Hasta La Gadget!

This week the folks at Opera Software have given the world a glimpse of their next big (and yet tiny) production: Opera Ice, a mobile web browser to out-simplify every competitor. The mobile version of this browser is the first in a set of browsers that’ll also be out for desktop machines and – if you’re lucky – in-between machines as well. The aim of this browser is to take what Opera has learned over the past few years about the tendencies of the public to do only a limited number of tasks in a web browser on a mobile device and turn those tendencies into efficiency.

What you’re going to be seeing here is a demonstration filmed by Opera in their own den of developers and passed on to the folks at Pocket Lint. The demonstration of this Webkit-based browsser is done on an iPad, but the Opera team promises it’ll be revealed for iOS, Android, and desktop machines in the near future. It is at Mobile World Congress 2013 that we’ll get our chance to work with the mobile version first – tablets and smartphones all at once.

The first major difference between this web browser and the whole rest of the universe is the ability to swipe back and forth instead of tapping or clicking back and forward buttons. While we’ve got similar functionality with gestures in some environments, no browser until now takes out the buttons from the onset – Opera is confident that you’ll get used to swiping right out of the box.

This environment uses a collection of apps (or shortcuts to webpages) right at the start not unlike Chrome and Chrome OS. One big difference is the tiny bar at the bottom of your page wherever you roam inside an app, this button bringing you back out to the main collection of apps. At the moment we’re not sure if this button is meant to remain in every app or if it’s just being used as a demonstration.

You’ll be working with a set of apps right from the outset, searching then for additional apps with the front and center search bar at the top of your display when you want more. Searching brings up a “visual experience” not unlike instantly appearing app icons, but here you’re seeing sized-down previews of webpages the same aspect ratio as the iPad (or perhaps whatever device you happen to be using.) Each of these icons leads to a webpage or, eventually, an app associated with a webpage.

Once you’ve visited a webpage this way and you want to back out, you hit the bar at the bottom of the page and it’ll minimize, turning then into an icon which you can then add to your collection. Simple and smooth! Can’t wait to see the real deal up close and personal at Barcelona’s own MWC 2013!

Opera Ice makes mobile web browsing ultra-minimalistic is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Opera is best known for its excellent mobile web browser, but they’ve recently been shaking things up in the TV industry with their newer TV web app store. Today at CES 2013, the company announced an updated version of the store as well as a new Devices SDK. Both have a new framework and offer several new features that users will seriously enjoy.

The new TV Store offers a selection of HTML5-based web apps optimized for TV screens, and it now offers a new Side-by-Side feature that lets viewers use apps alongside TV shows that they’re watching. Plus, there’s an increased selection of apps that are available for users to download, making the platform that much more intriguing.

As for the Opera Devices SDK, it now supports YouTube’s Leanback personalized web video channel feature. It’s mostly meant for OEMs, but it has a number of tools for protecting copyrighted material through the Encrypted Media Extension, and it has better streaming performance through the Media Source Extension.

Opera first announced their push towards TV back in September, and while it introduced a number of software partners at the time, including Vimeo, there’s no word on how many OEMs are currently planning to release TVs with support for Opera’s software. This means that it could take a little bit of time before viewers will get to use the new software.

Opera updates TV Store and Devices SDK at CES 2013 is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Opera is probably a name that many have come to associate with browsers, not just for the desktop, but for the mobile as well. Now it seems that Opera wants to venture outside of its core competency and has since launched a music service of its own called Unlimited Music. The soft launch of their music service was done in Russia and much like other music services, Unlimited Music is expected to be subscription-based where users can download and stream their favorite songs. However according to an Opera spokesperson, Opera is not the owner of the content, but rather the enabling layer which basically means that Opera is working with another provider.

Android and Windows Phone users will get to stream and download music, while iOS users will only get the streaming option. Opera’s Unlimited Music service will cost 150 Rubles a month which is about $4.73 and will launch with 2 million tracks, a combination of both Russian and non-Russian music. Opera will be trying out their service in Russia first before deciding on whether to expand to other markets around the world.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Opera 12 desktop browser goes live , Opera launches Opera Mini 7 and “Smart Page” feature,

Opera introduced a new approach to pay-as-you-go mobile data today, but unless you currently live in Malaysia, you’ll only be able to read of the latest advancement. Known as the Opera Web Pass, the service is geared to those without data plans and allows users to purchase short term access from their local carrier. In its current form, mobile providers are given the flexibility to determine which subscriptions to offer, such as an hour or day of internet use, or even quick access to individual apps like Facebook or Google+. Naturally, the service could also be a great value for travelers. For its part, Opera insists that Web Pass should be extremely easy for carriers to implement with their servers. For the time being, however, Opera Web Pass is currently only available to subscribers of DiGi Telecommunications, which partnered with the Norwegian company to develop and test its service. If you’re curious to learn a bit more, feel free to hit up the source links below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Opera Web Pass goes live in Malaysia, provides short-term mobile data access on demand originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 04:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to the SlashGear Evening Wrap-Up: Presidential Edition. The world of tech didn’t come to a halt just because we needed to go out and vote, so in case you missed it, here’s the big news from the day. We learned today that HTC and Verizon will be holding a press event on November 13, and it’s there that we’re expecting to get our first official introduction to the HTC DROID DNA. Speaking of HTC, the company gave us its earnings for October 2012 today, and they aren’t looking all that great. Halo 4 officially launched today, but it isn’t without its share of server problems, and physical Google Wallet cards have been confirmed on a Google support page.

We heard new rumors of an Xbox Surface again today, and AT&T announced that it will begin offering the Nokia Lumia 920 on November 9 for a mere $99. Apple OS X 10.9 has been popping up around the web today, and Opera has been updated to version 12.10, which brings support for high definition displays. Amazon has introduced a new monthly billing option for Prime, and even though you’ll be paying more than subscribing annually, it might be a better idea for some than plopping down one big lump sum.

A sequel to the classic game Elite is looking for funding on Kickstarter, while Instagram says that Hurricane Sandy was probably its biggest event ever. Vizio unveiled a new line up of HDTVs and sound bars for the holidays, while Valve officially kicked off its limited-access Steam for Linux beta today. Ford and Microsoft had reason to gloat today with the 5 millionth Sync-equipped vehicle, and EA & DICE are celebrating 10 years of Battlefield with free copies of Battlefield 1942 on Origin.

Did you photograph your ballot and put it on the Internet today? Did you know that’s an illegal thing to do? Google was awarded a new patent that means something interesting for Google Glass, and Fisker was hit pretty hard by Hurricane Sandy. Microsoft has confirmed it will be focusing on Skype instead of Windows Live Messenger, and we heard that PlayStation: The Official Magazine will be going dark later this year. Finally tonight, Chris Davies explains why Apple will kick Intel to the curb if it can, and we tell you why you should probably wait on the all of the Miracast accessories for now. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, enjoy the rest of your night everyone!

SlashGear Evening Wrap-Up: November 6, 2012 is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.