Filed under: Internet, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Web services, Freeware, Social Software, web 2.0, Browsers
With Unite, Opera 10 becomes both a browser and a content server
by Lee Mathews Jun 16th 2009 at 4:30AM
While I'm not certain I would call what Opera has done with Unite (version 10 of its browser) a reinvention of the web, it's certainly a clever, inventive twist on the run-of-the-mill web browser.
So what is it?
Unite sits in Opera's side toolbar and adds various server features to the browser. By default it includes file, media, and photo sharing, a web server, chat room, and "fridge" for storing notes. There are no additional Unite services available yet, though it's safe to assume that community-produced options will start appearing soon (developer resources are listed here).
You configure your sharing options - choose a base directory, set access permissions - and Opera provides a URL you can provide to your friends. Sure, there are hundreds of websites we already use to share media, leave each other messages, and chat, but Opera Unite lets you do it with a single registration and without uploading any of your content to a remote server.
Unite's sharing pages render just fine in other browsers, so you friends don't have to be running Opera. As with previous Opera releases, it's available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
The browser itself hasn't changed - it's still Opera 10, love it or hate it. The new Unite functions are very clever and do add a certain amount of cool factor. It will be interesting to see if the new features can increase the size Opera's fan base.
Take Unite for a spin and share your thoughts, or have a look at the gallery (work in progress)!
Get a WordPress.com Blog
So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
dsw said 4:54AM on 6-16-2009
I've just started using it and so far its been a bit of fun. Unfortunately at the time of writing this there is no php support so that's a bit of a downside being a php developer. Oh well, its definitely worth trying out and I'd recommend it to people to use.
Reply
billcantfart said 5:34AM on 6-16-2009
This is pretty cool. I may even start using Opera in place of Safari if I can used to that icon. It just looks funny in between Safari and Firefox...
Reply
hazard said 5:39AM on 6-16-2009
Interesting concept but there's one major problem regardless of the how well it's implemented, and that's upload speed. Dedicated, distributed server resources are there for a good reason. Trying to browse other users' public files was painfully sloooooooow. Plus once you max out someone's upload you cripple their download and I don't see anyway to control/throttle transfer speed.
Reply
austin316gb said 6:15AM on 6-16-2009
Great idea but not so good for me with upload limits. If I upload to a cloud I only have to do it once. If I use Unite I'd have to upload to everyone that wants it sucking up my bandwidth and taking me above my limits (causing me a download slowdown - stupid Virgin), plus my upload speed sucks so if I upload to a cloud at least it's only me who's inconvenienced rather than every person that's wants to download it.
It's nice to see the creators of browsers thinking outside the box though, what with this, FireFox trying to come up with ideas about news ways to use tabs and Safari using coverflow it should be interesting to see if Microsoft can come up with anything more innovative than webslices and accelerators to regain market share.
Reply
Quikboy said 11:56PM on 6-16-2009
CoverFlow in Safari isn't that useful. It's more distracting in my opinion, and I avoid using it.
Have you tried IE8? I think the nice visual search box, the tab grouping, and Quick Tabs are just as innovative as what you've mentioned.
Brian said 6:32AM on 6-16-2009
So many customizable options but I STILL cant put the tab bar under the address bar like in firefox.
Reply
mko said 8:35AM on 6-16-2009
You can put address bar over tab bar instead.
Brian said 8:37AM on 6-16-2009
but that's not what I want!!
EyesInMist said 9:58AM on 6-16-2009
Tools -> Appearance -> tab Toolbars, tick mark Main Bar, Style: Images only, remove all buttons from toolbar, click once on address bar (in Opera, not in Appearance), tab Buttons, add all buttons from Defaults to Main Bar (drag&drop), back to tab Toolbars, remove tick mark from Address Bar, OK.
jujum said 7:18AM on 6-16-2009
wohooo!
that's awesome!
Reply
vikyboss said 10:14AM on 6-16-2009
This could simply beat Google wave if tweaked a lit bit.
Reply
Mysterius said 1:14PM on 6-16-2009
I'm not sure how this relates to Google Wave. Please enlighten?
Jash Sayani said 10:17AM on 6-16-2009
Is there a Firefox add-on for this ??
If there isn't, there will be one very soon......
Reply
Josh said 1:24PM on 6-16-2009
It's unlikely since it requires server side work and I doubt anyone would have enough server space to offer it and if they did, they would have to charge most likely. Opera can do it since they are using it as a selling point for their browser
Lovin' It said 1:38PM on 6-16-2009
All bs aside, if you have the bandwidth look into it. A lot easier to set up than most VPN services. I like it because often I have to use files that are on my pc at work from home and the companies VPN service sux bad. Also it seems a lot easier to share stuff with friends and family. You don't have to sign up at multiple sites just to share all your different formats of data, just one signup and you can share out most of what families share out.
Reply
madhan said 3:24PM on 6-16-2009
You might want to check out Tonido (http://www.tonido.com), which
offers everything Opera Unite does without needing the browser installed. It is cross-platform and free too.
Reply
samanthavilkins said 5:29AM on 6-17-2009
Um - it worked fine on my computer, but as soon as I tried it on another computer it wouldn't work, saying that I did "not seem to be running any services at the moment."
Am I missing something?
Reply
bl.ueyez said 12:11AM on 6-22-2009
damn i love the new opera theme :)
Reply