The fixes, however, are subtle. The most significant one rights a network issue that caused Opera Mini to freeze at start-up. This release also set the app’s fallback language to English rather than Arabic, as it previously was (in other words, an error with a language pack will now revert back to English.) Opera Mini is now also available in Hungarian, and the company says it has fixed backend bugs and stability soft spots.

However, Opera’s mini update may disappoint some users who are on the lookout for Opera Mini to adopt multitouch pinch-to-zoom capabilities, finer-detail zoom levels, improved page rendering, and support for iPhone-optimized Web pages.

The fact that Opera Mini is a proxy browser that more or less beams an image of a Web page to your screen courtesy of Opera’s servers, can account for some of the user grievances. For instance, Opera Mini isn’t a native iPhone app, and therefore doesn’t have access to the pinch-to-zoom technology of iPhone’s Safari browser.

In the meantime, a brand-new entrant into the mobile browser space should have Opera reconsidering its position.

Skyfire, a previous Opera Mobile competitor on Windows Mobile and Symbian phones, has also on Thursday introduced Skyfire beta browser for Android. Skyfire’s browser is based on the same open-source WebKit engine used to build Safari–as such, it already employs pinch-and-zoom. Skyfire definitely has its sights set on a version for iPhone, which would bring it into direct opposition with its Opera Mini rival.

While Opera has gone on record boasting that it’s found a way around Apple’s browser restrictions using its own software code, the company’s stubbornness could lose users who care more about pinching the screen than they do about how quickly pages load.

It’s also worth noting competitor Skyfire’s buzzed-about ability to transcode and stream Flash video through the company’s servers. That, combined with multitouch support, could give Skyfire, and not Opera Mini, the next iPhone edge. Flash video has been the hot topic in mobile of late, with Google affirming that its Android OS update 2.2 will carry it, and Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ going on record to bestow his kiss of death for Adobe Flash on iPhone.

Opera may yet have a little breathing room to rethink its strategy before Skyfire and others make their iPhone move. Skyfire’s CEO Jeff Glueck told CNET in an interview that while an iPhone version of their native/proxy browser hybrid is certainly in the works, the company wants to make sure it can handle server hits comparable to a million new users in one day, assuming their success were to follow Opera’s in the first full day of its iPhone release.

Resource:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-20003802-233.html

On Monday evening, Opera Software announced that Apple had approved Opera Mini, the first alternative Web browser for its iPhone. After 24 hours, the free app was downloaded to 1,023,380 Apple devices, the company reported.

To get approval from Apple, however, Opera Mini could not be a true browser because Apple’s developer agreement forbids alternative JavaScript engines, and possibly Web rendering engines, from being released for the iPhone. But as Daring Fireball’s John Gruber pointed out, Opera Mini doesn’t actually render Web pages; it renders a compressed markup language called OBML, making Opera Mini more like a PDF reader than a Web browser.

Nonetheless, Opera said that iPhone users now “have a choice, and, as the numbers show, they are eager to explore new and faster ways to surf the Web on the iPhone – especially during heavy Web traffic,” according to Lars Boilesen, chief executive of Opera.

Resource:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2362734,00.asp

There are over 50 million Opera Mini users globally.

Opera Mini uses Opera’s servers to render and compress pages, thus increasing speed for the end user, and also working around Apple’s stringent rules.

The company says users of the iPhone over AT&T’s slower 2G Edge data will definitely feel the “uptake in speed.”

Whether all the downloads are just a curiosity or proof that iPhone/iPod Touch users are looking for choice within their hardware remains to be seen, but it seems pretty clear that Opera will be gaining a significant amount of users.

Resource:
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2010/04/15/opera_mini_tops_all_of_apple_s_top_app_charts

After much speculation, Opera has finally submitted the Opera Mini browser to be approved by folks over at Apple. This came after Opera demoed the Opera Mini working on the iPhone at the ongoing CTIA Wireless Expo at Las Vegas. If you recall, Opera had first demoed the Opera Mini for the iPhone at the CES over two months ago. Back then, people weren’t allowed to take pics or make a video of it – a thing that was not done this time around

While Opera is confident that its browser would be approved by Apple, there are others who think it will never enter the walled garden, i.e; the Apple App Store. Opera showed off a version of the Opera Mini running on an iPhone yesterday at their stall at the CTIA. From what is easily observed in the video below, the Mini is way faster than the default Safari browser on the iPhone.

Opera Mini for the iPhone is visually similar to the other versions of the browser for different platforms. Opera had confirmed last year that its browsers would sport a uniform look across multiple platforms. This is holding true even in the case of the iPhone version of Opera Mini. Opera Mini seems to be on an all out offensive against Apple and has even started a countdown clock that displays how long it has been since they submitted the browser for approval with the Apple App Store team. You can see the counter here.

Now all eyes are tuned to the “verdict” the Apple App Store will pass. Will Opera Mini make it to the other side of the fence? Will Apple relent? We’ll find that out soon!

Resource:
http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Opera_Mini_Knocks_Apples_Door/551-110122-580.html

Today’s release puts the finishing touches on the Opera mobile-browsing duo. The focus is on delivering the best Internet experience on nearly any mobile phone, along with a unified look and feel and innovative favorite features, such as Speed Dial, password manager and tabbed browsing.

"Keeping in mind the needs and wants of our 50+ million users, we have emphasized speed, desktop-like functionality and data savings in our mobile browsers. Today, we have made it even easier for everyone to surf, search and socialize on the Web," said Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera Software.

Top 5 reasons why you cannot live without Opera on your phone

• Get the best Internet experience on your phone
  Opera delivers the full Web experience on nearly any mobile phone, and it is easy and free to download.
• No more slow surfing
  Opera mobile browsers are designed to boost your browsing speed significantly. Opera brings the best and fastest browsing experience on any mobile phone.
• Get your mobile phone bills under control
  Opera Mini’s compression technology reduces the amount of data sent to your phone by up to 90 percent, resulting in lower costs on pay-per-MB data plans or when roaming.
• Web made easy, even on your phone
  Opera keeps it simple with a sleekly designed user interface, regardless of the phone you are using, and with the same great feature set, such as Speed Dial, tabs, and the password manager.
• Never leave your personal information behind
  Opera Link lets you synchronize your bookmarks, notes and Speed Dial between your computer and your mobile phone. Make your information available wherever you are – at work, at home or on the road.

Download
Bring the power of the Web to your phone. Download Opera Mini 5 or Opera Mobile 10 directly to your phone at no cost from m.opera.com/, or read more at http://www.opera.com/mobile/.

Availability
Opera Mini 5 is available on all Java-based and BlackBerry phones, as well as Android and Windows Mobile (both in beta only) phones. Opera Mobile 10 is available on Windows Mobile and Symbian S60-based mobile phones.

Screenshots
Screenshots are available at http://www.opera.com/press/resources/.

Video
Video is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWHIGGjiamA.

Resource:
http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2010/03/16/

Oslo, Norway — February 10, 2010
Opera Software, maker of the world’s most popular mobile Web browser, plans to reveal Opera Mini for iPhone in an exclusive press and partner preview during the 2010 Mobile World Congress (MWC). Visit Opera’s exhibit in Hall 1, C44, to witness a new way to surf the Web on the iPhone — an experience that Opera promises will be fast, easy to use, and packed with favorite Opera features.

Opera Mini is renowned for its compression technology, which results in significantly faster Web-page loading and reduces data surcharges. With favorite desktop features in its arsenal, such as tabs, Speed Dial and the password manager, Opera Mini is designed with usability in mind.

“We are thrilled to offer journalists and partners an exclusive preview of Opera Mini for iPhone during the year’s biggest mobile event,” said Jon von Tetzchner, Co-founder, Opera Software. “This is a unique opportunity to introduce the fast, feature-rich Opera Mini experience for the iPhone, and to showcase our latest beta releases of Opera Mobile and Opera Mini on other platforms and devices. Opera’s mission is to bring the Web to the world, and by making Opera Mini available on yet another platform, we are one step closer.”

While Opera Mini for iPhone is not publicly available, visitors without a press pass will not leave Opera’s stand disappointed. Opera will unveil a host of other Opera-powered devices at its exhibit. Check out the following Opera technology, live from MWC:

• Opera Mobile 10 beta 3 on Symbian S60 and Windows Mobile handsets
• Opera Mobile 10 beta running on Android handsets
• Opera Mini 5 beta, running on a variety of handsets and platforms
• Opera’s cross-platform Widgets Manager beta, running on Windows Mobile and S60 handsets

To hear more from Opera about the future of the Web, attend one of our speaking engagements during MWC:

Monday, February 15, 2010

15:00 — Jon von Tetzchner, Vodafone panel discussion on “Mobile Web developments, W3C standards, using Web APIs and the live creation of widgets”, in Hall 7, Auditorium 1

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

14:00 — Håkon Wium Lie, panel discussion on “Mobile security in an IP world”, Hall 5
14:00 — Christen Krogh, presentation on “Creating a connected cloud for the perfect mobile storm”, Hall 5
15:45 — GSMA Awards ceremony, Opera Mini shortlisted for “Best Mobile Internet Service” and “Best Mobile Technology Breakthrough”, Hall 5, Level 3, Auditorium 1

Get your hands on an Opera-powered device by visiting our stand in Hall 1, C44, during Barcelona’s annual Mobile World Congress, or schedule a meeting with Opera. Contact press10@opera.com press10[at]opera.com for more information

Resource:
http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2010/02/10/