On Tuesday, Opera Software officially announced the release of Opera 9, the new browser which includes support for "widgets," adds a security toolbar, and integrates support for the BitTorrent file-distribution system.On Tuesday, Opera Software officially announced the release of
Opera 9, the new browser which includes support for "widgets," adds a security toolbar, and integrates support for the BitTorrent file-distribution system.
The official release follows a preview version, where Opera tipped its plans to add widgets, small snippets of code that serve as plug-ins, as well as the BitTorrent support.
"For Opera 9, we worked hard to push the limits of what people expect from a Web browser, with increased speed, new Web standards support and innovative features such as widgets and BitTorrent," said Jon S. von Tetzchner, chief executive of Opera Software, in a statement. "Even though we shaped this browser for the Web's future, we have the powerful features people want and need for their surfing today. I truly feel Opera 9 has something for everyone."
Although content groups like the RIAA and MPAA have worked to shut down BitTorrent sites distributing copyrighted content, the software itself has not been targeted.
"We first launched BitTorrent as an integrated technology in Opera last summer (in an early technical preview)," said Tor Odland, an Opera spokesman, in an email. "We've since then included it in several betas running up to today's final. As of yet we have not had a formal complaint from RIAA or MPAA. We are working closely with BitTorrent, Inc., on licensing the technology from them."
Meanwhile, Opera's new widgets can be downloaded from Opera's widgets site, where the company has already collected a few examples, such as a circular version of Tetris, several clocks, and a built-in reader for comics sites.
Other features, such as the security toolbar, however, appear to be new. That feature is designed to stop phishing attacks, and is similar to the other anti-phishing plugins introduced by rivals, including Google. The company also said that it had strengthened its pop-up blocker.
Other features to enhance usability include the ability to save sessions and restart at the site when the browser was closed, as well as a "trash can" to restore a saved browser session.
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