Welcome to Opera Next

May 3, 2011 · by Aleksander Aas

Fresh from the Opera servers, the brand new Opera 11.50 alpha with two cool new features! Opera Next and Speed Dial Extensions! This time there are no reasons not to play around with it, as Opera Next allows you to create a brand new testing environment without compromising your daily browsing!

Opera Next

Opera Next is an independent Opera install that lets you try the latest pre-release versions without affecting your everyday browser. Opera Next automatically updates when new versions become available. Opera Next builds are probably unstable and contain bugs, but now you can test like a boss without compromising your main Opera installation!

So, how does this work you ask? Well when you install Opera Next you'll receive a fresh Opera install independent of your main Opera installation. This new Opera Next installation will never touch your Opera installation, so you're safe to play around with alphas, betas and even snapshots!

Whenever there is a new testing version available Opera Next will let you update your Opera Next installation. Play around with exciting stuff such as the new Speed Dial Extensions knowing that your main browser settings are safe!

Speed Dial Extensions

Extensions were introduced in Opera 11. Now with Opera 11.50 we take them to the next level! Developers can add new functionality to your Speed Dial. A click of your mouse opens a new tab that could show live news feeds, display the weather, present email notifications or much more.

Want to make your own Speed Dial Extension? Check out the sweet article on Dev.Opera for more details!

Download Opera 11.50 alpha

What are you waiting for? With the Opera Next all you have to do is go to www.opera.com/browser/next/. Give the new alpha a spin using Opera Next!

Readers' comments 69

Left under the original article, as archived.

Angel Manuel PerezTuesday, May 3, 2011 8:07:51 AM
You guys really do know how to keep life interesting! Love OPERA and always will!! Also, FIRST!
praetor87Tuesday, May 3, 2011 8:09:00 AM
Nice icon. That weather extension works with other way too.
Gary WalshTuesday, May 3, 2011 8:11:37 AM
All sounds good to me. Opera Next in particular.
mubaidrTuesday, May 3, 2011 8:13:11 AM
Aleksander AasTuesday, May 3, 2011 8:16:52 AM
For even more information to satisfy your insatiable urge for information check out the desktop team blog as well!
Swordfish and Opera Next
Introducing Opera 11.50 "Swordfish"
Gary WalshTuesday, May 3, 2011 8:21:30 AM
On the download page it states the following:
It is strongly recommended that you back up your current Opera installation before installing this version
Sounds like the old beta advice has not been updated to take Next's separate install into consideration, that'll surely be confusing to some!
Liam GriffithsTuesday, May 3, 2011 8:32:15 AM
I always just update my existing Opera folder, with alphas/betas/snapshots, and never had any issues!!

Good work Opera Team, Brilliant browser!!
h0mayunTuesday, May 3, 2011 8:50:40 AM
there is missing an option to grouping and separating speed dial extensions and the other speed dial for pages
NecromanTuesday, May 3, 2011 8:55:13 AM
Just a question - what about sandboxing my Opera Link account for usage in Opera Alpha? It would be nice to have extra account in case Alpha version "corrupts or deletes everything", don't you think? Or at least have some backup feature to revert to previous state of Opera Link.
Aleksander AasTuesday, May 3, 2011 9:04:12 AM
Originally posted by Necroman:

Just a question - what about sandboxing my Opera Link account for usage in Opera Alpha? It would be nice to have extra account in case Alpha version "corrupts or deletes everything", don't you think?

Sounds smart, but for now I suggest you create a new testing account for Opera Link!
DavidTuesday, May 3, 2011 9:50:34 AM
Bah... sandboxing! No risk no fun.
HenryTuesday, May 3, 2011 9:53:01 AM
Feed in ma Speed Dial! Yes thanks nom nom
ps polevaulted Poll Voted! OCC.
PhriendTuesday, May 3, 2011 9:59:52 AM
I was waiting for the likes of Opera Next. It makes playing around with snapshots, alphas, and betas a lot easier!
TamilTuesday, May 3, 2011 10:40:15 AM
Matthew WilcoxsonTuesday, May 3, 2011 10:48:02 AM
Both sound great. Particularly excited about speed dial extensions.

Question: Are speed dial extensions synchronised with Opera Link?

Thanks for always innovating in Opera!
Samed AyanTuesday, May 3, 2011 11:23:25 AM
PeterTuesday, May 3, 2011 11:37:28 AM
Come and get it.
ColeTuesday, May 3, 2011 11:47:58 AM
Still no password synchronization I see. Let the competition stay ahead then
YuroTuesday, May 3, 2011 11:51:57 AM
This is awesome. I was using USB versions for testing but this is much better.

One question : where can i post my ideas or maybe bugs? (is it only me or grooveshark is not working correctly? looks like i cant use the horizontal slider (when you add all popular songs to playlist).)
Faizan Munir Khan RajputTuesday, May 3, 2011 12:15:20 PM
Please Sync Extensions Like Google Chrome, Thank You.
Yeni SetiawanTuesday, May 3, 2011 12:41:07 PM
Awesome!
ZodiusTuesday, May 3, 2011 12:48:00 PM
Originally posted by colej2000:

Still no password synchronization I see.

No need - LastPass is for that
Aleksander AasTuesday, May 3, 2011 1:03:17 PM
Originally posted by colej2000:

Still no password synchronization I see. Let the competition stay ahead then

It's there, but it's not being pushed as of now!
Zaid Daba'eenTuesday, May 3, 2011 1:24:22 PM
Why won't you make your updates smaller, like only to files updated, so that update would be much easier and faster?
ColeTuesday, May 3, 2011 1:31:48 PM
Originally posted by Aleksander:

Cole

I'm betting Google Docs still doesn't work either
Charles SchlossTuesday, May 3, 2011 1:48:41 PM
DanielTuesday, May 3, 2011 2:45:32 PM
Will Opera Next be available from the Opera .deb repository?
ZodiusTuesday, May 3, 2011 3:07:12 PM
3 things: 1 - How do I make it a default browser, instead of the stable Opera? 2 - Google Spreadsheets look ugly again. 3 - There is no close button X in tab previews of tab stacks.
ColeTuesday, May 3, 2011 5:08:39 PM
Originally posted by theadolescent:

Still pointless improvements while some basic deficiencies remain.

Agreed, it just goes to show the dev team aren't really listening to people which means Chrome and Firefox have no need to worry.

It's still not compatible with Google Docs so they obviously aren't bothered about that and no sign of password synchronization
Charles SchlossTuesday, May 3, 2011 5:33:56 PM
Originally posted by colej2000:

It's still not compatible with Google Docs

THat could be an Opera bug being worked on or a bug in Google's code, right now I am getting strange code in gmail, that other Opera users don't get
TanelTuesday, May 3, 2011 6:16:09 PM
Originally posted by Chas4:

Originally posted by colej2000:
It's still not compatible with Google Docs

THat could be an Opera bug being worked on or a bug in Google's code, right now I am getting strange code in gmail, that other Opera users don't get

Opera's incompatibility with Google Docs is still the main reason why I have to fire up another browser casually, and why I don't dare to advertise Opera to others, as GDocs's a standard working environment these days around here.

On the other side, I'm happy to see the mating of extensions and speed dial and dig the idea of Opera Next.

Maybe a default button somewhere in the UI for reporting pugs would be something to consider as well. To prompt testers to actually file in their findings and also to emphasize the fact that it's not the final build. As of now Opera offers everyone a way to test their browser, but there's no explanation whatsoever on what to do if one should actually find something that needs to be fixed.
Miles DavisTuesday, May 3, 2011 7:17:24 PM
Ahead of his time, again ... Opera !
d4rkn1ghtTuesday, May 3, 2011 7:23:35 PM
jaleelpkaderTuesday, May 3, 2011 8:05:48 PM
config: is not working to go to power user settings
hundredorzeroTuesday, May 3, 2011 11:45:20 PM
Love Opera as always.
ZodiusWednesday, May 4, 2011 12:27:40 AM
Originally posted by jaleelpkader:

config: is not working to go to power user settings

You mean opera:config?
Joel SpadinWednesday, May 4, 2011 4:09:51 AM
All of the people complaining about "still no password synchronization" clearly haven't noticed that, well, there is now password synchronization.
Francisco Porras A.Wednesday, May 4, 2011 8:26:23 AM
Yo. ya la tengo, y va de maravilla, estoy haciendo con ella; guay¡¡
sasquatchsecurityWednesday, May 4, 2011 9:07:44 AM
I'm loving it. Chrome Canary and now Opera Next. I'm set! Roll out the updates like a sweet sung "O".
HuangyinchinaWednesday, May 4, 2011 3:06:39 PM
I have given this vision my endorsement!
Nice work!
aderemiWednesday, May 4, 2011 9:49:06 PM
it nice, cool and big time exposure 2 good life, that is opera 4 u, we al need it.
sasquatchsecurityWednesday, May 4, 2011 10:45:18 PM
Originally posted by remmy38:

it nice, cool and big time exposure 2 good life, that is opera 4 u, we al need it.

You said it! Beautifully said.
Jho-jhoThursday, May 5, 2011 2:43:40 AM
why in the opera I can not open the poker??
Now every time I open zynga poker .. I always get the alarm's security ... but if I go through other providers can only be .. please explain in as much detail as possible to address E-mail me .. [email protected]
yousafThursday, May 5, 2011 3:16:06 AM
Posted my experience here http://yousaf.5gigs.net/blog/2011/05/04/opera-11-50-alpha-released/
aderemiThursday, May 5, 2011 7:32:21 AM
Haaaaa! Opera Next it simply d best, u go for it now. Cheers.
PeterThursday, May 5, 2011 9:14:30 AM
Have you all got funny long user names?
TamilThursday, May 5, 2011 9:19:31 AM
Not for me.

Now My Opera shows username next to name.
PeterThursday, May 5, 2011 9:31:30 AM
I hope that it does not become anything "Rude" for someone.
TamilThursday, May 5, 2011 9:37:10 AM
http://files.myopera.com/Tamil/Smilies/LOL.gif -

http://my.opera.com/community/forums/findpost.pl?id=3861571
PeterThursday, May 5, 2011 9:55:29 AM
Very confusing, I'll wait a few days.