Digital Guru: Opera
A WORTHWHILE CONTENDER WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR BROWSER OF CHOICE.
WHETHER IT’S A laptop, smartphone or tablet, the web browser has become a vital part of any device. As something we use on a daily basis for up to hours at a time, your browser of choice is a very personal decision. Hence when it comes to deciding on a browser, it’s worth looking at all your options. What some may call the dark horse of the industry, Opera is a cross-platform browser with serious bite. With many of the functions you’ve come to expect from other browsers, it’s Opera’s range of unique tools and features that make it a serious challenger in the browser sweepstakes. For our final look at web browsers, we’ve tried and tested the tools that we think make Opera stand out from the rest.
THE BASICS
SHOULD I SWITCH? While there’s pros and cons to every browser, we think Opera is definitely worth a run for your money. In terms of performance, you’ll find Opera works just as well (if not better) when compared to Chrome or Firefox in the latest performance benchmarks. You’ll also sleep happy knowing many of the features you’re familiar with – such as cloud syncing, extensions and private browsing – also come standard in Opera. It’s for all these reasons then that we definitely recommend giving Opera a go, if not at least to try out tools like the built-in VPN and currency converter.
GETTING STARTED. Begin by visiting www. opera.com and downloading the appropriate software. Once installed, open the browser to see a small grey strip of icons on the left-hand side of the screen. This sidebar provides one-click access to things like bookmarks, browser history and search. Beyond this, the layout is pretty similar to any other typical browser.
SPEED DIAL. A feature that’s long been a part of Opera, Speed Dial provides one-click access to your favourite websites. Best described as a visual bookmarking tool, the Speed Dial is displayed every time you open a new tab or click the icon in the sidebar. To pin a new website, from the Speed Dial click Add a site and enter its URL. Tiles can be rearranged by dragging and dropping, while placing one tile over another puts them both in a folder.
ADVERTISING. Ad-blocking extensions have been around for a number of years, but it’s only recently that popular browsers have started introducing built-in solutions. And yet, Opera claims to be the first, with it’s ad-blocking technology promising a smoother and less-intrusive browsing experience. To enable the tool, open the settings page using the keyboard shortcut Alt + P (Option + , for Mac) and flick the relevant switch to enable ad-blocking. A blue shield icon will now appear in the address bar to indicate how many advertisements are being blocked. Opera claims it’s ad-blocking can make pages load up to 90% faster, but don’t take our word for it – click the shield icon and conduct your own speed test to see how ads may be slowing you down.
VPN. While virtual private networks aren’t anything new, some can be quite cumbersome to set up. Luckily, Opera has a built-in VPN that’s completely free to use. A VPN hides your location from websites, making it appear as if you’re connecting to the web from a location other than your own. To turn it on for the first time, visit the advanced section of settings and enable the VPN. You can then disable or change your browser’s virtual location by clicking the VPN icon displayed in the address bar.
STEP IT UP A LEVEL
INSTANT SEARCH. In addition to conducting searches via the address bar, you can also summon a new search window using the keyboard shortcut Alt + SPACE, or by pressing the search icon displayed in the sidebar. Doing so will bring up a small search window where you can then type a query and view results – all without leaving the current tab.
NEWS FEED. Below the Speed Dial you’ll find a news feed able to be tailored to your unique tastes and interests. To refine your feed, click the news icon displayed within the sidebar – it’s here that you can then add your favourite websites by selecting Add Sources. SYNC. Registering for an Opera account lets you store passwords, bookmarks and browsing history in the cloud for access from all your devices. To set it up, visit the settings page and click the sign in option under Synchronisation before choosing to create a new account.
CUSTOM SEARCH. Browsing the web shouldn’t just be limited to Google or Bing. In fact, many websites you visit have a search function already. But did you know that you can search these sites directly from Opera’s address bar? To set it up, right-click any search box displayed on a compatible website to see the option to add it as a new search engine. The website’s icon will now appear at the bottom of Opera’s search window whenever you type a query into the address bar.
MESSAGING. Navigating the web via a large number of tabs can make keeping track of thriving Facebook conversations a challenge. One of the genius features of Opera is the messaging tools built directly into the sidebar. There’s support for Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp and Telegram (which can be enabled in settings) – just click each icon to set them up.
FLOW. In addition to signing up for an Opera account, Flow lets you store things like links, images and videos from the web in one place – think of it like a scratchpad for the internet. Start by installing and opening the Opera Touch app on your smartphone. Next, from your computer click the arrow icon in the sidebar and use your smartphone to scan the QR code that’s displayed. You can send things to Flow from your desktop by right-clicking on a webpage, highlighting some text, or clicking the blue arrow displayed in the address bar.
GOING PRO
CONVERSIONS. Whether it’s a new pair of sneakers or an overseas holiday, exchange rates can turn the seamingly cheap into something very expensive. You can avoid this by relying on Opera’s automatic conversion tools. Simply highlight any amount shown on a webpage (including its currency symbol) and the conversion will automatically appear. Opera can also convert measurements and timezones.
PICTURE-IN-PICTURE. A feature that first made waves in televisions many years ago, picturein-picture has only recently become available in web browsers. The tool allows you to move videos to the corner of your screen to watch while you continue to browse the web. To turn it on, click the pop-out icon that appears on compatible sites such as YouTube.
TURBO. It’s easy to take for granted how much we rely on fast internet… that is until it’s not.
TO REFINE YOUR FEED, CLICK THE NEWS ICON DISPLAYED WITHIN THE SIDEBAR – IT’S HERE THAT YOU CAN THEN ADD YOUR FAVOURITE WEBSITES BY SELECTING ADD SOURCES.