Page 68 - Computer Power User - February 2017

Inside The World Of Betas

OPERA NEON 1.0.2459.0
hat does it take to “disrupt” web
W browsers these days? As far as market
share goes, the Big Three—Chrome, Firefox,
and Edge/Internet Explorer—have been
firmly entrenched for a while. The remaining
horde of less popular browsers usually rely on
a novel feature or two to gain an edge as they
scuffle over the sliver of pie that’s left over.
Then there’s Opera. Existing in a kind
of purgatory between the Big Three and all
the other fringe browsers, Opera has always
maintained a loyal following, but it’s never
been a browser that people have flocked to
en masse. Now, Opera Software wants to
give you a glimpse of what the future of
web browsing could look like, introducing
Opera Neon, which the developer is calling
a “concept browser.”
Opera Neon isn’t quite beta software in the
strictest sense, but it’s also not a fully developed
browser the same way that Opera itself is.
For example, Opera Neon lacks several of screen bubbles. You can, however, shuffle the Opera Neon 1.0.2459.0
Opera’s key features, including a native ad order of any open “tabs” (in Opera Neon’s Publisher and URL: Opera Software;
blocker, VPN, and extension support. Further, case, more bubbles) that show up in a column www.opera.com/computer/neon
the developer indicates, “We do plan to on the right side of the browser window. ETA: N/A
incorporate some of [Opera Neon’s] best new Opera Neon also changes how you use the Why You Should Care: Experience the future of
features into Opera for computers as early as web. For example, the browser’s split screen web browsing, at least according to Opera.
spring 2017.” So, anyone who uses Opera mode lets you display two web pages within
Neon isn’t beta-testing software so much as a single browser window, and you can easily
they’re beta-testing concepts. We like to call it adjust each page’s portion of the window. handy, and we like that the feature is baked
“beta-esque.” Sure, it’s not a particular revolutionary into Opera Neon. It’s almost exactly the same
Whatever you want to call it, Opera Neon addition, especially if you’re already used to as Opera’s pop-out video, though, so you
has a decidedly different look than other web snapping two browser windows to either side may want to temper your excitement.
browsers. When you first launch Opera Neon, of your Desktop, but it’s nonetheless a solid Pop the hood, and you’ll see that Opera
you’ll notice it uses your Desktop wallpaper feature. Another neat but not quite mind- Neon is essentially the same as Opera, too.
as its own. Front and center are a series of blowing trick Opera Neon can do is capture It relies on Chromium code and uses the
bubbles, which function similarly to other screen shots (including a crop tool) of web Blink engine, so we weren’t surprised to see
browsers’ Frequently Visited tiles. As you pages and save them to its internal gallery. Opera Neon deliver the same performance as
swing by your favorite websites, that site’s Opera Software puts a big emphasis Google Chrome. We tested both browsers in
“bubble” will rise to the top of Opera Neon’s on Opera Neon’s video capabilities. The SunSpider, Octane, Kraken, and JetStream.
Home screen. The bubbles are somewhat centerpiece is its pop-out video feature, Chrome outperformed Opera Neon in every
customizable. If you don’t like a particular site’s which essentially clones a video to a separate benchmark, but never by more than 5%.
ascension to the top of the Home screen, you window that lives outside of Opera Neon Opera Neon’s UI is refreshing, and it’s
can banish it by clicking its associated “X.” itself. However, this window is bound to the just as usable as any other popular browser.
It then disappears with a satisfying “poof” host tab; close the tab or pause the original Even if it’s just a staging ground for Opera
animation. Less satisfying is the fact that you video, and the pop-out video closes or pauses, Software’s flagship browser, it’s worth taking
apparently can’t manually rearrange the Home as well. Popped-out videos are certainly for a spin. ■

68 February2017 / www.computerpoweruser.com