Get your site featured by Opera!

April 8, 2011 · by Espen André Øverdahl

As of Opera 11.10, we allow website developers to control how their website looks in Speed Dial. By default, Speed Dial uses a screen capture of the web site. But now site owners can specify an icon or serve Speed Dial-specific CSS or content. We want to create a list of sites with optimized content for the new and improved Speed Dial in Opera 11.10 (which is coming before Easter).

If you know of a site (or got your own) that utilizes the new advantages in Speed Dial, let us know as a comment below! We want to assemble the ultimate list of cool websites with optimized content for Speed Dial. We will publish a complete list of optimized websites with the release of Opera 11.10.

Resources

Check out Dev.Opera for an article how to make your site shine shine Speed Dial.
Follow the Desktop Team blog for the latest Opera browser snapshots, so you can test and optimize your site.
Download and try Opera 11.10 beta today.

How to get a site featured

Link to it as a comment below and we will check it out. If the content is optimized and looks cool, we will include it in an official list of optimized websites for Speed Dial. This is a great opportunity to get more awareness and traffic to your website.

And finally, we have a tutorial video featuring Arnstein from Opera, showing how easy it is to optimize content for Speed Dial:

Video on YouTube

Readers' comments 87

Left under the original article, as archived.

NicoFriday, April 8, 2011 12:17:46 PM

I modified my Homepage some time ago with a custom image for Speed Dial, but I will test and implement the other methods as well over the weekend:

http://www.dzgh-army.de
Espen André ØverdahlFriday, April 8, 2011 12:19:03 PM
Holy cow, that is awesome Nico. Love it.
Junaid Ahmed ShawonFriday, April 8, 2011 12:23:06 PM
www.espncricinfo.com
It has specific icon for opera and opera mini and it is one of the most popular sports sites in the world.
Stephen BassettFriday, April 8, 2011 12:24:16 PM
Would love to be featured! Let us know if it's ok as it is or we'll get one of our IT guys on it.

http://www.mouthlondon.com
AlexandraFriday, April 8, 2011 12:26:48 PM
chip.de and golem.de
Junaid Ahmed ShawonFriday, April 8, 2011 12:27:44 PM
estilo.peperonity.com
TopiFriday, April 8, 2011 12:34:38 PM
EDIT: same tag works for Facebook and Opera:
<link rel="image_src" href="..." />

http://dagobah.net
Georaine PhiriFriday, April 8, 2011 12:39:31 PM
Am currently using opera 10, she is wicked faster and damn near to steal somebody's personality. Big up opera crew and fans! B.I.G U.P!
thobiFriday, April 8, 2011 12:41:02 PM
diepresse.com (seems they are using the "apple-touch-icon" to be shown in speed dial)
Áron VirginásFriday, April 8, 2011 12:50:54 PM
http://www.mindomo.com <-- This is the flagship product of the company I work at and it looks stunning in Speed Dial
Daniel DavisFriday, April 8, 2011 12:51:29 PM
Is it cheating if I work for Opera? Oh well, just in case: http://people.opera.com/danield/
barbod1364Friday, April 8, 2011 1:02:04 PM
how can i do this with mobile
Philip SeyfiFriday, April 8, 2011 1:04:20 PM
NihongoUp (my Japanese learning community) - http://nihongoup.com/

If you open an account, log in, and add the site to your speed dial, you'll see a new Japanese kanji and your kanji reviewing stats refreshed every hour! Here's a screenshot - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/118039/nihongoup_dial.png
EikernFriday, April 8, 2011 1:07:04 PM
A site I made for one of my favorite radio shows in Norway is now compatible: http://rr.eikern.net . Looking forward for the final version!
Martin KadlecFriday, April 8, 2011 1:12:40 PM
http://vladstudio.com uses the image_src meta tag, but it's not working :/ Is it because of the php extension or because of the redirect?

link rel="image_src" href="http://www.vladstudio.com/latest_wallpaper_thumb.php"
MeneldorFriday, April 8, 2011 1:26:00 PM
http://pogoda.yandex.ru
http://probki.yandex.ru
Áron VirginásFriday, April 8, 2011 1:27:08 PM
Originally posted by BS-Harou:

http://vladstudio.com uses the image_src meta tag, but it's not working :/ Is it because of the php extension or because of the redirect?

link rel="image_src" href="http://www.vladstudio.com/latest_wallpaper_thumb.php"

It seems that you need a direct link to the image for the feature to work.
Martin KadlecFriday, April 8, 2011 1:30:29 PM
Originally posted by aronvirginas:

It seems that you need a direct link to the image for the feature to work.

Well, it's not my site, so I can't do much about it, but it would be nice if Opera would be able to handle redirect
Mağruf ÇolakoğluFriday, April 8, 2011 1:31:40 PM
We have been updated our dspeed dial 2 weeks ago
www.operaturkiye.net
SushubhFriday, April 8, 2011 1:33:04 PM
http://broadbandforum.in

i just left a message for the followers.
Charles SchlossFriday, April 8, 2011 1:42:46 PM

Download and try Opera 11.10 beta today.

There is a RC2 out...
Nahuel SanchezFriday, April 8, 2011 1:49:31 PM
My personal site of news about Android, is already with this cool function.
http://www.noticiasandroid.net
Thanks Opera!
Heracles PapatheodorouFriday, April 8, 2011 1:56:35 PM
http://www.legendarypokemon.net/

the Pokemon fansite that loves Opera
th3pr0ph3tFriday, April 8, 2011 1:58:56 PM
If this does not comply with a standard as proposed by W3C or something, we shouldn't do it.
UesuauosFriday, April 8, 2011 2:05:26 PM
An old site I made ten years ago :
http://destins.hebergratuit.com/index.htm
LukášFriday, April 8, 2011 2:20:33 PM
okey i updated my graphic portfolio: http://www.lukaszahorec.php5.sk/ , i used speeddial icon
ChrisBreedenFriday, April 8, 2011 2:20:53 PM
I created a custom Speed Dial icon for my site
http://www.themodernguy.com
epinardscaramelFriday, April 8, 2011 2:22:08 PM
How long do we have to update our sites ? I'll do it asap.
geppFriday, April 8, 2011 2:22:33 PM
I've made this test on my new blog, but soon I'll make a CSS version
http://albertogasparin.it/

BTW, why CSS media query "view-mode: minimized" only works at 256x160?
The W3C spec says: view-mode: minimized "describes a Web application docked or otherwise minimised, but with a dynamic graphical representation being available nevertheless (i.e. the application isn't entirely hidden, or maybe its icon is still shown and it has control over what it contains). This may correspond for instance to a thumbnail of the application's content being shown. "
There are no size restrictions.

And what happens if my speed dial thumbnails are smaller than 265?
Áron VirginásFriday, April 8, 2011 2:23:40 PM
Originally posted by th3pr0ph3t:

If this does not comply with a standard as proposed by W3C or something, we shouldn't do it.

Though I have not studied W3C documentation exhaustively, I cannot think of any standard or proposal this would violate. The link element in the head is ubiquitously used for similar purposes already.
AtomicusFriday, April 8, 2011 2:23:54 PM
http://jazzy.pro just got icon:)
Mike MangerFriday, April 8, 2011 2:32:21 PM
Originally posted by th3pr0ph3t:

If this does not comply with a standard as proposed by W3C or something, we shouldn't do it.

This is all valid and part of the W3C spec! If you are talking about a validator service, they probably just need to update it.

Anyway, I updated the CSS on my portfolio site. But I think I need to add some more colour!
TrygveHFriday, April 8, 2011 3:00:54 PM
http://www.gaysir.no. Gaysir is Norway's largest meeting place for gays, lesbians and transgender with almost 50 000 members.

The speed dial shows new messages and notifications when logged in, and is refreshed every 60 seconds.
ChirpieFriday, April 8, 2011 3:13:38 PM
Originally posted by th3pr0ph3t:

If this does not comply with a standard as proposed by W3C or something, we shouldn't do it.
Do actually have a reason to think it doesn't, or are you just being negative?
larsklFriday, April 8, 2011 3:19:23 PM
http://operawiki.de/ of course ;-)
TeunFriday, April 8, 2011 3:33:46 PM
What is the URL of the weather thumbnail on your speed-dial @0:09 of the video?

EDIT: Sites with thumbnails:
Engadged.com
Geenstijl.nl
Opera.com

Still not Opera Desktop Team, and Choose Opera???
TamilFriday, April 8, 2011 4:40:58 PM
Burr Burr BurrFriday, April 8, 2011 4:50:04 PM
http://macmagazine.com.br/
KlausHollFriday, April 8, 2011 5:52:17 PM
I know this guy from video: he presented Opera 11.00
Bencsik GergőFriday, April 8, 2011 5:57:05 PM
My team website is optimized for new SpeedDial: http://gyomroksz.hu/
Sn3ipenFriday, April 8, 2011 5:58:55 PM
http://yoast.com
http://arstechnaica.com
Cutting SpoonFriday, April 8, 2011 6:09:53 PM
Actually will the MyOpera theme selector be updated for this new Speeddial feature?
manzelFriday, April 8, 2011 6:11:09 PM
Just a small site with an applet I made to calculate probabilities. But it has its speed dial icon since the beginning: http://bigmaxxxl.de/manzel/bernoulli/
FataLFriday, April 8, 2011 7:54:08 PM
Is it cheating if I work for Opera? Oh well, just in case: http://people.opera.com/danield/
Beautiful picture, but it is bad that this config is not respected Reload every setting, so I can't have actual site preview on SD thumbnail. Same as http://pepelsbey.net (another Opera employee).

Those sites are done right:
Would hate to see all sites on my SD using just logos. This will look much like banners! And most people hate advertising.

Please don't use
```
view-mode: minimized
```
CSS just for a logo. Use an icon via meta tag instead.
Carrlos LylesFriday, April 8, 2011 7:59:22 PM

I love opera!
Bonakala BsacFriday, April 8, 2011 8:03:44 PM
Ride a narwhal over a double rainbow & B Tjovo with Bonakala. BSAC community in da speed.
(B part of BSAC community B a Friend initiative- Share Opera) Aweh...
HatdrawnFriday, April 8, 2011 8:22:44 PM
A site we made for a lottery to support the local Children's Hospital, and we added a custom Speed Dial graphic for Opera users.

http://www.homelotto.com

http://stackoverflow.com also has one.
d4rkn1ghtFriday, April 8, 2011 8:28:56 PM
Artur „Jurgi” JurgawkaFriday, April 8, 2011 9:06:45 PM
Is it possible to do with My Opera blog pages?
Cutting SpoonFriday, April 8, 2011 9:40:32 PM
We need a few weather sites to get on the ball. If you can just drag an open forecast into the Speed Dial and get a permanent forecast buttom, it would be great.