Opera Web Browser Goes Freeware

[ferrarimodena360]

By Nate Mook, BetaNews
September 20, 2005, 11:33 AM

Following a successful 24-hour giveaway last month, Opera Software has decided to drop the banner ads from its Web browser and permanently nix the licensing fee. Opera 8.5 is now available for download free of charge, putting new pressure on Firefox as it nears version 1.5.

"Today we invite the entire Internet community to use Opera and experience Web browsing as it should be," said Jon S. von Tetzchner, Opera CEO. "Removing the ad banner and licensing fee will encourage many new users to discover the speed, security and unmatched usability of the Opera browser."

Version 8.5 also brings to the table a number of other minor improvements, including Browser JavaScript for fixing broken Web sites on the fly and four security fixes.

Opera will continue to offer paid "Premium Support," but the company is likely to refocus its business around volume - much like Microsoft has done with Internet Explorer and Mozilla with Firefox.

"Some people might speculate that Opera couldn't compete by charging when AOL, Apple, Microsoft, Mozilla and most other browser developers give away software for free. Not so. Just the opposite is true," explained Jupiter Research senior analyst Joe Wilcox.

"The Opera folks are betting their browser has reached a threshold of popularity where they can unshackle it from the fees. This clearly is a volume play that could pay off if enough people use the browser. Opera would be able to drive revenue through affiliate relationships, for example."

Opera spokesman Thomas Ford said the move to freeware was not made in response to the success of Firefox.

"This is really an opportunity to provide choice. Now users can select the safest and fastest Internet browser. Increasing our market share allows Opera to play a stronger role in shaping the future of Web innovation," Ford told BetaNews.

Opera 8.5 can be downloaded for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and FreeBSD in 20 languages.

:icon_shak http://www.betanews.com/article/Opera_Web_Browser_Goes_Freeware/1127230383

[ferrarimodena360]

Opera for Windows 8.50

Publisher's Description:

Opera introduces the looks and the performance of an exceptional Web browser. Opera's user interface has received a major overhaul with the new start-up dialog, and new default buttons, skin and panels in a blue and white color scheme that can be changed back to classic Opera look or another design. At start-up you can select a single or multiple document interface (SDI/MDI).

Opera's new looks are complemented with exciting features such as the Personal Bar and Pagebar, hotclick, improved window handling, bookmarks search, redesigned preferences, new shortcuts, extensive drag and drop, and support for Unicode and LiveConnect.

Opera has the following other editions available: Opera for FreeBSD, Opera for Linux and Opera for Mac OS X.
Latest Changes:

* Advertisement banner removed
* Registration options removed
* Updated end-user license agreement
* Browser JavaScript fixes broken Web sites on the fly
* Removed advertising banners and all dialogs and menus related to advertising, registration, and license codes
* Solved issue with Opera reverting explicit user setting to use program as handler rather than plug-in
* Removed support for branded banners
* Fixed issue reported in Secunia Advisory 16645: Attachment URLs now used instead of cache URLs for viewing attachments
* Fixed drag-and-drop vulnerability allowing unintentional file uploads. Issue reported by mikx.de
* Improved handling of must-revalidate cache directive for HTTPS pages
* Fixed display issue with cookie comment encoding
* Included Browser JavaScript by default. On first run after install/upgrade, Opera will fetch a fresh browser.js file and start using it
* Multiple stability fixes

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Opera_for_Windows/945720329/1

[shawners]

why did they change all that back?? It didnt matter since they cracked it and posted it without ads.

[.:sp00ky:.]

Opera spokesman Thomas Ford said the move to freeware was not made in response to the success of Firefox.


suuuuure it wasnt.

nice to know though guess it saves 10 seconds finding a keygen.

[TwoLoud]

Its about time they went freeware....not that it really mattered anyways, its still a good browser none the less...