Opera launches Opera 6.0 for Linux Beta 1

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Author: JT Smith

Opera Software ASA today unleashed Opera 6.0 for Linux Beta 1 with a wide range of speed-boosting functions and exclusive features only available to Linux users. The earlier version of the Opera for Linux browser, Opera 5 for Linux, has already been downloaded and installed a record one million times.

“Opera 5.0 for Linux has been incredibly popular among our Linux desktop users, and we are very happy to see that one million have downloaded and installed Opera,” says Dean Kakridas, VP Desktop Products, Opera Software ASA. “There is clearly a demand for a better Internet experience in the Linux community.”

In addition to greater speed and ease of use, Opera for the first time displays non-Roman alphabets for Linux users, opening up the local markets in the Asia/Pacific and Eastern European region to true browser competition.

“We have seen a great interest in Opera for Linux in the Asian and Eastern European markets,” says Dean Kakridas, VP Desktop Products, Opera Software ASA, “and we are very happy to finally be able to meet this demand with a faster, accessible and more flexible browser that integrates seamlessly into the Linux environment.”

Opera 6.01 for Linux Beta 1 is available immediately from www.opera.com.

New features in Opera 6.0 for Linux Beta 1

Contact List
Keep information about your friend and colleagues in the new contact list. Visit their Web pages and with the use of an external mail client, send an e-mail to your contacts.

Cookie Management
Manage your cookies with the new cookie editor. [exclusive]

Mouse Gestures
Perform almost any operation with mouse gestures such as the ones found in Opera 6.0 for Windows, as well as some Linux-specific mouse gestures like the middle-click on windowbar to open clipboard URL in new window. [some exclusive]

Help window
You can now read the help documentation in its own window with useful buttons.

Import
You can import bookmarks, contact lists, window setup files and pages. [partly exclusive]

Bookmark import
Kde1/Kde2 paths and Kde2 XML Netscape/Mozilla Path [partly exclusive]

Bookmark management
Easily move bookmarks around. Drag bookmarks to folders and the Personal Bar. When dragging bookmarks to te Opera workspace, a window or the windowbar Opera will go to the bookmark URL.

Quick Preferences F12
Quick access to some of the most frequently changed preferences.

E-mail links
Advanced mailto links often include subject and body. With Opera’s new and more advanced invoking of an external e-mail client such links now work perfectly. [exclusive]

Plug-in support
Improved Opera plug-in support. Most Netscape plug-ins are supported such as Macromedia Flash, Acrobat Reader, Real Player, Java, Plugger, TCL 2.0, Codeweaver Crossover (Apple Quicktime).

New look
Opera has a new default button set, skin and panels. Change to classic Opera look or set your own under Preferences > Browser layout. Find more buttons, skins and panels at my.opera.com.

Hotclick
Double-click a word or right-click a selected phrase and display a pop-up menu full of powerful features such as search, encyclopedia look-up, and translation.

Personal Bar
Organize and personalize your favorite bookmarks and searches in one place.

Bookmarks
Search bookmarks or sort them by title, date created, when visited or customize your own ordering.

Panels
Users can place their favorite Web pages in panels that are displayed in the hotlist during their browsing session. Web pages for panels have to be optimized to the hotlist size. Panels are available at my.opera.com.

Unicodez
For the first time, Opera supports the Unicode Worldwide Character Set, making Opera available in local languages for the Asian/Pacific and Eastern European regions when users have the correct fonts installed.

Improved window handling
Switch easily between document windows with the new keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Tab.

Keyboard shortcuts
New shortcuts to speed up your surfing.

Help files
New help files, completely rewritten and improved. If you are running Opera 6.0, press F1 to see them now.

About Opera Software

Opera Software ASA is an industry leader in the development of Web browsers for the desktop and embedded markets, partnering with companies such as IBM, AMD, Symbian, Canal+ Technologies, Ericsson, Sharp and Lineo. The Opera browser has received international recognition from endusers and the industry press for being faster, smaller and more standards-compliant than other browsers. Opera is available on Windows, Mac, Linux/Solaris, Symbian OS, and QNX. Opera Software ASA is a privately held company headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Learn more about Opera at www.opera.com.

Contacts

Katherine Barrios
PR Manager Americas & Asia/Pacific
Tel: +47 40 40 14 65
Tel: 1-888-624-4846 (Press only)
E-mail: uspress@opera.com