Out today: Opera for Android, full and final!
After months of hard work, the brand new Opera for Android is here. With a totally new UI - re-built from scratch - there are tons of new and updated features to discover. If you can't wait, simply head on over to Google Play or m.opera.com with your phone!
Tabs. Better than ever.
From a thumbnail view of tabs to private browsing, Tabs on Android is made for the way you surf the mobile web. It's also even easier to mark tabs as favorites, right in the address field.
Speed Dial. Reinvented.
A common request has been the ability to organize your Speed Dials. In this version we introduce folders in your Speed Dial. Simply drag and drop to create a new folder.
Discover. Stay one step ahead.
Get news, the latest cool content and other suggestions tailor-made for you with the Discover feature.
Off-Road Mode. All-conditions browsing.
Enabling Off-Road mode provides you with the great speed and functionality from Opera Mini. Compressing web pages so you can stay online even when your connection slows down or you're outside your regular network . Off-Road Mode effectively saves you money by reducing your data consumption.
Download Manager. Made better.
With the ability to start, pause, resume and rename files, you can download and keep the movies, music and other media files you want at your convenience.
Automatic text wrap
During our beta it seems text wrapping was a favorite feature in Opera. With all the amazing feedback we worked long hours to get this ready for launch.
Customizable address bar
So many devices. So many different versions of Android. To give you the best possible experience regardless of your phone or the size of your hands - we let you have the navigation either on top or at the bottom of the screen. Try it out in the settings!
And that's just the beginning.
Opera for Android supports Gingerbread and up with tablet support soon to follow. We would like to thank everyone who helped us test the beta. Text-wrapping, fullscreen mode and other great features are there thanks to your feedback - we could not have done this without you!
Discover Opera for Android on Google Play.
Readers' comments 50
Left under the original article, as archived; 2 pages of comments could not be recovered.
About this article
| Published in | Choose Opera |
|---|---|
| Date | May 21, 2013 |
| Author | Aleksander Aas |
| Tags | android, release, opera for android, opera, opera mobile |
| Original | Internet Archive |
inDigazzZTuesday, May 21, 2013 6:09:00 AM
waiting for desktop Opera
Joshua PhelpsTuesday, May 21, 2013 6:19:11 AM
Great work on the android client.
Trubo LoTuesday, May 21, 2013 6:26:47 AM
I mean WTF you guys done to Presto Opera Mobile?!
The WebKit Opera is like crap!!
Migration to it is worst than I thought...
Looks like you guys really mean not to give us Backward Compatibility huh?
Well, here's some WTFs for you guys!
1. Ugly Times New Roman fonts!
-Native Android Droid Sans fonts look much better!
2. As I mentioned above, worst Migration ever!
-The Bookmarks then are now Legacy Bookmarks... WTH?!
3. Where's Opera:Config ?!
-Advance settings are locked down in this New Opera... Opera Mobile FTW!!
4. Occasional crashes!
-Sony Mobile XPERIA sola
-Android 2.3.7
-Dual-core 1GHz, 512MB RAM
-Opera Mobile done much better!
5. You removed Adobe Flash Player support...
-Yet you CRASHED MORE than Opera Mobile!
6. No EXIT button!
-Kills my battery in the background!
Will add more, so you guys better read this facts first before upgrading to WebKit Opera!
So sorry Opera, but I guess you will lose another potential Android user(s) if this goes on...
Regards,
Trubo
DanielTuesday, May 21, 2013 7:05:27 AM
Have to say I was a bit uneasy about loosing bookmarks, but now playing around with the new speed dial makes me think this could work. Is this the pattern we should expect on the desktop too, or how is Opera Link going to work?
Pages are really smooth and fast, and honestly it's a relief to get better website compatibility (even if it was the website's fault).
Could do without the animations when opening/closing/changing tabs though.
dEricT MalETuesday, May 21, 2013 7:10:17 AM
It's not opera anymore
bry carrTuesday, May 21, 2013 7:13:47 AM
selurusTuesday, May 21, 2013 7:26:17 AM
Although I would like you to also keep the old opera available in the market for old times sake
ClashCityRockerTuesday, May 21, 2013 8:06:15 AM
No Nexus7 tablet support (beta was fine), no opera-link, text wrapping seems to have gone.
Major backlash ahead... I can't think of a single reason to use this over chrome for android. Lets hope this isn't a precedent for a massive downgrade of Opera Desktop.
DanielTuesday, May 21, 2013 8:13:24 AM
Originally posted by clashcityrocker:
They're both in the settings menu
ossenTuesday, May 21, 2013 9:24:36 AM
Martin KadlecTuesday, May 21, 2013 9:36:39 AM
EmoryyTuesday, May 21, 2013 10:28:52 AM
(Edit: It's good to have the option to have the toolbar back to the bottom)
You throwed out Presto on the window... Maybe webkit is better in compatibility, but now the whole thing is slower.
Not just the browsing, but the UI as well.
Opening the tab panel takes a while. Interestingly this was super fluid and fast in the previous version.
It's a shame that the automatic text width wrapping was put back only after the users complained. This was a unique feature of Opera Mobile, I don't understand why it wasn't considered an important thing by you in the first place. Well, anyways, now it's back, so that's a good thing at least.
There is no opera:config.
Opera Link is still just a link to the website...
The new Speed Dial is functionally all right. Folders are good. That would be a welcomed feature on desktop too. However you could neglect this retarded iOS icon style, it doesn't go well on Android.
I think that the discover function is unnecessary. Maybe a few will use it, but in the end it's just a gimmick.
Rally is the same as Opera Turbo, I don't feel why the renaming was necessary, but fine.
If we can except all similar changes in the desktop version, that will be a sad day for Opera fans.
Originally posted by truboxl:
This is a common misconception. It doesn't kill your battery. Android is not Windows. If an app is in the background it just sits in the memory, which doesn't drain any more battery than empty memory. However if you open up the browser afterwards shortly, that actually saves battery, because the CPU doesn't need to reload all the things again.If you want to close Opera anyways, just swipe it away in the multitasking screen (Android 4.0+)
Aleksander AasTuesday, May 21, 2013 10:32:57 AM
EmoryyTuesday, May 21, 2013 10:53:25 AM
Originally posted by Aleksander:
You are welcome!
Considering that the previous version was also dark, I guess it's not a far fetched thing to have it. Lots of Android apps support the changing between the light and dark holo style. Furthermore the dark style is a little bit better on the battery with AMOLED screens (Galaxy S, Galaxy Note series)
Also thanks for the Galaxy S from back then
Opera Mobile was running fine on it (once it loaded up, wich was quite slow). But now the new Opera is generally slower... :|
ClashCityRockerTuesday, May 21, 2013 11:15:09 AM
Originally posted by desic:
A link to the Opera-link website is NOT Opera-Link.
Trubo LoTuesday, May 21, 2013 11:31:36 AM
Originally posted by truboxl:
6. No EXIT button!
-Kills my battery in the background!
This is a common misconception. It doesn't kill your battery. Android is not Windows. If an app is in the background it just sits in the memory, which doesn't drain any more battery than empty memory. However if you open up the browser afterwards shortly, that actually saves battery, because the CPU doesn't need to reload all the things again.
If you want to close Opera anyways, just swipe it away in the multitasking screen (Android 4.0+)
-
Gee... Thanks for pointing out Emoryy...
But do you see that I'm using Android 2.3 XPERIA sola...
Exit button is better in my own opinion and it fully stops all the rendering processes of Opera Mobile...
I just don't know why that WebKit Opera uses even more battery (even in the background, the Settings > Application > Battery menu shows New Opera is using the battery compare to Opera Mobile which doesn't even show up in the lists)...
Most of all, I know that Flash Support is dropped and I can accept it (since Flash is indeed DEAD), but the New Opera theoretically should be much stable and faster than Opera Mobile, but the facts aren't...
I'm hoping Opera Mobile will be Opera Mobile (for MOBILE) and I guess the WebKit Opera should be called Opera browser instead (Opera for HIGH END MOBILE)...
By the way, I can't even quote your texts with the New Opera... :/
Also, my eyes on the add-ons for Opera Mobile is dying as well...
Regards,
Trubo
m910qTuesday, May 21, 2013 11:41:05 AM
I still got the notification bar visible, as well as the bottom navigation bar.
The URL bar is hiding, but I would not call it fullscreen. Just a good start on the way to proper fullscreen
Martin KadlecTuesday, May 21, 2013 11:46:20 AM
Originally posted by Aleksander:
Unless something changed in last updated the UI changes to dark in private mode. However, it would be nice to have dark UI without being in private mode
EmoryyTuesday, May 21, 2013 12:52:12 PM
Originally posted by truboxl:
The Sola has an official Android 4.0.4 ICS update:http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/software/phones/xperia-sola/
http://xperiafirmware.com/8-firmware/21-sony-xperia-sola-mt27
subtitlesTuesday, May 21, 2013 1:07:46 PM
Trubo LoTuesday, May 21, 2013 1:48:10 PM
The thing is that ICS update is totally unstable...
Yes, I had been an active user in http://talk.sonymobile.com/ in the XPERIA sola section and I read a lot and helped those who had problems with their solas...
So far, pretty disappointed with Sony Mobile's Software Department... :/
Anyway, someone told me that if you long press the BACK button on your phone, the EXIT button appears!
Opera, you should have told us earlier...
schemestromTuesday, May 21, 2013 1:51:03 PM
I somehow assumed this would upgrade Opera Beta to the stable version, but instead it replaced Opera Mobile so I couldn't go back if I wanted.
I like how you addressed almost every reasonable feedback (text-wrap, disappearing URL bar, tab switching, ...), but I believe that a conditional Offroad mode as in Opera Mobile, that only activates when not on WLAN, was asked for even more frequent than text-wrap.
Oh, and by the way: I still don't like the iOS style launcher icon (and the iOS style speed dial, for that matter) and I still miss the integration with Android downloads.
Rafael LuikTuesday, May 21, 2013 2:17:36 PM
Originally posted by Aleksander:
Please take the rest of the feedback from Emoryy into account also.EmoryyTuesday, May 21, 2013 2:17:50 PM
Originally posted by truboxl:
I just wanted to write exactly this.Yeah, they totally should have told us. It's not entirely intuitive...
EmoryyTuesday, May 21, 2013 2:19:36 PM
Originally posted by rafaelluik:
Your link doesn't work.(Also it's Emoryy not Emorry
https://files.myopera.com/Emoryy/Android/device-2013-05-21-162106.png -
m910qTuesday, May 21, 2013 2:24:57 PM
Originally posted by Emoryy:
But it takes up space if you want it visible. And I don't see many people using it except myself.I kinda like it, but I can't longpress before I start loading a site.
The back-button needs to be activated before it's possible to exit.
Rafael LuikTuesday, May 21, 2013 2:30:10 PM
EmoryyTuesday, May 21, 2013 2:50:21 PM
Originally posted by m910q:
It works with the physical back button too.dEricT MalETuesday, May 21, 2013 2:56:00 PM
My first attempt to open adf.ly and the cat showed up,,
Huh!?,,
Aju PurohitTuesday, May 21, 2013 3:23:57 PM
hobeTuesday, May 21, 2013 3:46:55 PM
Or swith to Windows Phone all together, because Opera was what kept me from the platform. With Opera mobile lacking the central features I don't need it anymore.
And still there is no news regarding the desktop browser (features, beta,...)
Bogumił KrawczykTuesday, May 21, 2013 4:12:15 PM
Nexus 7
This item is not compatible with your device.
Funny, "Opera browser beta" works normally
m910qTuesday, May 21, 2013 4:16:09 PM
Originally posted by Emoryy:
Aha, great!
Stephen HarrisTuesday, May 21, 2013 4:33:40 PM
FranciscoTuesday, May 21, 2013 5:35:45 PM
where can I get old opera????
hobeTuesday, May 21, 2013 5:47:39 PM
just installed it over the update and apart from not having speed dials right now, everything seems OK
schmiddel63Tuesday, May 21, 2013 5:51:09 PM
Design: +
Performance: -
Speed Dial:
Some buttons have no icon...
DeyanTuesday, May 21, 2013 5:53:16 PM
+1 for non times new roman type fonts by default
Keep improve the blink engine and focus on lightweight and remove scroll, back and zoom rendering lag.
Right now my Atrix 4G (stock 2.3.6) became warm after browsing with the new Opera.
It will be good to bring back "turn off when on WiFi" option for Off-Road mode.
Also Discover is good, but will be great if we can add and remove sites for each category.
EmoryyTuesday, May 21, 2013 6:17:27 PM
I can't find a single text on the UI that would be serif (serif, because on Android there is no Times New Roman font, except if it's embedded into the app, but I don't think that would be the case)
FranciscoTuesday, May 21, 2013 7:00:31 PM
Орлин КънчевTuesday, May 21, 2013 7:49:13 PM
mattiscbTuesday, May 21, 2013 8:34:49 PM
looks good +1
i found the exit-button +1
opera:config doesn't work -1
about:config gives only very limited settings (urlfilter.ini anyone?) -1
cannot activate text wrap or switch popup-blocker on/off (options are greyed out in settings menu (Galaxy S+, android 2.3) -1
link doesn't work -1
web fonts don't work -1
atm it's a step back and a lot of work still to do - but I'll stick with opera as i did the last 12 years.
James MageeTuesday, May 21, 2013 9:05:35 PM
schemestromTuesday, May 21, 2013 9:21:29 PM
Originally posted by mattiscb:
Yes, they do.
I just discovered that Opera, when typing in the URL bar, doesn't make suggestions based on previously accessed pages. THAT's a huge minus.
Rafael LuikTuesday, May 21, 2013 9:32:01 PM
Originally posted by Jamesmagee:
You're kidding right? By developing supporting Android 2.3 they're already being very generous. Look at Chrome's requirement of 4.0...Thu WinTuesday, May 21, 2013 10:58:05 PM
Tiago WakabayashiTuesday, May 21, 2013 11:18:28 PM
dfedkoTuesday, May 21, 2013 11:33:10 PM
stefan GilbertWednesday, May 22, 2013 3:25:26 AM
JustinWednesday, May 22, 2013 4:43:18 AM
The features I will miss most if not brought back is the exit button the separate search and a number of settings like Opera turbo wifi/mobile control and user agent control. I hope long term all opera specific features are ported over to the new version.
The one feature I was hoping would be different in the Chromium/webkit migration would be tabs. I have not seen a mobile browser do tabs in a way that that I find enjoyable regardless of the number of open tabs.
The way I would love to see tabs done would be like the speed dial. A full view grid of square thumbnail images that scrolls vertically when there are more open tabs than the screen can show and a always visible close button. I should be able to in one press close or switch to a tab.
Having to scroll or shuffle through open tabs is not pleasant or effective for me. If it was a grid I would be able to see multiple open tabs in one view. Having both methods like it is now and the speed dial grid layout method and being able switch it using a settings would even better.
Good luck for the next update. I suggest a user poll for Opera Mobile users asking about what people like or dislike about the move before messing with the desktop or mini.