PRODUCT REVIEW
Latest Opera Browser a Bit Off Key

Using the latest version of the Opera Web Browser (version 10.10) is like meeting up with an old friend and finding out he or she now has issues with the relationship.

Opera 10.10 has several impressive new features, but a few glitches really limit the usefulness of this version. In fact, the only way for me to continue using Opera was to reinstall an earlier version and forgo the new features.

Often when several functions that should work fail in a new software version, the cause lies with the computer hardware's configuration. But what are the chances for the same malfunction to occur in five computers running a variety of Windows and Linux operating systems? On all of my computers, Opera 10.10 had the same problems.

Reinventing the Web

The Opera software was developed around support for open Web standards plus a commitment to speed, performance and security. Opera officials intended version 10.10 to be the jewel in their crown as king of the Web browsers. That jewel, however, might really be just a sparkly Cubic Zirconia.

The company's engineers developed Opera 10.10 with the One Web mission in mind. The goal was to create a universal Web experience on any device, anytime, anywhere, according to company officials. Opera Software is trying to redefine Web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices with its cross-platform Web browser technology.

The Opera Web browser in general is well-regarded. For instance, it has some 45 million active desktop users, with millions more using Opera on various types of other devices, including mobile phones, game consoles, TVs and portable media players.

The company saw 12.5 million downloads of the latest version the first week the new release was available. This download rate shattered previous Opera records and marked an increase of 25 percent when compared to the download rates of Opera 10, launched two months earlier, according to Opera officials.

Two Problems

The new synchronization feature does not work -- at least, not for me. This new feature is supposed to check with the Opera server to synchronize final settings with those of other computers and mobile devices listed on my account. However, the browser never seems to connect with the server to synchronize.

Opera servers report that my user name and password are not valid. There is no link to correct a log-in problem. Email attempts to contact Opera customer service to help fix the registration problem failed to get any response.

I could use Opera 10.10 despite this glitch. Eventually, I would get that problem corrected or survive without using it. However, the other bump I hit was far more serious. This version of Opera does not play well with the Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSK) email service. Comcast is my ISP (Internet Service Provider), which uses the Zimbra application from Yahoo.com.

After logging on to my Comcast mail account, the ISP redirects the URL to a Zimbra address. This is where Opera 10.10 hangs. After confirming that the Opera 10.10 software settings allow Web site redirection and that Java is enabled, I gave up. My personal creed for testing and potentially using software is that it must work without jumping through these kinds of hoops.

Otherwise Cool

It's unfortunate that the latest browser release from Opera causes these troubles. The other features would easily make Opera 10.10 a key browser contender. Version 10.10 includes several innovative features and a snazzy UI (user interface).

One of Opera 10.10's most notable new features is Opera Unite. This is a personal Web server that gives users 10GB of cloud storage to easily share content such as photos and files with all Opera-enabled devices. I suspect that other browsers will soon begin to offer similar features.

Favorite Features

Opera Turbo boosts browsing speeds on slow connections or congested networks with Opera's compression technology. An icon on the status bar at the bottom of the browser window provides quick access to the settings.

Visual Tabs is much like the Tabs Preview add-on available in the Mozila.org's Firefox browser. Hovering the mouse over a tab shows a thumbnail image of that URL.

Mouse Gestures is a really cool feature. It provides a way to browse more efficiently with small, quick mouse movements.

Cross Platform

Last month, to help the company reach its One Web mission, Opera Software released Opera Mobile 10 to operators and OEMs. This version runs on Android, BREW, Windows Mobile and Symbian/S60 smartphones and includes Opera's new, cross-platform UI framework. The cross-platform UI framework allows operators and OEMs to implement the same user experience quickly and cost-effectively across their entire range of handsets.

"Because no operator offers just one type of mobile phone, Opera has developed a new UI solution that can be deployed on multiple phones and platforms. Due to its pure versatility, the cross-platform UI framework can be customized by Opera to meet brand requirements," said Jon von Tetzchner, CEO of Opera Software.