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With Unite, Opera 10 becomes both a browser and a content server
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)!
Comments
18
Subscribe to commentsdswJun 16th 2009 4:54AM
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.
billcantfartJun 16th 2009 5:34AM
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...
hazardJun 16th 2009 5:39AM
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.
austin316gbJun 16th 2009 6:15AM
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.
QuikboyJun 16th 2009 11:56PM
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.
BrianJun 16th 2009 6:32AM
So many customizable options but I STILL cant put the tab bar under the address bar like in firefox.
mkoJun 16th 2009 8:35AM
You can put address bar over tab bar instead.
BrianJun 16th 2009 8:37AM
but that's not what I want!!
EyesInMistJun 16th 2009 9:58AM
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.
jujumJun 16th 2009 7:18AM
wohooo!
that's awesome!
vikybossJun 16th 2009 10:14AM
This could simply beat Google wave if tweaked a lit bit.
MysteriusJun 16th 2009 1:14PM
I'm not sure how this relates to Google Wave. Please enlighten?
Jash SayaniJun 16th 2009 10:17AM
Is there a Firefox add-on for this ??
If there isn't, there will be one very soon......
JoshJun 16th 2009 1:24PM
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' ItJun 16th 2009 1:38PM
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.
madhanJun 16th 2009 3:24PM
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.
samanthavilkinsJun 17th 2009 5:29AM
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?
bl.ueyezJun 22nd 2009 12:11AM
damn i love the new opera theme :)