Opera Archives - Memeburn

Opera to spend $100m to ‘grow African digital economy’
By Hadlee Simons on 15 May, 2017
Opera Software is a mainstay of the African mobile scene, with its Opera Mini browser being used by people across the continent thanks to data-saving features. Now, the company has announced that it plans to spend US$100-million to "grow the African digital economy". "The company will use the investment to speed up internet adoption in Africa and strengthen the internet ecosystem with local partners," read a press release sent to Memeburn. So what does that actually mean? An AI-driven recommendation engine Well, the company has decided to build an AI-powered recommendation engine into its mobile browser. "Opera users in Africa will get fully personalised and...
Opera’s nifty new browser caters for WhatsApp and Messenger addicts
By Andy Walker: Editor on 10 May, 2017
Opera's desktop browser is known for pushing the envelope of browser design. It was the first to offer the tabs, a speed dial pane and the pop-up blocker experience now standard on most browsers today. But it's latest innovation is aimed directly at those who love to chat. Following a mild visual redesign based on its "Reborn" project, Opera has now given its desktop browser users access to Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp directly from the browser's side bar. While that doesn't sound like much of an innovation, it's particularly useful for those who use these services on a daily basis for...
Africa’s mobile growth: Opera publishes its State of Mobile report
By Andy Walker: Editor on 11 November, 2016
Norwegian internet company Opera isn't quite as well known in the desktop browser space, at least in terms of usage figures. Globally, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft's Internet Explorer still command the lion's share of users' internet tabs. When it comes to mobile browsers though, the firm has historically had a huge following in Africa. The company this week published its State of Mobile Web Report for Africa 2016, and with it, a slew of insights into Africa's voracious mobile device and web usage using its software and services as a lens. So, what are some of the key takeaways? More...
Opera: OLX, Letgo tracks you more than Takealot, Gumtree
By Hadlee Simons on 2 November, 2016
New research from Opera Software found that over half of the top 60 Android shopping apps collect personal information via trackers. However, South Africa's OLX and Letgo were mentioned as some of the worst offenders as well. The two South African services were joined by the likes of Flipkart, Amazon, JC Penney, Best Buy and eBay Kleinanzeigen as the shopping apps with the highest amount of trackers. These trackers collected information such as your name, email address, location, phone number and search terms, Opera wrote in an emailed press release. The results were obtained using privacy mode in the updated Opera Max...
Microsoft’s new alerts encourage users to ditch Google Chrome
By Staff Reporter on 4 August, 2016
The browser wars are hotting up again, largely thanks to Microsoft. According to a number of user reports, the company is once again issuing tips in its Windows 10 notifications system alerting users to Google Chrome's battery usage. "Chrome is draining your battery faster. Switch to Microsoft Edge for up to 36 percent more browsing time," it suggests. Remember when I spoke about the anti-@googlechrome pop up? It's come back, here is a screenshot! #windows10 pic.twitter.com/FpOjL27srK — Rudy Huyn (@RudyHuyn) July 18, 2016 The latest move follows Microsoft's published YouTube video and extensive article, highlighting the differences in battery life between Chrome, Mozilla Firefox,...

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Opera VPN app launches exclusively for iPhone and iPad
By Andy Walker: Editor on 9 May, 2016
Opera, the Norwegian based technology company, has been churning out new product after product this year. After fitting its desktop browser with a new VPN service, updated its Opera Mini browser with build-in ad-blocking facilities, and polished its Opera Max data reduction service, its now looking exclusively at iOS. The company has now launched a VPN app exclusively for the likes of the iPhone and iPad, in a bid to win over Apple's faithful. But how is this different to the VPN service within Opera desktop browser? For one, the VPN app is now device-wide, encompassing all traffic, unlike its browser-only cousin. The...
Opera Mini now features a built-in ad-blocker
By Staff Reporter on 4 May, 2016
Opera Mini, the mobile browser that many use on Android devices (and some other platforms), now boasts a built-in ad-blocker. This new move comes on the back of its free VPN service on desktop browsers it launched earlier this year. The ad-blocker on Opera Mini though suggests that the company's looking at the lower end smartphone market, those users strapped for processing power and data. The blocker therefore saves around 14% on data, and nearly halves page load times, the company claims. While you could theoretically download Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox for mobile (these are available on other platforms too), they...

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Need a free, unlimited VPN service? Download Opera browser
By Hadlee Simons on 21 April, 2016
Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox rule the roost when it comes to desktop browsing, but Opera's latest browser update might lead you to switch... The Norwegian company has pulled a fast one by integrating a free VPN service into its browser - albeit in the developer version of the browser for now. "All other VPNs for the major desktop browsers are extensions, with most of them based on a paid-subscription model or offering limited data usage," the company explained on its website. "Everyone deserves to be private online if they want to be. By adding a free, unlimited VPN directly into the browser, no...

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Meet Opera’s new brand identity
By Myolisi Sikupela: Staff Reporter on 22 September, 2015
Opera has unveiled its new identity. The last time the browser company altered its logo was in 2013, though the company says that this is more than a logo shift. According to a press release sent to Memeburn, the logo represents Opera in its entirety, emphasising that its products are more than technology. Sean D'Arcy, VP of Opera's global marketing and distribution, wrote in a blog post that “with the extended Opera family and our ever-expanding range of products and services, we feel we’ve grown beyond the bounds of a software company." Read more: Opera VP Richard Monday tells Memeburn why its...
Put your phone on a data diet with Opera Max, cuts up to 50% usage
By Chris Wilton on 28 May, 2015
Student life is a tough one. Life is expensive and income is practically non-existent because you're a student. Ironically it usually comes at a time when you have to start paying for things and cutting costs. Norwegian software giant Opera has stepped up its game and optimization seems to be the catch term; trimming the fat and getting the biggest supernova out of your buck for data is where Opera Max app is leading the technology. The app's latest update compresses videos, photos and media on apps or websites on your mobile (both mobile internet and Wi-Fi), which means you're putting your...

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Opera doles out $155m for rival browser maker Skyfire Labs
By Stuart Thomas on 15 February, 2013
Things are hotting up at Norwegian software company Opera. Just a couple of days after announcing that it would be moving to the WebKit rendering engine, it revealed that it had bought out rival browser maker Skyfire Labs. Opera is believed to have pushed the deal, worth US$155-million, through in a bid to get hold of its Rocket Optimizer software, which reduces the size of video and other streaming media when broadcast across mobile networks. Skyfire can detect when specific users are facing poor quality of experience or connections that need assistance, and, says Opera, can "intervene in milliseconds"....
Russia emerges as mobile ad powerhouse as Android keeps growing
By Stuart Thomas on 8 February, 2013
The latest State of Mobile Advertising report from Norwegian web browser maker Opera shows a couple of interesting trends, including the emergence of Russia as a mobile advertising power and the increasing importance of Android as a mobile advertising platform. The report, which is based on data from the Opera Mediaworks mobile ad platform during the last quarter of 2012, shows that mobile is accelerating as an advertising force. The fourth quarter of 2012, it says, represented more than a two-times increase in impressions and revenue to publishers compared to any other quarter in 2012. Of particular interest...

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Opera gives 70m Brazilians access to app store in partnership with TIM
By Nur Bremmen: Staff reporter on 26 November, 2012
Opera has partnered with Brazilian mobile operator TIM to launch the TIM App Shop, which will be powered by the Opera Mobile Store. According to The Next Web, the partnership will see the TIM App Shop pre-loaded on all devices sold by the mobile carrier, which is Brazil's second largest. It is also reportedly the preferred carrier for the country's middle class. In a country where fixed internet connections are still comparatively expensive, that means its mobile devices will also be the primary means by which its customers access the internet. Given that a large portion of those customers...
Opera launches streaming music service in Russia
By Staff Reporter on 19 November, 2012
Norwegian software outfit Opera has announced the launch of a streaming music service in Russia -- one of the markets where its mobile browser performs best. The idea behind the product, called Unlimited Music, is to “make music files available in a simple and affordable way for Russians, no matter if they are on a feature phone or a smartphone,” the company told The Next Web. While the service is available on the...
Opera hits 200m mobile users, reports massive African growth
By Nur Bremmen: Staff reporter on 30 July, 2012
It may not be a big in the world of desktop browsers but Opera's mobile effort makes it a serious player in the browser wars. The Norwegian-made browser today revealed that its mobile browsers are installed on some 200-million phones across the world, up 47% from the same period last year. The company also reports that it's experienced massive growth in its African user numbers. Thirty six countries more than doubled their...