Microsoft currently runs a program called Jumpstart that offers PC manufacturers incentives tied to how Windows devices are configured.

On the surface, that sounds fairly standard. However, Brazil’s competition regulator, CADE, is now investigating whether the program effectively pressures manufacturers to preinstall Microsoft Edge in a way that limits rival browsers.

In simple terms, regulators want to know whether these incentives cross the line into restricting competition.

This also isn’t the first time Microsoft has faced criticism over how it promotes Edge. Many users have pointed out that searching for Google Chrome in Bing can trigger prompts encouraging people to stick with Edge instead.

Now, regulators are looking at whether similar tactics extend beyond software prompts and into agreements with PC makers themselves.

What CADE is actually investigating

CADE is an independent federal agency in Brazil responsible for protecting free competition. In this case, it is investigating whether Microsoft restricts PC manufacturers from preinstalling other browsers alongside Edge under its Jumpstart program.

If that restriction is proven, the agency could view it as anti-competitive.

CADE is investigating 10 different PC manufacturers over the issue, following Opera’s complaint.

It is also examining the contracts between Microsoft and those PC makers. The agency wants to understand how much room manufacturers were given to negotiate and whether the terms were flexible or effectively fixed.

The regulator is reviewing how many PCs were sold under the Jumpstart program between 2020 and 2025 and how those sales compare to devices sold outside the program.

It will also assess the financial impact on OEMs if they choose to leave Jumpstart. That includes examining the incentives Microsoft provides and whether those benefits could influence competition in the browser market.

What started the investigation?

The concern around Microsoft potentially acting in an anti-competitive way stems from a formal complaint filed by Opera. For those unfamiliar, Opera is another web browser that relies heavily on visibility and distribution to reach new users.

Opera is also part of the Browser Choice Alliance; a coalition of browser companies that argue Microsoft’s Windows practices make it harder for alternative browsers to compete fairly.

At the heart of the issue is whether Microsoft is using its commercial agreements with PC manufacturers to limit what those manufacturers can preinstall on new devices. If that is the case, it could give Microsoft an unfair advantage by reducing consumer choice at the point of purchase.

In a statement to Neowin, The Browser Choice Alliance has welcomed CADE’s move, framing it as a necessary step toward protecting competition and consumer choice. They stated:

It has been a turbulent few months for Microsoft, with one controversy following another, and now this investigation.

Whether the claims are well-founded remains to be seen, but for now, we will have to wait and see how the situation unfolds.

Do you think preinstalled browsers influence consumer choice on new PCs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and make sure to take part in our poll below:

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Opera has released Neon, its new AI-powered web browser that's been built from the ground up with agentic AI experiences and features in mind. Opera is the latest to build an AI-powered browser, joining Perplexity's Comet, The Browser Companies Dia, and Microsoft Edge's Copilot Mode in the ever-growing market of "AI browsers" that nobody asked for.

Neon will cost $19.19 a month, which will net you all the agentic AI capabilities that are unique to the browser. Opera says Neon is "designed to act," capable of organizing tasks and completing activities on your behalf as you browse the web. It includes a feature called Neon Do, which lets the browser open and close tabs and perform actions within them using AI.

It's capable of browsing the web for you, comparing multiple web pages and delivering information to you without you needing to go searching for it. It also includes a feature called Tasks which makes all of this possible:

"Tasks are self-contained workspaces that understand context and make it possible to use the AI to analyze, compare, and act across multiple sources at once" explains Opera. "You can think of it as Opera Neon creating a mini-browser for each of your tasks, where the AI understands what you’re doing and helps you within this context."

Opera Neon also includes a new Card interface, designed to make jumping into AI-powered prompts easier and streamlined. The browser is available to a first wave of users today on Windows and macOS, and will roll out to more people in the coming weeks. As mentioned, it's a subscription-based browser which means it will cost $19.90 a month to actually use.

With other browsers such as Microsoft Edge and Comet delivering a similar set of AI features for free, it's hard to see the value in Opera's own AI-powered browser that costs money. What are your thoughts on this new wave of AI-powered web browsers? Let us know in the comments.

Microsoft is no stranger to controversy, particularly when it comes to anticompetitive business practices. In 2024, new research commissioned by Mozilla suggested that the software giant uses harmful designs and deceptive tactics to push its Edge browser to Windows users.

The damning report further indicated that the company used misleading user interfaces and ads to discourage users from setting any browser other than Microsoft Edge as the default on Windows. Mozilla indicated that this placed third-party browsers like Firefox at a decided competitive disadvantage and called for intervention from regulators to remedy the issue.

As it turns out, Opera shares similar sentiments, but the web browser developer has decided to take the matter into its own hands by filing an official complaint with Brazil’s‬‭ competition‬‭ authority (CADE) against Microsoft, citing anticompetitive practices.

Opera further indicated that the tech giant leverages these anticompetitive business practices to give Microsoft Edge a competitive edge over other platforms, consequently "impeding free and effective consumer choice on PCs."

The complaint also highlights that Microsoft sets its Edge browser as the exclusive pre-installed and default browser across Windows devices and deploys deceptive tactics, which confuse and make it difficult for users to access and use alternative browsers, including:

• Microsoft‬‭ deploys‬‭ obtrusive‬‭ banners‬‭ and‬‭ messages‬‭ discouraging‬‭ users‬‭ from‬ downloading‬‭ alternative‬‭ browsers‬‭ at‬‭ the‬‭ very‬‭ moment‬‭ they‬‭ are‬‭ searching‬‭ for‬‭ those‬ browsers on Edge.‬
• Microsoft‬‭ ignores‬‭ users’ default‬‭ choices‬‭ in‬‭ critical‬‭ moments,‬‭ such‬‭ as‬‭ opening‬‭ PDFs,‬ accessing links in emails, and using the Windows Search bar, opening Edge instead.‬

Opera says these tactics are harmful for the digital marketplace, prompting the company to brand them as unjustified and frustrating to users. Perhaps more concerning, the company indicated that these deceptive ploys and dark patterns are only getting more severe despite lodged complaints.

What does Opera want from Microsoft?

Opera's formal complaint to CADE about Microsoft's anticompetitive business practices is part of its broader mission to "guarantee‬‭ consumers‬‭ the‬‭ fundamental‬‭ right‬‭ to‬‭ choose‬‭ their‬‭ browser‬‭ and‬‭ for‬‭ that‬‭ choice‬‭ to‬‭ be‬‭ respected." To that end, Opera hopes to reach a common ground that bolsters healthy competition in Microsoft's dominant Windows landscape through the following remedies:

• Stop‬‭ preventing‬‭ PC‬‭ manufacturers‬‭ from‬‭ preloading‬‭ alternative‬‭ browsers‬‭ and‬‭ setting‬ them‬‭ as‬‭ default‬‭ and‬‭ requiring‬‭ OEMs‬‭ to‬‭ deliver‬‭ S‬‭ mode‬‭ devices‬‭ as‬‭ a‬‭ condition‬‭ for‬ rebates on a Windows OS license;‬
• Stop‬‭ blocking‬‭ consumers‬‭ from‬‭ easily‬‭ and‬‭ freely‬‭ downloading‬‭ and‬‭ setting‬‭ third-party‬ browsers‬‭ as‬‭ default‬‭ for‬‭ browser‬‭ entry‬‭ points‬‭ across‬‭ Windows‬‭ and‬‭ stop‬‭ ignoring‬‭ or‬ overriding these default selections;‬
• Cease,‬‭ and‬‭ refrain‬‭ from‬‭ implementing,‬‭ any‬‭ dark‬‭ patterns‬‭ that‬‭ push‬‭ users‬‭ towards‬Edge; and‬
• Ensure‬‭ that‬‭ users‬‭ have‬‭ a‬‭ real,‬‭ concrete‬‭ opportunity‬‭ to‬‭ choose‬‭ their‬‭ preferred‬ browser,‬‭ through‬‭ a‬‭ user-friendly‬‭ browser‬‭ choice‬‭ screen‬‭ that‬‭ includes‬‭ the‬‭ main‬ available PC browsers.‬

As you may know, a handful of Microsoft services, including Bing, Windows, LinkedIn, and Edge, were listed as "gatekeeper services" in 2024 by the EU Commission. The company was given 6 months to comply with the DMA (Digital Markets Act) or risk attracting hefty fines and penalties.

Microsoft argued that Edge and Bing hadn't hit the threshold to be considered. The commission investigated the matter and concluded that the services weren't dominant enough in digital markets, prompting it to exempt them from DMA regulation.

However, Opera's complaint against Microsoft in the EU Courts could potentially lead to the designation of Edge as a gatekeeper service under the DMA. In June, Microsoft announced several measures it was making to make Windows 11 compliant with the DMA, including reducing its insistence on its first-party apps and services like Microsoft Edge.

Generative AI is revolutionizing how we interact with the world, especially the internet. This could be partly attributed to the rapid emergence of AI-powered chatbots like Microsoft Copilot and OpenAI's ChatGPT, which are changing how people conduct online searches.

Experts warn that tools like ChatGPT search may potentially give Google a run for its money in the search landscape. While Google claims it has "all the ingredients" to maintain its lead in AI against competitors, Opera just made a bold move to affirm its position in the AI landscape.

The company recently unveiled a preview of Browser Operator. As expected, the AI agent is expected to make browsing easier for users.

Opera says Browser Operator's launch marks the first time a browser can leverage AI capabilities to perform important tasks on the web, salvaging time that can be spent elsewhere.

It's worth noting that the AI agent is native to the browser. As such, users can remain logged in to websites as their private credentials are secure and won't be forwarded to unauthorized third-party vendors.

Opera claims this approach is more reliable as it makes the process faster than a server-based solution. "Browser Operator does this in an efficient and intuitive experience, where you are always in control," Opera explained.

How does Opera's Browser Operator work?

Browser Operator simply takes over mundane tasks like buying socks online, allowing you to focus on more important and pressing issues.

According to Opera:

"Browser Operator understands your written instructions in natural language using your browser client’s local resources, and our AI Composer Engine processes this information to complete tasks in the browser. Browser Operator will pause and ask you to take action whenever it needs you to fill in a form, confirm an order, or perform some other sensitive task. In this entire process, you are in control and can take over at any moment from Browser Operator, while you can also review all the steps it took to perform the task you requested."

Opera says it has leveraged its expertise in web development to stand out from the crowd and incorporate AI into its browser to work for its users. "We know how a webpage is built and what it’s meant to look like – so we brought AI into our own playing field and created Browser Operator," the company added.

While users have blatantly expressed their reservations toward AI because of privacy and security concerns, Opera promises to preserve their privacy while using Browser Operator. The company indicated that the AI tool doesn't rely on screenshots or video captures to get the job done.

Opera reiterates that the AI tool runs natively, restricting your credentials to your device. "It uses the DOM Tree and browser layout data to get context – meaning that it uses a textual representation of the webpage," the company added.

The company touts this approach as a faster and safer alternative as Browser Operator doesn't need to see and understand the screen from its pixels. Additionally, the tool scours a web page at once, at least in most cases, making it easier to accomplish the assigned task.

While popup dialogs like cookie acceptance and verification dialogs might seem like a deterrent to the AI agent, Opera says this isn't the case because the AI tool views webpage data like the browser does.

Interestingly, Microsoft offers a similar product, Windows Recall. But instead of helping users scour the internet while handling multiple tasks, the Windows 11 feature periodically captures snapshots of your computer screen, allowing you to search for specific content you've seen on your PC using natural language.

The Redmond giant has been plagued by a cascade of security and privacy issues, which have brewed controversy over the tool's usability.

Opera seemingly has a firm grasp on Browser Operators' privacy and security features, but it remains unseen whether the tool will live up to the hype as reported on paper.

Users can access the feature from Opera's sidebar or the Command Line. It's worth noting that the feature is in preview and may not be available for everyone yet. However, Opera plans to ship the tool to broad availability as part of its AI feature drop program.

You can download Browser Operator right now from Opera's dedicated page here.

Opera has a new browser in the works that's designed to help you focus, balance your life, and reduce stress. Those are bold claims from a web browser, but Opera has included several features in its new "Opera Air" browser that focus on mindfulness. Opera Air is now in early access, though anyone can download it. My early impression is that Opera Air is a solid everyday browser that has some genuinely useful features for mindfulness and mental health.

Browsers are among the most used and most popular apps on just about any platform. Generally, Google Chrome dominates when it comes to browser market share, though Apple's Safari has a respectable number of users. With Chrome at 67.05% market share and Safari at 17.96% according to StatCounter, that leaves all the other browsers to fight for the final 15%. Developers have to find ways to make browsers stand out, such as focusing on security or having exclusive browsing features.

Opera took a different approach when making Opera Air. While the app has the general browsing features you'd expect, such as an ad blocker, a built-in VPN, and general compatibility with the web, its standout features center around mindfulness.

Opera Air places shortcuts to smart exercises, meditation, and "Boosts" within the browser. Those Boosts have garnered the most attention from what I've seen. Opera Air has a library of audio with sounds designed to "stimulate different brain waves." Binaural beats, which use tones of slightly different frequencies to make you perceive a third frequency, are key to the Boosts.

I'm not a medical expert, so I can't tell you the effect on the body of a "Theta 6Hz" audio file designed to boost creativity or any of the other included Boosts within Opera Air. As a layman, the Boosts seem to work as advertised. I found the "Creativity" Boost to be relaxing without lulling me to sleep. A handy feature for Boosts is that you can customize different aspects of the sounds, such as increasing the volume of the binaural sound or ambient noise.

Of course, Opera does not have exclusive rights to neck exercises, guided meditations, or audio that stimulates different brain waves. But the browser brings those features into one interface, meaning you don't have to search for things across the web and have a bunch of windows open. It's a unique approach that has turned heads. My colleague Stephen Warwick, who writes for TechRadar, has already decided to ditch Chrome in favor of Opera Air, at least when it comes to personal browsing. Our parent company relies on Chrome heavily, so Warwick and I need to keep it on our systems for professional use.

What you need to know

• Google announced the transition from the Manifest V2 framework to the Manifest V3 framework for privacy and security reasons, cutting support for Manifest V2-based extensions like uBlock Origin, leaving over 30 million users susceptible to intrusive ads.
• While there's a Lite version of the ad blocker, it misses crucial features that make the experience less effective.
• Opera recently announced that it'll continue supporting uBlock Origin running the Manifest V2 framework alongside its native ad blocker by making special modifications to Chromium's codebase.

Google's decision to transition from the Manifest V2 framework to the Manifest V3 framework on its Chrome browser has potentially left over 30 million users susceptible to intrusive ads, since the Chromium browser no longer supports extensions like uBlock Origin. 

Google confirmed to Windows Central that "over 93% of actively maintained extensions in the Chrome Web Store are running Manifest V3, and the top content filtering extensions all have Manifest V3 versions available - with options for users of AdBlock, Adblock Plus, uBlock Origin and AdGuard."

As you may know, the company unveiled a new version of uBlock Origin called uBlock Origin Lite, which meets Google's stringent Manifest V3 framework threshold. While uBlock Origin Lite supports core ad-blocking features like its predecessor, it falls short in key departments, as it doesn't support dynamic filters for blocking, scriptlet injection and more.

Related: If you're mad Google is killing your favorite ad blocker, a network-wide ad blocker is the permanent solution

The news has been received with reservations, prompting some to claim they could transition to other browsers supporting uBlock Origin, including Brave. Brave touts its built-in ad and tracker blocker. It also plans to continue supporting uBlock Origin, potentially attracting Chrome's vast user base to its services. 

Opera will continue supporting uBlock Origin

According to the folks over at Neowin, Opera is seemingly joining the fray, and just like Brave, it'll continue supporting uBlock Origin running the Manifest V2 framework. In a blog post dubbed "Opera will always help you block ads natively," the company indicated:

"We plan to continue supporting Manifest V2 extensions in Opera independently of what will happen to other browsers. This means that users of Opera’s browsers should expect to continue to use non-graded versions of their favorite ad blocker extensions.   

Opera will, of course, also continue to offer robust built-in ad blocking regardless of what happens to ad blocker extensions. We have done so since 2016, when we were the first browser to offer this functionality."

Users majorly impacted by Google's decision to cut support for uBlock Origin due to the transition to the Manifest V3 framework for better security and privacy could potentially transition to Brave or Opera for continued support, ultimately denting Google Chrome's broad user base. 

However, Opera admits it's built on the same open-source code as Google Chrome. As such, it'll be impacted by the Manifest V3 framework changes in Chromium. Consequently, it intends to make modifications on top of the codebase for continued uBlock Origin support. 

According to Opera:

"While we want to be able to offer the best possible support, our focus will be on maintaining a safe and secure experience for users, both within our Add-ons Store and with extensions that come from outside sources. In the coming days and weeks, we will be reaching out to selected extension developers to determine the best and safest way forward."

It'll be interesting to see how Google's decision to deprecate the Manifest V2 framework for V3 will impact Google Chrome's dominant market share compared to other browsers, especially with Brave and Opera taking a different approach to the Manifest V2 framework deprecation. 

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What you need to know

• Opera has requested the EU General Court to annul the European Commission’s decision not to designate Microsoft Edge as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act.
• The company claims Microsoft has made it difficult for users to use third-party browsers as the system default on Windows devices.
• Despite the EU indicating that Edge isn't dominant enough in the digital markets to be designated as a gatekeeper service, Opera claims it meets all quantitative thresholds under the DMA.

Last year, the EU Commission listed Microsoft as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). For context, the DMA is designed to prevent gatekeepers from imposing unfair practices on businesses and end users while simultaneously "ensuring the openness of important digital services."

Initially, Microsoft's Bing, Edge, and Windows services were under scrutiny. The Redmond giant argued that Bing has yet to hit the set threshold to be considered a gatekeeper. The EU watchdog investigated the matter and concluded that Bing and Edge aren't 'dominant enough' in digital markets for DMA regulation, ultimately exempting them from regulation.

Opera is apparently unsatisfied with the watchdog's decision, especially with Microsoft Edge. Opera recently requested the EU General Court annul the European Commission's decision not to designate Microsoft Edge as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act.

According to Opera:

"The designation of Edge as a gatekeeper is needed to level the playing field for browsers on PCs in the same way as has been done with smartphones."

Opera says third-party browsers aren't treated equally on Windows. It claims that since Microsoft Edge hasn't been designated as a gatekeeper service under the DMA, Microsoft has made it difficult for users to choose and use an alternative browser as the system default on Windows.

In light of this, Opera says the EU's failure to designate Edge as a gatekeeper is "entirely inconsistent with the purpose and promise of the DMA." Opera claims Microsoft Edge meets all the quantitative thresholds under the DMA and should be a designated gatekeeper service.

Elsewhere, Microsoft was spotted using tricks designed to lure users into using Microsoft Edge. In this case, Microsoft made it impossible for users to access the new Outlook app for Windows if they hadn't installed Microsoft Edge on their devices. 

Mozilla called out Microsoft for using deceptive tricks and harmful designs

In February, Mozilla commissioned research that revealed Microsoft uses harmful designs and deceptive tactics to promote its Edge browser to Windows users. Mozilla used the research to ask relevant authorities and regulators to take action. It argued that Microsoft's harmful designs placed third-party browsers at a competitive disadvantage.

This isn't the first time we've learned about Microsoft pushing its browser and search engine down users' throats. Late last year, some users trying to download Google Chrome while using Microsoft Edge were slapped with a survey asking them to detail why they wanted to try another browser.

While it remains unclear whether Microsoft Edge will fall under DMA regulation, Microsoft is 100% compliant with the European Union's DMA regulation. Windows 11 users can uninstall OneDrive, Edge, Bing, and pin third-party apps on the taskbar.

What you need to know

• Opera Browser is now available natively for compatible Windows devices powered by Snapdragon ARM processors.
• Downloads are offered via an early access developer-centric stream, targeting Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon X platform.
• Working with Microsoft and Qualcomm to test the new build, Opera's development team promises faster browsing and extended battery life for portable Snapdragon X ARM devices.

Since Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon Summit Keynote towards the end of 2023, it has been teasing laptops and other Windows devices powered by upcoming Snapdragon X chips. The ultra-efficient Snapdragon X Elite ARM processor continues to promise a Windows on Arm renaissance as a slew of devices from OEMs like Dell begin to leak, and more affordable variants powered by Snapdragon X Plus chips will appeal to a broader audience than ever before.

However, promises of "significantly better battery life" rely heavily on ARM-native software rather than the emulation of traditional x86-64 apps. The pool of Windows on Arm apps somewhat slowed in the past year or two, while a need for proper ARM64 support has become more significant as the Snapdragon X platform pushes a new generation of Windows computing. Thankfully, Opera's developers have paired with Microsoft's 'App Assure' team and Qualcomm Technologies to offer an AI-enhanced, native ARM variant of its popular web browser.

What is Opera Browser?

Opera is a web browser built on Chromium, the open-source codebase behind popular options like Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome. In the most straightforward terms, this means popular extensions and plugins are cross-compatible across all browsers, which prevents users from losing functionality when switching. However, while many third-party extensions help block intrusive and obnoxious advertisements around the web, Opera Browser has a free, built-in ad blocker alongside other enhancements like integration for popular chat apps like Whatsapp and Instagram.

How will Opera benefit from Snapdragon X?

As with most software upgrades, Opera promises increased performance but backs up its claims with in-house benchmark results. Testing its ARM-native build with Speedometer, which uses a range of timed tasks to measure overall responsiveness, its developers reported "over double than those in the emulated version of the browser." Qualcomm claims that emulated x86-64 apps and games will run 'just fine' under emulation on Snapdragon X Elite chips, though native ARM64 builds bring the absolute best performance possible with the longest portable battery life.

As with many other prominent Windows apps, artificial intelligence (AI) features heavily in Opera's plans for its ARM-native browser. The Snapdragon-optimized version supports physical neural processing units (NPUs) to run local language models (LLMs) to provide faster text generation and power other AI-powered tasks, harnessing the 45 TOPS of NPU performance offered by Snapdragon X platform. In short, Opera Browser will be able to locally process AI tasks on new ARM-powered Windows laptops, rather than relying entirely on the cloud, something Microsoft has directly assisted with its 'App Assure' team.

Where can I download Opera Browser for ARM?

This new ARM-native build of Opera Browser is available to download via the early-access Opera Developer stream. It's designed for Snapdragon-powered devices, with AI-centric features relying on the upcoming enhancements offered by the yet unreleased Snapdragon X platform.

"The Snapdragon-optimized version of Opera will be first available on the developer stream of the browser, and will allow early adopters to try it out on the new Windows devices that come with this Arm-based processor." — Opera

While hands-on experiences with Snapdragon X devices aren't here yet, I do have previous-generation ARM-powered options like my second-hand Surface Pro X. The SQ1 chip inside is essentially a modified version of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx, but its NPU is far less sophisticated than even the SQ3 sucessor, so it wouldn't be entirely fair to judge this ARM-native version of Opera Browser based on performance alone. Nevertheless, it's admirable to see Opera get ahead of the curve while we're on the cusp of a massive resurgence in Windows on Arm laptops.

What you need to know

• Opera just announced the beta version of its new Crypto Browser.
• It is a dedicated Web3 browser that's built with the decentralized internet in mind.
• The Crypto Browser is available in beta for PC, Mac, and Android.

Opera announced a new browser today that's built around Web3 and the decentralized internet. The Crypto Browser is available in beta on PC, Mac, and Android starting today. An iOS version of Opera's new browser is also on the way. Opera highlights that its new project is a dedicated browser build for Web3. The browser features a native non-custodial crypto wallet that lets people access crypto and use decentralized apps without having to use an extension.

The term Web3 refers to a stage of web development. As the name would suggest, Web3 follows the footsteps of Web2 and Web1. Web3 is touted as more secure than previous versions of the web. The largest difference is that when building content for Web3, apps usually run on the blockchain rather than a single server. In some cases, people can earn cryptocurrency by helping host content.

An in-depth explainer by freeCodeCamp dives deep into Web3 if you want to learn more.

Web3 is built around crypto and the decentralized internet. Browsers that support Web3 have native support for decentralized applications, also known as DApps. Web3 also supports decentralized finance (DeFi). These terms are still foreign to many general browsers of the web, which is an issue Opera is trying to address. Opera explains that it wants to make blockchain technologies understandable, and its new Crypto Browser is part of that effort.

What you need to know

• Opera GX now features GX Cleaner, which helps you delete old files from your PC.
• The gaming browser also gained customizable color themes.
• The same update also brings an Easy Files feature for attaching recent files.

Opera GX has a new set of features that make it easy to keep your PC free from junk files. The gaming-oriented browser gained a feature called GX Cleaner that helps you delete old files while keeping the ones you still need. The same update also brings customizable color theme support and an Easy Files feature for attaching recent files.

GX Cleaner helps you purge old files such as cookies, browsing history, and downloaded files. The feature allows you to filter files by date or browser location, so you can keep files you still need will getting rid of those that you don't. Downloaded files, cookies, and other files can build up over time. Having a way to easily clear them while filtering specific files to keep should make it a bit easier to manage files and to clear up storage.

With the latest version of Opera GX, you can customize the browser's secondary colors. You can choose from preset themes such as Rose Quartz and Frutti di More or create your own color scheme.

The same update also brings an Easy Files feature that is also available on the standard version of Opera. The feature presents recently downloaded files when you go to attach or upload a file while in the browser.

Opera shared that the browser now has 5 million monthly active gamers. Opera GX launched in June 2019.

What you need to know

• Opera is shipping new sync and sharing features to its desktop and Android apps today.
• Flow makes it easy to send encrypted files, links and more between Android and desktop.
• A new QR code system lets you sync things like passwords and browsing history between devices without a login.

If Opera is your browser of choice on Windows and your Android phone, working between the two is about to get a lot easier. Opera announced new versions of both apps today, each of which bring new features to make syncing and sharing links, files, and more much easier.

The highlight here is the addition of Flow, which is a carryover from Opera Touch. Flow lets you open an encrypted chat with yourself between desktop and mobile, where you can quickly share links, media, text, or anything else that catches your eye that you may want to carry over between mobile to desktop or vice versa.

You can highlight items on the web and use the "Send to FLow" option from the context menu to quickly share things. Flow also allows for pasting and uploading files up to 10 MB. On desktop, you can quickly share a website by clicking the arrow to the right of the address bar as well.

Beyond flow, you can also now keep your browsers in sync between platforms without logging in. Opera can now serve up a QR code at opera.com/connect that will share your passwords, browsing history, speed dials, bookmarks, and open tabs when scanned. The option to create an account to keep things in sync is still there, but this is a good solution for people who would rather cut down on the number of accounts they have to keep track of.

Finally, the desktop version of Opera has a new "Easy Files" feature that shows you your most recent download files in visual form to cut down on unnecessary digging for file names when you want to attach a file to an email or one of Opera's integrated messengers.

The latest versions of Opera are available at the official Opera site and Google Play.

What you need to know

• Opera GX picked up another update today with a couple of interesting new features.
• The highlight is a feature that lets you turn on ambient, immersive background music intended to help you focus.
• Twitter integration is also now available from the side bar.
• You can download Opera GX now from Opera.

While it started out as an experimental new browser for gamers last year, Opera GX has consistently pushed out new features that set it apart from other browsers out there. Opera is doing it again with the latest update for Opera GX, which brings a setting to turn on ambient, immersive background music on while you browse.

"The dynamic background music in Opera GX is an ambient downtempo that boosts the users' focus," Opera said in a press release. "It intensifies whenever users are actively browsing the web, clicking on links or typing, and becomes less dramatic and calmer whenever they become less active. It is aimed to disappear into the background but to also be missed once it's gone."

Background music may not be at the top of your list of necessary browser features, but it's interesting to see Opera trying something new here. I got a chance to try out a test build of Opera GX with background music enabled, and it certainly adds a bit of etherial ambience to the browsing experience. Fortunately, if it's not for you, it's off by default and can be toggled at any time.

In addition to background music, the latest version of Opera GX adds Twitter integration to the sidebar. That's alongside built-in WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Discord, Twitch, and Facebook Messenger. Once you're logged in, you can click the Twitter icon any time to check your timeline.

The new Opera GX is available to download for free directly from Opera.

What you need to know

• Opera was updated today to version 69.
• The major new addition in this update is built-in Twitter integration.
• Twitter can now be added to your sidebar for quick access to your timeline, DMs, and more.

Opera continues to roll out new tie-ins with its namesake browser, and the latest is built-in Twitter integration. Twitter is now one of several services you can add directly to Opera's sidebar, giving you quick access to your DMs, timeline, and everything else Twitter offers. That's in addition to other services like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

You can add Twitter to Opera's sidebar by click the three dots at the bottom. Under "sidebar setup," you can select Twitter in the "Messengers" section. After that, the Twitter icon will appear in the sidebar and you can click it to sign in.

Once you're signed in, you'll have full access to Twitter with a click of the icon. That includes your main timeline, along with DMs, notifications, and more.

Twitter integration joins other features that headline Opera's offerings, like a free VPN, built-in ad blocker, other messengers, and a crypto wallet. For more, you can check out the latest version of Opera to get started.

What you need to know

• Opera GX just scored a major update.
• Billed as Opera's browser for gamers, Opera GX now includes built-in Discord.
• There's also an option to force websites to go into dark mode, along with a "hot tabs killer."

Opera GX, the "gaming browser" from the folks behind Opera, has continued to add loads of new features in the year since its launch. The latest update, rolling out today, adds to the browser's repertoire with native Discord support, which joins other messaging platforms like Telegram, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp. There are also a couple of other little goodies tagging along in this update as well.

The built-in Discord support nestles your Discord servers away in the browser's sidebar. With one click, you can open up a miniature version of Discord that allows you to message any of the servers you're connected to from within Opera GX.

In addition to Discord support, there's also a new feature that lets you force any website to go into dark mode, even those that don't have an "official" dark mode. You can access this through a dedicated toggle available from the settings dropdown at the top right of the browser. Note that Opera says this feature is in beta, so you have to explicitly turn it on and you may encounter issues.

Beyond forced dark mode, Opera has bundled in a new "hot tabs killer" feature. This quickly pulls up a look at your tabs and which ones are using the most resources. From there, you can quickly knock out any tabs that are hogging resources.

All of these new features are in addition to Opera GX's stable of those geared towards gamers. The browser lets you easily limit how much RAM, CPU, and network bandwidth it's allowed to use. It also has a unique look with customizable colors, sounds, integrated messengers, and more. If you're curious, you can check out Opera GX at its official site.

What you need to know

• A new update for Opera GX, Opera's "gaming browser," is available today.
• The update brings native Instagram alongside already available Facebook Messenger, Telegram, and WhatsApp support.
• You can also now group your tabs in workspaces to keep them organized.

Opera's "gaming browser," Opera GX, has been around for nearly a year, and it continues to get handy new features. The latest update, available today, adds native Instagram support, which sits alongside the browser's already available Telegram, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp support. There's also a new "workspaces" feature, which helps you keep your tab groups organized.

Built-in Instagram access allows you to check in on your feed with one click. It essentially opens up a miniature version of Instagram, much like the mobile website, by clicking the Instagram icon on the browser's sidebar. You can access your main feed, watch stories, and send DMs right from the sidebar.

This latest update also brings some new ways to manage your tabs to Opera GX. The highlight is "workspaces," which let you keep up to five different tab groups with customizable icons and names. You can also now search tabs via the magnifying glass icon in the browser or by using the Ctrl + Space shortcut, which brings up a searchable listing of all of your tabs.

Finally, Opera revealed today that Opera GX has grown to 3.4 million users since its launch in June 2019. For the browser's first anniversary, Opera says that it's planning a big launch for "new exciting features" in June.

Opera GX is considered a "gaming browser" because it lets you customize how much RAM, CPU, and network bandwidth the browser is allowed to use. It also features a unique aesthetic, customizable sounds, integrated messengers, and Twitch integration. You can check the browser out now by snagging Opera GX at Opera's official site.

What you need to know

• Opera shipped an update today that brings a new Workspaces feature.
• You can create up to five workspaces to keep your workflows separate.
• The update also brings tab improvements, including a new visual tab-cycler.

Opera's latest update helps you keep your workflows organized and speeds up browser navigation. The update is codenamed R2020, and its main new feature is Workspaces. You can create up to five workspaces, which allow you to separate different workflows like personal versus work, as well as different projects. The update also brings tab improvements, including attractive tab previews.

Opera highlights that many people use the same browser for work and personal use. This means that tabs and webpages get muddled together between different types of browsing. Workspaces allows you to separate your workflows into dedicated workspaces. For example, for work, I use Feedly, Twitter, Slack, Outlook, and Airtable. Out of those sites, I only use Twitter for personal use. I could keep those five sites in a Windows Central workspace and then have another workspace for my free time.

The R2020 update's new visual tab-cycler lets you preview tabs and jump between them by pressing Ctrl+Tab. Opera now highlights duplicate tabs. When you hover over a tab with your mouse, the browser will highlight any duplicates so you can close them.

The update's changes add up to provide a more organized and streamlined browsing experience. You can grab the latest version of Opera from Opera's website.

What you need to know

• Opera now has a built-in tracker blocker.
• The feature prevents items you look at from showing up in ads around the web.
• The blocker also improves the performance of the browser by 20 percent, according to Opera.

Opera's new built-in tracker blocking feature improves the web browser's performance by 20 percent according to Opera (via PC World). It also stops items from "stalking" you around the web by showing up in ads after you've looked at an item or purchased an item online. Opera also gained support for an Enhanced Snapshot tool that makes it easy to create memes.

Opera is a browser that prioritizes privacy. It already includes a built-in ad blocker and a VPN. Now, users can opt to block tracking scripts as well. Tracking scripts are what allow ads to display items that you've looked at on online retailers. In addition to preventing items from "stalking" you around the web, Opera also claims that blocking trackers can improve the browser's performance by 20 percent.

In addition to the built-in tracker blocker, Opera gained an Enhanced Snapshot tool. With it, you can draw on an image of a webpage, blur parts of it, and add text. The browser supports adding Impact font, which is the font of choice for meme makers.

What you need to know

• Opera GX, Opera's gaming browser launched earlier thsi year, is getting some handy new features today.
• You can now limit the network bandwidth the browser uses, and there's a new game release calendar built in.
• Opera GX is still in early access and is available to download now.

Opera's gaming browser, Opera GX, picked up some handy new features today. Initially launched during E3 2019, Opera GX comes with the ability to limit its RAM and CPU usage so you can prioritize your games, but Opera has added another option to the list: network bandwidth.

In the latest version of Opera GX, you'll find a new network limiter alongside the CPU and RAM limiters. Gamers will be able to choose between several pre-defined values in KB/s or MB/s that will limit the amount of bandwidth the browser is allowed to use while on. From Opera:

Alongside the new network limiter, Opera GX has added a game release calendar. Curated by a team at Opera, the integrated calendar gives you a quick overview of upcoming game releases. This feature joins other niceties already included in Opera GX, like a dedicated gaming news section and a curated list of deals.

Rounding things out, Opera has made some improvements to the Twitch panel. Now, you can filter the list of channels you follow and you'll get a preview of the game streamers are playing by hovering your mouse over their name.

The browser's Razer Chroma integration has also been improved to allow for smoother transitions between the colors as they're synced between the browser and your Razer gear.

Opera GX is certainly doing some interesting things to cater to gamers, and things like the network, RAM, and CPU limiters are unique additions to your standard browsing experience. It's translating to some success as well: since its launch into early access, Opera says that GX has been downloaded more than one million times. The browser also recently won a Red Dot award for its UI design.

If you want to give Opera GX a shot, the browser is still in early access but is available to download for free at Opera.

What you need to know

• Opera GX is a browser built for and tailored to gamers.
• The gaming browser is now available to test in early access.
• It includes features that let you set limits on its RAM and CPU usage, along with Twitch integration and more.

Opera is launching a first-of-its-kind browser built from the ground up for PC gamers. Available in early access starting today, Opera GX not only packs a design inspired by the RGB lights found on many gaming accessories, but it also includes a whole lot of features that give gamers more control over the browser and quick access to things they care about.

The biggest highlight of Opera GX is its GX Control panel, which lets you set how much of your computer's CPU and RAM the browser can use. While other browsers may eat into your RAM usage while running in the background, Opera GX will stay within the limits you define so it doesn't impact your gameplay.

If you like to watch Twitch streamers while you play, Opera GX also allows you to log into your Twitch account and get notifications when streamers go live in the sidebar. That's in addition to shortcuts for Discord, YouTube, and Reddit that also live in the sidebar. Like the regular Opera browser, you'll find messaging services like Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Vkontakte built into the sidebar as well.

Finally, Opera GX also includes "GX Corner," a dedicated place for gaming news, a curated list of deals on games, and information about new releases. Out of the box, Opera GX comes with a dark design accented by red highlights, but you can customize those highlights with practically any color you can think of. There's also a built-in ad blocker and VPN.

Opera GX is launching into its first phase of early access today at E3 2019 and is expected to get a full release later this year. Expect more gamer-centric features to hit Opera GX during the early access testing period. If you cant to check it out for yourself, you can download and test Opera GX from Opera.

What you need to know

• Opera GX is a browser "built to complement your gaming."
• You can sign up to receive a notification when Early Access launches.
• Early Access will launch on June 11 at 8 am PT.

Opera announced that its Early Access program for Opera GX will launch on June 11 at 8 am PT. Opera GX is a browser "built to complement your gaming." There aren't many other details at this point, but if you follow the link in their tweet, you're taken to a page that looks like a browser with a dark theme and a slider to change its RGB accents.

On that same page, you can enter your email address to be notified as soon as the Early Access program launches. Presumably, there will be more details available on June 11 when the program opens up. The launch is during E3, so it will be surrounded by a slew of gaming news.

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Opera announced the launch of Opera version 60 (codenamed Reborn 3), the company's latest desktop browser for Mac, Windows, and Linux. This web browser is touted as next-gen due to the additional support for crypto, a free VPN, as well as enhanced privacy controls and "Web 3".

The company boasts industry-leading support for Web 3 and cryptocurrency, allowing users to make transactions and interact with blockchain-based systems. And since more people are taking privacy and online safety more seriously, Opera includes access to a free VPN for the browser without logging.

Web 3 covers applications for blockchain technologies. The cryptocurrency wallet doesn't require the movement of funds to make transactions on PC, but instead syncs with the crypto wallet in the Opera Android browser app. Authentication and notifications are handled using the smartphone.

It wouldn't be a major new release for the team if they hadn't given the browser a visual refresh. Referring to web content as a painting, the new Opera design is borderless to allow said content to take center stage on-screen. Both light and dark themes are available.

With how the browser is shaping up with app integration for messengers and more, Opera wants you to do almost everything online in one place. For Opera fans, this is a stellar release. For those who haven't used the browser for some years and desire change, it's certainly worth checking out.

The all-new browser for mobile is Opera Touch which boasts some nifty features like being designed to be used with one hand, a built-in ad blocker, instant web search and the ability to learn which websites you visit most and adjust your speed dial recommendations accordingly.

But it's Opera Flow which is perhaps most interesting, especially to folks who like to use the Opera desktop browser, because it makes it super simple to keep your PC and mobile browsing in perfect harmony.

In Opera's case, enabling Flow simply involves scanning a QR code on your phone and then the magic happens. You have a dedicated section in your browsers, "Your Flow," where you can send content that will automatically then appear on the other device.

Importantly, Flow is also end-to-end encrypted and works completely independently of whichever operating system you prefer to use. As long as it's not iOS, because initially Opera Touch isn't available there.

The desktop browser is also being updated along with the new mobile version, with a couple of additional bits besides just Flow. One of these is instant search, so now all you need do is hit alt+space at any time, start typing and you're searching.

Opera Touch is also always ready for search, and with its FAB (fast action button) search and recent shortcuts are always within a thumbs reach.

Opera Touch, Flow and the latest version of the desktop browser should be available to download today from Google Play and the Opera website respectively.

When it comes to browser speed, Mozilla has been dominating the discussion with its recent Firefox Quantum updates. However, Opera isn't standing idly by. The company has released Opera version 51, which it claims is 38 percent faster than the latest update to Firefox, version 58.

From Opera:

The browser wars haven't been as heated as they once were, but these speed boosts make both Opera and Firefox interesting options for those looking for alternatives – particularly if neither Chrome nor Edge are your cup of tea.

On top of general speed boosts, the Opera team has added a number of other small tweaks in version 51. You can now click a website's tab to quickly scroll back to the top of the page, which can be incredibly handy on things like Twitter feeds or long Reddit threads. A new "Import bookmarks" button is now available in the bookmarks manager, and private mode has also seen a bit of a restyling. If you're managing a bunch of tabs, Opera 51 also now includes two collapsible lists for open and recently closed tabs, accessible at the far right side of the tabs bar.

Other under-the-hood changes are also on board with version 51, as well as new options for backing up your preferences, resetting browser settings, and the option to set your desktop background as Opera's wallpaper. For more, you can check out Opera's full release notes and download version 51 now.

The latest version of Opera for Windows, Opera 49, is now available. Taking inspiration from Opera's concept browser, Opera 49 includes a new snapshot tool as one of its highlight features, as well as VR support, a new messenger integration, and some basic interface tweaks.

The new snapshot tool is probably what will come in handy for most users, offering up an easy way to capture portions of the screen and add a little bit of extra flair. There are options to either capture the full screen of a select portion by selecting the camera icon from the sidebar. Once captured, you can customize the screenshot by adding emoji, annotations, or even your own face with a selfie cam feature.

Opera 49 also includes a built-in VR player, becoming the first browser to support 360-degree video, Opera claims. the player works by automatically detecting an installed VR headset and offering a "Watch in VR" button on videos. While it's billed primarily as a way to watch immersive 360-degree videos in VR, Opera says that 2D videos and standard 180-degree videos can be watched in VR as well.

In addition to the VR player and the new snapshot tool, Opera has added VK Messenger to its list of built-in messaging clients in the sidebar. VK joins Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram.

In terms of smaller additions, Opera 49 will now let you rearrange extension icons next to the address bar. Opera has also slightly tweaked the design of the private mode window, tightened up the look of Opera 49 on HiDPI monitors, and added new currencies to the currency converter. For more, check out the full rundown at the Opera blog.

See at Opera

Usually, new builds of the Opera desktop browser go through a six-week development cycle, but version 47 has been accelerated from this and is now available in its stable channel. Top of the list of new hotness for users is exportable bookmarks. So if you need to or just decide to go off to a different browser, you can finally take them with you.

Besides this, Opera users can expect much smoother playback of video, particularly notable for those on Windows 7.

There are also improvements to the background loading of your news feed, design tweaks and a few more bits besides. Check out the full release notes on the Opera blog.

Download Opera 47

Opera has announced an overhaul of its Windows desktop browser with some pretty neat new features, including integrated messaging for some of the top third-party services.

The latest version, codenamed Reborn sees some important upgrades over previous offerings, with the new sidebar now integrating WhatsApp, Telegram and Facebook Messenger. If like me, you spend a ton of time inside a web browser, having your messaging right there is welcome. If you don't want any of them, just right click and make it go away.

Opera's experimental Neon browser has been the inspiration for some of what's new, and one of the other big new features is an integrated dark theme, alongside subtle changes to the user interface that add a lot more polish all round.

That's not all. Opera has also improved its built-in ad blocker as well as handing off more video playback tasks to your PCs GPU for better efficiency.

These features have been available in the developer branch for a little while, and I've been fairly impressed. The sum of the parts makes for an improved web experience across the board, and it's great that it's now pushed down to the regular, stable release.

There's plenty to digest, so hit the Opera Blog for the full details.

Opera is looking to spice up browsers once again with its latest project, simply called Opera Neon. Meant as a kind of concept browser, Opera Neon changes up what has become a relatively staid desktop browser market by offering some interesting new ideas on how to browse the web.

Upon starting up Opera Neon, you'll immediately see some big differences between it and your usual browser of choice. The browser automatically pulls in your desktop wallpaper to act as a backdrop to its start page, while easily identifiable bubbles on the side of the app replace the typical tab bar up top. Neon also includes video pop-out and split screen modes, allowing you to easily watch a video while you browse other sites, or simply stack two windows next to each other with just a click.

Neon also has a number of other cool flourishes, ranging from easy screenshots to a physics engine, that are worth checking out. Keep in mind that Neon isn't meant to fully replace whatever browser you currently use, as the emphasis is definitely on the word "concept" here. However, it is definitely an interesting experiment in how the browser space could be shaken up in the future. Plus, as an interesting (but unrelated) aside, the browser just happens to share a name with Microsoft's Project Neon, Windows 10's upcoming visual refresh that's meant to be a "UI that transports across devices."

Interested in trying out Opera Neon? If so, you can download the experimental browser and give it a shot from Opera now. Also be sure to chime in and let us know what you think in the comments!

Download Opera Neon

Opera 40, the latest version of the Opera desktop browser for Windows includes a number of new features and improvements, One of them is a built-in VPN service that is supposed to add more privacy and security for web browsing.

In a blog post, Opera says:

People who want to start using the VPN feature can go to Settings, then Privacy & Security, and then finally click on the Enable VPN box. Uses can pick their specific VPN server location, or the browser can pick one based on the best network speed, latency, location and server capacity.

In addition to the new VPN feature, Opera 40 includes some new battery saving options, along with video pop-out improvements, adding RSS support to its built-in newsreader and much more.

Download Opera 40 for Windows

The latest developer build (40.0.2296.0) of Opera's desktop browser is here, bringing a native RSS reader as well as support for Google Cast. If you use a Chromecast, you can now install the Google Cast extension from the store and throw content to the device directly from the browser.

The RSS reader allows you to subscribe to feeds and read stories in timeline or stacked views:

As you'd expect from a feature making its way to the dev channel, there are several bugs, including:

• Missing "Remove from my sources" button but there's a workaround: Go to +Add sources paste the same URL and untick it.
• When combined with other sources, article age is not taken properly into account and timeline gets messed up.
• URL is displayed instead of RSS title (header and sidebar).

Now that there's a native RSS reader, be sure to add Windows Central's feed to the list if you haven't already. Check out the latest additions to Opera from the links below.

• Download Opera for Windows (32-bit)
• Download Opera for Windows (64-bit)

A Chinese consortium of internet companies has failed to acquire Opera over lack of regulatory approval, according to Reuters. The Norwegian software maker has renegotiated with the consortium for the sale of its browser business for $600 million.

The consortium made a $1.2 billion bid to fully acquire Opera in February, and the move was approved by its shareholders in the month of May. With the deal falling through at the regulatory level, Opera is now selling its desktop and mobile browser business. The Chinese group comprised of mobile game distributor Kunlun and security firm Qihoo, along with investment funds Golden Brick and Yonglian.

If you've recently changed to Opera, or even if you're an old hand, there's a lot you can do with it. Opera has a ton of features built in but the real fun, and power, comes with the extensions you can add.

If you're not sure what I'm referring to, Opera has an extensions store where you can add a number of extra features to your browser built by third-party developers. You can access it by navigating to Menu > Extensions > Get Extensions.

There are a lot to choose from, some will be more useful to you than others. I've been using Opera full time for a while now, and here I've put together a list of some of the best ones I've come across and use daily.

Before I get to the list, though, a word on ad-blockers. None are included in this list for one simple reason: Opera has that feature built in. If you want to use a different one, that's your choice, but I want to focus on things that aren't a stock feature.

So, without futher ado...

Download Chrome Extension

The very first extension I would urge any Opera user to install. While the Opera store is fairly well stocked, it can't compare to the might of Google's Chrome Web Store. This extension allows you to go to that store and add Chrome extensions to Opera.

It's trial and error as to which will actually function correctly, but it's still worth the time. I've used this to add Grammarly and eBay extensions that work just fine. You can't add Chrome Apps to the browser, but many extensions will yield good results.

See Download Chrome Extension at Opera

Amazon Assistant for Opera

If you shop a lot on Amazon, this is a must have. It gives you one click access to Amazon's daily deals as well as being able to search from any tab in your browser.

Better than that, however, is how it reacts when you're browsing other web stores. If Amazon stocks the product you're looking at, the extension will flash up Amazon's current price for it. It's not always going to be cheaper, but it's handy to have around.

See Amazon Assistant at Opera

Instagram Sidebar

If, like me, you spend too much time scrolling through your Instagram feed, this extension will help you do that without the need to pick up your phone. It's a simple web app that sits in the sidebar and allows you to view your Instagram feed.

You can't post anything, but you can leave comments and get the share and embed links for posts you like. And when you're done, it tucks back away in the sidebar and you can go back to work.

See Instagram Sidebar at Opera

QR Codematic

You folks who read Windows Central regularly will know we embed QR codes for our phone app posts. Those don't just create themselves and I use this extension whenever I need to make one. Either from the toolbar or right click menu, I can tell QR Codematic to make me a code of the current web page.

That's all there is to it. But if you're in the business of sharing websites with QR codes, this will make it super simple.

See QR Codematic at Opera

Todoist Sidebar (Unofficial)

We're big fans of Todoist and its great apps for Windows 10. But, if you spend a lot of time in the browser, flipping out to an app isn't always the most efficient way to manage your time.

This unofficial extension opens the Todoist web app in the Opera sidebar, giving you quick, easy access to your important lists. If it's available in the web app, it's available here.

See Todoist Sidebar (Unofficial) at Opera

Turn off the Lights

If you're someone who watches a lot of online video, you should give this one a try. The premise is simple: it dims out all other content on the webpage allowing the video to be highlighted.

It removes external distractions and does make the viewing experience that bit better. So simple, yet so effective.

See Turn off the Lights at Opera

TweetRight

Frequent Tweeters will love this one, with a simple way to share web pages to Twitter. Either from the icon in the toolbar or from the right click menu, you can share any web page with your Twitter followers with ease.

It'll send you to the web share interface every time, so there's no signing in to the extension. It definitely beats pasting a URL into an app or the Twitter website, that's for sure.

See TweetRight at Opera

TwitchNow

If you watch a lot of Twitch streams, give this extension a shot. It's a miniature Twitch browser that sits in your toolbar and lets you search without having to navigate the website.

The best feature is that you can set notifications and see a badge in relation to when and how many of the channels you follow go live. Add in a dark theme and a bunch of settings to set how you want to watch Twitch when you go there, and you've got a winner.

See TwitchNow at Opera

2048 Sidebar

It doesn't all need to be work, work, work. If you want a quick and easy way to take a step back for five minutes then this version of the game, 2048, resting in your sidebar is just the ticket.

The cursor keys are all you need to play as you match the numbered tiles in search of the magic 2048 and the highest score you can get. Some of us aren't that good at it, but it's still a fun time-waster when you need a break from the grind.

See 2048 Sidebar at Opera

Notemark

Bookmarks can become a hefty, unwieldy beast, but sometimes you just want short-term, quick access to a handful of web pages. Notemark is a great little tool that treats bookmarks as notes, and is a place for you to keep a few close at hand just while you need them.

Maybe you just want to read something later or you're researching something online. Whatever the reason, keep your open tabs down by using Notemark to keep those you need close at hand.

See Notemark at Opera

So, that's just ten of many. If you've been using a particular Opera extension you think deserves credit, be sure to shout out in the comments below!

Browser company Opera has come out swinging against Microsoft's recent claims that its Edge browser offers the best battery life for Windows 10 PCs. Opera claims its own tests show that its browser beats Edge in battery use by over 40 minutes.

Microsoft announced its battery test results earlier this week. It stated:

In its own blog post, Opera claimed that Microsoft did not reveal the full details of its test methodology, so it was unable to replicate Microsoft's results. Instead, it used its own test and revealed its methods, which included the use of a Lenovo Yoga 500 laptop, running on Windows 10 in a balanced power profile.

The final result, according to Opera, were as follows:

The company ended its blog post with this statement:

Ad blocking has become quite the popular feature in Opera for the desktop and the company behind the browser is now looking to port this time and data saving feature to smartphones. Should you be rocking Opera on your Windows 10 Mobile phone, you'll now be able to activate the built-in ad blocker and enjoy a less intrusive web experience.

You can turn on the new ad blocker functionality (an alert should pop-up asking you to do so) by heading into settings and activating "block ads" under the Basic tab. You should now be able to enjoy a browsing experience with less ads all whilst saving data with other Opera optimizations.

Give Opera Mini a download from the Windows Store and let us know how you're getting on in the comments.

• Download Opera for Windows 10 Mobile

Thanks Nahid E. for the tip!

Opera has announced the company's web browser can now help you save battery life on laptops. The new saver mode will also aid in keeping your mobile PC cool too, according to Opera test results. During the summer months, the company states Opera will be able to keep laptops more than 3 degrees Celsius cooler.

How the company is able to achieve the aforementioned is by optimizing various parts of the browser, including the reduction of non-essential system tasks. Opera found in its testing that the battery saver and ad blocker combination meant the laptop was able to run for up to 50% longer than competing browsers on Windows 10.

You'll be able to activate the battery saving mode by hitting the battery icon that appears next to the address bar. This should show up when the cable is unplugged. The browser will also recommend you activate the mode at 20% battery.

In Why you should consider switching to Opera's latest browser for Windows 10 we reviewed the latest features by Opera and came away impressed.

A majority of Opera Software shareholders have voted in favor of a deal that would see the company be acquired by a consortium of China-based parties. As noted by TechCrunch, the deal is worth $1.2 billion and will see Golden Brick, a group of companies including Qihoo 360 and Kunlun, take full control of the Norwegian internet brand and software developer.

Opera Software has been pumping out a number of new products for its software, including a full-featured ad-blocker in the Opera web browser and a built-in private VPN service. This sale will unlock access to the Chinese market for Opera, which should bring a new wave of users to the Opera product line. It'll be interesting to see how its direction is maintained post-acquisition.

Deciding which is the best web browser is a combination of features, performance, resource management and, what I have found, personal preference. In fact, that latter criterion is often the most important. People use the web browser that they started off on and rarely switch if only because doing so feels weird.

Opera has a very long history in the browser space starting off in 1994 and going through some significant changes especially in the last few years. Today, we're taking a look at the latest version of Opera for Windows, version 37 and 39 at their request. Not being a regular Opera user I like challenges, so I accepted their offer.

Personally speaking, my browsing habits include a mix of Chrome eighty percent of the time when on the desktop with Edge making up the last twenty percent. When on a laptop or mobile, however, I almost always lean on Edge. Like I said, browsing habits can be persnickety often without substantial justification for those decisions and that includes myself. I use Chrome out of practice, not philosophy or technical reasons.

So, how did I like using Opera 37 and 39 (developer) for the last week? Let's find out.

Opera at the core

Back in 2013, Opera made a momentous change by switching to the Chromium engine from their own Presto one. More specifically, Google and Opera forked Chromium's WebKit to form the new Blink rendering engine, which removes some parts but lets companies like Opera do more to add back their own features to grow and expand. This strategy is similar to Microsoft, who forked Trident for EdgeHTML.

In many ways, this makes Opera feel similar to Google's Chrome browser for rendering, but Opera can also build off of the web engine to do their unique thing. Opera has a history of bringing many features that are later copied to competing browsers such Pop-up Blocking, Private Browsing, Browser Sessions, and Speed Dial (their custom home page aggregator).

In fact, this is one of the reasons why so many people prefer Opera as they tend to offer useful and exciting features first focusing on privacy, reduced data usage and more.

New Features: Secure, fast and now better for YouTube

Let's get to it. Opera 37 (and eventually 39, which is available now as a developer edition) brings some very cool features that are native to the browser. These new features focus on privacy, speed, efficiency, and even watching videos.

Ad blocker

Ad Blocking is a controversial topic for some, but frankly the ad industry brought this on themselves. The issue with ads is not so much they are ads, but rather the impact they have on browser performance by increasing load times and slowing down the experience.

On laptops, it is even worse as this can affect battery life due to the increasing load on the processor. And yes, our site suffers from this problem as well. In fact, our site is coded very efficiently, but the external ad modules (which we don't code) are just awful. Unfortunately, many sites, including our own, are at the behest of these companies to deliver their content, which we do not directly control.

The result of this failed ad industry is users take matters into their hands by installing various ad blocking extensions. Since Opera can use extensions many people just install those and get a cleaner experience.

Starting with version 37 Opera is going the extra step and building in ad blocking right into the browser itself with no extension required.

Needless to say, that is a substantial escalation in the war against inefficient ads. Not to be too cynical here but Opera is on the losing end of the browser market as they are being crowded out by Google's Chrome and Microsoft's Edge, so they have to take extreme measures to win back audiences. Well, I can't think of a better way than baking in ad blocking.

Overall, I found the experience of ad blocking with Opera to be quite satisfying. You can even use customized lists and manage exceptions under Settings > Privacy & security. Obviously, I am in a weird situation here as I'm highlighting a feature that cuts our revenue and if used on a broad scale would end our site and the jobs of the people who work here. Luckily, you can control which sites the ad blocker runs on although my guess is most people will just let it run.

When ad blocking is combined with Opera Turbo, which compresses web pages remotely for low-bandwidth situations you get a very fast browsing experience.

Power Saving mode

Starting with the developer edition of Opera (Opera 39), but going to all versions soon is a new Power Saving mode that can be turned on manually or when the browser detects your laptop has been unplugged from an AC outlet. A little icon then appears to let you know it's running.

What does Power Saving do, exactly? Opera highlights these fine-tuning optimizations that they have done:

• Reduced activity in background tabs
• Waking CPU less often due to more optimal scheduling of JavaScript timers
• Automatically pausing unused plug-ins
• Reduced frame rate to 30 frames per second
• Tuning video-playback parameters and forcing usage of hardware accelerated video codecs
• Paused animations of browser themes

Opera claims this feature can "extend your laptop battery life by up to 50% compared with…Google Chrome". Needless to say, that is an interesting ability.

I cannot say I saw any degradation in my user experience with Power Saving enabled. Video playback was a little less smooth, but maybe I'm nitpicking. Battery life did seem better on my Surface, but honestly, it is hard to quantify as there are a lot of variables in play.

I do like the idea of Power Saver, and I choose to use whenever I am not plugged in. Once again, Opera is at the forefront of bringing fresh and useful features to users especially in this increasingly mobile world.

Pop-out video (YouTube)

Another new feature being introduced is the ability to pop-out a YouTube video. The function is simple: when you are watching something on YouTube just hover on the video, and you will see a pop-out icon. Click it and the video window pops out. You can move the window around on your desktop, and it will play over any app.

Why use this feature? If you are watching a two-minute movie trailer, it does not make much sense due to the shortness. However, if you are watching a 30-minute presentation on app development or a lengthy interview you can pop out the video, move it to the corner of your desktop and continue working while the video is always visible.

While I cannot envision using this feature all the time I do find it incredibly impressive on those occasions described above. You can even resize the window by grabbing the edge, which will be necessary for 4K displays.

VPN

Virtual Private Networks let you browse websites without revealing your actual IP address. Instead, traffic is securely routed through another server masking your origins. The problem with VPNs for everyday users is two-fold:

1. You often have to pay for a good VPN service
2. Setting up VPNs can be troublesome for those inexperienced computer users

Once again, Opera takes the thinking out of using VPN by building it into the browser. To enable, the user can just hop into a Private Browsing sessions (Ctrl-Shift-N) and tap the VPN icon in the browser bar window. Users can set the virtual location to the US, Canada, Germany, or the Netherlands and you have unlimited VPN data. The window even displays your current "virtual" IP address to let you know it is working and reveals how much data you have transferred.

Opera cites the following benefits of using their free VPN:

• Hide your IP address – Opera will replace your IP address with a virtual IP address, so it's harder for sites to track your location and identify your computer. This means you can browse the web more privately.
• Unblocking of firewalls and websites – Many schools and workplaces block video-streaming sites, social networks, and other services. By using a VPN, you can access your favorite content, no matter where you are.
• Public Wi-Fi security – When you're surfing the web on public Wi-Fi, intruders can easily sniff data. By using a VPN, you can improve the security of your personal information.

Opera's VPN service, which is part of the developer version (Opera 39) will be hitting the main build of Opera in the next few weeks. Overall, I was very impressed with it and thought it was a fantastic addition.

Am I switching?

After using Opera for the last few weeks, the question arises if I will change from my weird Chrome/Edge usage. I will say that I will be dropping Chrome for Opera even if for just the memory usage savings. Between the extensions and those new features listed above, I see little reason to keep using Chrome, which was mostly out of habit and familiarity.

I even like the customization options like 'show system color on top bar', which made it more Windows 10-like and the ability to set Bing as my default search engine. For privacy and performance, I don't think you can beat Opera and its optional settings.

For those on Windows 10, I still find Microsoft Edge rendering slightly preferable, and it is well known that Chromium has occasional scrolling and touch issues that can make the experience jittery. In fact, on one of the Redstone Insider builds Opera suffered from some of the same scrolling issues that I saw on Chrome (and Slack, which also uses Chromium) but I did not experience in Edge. You can, of course, install various "scrolling extensions" that let you fine tune mouse and trackpad behavior, but that is one more thing to worry about if switching. Your mileage may vary, but my point is no browser is perfect.

Overall, however, I think Opera is doing some incredible work in the web browser industry. The features listed here are all unique to Opera and as much as you may love Edge you cannot deny that Opera at this stage is just more advanced. The cool thing to remember is that you can install any browser you want in Windows 10 and just use what you feel is best for the job. For that reason, I see no reason not to recommend Opera to any user even if to just try it out.

Finally, remember that competition in web browsers is critical. While some of you may be cheering for Microsoft and Edge, it is only through innovation from multiple companies do we get the advancements we need. Because of that, I welcome Opera's advantages as it will make computing better for all of us.

• Download Opera for Windows
• Download Opera Developer Edition

Do you use Opera? If so, let me know why. If you don't, also share your thoughts in comments in case I missed something.

Opera has implemented a power saving mode in its main desktop browser and is touted as the first to do so. The news will not affect those on a desktop PC, but laptop owners will be interested to learn about possible 50% savings in battery life when using Opera compared to earlier versions of the browser and Google's Chrome. This update is currently applied to the developer release of Opera.

Krystian Kolondra, SVP of Engineering at Opera commented on the announcement:

The company has been able to achieve battery savings by reducing activity in background tabs not currently in focus, adapting page-redrawing frequency and tuning video playback parameters. The mode will be available when the system detects that no power outlet is connected to the laptop or other portal Windows PC. A battery icon will be present next to the address bar within the browser which can be selected to engage power saving mode. The browser will suggest activating the mode when the battery hits a low level.

As well as the power saving mode, the team behind the Opera browser also bundled some performance improvements in version 39 to further enhance power efficiency, as well as memory management. So if you happen to find yourself running low on power due to web browsers, it may be worth give the latest release of Opera a try. these new features are available in the developer stream as-of-now.

After integrating a free unlimited VPN service into dev builds of its browser last month, Opera is now offering native ad blocking for the stable channel of the desktop browser. The feature has been available in the dev builds of the browser for some time now, and is being graduated to the stable release today.

Opera says that the feature results in up to 89% faster load times, and 45% faster loads when compared to a third-party service like Adblock Plus. The integrated ad blocker can be switched on or off with a single click, as all you have to do is navigate to the shield icon in the address bar and toggle the "block ads" setting.

What do you guys think of the feature?

Download from Opera

Opera is rolling out an update to its desktop browser that adds a major feature. The browser now features an integrated VPN service that can be accessed by a single click through a toggle in the address bar.

The announcement post states that the VPN service will not have any data limitations:

That doesn't mean that the VPN will be limited in functionality, as Opera mentions that it will have features that are normally restricted to paid VPN services, including 256-bit encryption of all traffic:

• Hide your IP address – Opera will replace your IP address with a virtual IP address, so it's harder for sites to track your location and identify your computer. This means you can browse the web more privately.
• Unblocking of firewalls and websites – Many countries, schools and workplaces block video-streaming sites, social networks and other services. By using a VPN you can access your favorite content, no matter where you are.
• Public Wi-Fi security – When you're surfing the web on public Wi-Fi, intruders can easily sniff data. By using a VPN, you can improve the security of your personal information.

A VPN allows you to access region-locked content, which comes in handy when browsing streaming video sites. Opera's VPN allows you to set your location to Canada, Germany, and the U.S., with more countries to be added shortly. The feature is now available in the developer build of the Opera browser. Interested? Download the browser from the link below:

Download Opera browser

Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile users are not going to get a lot of attention from the Opera web browser team, at least for now. A new message shows that the development team is working mostly on the Android and iOS versions.

In a blog post, Opera offered a statement on the Windows Phone version of Opera Mini:

Opera also stated they have no current plans to launch a Windows 10 universal app, saying that it does not "have the resources to work on this." Opera also claims that it does't have the time or resources to port its iOS app to Windows 10 Mobile, using Microsoft's bridge tools:

Download Opera Mini for Windows Phone

The Opera web browser for PC users has been updated to version 36, and it includes a number of features specifically for Windows 10 users.

Opera says the start page has a refreshed look:

In addition, the UI has some Windows 10-specific changes:

Download Opera 36 now for Windows

Opera has announced the company's web browser will include a built-in ad blocker to help speed up the web and prevent users of the web browser from being harassed by rogue and disruptive adverts. The latest developer version of the browser, released today, will have this feature available for activation and is boasted to decrease load times of web pages by up to 90%.

What makes this an interesting move by Opera – aside from the inclusion of an ad blocker being the first of all major browsers – is how adverts are blocked at engine-level, something extensions and plug-ins are unable to achieve and increases the effectiveness of the feature itself.

There's also a neat benchmark tool available for website owners so they can see just how much time adverts and tracking scripts affect the load times of web pages. Unfortunately for companies and site owners, adverts remain a major source of income and helps keep the Internet alive.

Interested in giving the new ad blocking feature a try? Download the Opera developer release to get started.

Opera browser nearly doubles load speed by integrating adblocking technology directly into the browser engine

Opera for computers is launching an integrated ad-blocking feature in its newest developer version, out today - the first major PC browser to do so. Once enabled, the ad-blocking feature speeds up webpage load times by as much as 90%, compared to browsing with the option disabled. The integrated ad-blocking technology also gives on average a 40% faster browsing experience compared to third-party ad-blocking extensions. The improved performance is possible since the filtering happens at the web-engine level, where the browser can fully control the loading process of the webpage - something extensions can't do.

"Advertising fuels the internet, allowing for many services to be free for users. But, as our new research shows, most webpages today are significantly slowed down by bloated ads and heavy tracking. We don't accept it - we want the web to be a better place for us all, as users," says Krystian Kolondra, SVP of Engineering and Head of Opera for computers.

How the integrated ad-blocking feature works

Since the ad-blocking feature, available in the developer version of Opera for computers, is fully integrated with the browser, no additional download of extensions or plug-ins is necessary. While browsing, users can easily choose to enable ad-blocking by selecting the dialog option.

In addition to the simple on-off button, the ad-blocking feature comes with a benchmark, so users, web developers and publishers can see how much ads and tracking software affect page-loading times. Users can also monitor their browsing by the day, week and total number of blocked ads.

A new release of Opera Mini is now available for Windows Phone. The latest version, bumping the app itself up to 9.0, implements some minor visual changes to better reflect the rebranding Opera is currently undergoing.

While no changelog has been shared by Opera, we've managed to spot some improvements, and so have a few watchful readers. You'll notice the new Opera logo used throughout the app (though the Windows Store still needs to switch things over), as well as the refreshed central menu, which now resembles the hamburger.

The new hamburger icon is a vast improvement over what was previously there, and we appreciate the more consistent approach with the new Opera logo for the Live Tile. Overall, a neat update that will surely please fans of the browser. You'll be able to enjoy this new look by upgrading your Opera client through the Windows Store.

Download Opera Mini for Windows Phone

While we wait for Opera to release their promised Windows 10 universal browser later this year, the company has just released version 31 of its desktop Windows browser. This new version promises to give users a much faster way to start browsing.

Opera stated:

If you are using the desktop version of Opera 31 on Windows 10. make sure to check out our tutorial on how to make it the default browser on your PC.

Download Opera 31 for Windows desktop

Source: Opera

Update: It's back in the story. Everyone can relax.

Original story: If you have been wanting to try out the Opera Mini web browser for Windows Phone, you will have to wait a little while longer. The app has once again been removed from the Windows Phone Store, and an Opera rep has confirmed on Twitter that it is working to resolve the issue.

The browser was taken down earlier this morning and, according to this message from an Opera rep on Twitter, it is indeed aware of the problem:

So far, there's no word on what the issue might be or how long it will take before Opera Mini comes back to the Windows Phone Store. This is not the first time this has happened; the app was removed from circulation for several hours in June.

Source: Opera (Twitter)

Opera is one of the most popular browsers on the market, especially in mobile where it adopts the 'Mini' moniker. The reason for its popularity, especially in emerging markets is due to its ability to compress upwards of 90% of the data between external servers and your phone. Having a data plan with multiple gigabytes is common in the U.S. as well as abundant free Wi-fi networks. However, for many markets or people traveling, things are more reserved making every byte really count.

Windows Phone users have limited options when it comes to browsing due to Microsft's constraints. Opera Mini is one of the few well-known browsers to make it to the Store. Today, it received a nice update to version 8.1.0.118 and here is our review.

Interface

The interface of Opera Mini is certainly one of the browser's highlights. The first page you see is the so-called 'Speed Dial' section that displays websites that are often frequented. The format should be very familiar to Windows Phone users with its square Tile design. Indeed, users can drag and drop Tiles onto to each other to create folders to group similar sites together. Users can add or delete any sites on the page at any time, making it feel very customized.

Looking at the lower toolbar you can see the Browser Tabs selector and a giant 'O' where users can bring up numerous options. These settings include Bookmarks, Downloads, Share feature, Find on Page and General browser options. Users also get a nifty 'data savings' graph that displays how much data was saved in a graph form as well as actual numbers. For instance, I only used 9.2 MB from an actual 70.8 MB resulting in an astounding 87% savings.

Browsing history can be cleared individually or all at once giving users fine-grained control. There is also private browsing for when you do not want to leave any tracks.

Opera browser can open Zip files directly, and users can download and save images. Later, downloads can be revisited using the download manager. Files are saved to the default areas of the phone, which you can configure in the OS settings.

Another data-savings feature is the ability to save articles and web pages for offline viewing. If you find a webpage, you would like to read later just tap the 'plus' button near the address bar. This file is then saved to the Speed Dial page under 'Saved Pages'.

On the Speed Dial page, there is a universal web address and search bar present. By default, the search engine is Google and unfortunately it cannot be changed to Bing, which is something I would prefer. However, you can set the search engine to Amazon, eBay or Wikipedia by tapping the icon in the bar. This change lets you directly search within those sites and is very convenient if you use that function often.

Today's update

Version 8.1.0.118 came today and with it a few performance improvements and bug fixes. Additionally, users also get:

• Wide Tile that is also Live, flipping to reveal your data savings
• Change Background, under Settings
• Scroll to top/bottom buttons, which appear whenever you scroll down/up

These are certainly welcomed additions, and the browser does feel and work better than the previous release from June.

Performance

Overall, Opera Mini does what it is supposed to do: save massive amounts of data. In terms of raw performance, there is a bit of a lag due to the compression needed from Opera's servers. There are also occasional visual glitches and empty boxes as a result of the compressions. It is not a deal breaker, but obviously you are not getting the prettiest version of that web page due to the data savings.

Another issue is the browser cannot be set as default. So every time you click a hyperlink in an email or WhatsApp message, Internet Explorer opens instead. This limitation is no fault of Opera's as Microsoft just does not allow other default browsers on Windows Phone.

Users have also left some negative reviews in the Store, mostly pointing to stability issues. We have not experienced those, but it is clear others are so your mileage may vary. Today's update is certainly worth checking out to see if things have improved.

Opera Mini is a good choice if you are traveling, data roaming or have a limited data plan. It is not exactly ideal for those with unlimited LTE connections as those users should be okay with Internet Explorer.

Although performance in the browser is slower than what I would like, it is not clear if this is completely Opera's fault. Microsoft's developer tools for Windows Phone 8.1 are quite limited in creating quality third-party web browsers tying the hands of Opera's developers. Will this be better in Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile? Likely but Opera has not yet committed to Windows 10 and a universal app, so it remains to be seen if they will attempt a new version. (Currently, Opera Mini is unable to be found in the Windows 10 Store, but this appears to be a temporary glitch with Microsoft's new format).

For now, those who like Opera's design and need to save data will benefit greatly from Opera Mini, even it can be frustrating at times. Options are always wise, and I'll likely use this browser when I am data roaming when traveling abroad.

Do you use Opera Mini? What are your favorite features? What would you like to see Opera do with Window and Windows Phone? Let us know in comments!

Download Opera Mini for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free)

Update: All is well in Opera land, and the browser is once again available on the Windows Phone Store. Thanks, Malcom!

Just one week ago, Opera ditched the "beta" label for its Opera Mini web browser for Windows Phone. Now that same browser is currently not available from the Windows Phone Store, but this may be a temporarily situation.

The removal of Opera Mini happened earlier this morning, and the official Opera Twitter page has admitted the browser has been taken down, but did not give a reason:

Based on the message, we would assume this a minor hiccup and that the browser will be back in the very near future. We have contacted Opera to see if they can offer any more information on this removal.

Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Source: Opera (Twitter)

The Opera Mini browser relaunched in the Windows Phone Store in February in beta form and has since been updated several times. Today, the app received yet another update to version 8.0.3.40.

As usual, Opera Software didn't provide an official change log for this new version, but one of our readers, "Shadab," said he noticed a few changes since the last Opera Beta update:

• Address bar on the top and navigation bar at the bottom automatically hides while scrolling.
• The browser now resumes on the last visited page, earlier it used to relaunch from the start.
• Copy paste gets enhanced. Now I can select words within page and search directly.

If you do notice any more new improvements or additions, let us know in the comments.

Thanks again to Shadab and everyone for the tips!

Download Opera Mini beta for Windows Phone (free)

Popular browser Opera Mini's beta app picked up an update today that introduces a new user interface. The UI is in line with what was demoed at Mobile World Congress earlier this year.

While there's no changelog for version 8.0.0.6730 on the Windows Phone Store, it is clear that most of the changes in the update are centered around tweaking the visual interface. The speed dial is more accessible, allowing you to visit your favorite sites with ease. When switching between open tabs, you now get thumbnail previews of the content on that tab.

How are you guys liking the new interface?

Download Opera Mini beta for Windows Phone

Thanks everyone for the tips!

Update: The official TeamViewer Support Twitter account has now offered a statement on the removal of their Windows Phone app, saying, "The TeamViewer app should be back soon in the store. We apologize for any inconvenience caused."

Original story: Call it a trend or just many coincidences, but two more apps appear to have been removed from the Windows Phone Store over the last few weeks. The traditional PC and Mac remote viewing app TeamViewer and Opera Mini, an alternative web browser, are both no longer available to users.

TeamViewer is the odd one as they had a big re-launch of their version 10 software back in November. The company appeared to be quite eager to support Windows and Windows Phone, which makes their app removal quite odd.

We have made contact with the TeamViewer PR but have not yet received an answer for the app's disappearance (Store link).

Opera Mini Browser had been in beta since its release back in September. Over the next three months, the Opera Mini team released numerous updates to the app to improve the experience continually. The last update, however, was at the beginning of December. Now, the app is now longer published (Store link).

On January 26, the Opera Twitter account did re-affirm their support for Windows Phone when responding to various customers, including:

We should caution that neither company has publicly commented on the app removal, unlike Chase and Bank of America. This leaves some room for publishing errors, plans for beta update status to full release or more. On the other hand, Windows Phone users have seen a rash of app removals lately, like Urbanspoon, lending credence to the purposeful removal theory.

We will update this story as new information becomes available.

Thanks, Riez H., Hell_Patrol, Kristoffer K., and Vishal A., for the tips