Original URL: http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/04/20/opera_9_beta/
Opera 9 beta debuts
Widgets and BitTorrent headline new release
Posted in Software & Security, 20th April 2006 10:34 GMT
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Opera has released the first public beta of the next version of its browser. Opera 9 beta introduces widgets, small AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript And XML) applications that provide specific functionality such as news tickers or currency conversion. It also includes improved content and pop-up blocking along with thumbnail previews of web content.
A BitTorrent search engine is available from the browser’s user interface in a development Opera said will allow for faster and more efficient downloads of large files. Once a file has been selected, Opera's Transfer Manager feature will handle the download.
Opera first incorporated the BitTorrent peer-to-peer protocol support in July 2005 with Opera 8.02. BitTorrent’s agreement with Opera is the first under a recently announced scheme to license the BitTorrent trademark.
A complete list of features can be found here (http://www.opera.com/docs/changelogs/windows/900b1). Opera 9 beta comes free of charge and is available for download here (http://www.opera.com/download/index.dml?ver=9.0b). Opera cautions that the software remains in beta testing, so it might contain bugs. Users are urged to use it only on properly backed-up computers. ®