wouldnt change it for anything even you would ignore all my comments, but still there are ways to improve the best :-)

Thanks for all your work, appreciated...
Satan D. LuciferWednesday, June 22, 2011 6:01:49 PM
Remember guys this is the 1st phase

we might see a huge interface changes when reaching 11.50 final

So hold your horses and just be ready
Joonas LehtolahtiWednesday, June 22, 2011 6:21:12 PM
I don't know about sexy but monochrome icons are far from useful.
Enoch 'Robot Boy' Appiah JuniorWednesday, June 22, 2011 7:12:08 PM
Hey Sexy!
PhriendWednesday, June 22, 2011 7:47:03 PM
I am glad that Opera is finally focusing on making things user friendly and light. Reaching the masses is key. The more knowledgeable users can still customize whatever they wish to customize to their liking, but make the default set up as easy to use as possible.
Nathan RodriguezWednesday, June 22, 2011 7:55:14 PM
Simplicity.
mcdealWednesday, June 22, 2011 8:17:44 PM
I just love it!
funkzzzWednesday, June 22, 2011 9:13:57 PM
I think the current (Opera 11) UI is already great. The screenshots above, to me, look EXACTLY like Mozilla Firefox 5. I appreciate that current Opera has the tabs next to the menu button to save space. Perhaps you could only move it down once the use has 10 or more tabs open or something?

I don't like the above proposed interface, as it's a waste of screen space and it looks just like Firefox. If anything, remove the search box (I do this after a fresh install) - the user can search from the address bar anyway.

I mean instead of trying to make the UI more like another browser, why don't you innovate and lead the way with fresh ideas. It looks like Mozilla/others are doing this already: http://www.dxdo.com/2011/web-browsers/firefox-5-screenshots-designs/

I love Opera, keep innovating!
d4rkn1ghtWednesday, June 22, 2011 11:18:00 PM
Nice to see the Linux version looking good!
JulianThursday, June 23, 2011 4:50:44 AM
Originally posted by d4rkn1ght:

Unix screenshot:

Is great know you are considering to Unix/Linux. Hope yo still do it!

Congratulations Opera Desktop team you have my total support
MenekatesThursday, June 23, 2011 5:26:56 AM
Siiippp #1:cheers:
Jesper LindebergThursday, June 23, 2011 8:07:11 AM
I miss a OpenIndiana (solaris) version :-(
MarkEylesThursday, June 23, 2011 1:16:56 PM
I'm surprised by the number of people who seem to be criticizing the look for rather minor/stupid reasons. Do people not appreciate just how customizable and adaptable the Opera interface is?

There seems to be a few people who believe the tabs will always be below the opera button which is rather disconcerting... They go into the title bar in full screen (at least in Windows).

I like it. Congrats to the dev team!
dizThursday, June 23, 2011 5:48:32 PM
Fantastic!
Sébastien BoutetThursday, June 23, 2011 8:56:46 PM
It's better and faster & cool design ! Great job
AMAN ULLAH KHANFriday, June 24, 2011 3:34:32 AM
It's faster, better & built with excellent theme designs.
Tencho AtanasovFriday, June 24, 2011 8:46:49 AM
I like the new theme. This is what Opera needed.