Opera 9 and BitTorrent

[peat moss]

[news=http://www.opera.com/img/operalogo.gif]Opera integrates BitTorrent in upcoming browser
Oslo, Norway – February 6, 2006

Opera Software today announced that it has teamed with BitTorrent Inc. to include the BitTorrent™ protocol in the upcoming version of the Opera Web browser. Integrating this popular technology in the Opera browser means faster and more efficient downloads of large files.

Opera and BitTorrent have signed an agreement covering Opera's use of the BitTorrent trademark and access to the BitTorrent search engine from the browser’s user interface. A technical preview (TP) of the Opera 9 browser will be made available soon.


Due out Tuesday .

Source: http://www.opera.com/pressreleases/en/2006/02/06/[/news]

[Filliz]

The preview is already on their ftp servers but I can't get to it
ftp://ftp.opera.com/pub/opera/win/80...enen802tp1.exe

[Busyman]

I'll definitely check that out tomorrow.

I wanna see how many more resources get used for the add-on.

[ilw]

@filliz, the preview with bittorrent isn't out till tomorrow, the one on the servers now is tech preview1 not tech preview2.

Opera Software on Tuesday plans to release a second preview version of Opera 9, the next version of its namesake Web browser.

For the first time, the new version will include support for so-called widgets, Opera representative Thomas Ford said. Widgets are essentially small browser windows that display information taken from the Internet on a user's desktop. The notion is similar in concept to the widget idea that Apple Computer uses in the Dashboard feature of Mac OS X.

"It is really a big jump for us into Web applications," Ford said. "They give people the information they want right on the desktop. Even if it is a Web page, people don't have to go to the browser to see it."

Additionally, Opera's latest preview will include support for BitTorrent downloads, Ford said. BitTorrent is a file-download technology that connects the computers of numerous people who want the same file, instead of drawing files solely from one source. Typically, people who wanted to get downloads using BitTorrent have had to download dedicated software.

Opera will include the official BitTorrent.com search engine in its browser. Any BitTorrent downloads will appear in the browser's "transfer manager," just like traditional downloads that use the venerable File Transfer Protocol, or FTP.

To drive usage of the new widgets feature, Opera will offer about 10 widgets it has developed itself, such as a clock. It will also offer guidance on its Web site for others to develop more of the add-ons. Anyone with regular Web development skills, such as knowledge of JavaScript, CSS and HTML, should be able to create Opera widgets, Ford said.

The second preview release follows the initial one in late October. It will be available for download on Tuesday from Labs.opera.com. One caution: Previews are not free of bugs. "This is for advanced users who want to get a taste of our technology, and they expect there will be some issues with it," Ford said.

The final version of Opera 9 will be delivered in the first half of 2006, Ford said.

[peat moss]

I think the reference to widgets is like the Mac desktop here :

http://news.com.com/2300-1012_3-6034529-3.html

[ilw]

downloaded it and imo theres not much diff between tech preview 1 and preview 2. Haven't tried the bittorrent thing yet so that could be good, but the widgets thing is nothing but a gimmick for now (it has potential, but its not particularly well implemented yet). thumbnail on the tabs isn't quick enough to be useful, but if you skip through the tabs (ctrl-tab or right click + mouse wheel) then that has previews as well and is a very nice feature. The adblocking is nice, but needs to be souped up.
Overall, imho opera 9 looks like it will be a fairly big jump from 8.5, but tech preview 2 isn't really much better than 1.

[peat moss]

@ ilw, thanks come on to see if any had tryed .

[Afronaut]

Opera 9 Technology Preview 2

[Busyman]

I haven't been on my desktop in a bit but I will DEFINITELY dl this tomorrow.

I already liked Opera for it's speed. If this new stuff work noice then it will be a nice shot across the bow of FF and IE 7.

3 players will make everyone step up their game. Opera sure has.

[charro01]

is perfect that integration for the masses