<FONT FACE="MS Sans Serif" SIZE="2">[ <A HREF="#top">Top of the document</A> ] [ <A HREF="alfaindx.htm"> Index </A>] [ <A HREF="ui.htm">Home</A> ]</FONT>
<P>
<B>Opera is a World Wide Web client</B>, ie. a program for retrieving information on the <A HREF="terms.htm#www">World Wide Web</A>. Opera can also be used to retrieve information using FTP, Gopher and WAIS, and for reading <A HREF="terms.htm#news">newsgroups</A> and discussion groups (news). The same simple user interface is used for all these services. You can also send <A HREF="terms.htm#mail">electronic mail</A> using Opera.
<P>
Opera has been written for Microsoft Windows, and uses the standard Windows program design philosophy. Users will therefore recognize most of the functions from other programs, such as text editing etc. The menus follow the normal standards, the button bar has the normal sequence, and other features, e.g. the ability to have multiple windows open simultaneously, will be familiar from Windows use.
<P>
The developers of Opera, are concerned that the program will be easy to use for as many people as possible, and so they have also included the ability to use the program with the <A HREF="keys.htm">keyboard</A>, which will be useful for all those who are not comfortable with prolonged use of a mouse. The emphasis has been on fast and simple access to the important functions, and that it is also user-friendly for those with different handicaps.
<P>
Opera's developers are also concerned that it should be possible to use the Internet without being a language specialist. It is always useful to learn another language, but the intention is that you will be able to buy this program in your own language. Opera has already been produced in:
<UL>
<LI> Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk)
<LI> English
<LI> German
<LI> Spanish
<LI> Castellano
<LI> Swedish
<LI> French
<LI> Italian
<LI> Afrikaans
</UL>
Other languages in planning or preparation.</FONT>
<FONT FACE="MS Sans Serif" SIZE="2">[ <A HREF="#top">Top of the document</A> ] [ <A HREF="alfaindx.htm"> Index </A>] [ <A HREF="ui.htm">Home</A> ]</FONT>
<P>
Following customer requests, we have again added a number of very useful features. Here is a list of some of the more interesting ones:
<BR>
<BR>
<TABLE WIDTH="95%" BORDER="1">
<TR><TD valign=top><B>Javascript</B></TD><TD valign=top>Our customers have asked us to add Javascript, as many sites now use this to function and navigate. You can switch the use of Javascript off any time you like, if you feel that it makes your browser instable. </TD></TR>
<TR><TD valign=top><B>New address list</B></TD><TD valign=top>Many of our customers have asked us to review our powerful address list. We have taken their advice to heart and completely redesigned the address list. </TD></TR>
<TR><TD valign=top><B>Secure Socket Layer (SSL 2.0, 3.0 and TLS 1.0)</B></TD><TD valign=top>Accessing secure sites for online purchases and banking has become paramount for many of our customers. We have heeded their advice and added SSL. You may switch it off any time you like. </TD></TR>
<TR><TD valign=top><B>Netscape Plugins</B></TD><TD valign=top>Many plugins are floating around. To give those of our customers who use plugins the opportunity to utilise and enjoy them in Opera, we have added quite a few in v3.0. Of course, you can switch them off any time you like - all in the spirit of Opera. Below is a list of currently supported plugins.<BR>
<TR><TD valign=top><B>Useful new keyboard shortcuts</B></TD>
<TD valign=top>Ctrl-A - marks all text
<BR>
Ctrl-R - reloads document
<BR>
Ctrl-I - reloads all graphics
<BR>
W/S - Jumps between all headers
<BR>
E/D - Jumps between all elements
<BR>
6 - Jumps to 100% zoom
<BR>
7 - Zooms out by 100%
<BR>
8 - Zooms in by 100%
</TD></TR>
<TR><TD valign=top><B>Opera:cache</B></TD><TD valign=top>To view the content of the Opera cache directory</TD></TR>
<TR><TD valign=top><B>General Improvements</B></TD><TD valign=top>Too many to mention here. Take a look at the <A HREF="#revision">Revision History</A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<BR>
As a refresher, here is a list of some of the more interesting features we added to version 2.1:</FONT>
<BR>
<TABLE WIDTH="95%" BORDER="1">
<!-- Table 01 Row 01 -->
<TR>
<TD valign=top><B>Cookies support.</B></TD>
<TD valign=top>We have (reluctantly) added cookies support. Cookies allow the server to store information on your disk. Many scripts have started to use this and will not work without it. Cookies support can of course be turned off.</TD>
</TR>
<!-- Table 01 Row 02 -->
<TR>
<TD valign=top><B>Improved news</B></TD>
<TD valign=top>Improved news implementation, with better keyboard handling, more settings, support for multiple news servers</TD>
</TR>
<!-- Table 01 Row 03 -->
<TR>
<TD valign=top><B>Frames support</B></TD>
<TD valign=top>Opera can now show those frames document on the net. You can of course access these frame windows from the keyboard and we have added new keyboard commands for switching between frames. Of course you can turn off frames support if you do not like frames. All in the spirit of Opera.</TD>
<TD valign=top>You can now choose to have all links clicked in one window display in another. This gives you great flexibility in configuring your own system. The output settings are saved when window settings are saved allowing you to start up with the configuration of your choice.</TD>
</TR>
<!-- Table 01 Row 05 -->
<TR>
<TD valign=top><B>Useful new keyboard shortcuts</B></TD>
<TD valign=top>Single key window switching
<BR>
Single key frame switching
<BR>
Alternative zoom keys for access without a numeric key pad or when the numeric key pad is in use And more -- see
<FONT COLOR="#008000">keyboard shortcuts</FONT>
</TD>
</TR>
<!-- Table 01 Row 06 -->
<TR>
<TD valign=top><B>General Improvements</B></TD>
<TD valign=top>Too many to mention here. Take a look at the <FONT COLOR="#008000"><A HREF="#revision">Revision History</A></FONT>
<FONT FACE="MS Sans Serif" SIZE="2" COLOR="#008000"><A HREF="#top">Top of the document</A></FONT>
<BR>
<BR>
<A NAME="opera30"><FONT SIZE="4">New features in Opera 3.0</FONT></A>
<HR SIZE=1 align=left noshade width=70%>
<FONT FACE="MS Sans Serif" SIZE="2">[ <A HREF="#top">Top of the document</A> ] [ <A HREF="alfaindx.htm"> Index </A>] [ <A HREF="ui.htm">Home</A> ]</FONT>
<P>
<OL>
<LI>JavaScript (Netscape 3.0 compatible)
<LI>SSL (Secure Socket Layer) 2.0, 3.0 and TLS 1.0 support.
<LI>Server Push.
<LI>Single button color toggle between document and user colors.
<LI>Keyboard commands to jump between elements in a document.
<LI> - W & S jump between headers.
<LI> - E & D jump between all elements.
<LI>Some changes in the keyboard setup with respect to news.
<LI>Additional zoom keys:
<LI> - 8 = +100%
<LI> - 7 = -100%
<LI> - 6 = goto 100%
<LI>New window in the background function (CONTROL+SHIFT+CLICK).
<LI>Improved cache handling.
<LI><FONT FACE> support.
<LI>Reload all windows added.
<LI>Remembers Open/Save directories between runs.
<LI>Link Save as file function added.
<LI>Mail out file for saving correspondence.
<LI>Option to turn off active frame border.
<LI>INI file options to turn off exit box.
<LI>INI file options to select buttons in button bar.
<LI>Plugins.
<LI>Frame 'Save As' added.
<LI>New Keyboard Short Cuts
<LI> - CONTROL + A : Select all
<LI> - CONTROL + R : Reload (compatibility with Netscape & MSIE)
<LI> - CONTROL + I : Reload Images (compatibility with Netscape & MSIE)
<LI> - CONTROL + PAGE UP : Scroll one page to the left
<LI> - CONTROL + PAGE DOWN : Scroll one page to the right
<LI>No border on buttons (option to turn them on again)
<LI>Opera:cache to view cache contents.
<LI>New hot list.
<LI>Bugfixes.
</OL>
<BR>
<BR>
<A NAME="opera2123"><FONT SIZE="4">New features in Opera 2.1 beta 3:</FONT></A>
<HR SIZE=1 align=left noshade width=70%>
<FONT FACE="MS Sans Serif" SIZE="2">[ <A HREF="#top">Top of the document</A> ] [ <A HREF="alfaindx.htm"> Index </A>] [ <A HREF="ui.htm">Home</A> ]</FONT>
<P>
<OL>
<LI> Cookies support. We have (reluctantly) added cookies support. Cookies allow the server to store information on your disk. Many scripts have started to use this and will not work without it. Cookies support can of course be turned off.
<LI> Big buttons and text in the progress field (select your own size, font and color).
<LI> Big mail buttons (select your own size, font and color).
<LI> Maximize frame function on right mouse button.
<LI> Hot list window and search window can now be re-activated when they lose focus.
<LI> A number of improvements and bug fixes when it comes to the display.
<LI> Added support for 477 color names for backgrounds and text.
<LI> Added support for alignment of tables with respect to text. The tables are treated as images.
<LI> Opera variations added as to demonstrate Operas flexibility and to be ussed as base settings. Start Opera with any of the following:
<BR>
Standard settings - Simple settings for an easier start.
<OL>
<LI> settings for machines with <U>little memory and hard disk space</U>. Cache settings should in general be tweaked to suit your machine setup.
<LI> settings for <U>change of font and color in the button bar</U>.
<LI> <U>vision settings</U> for larger fonts, black background and green text. Images disabled as well, although this is in no way necessary for all low vision users.
</OL>
<LI> Added /nowin command line option for starting Opera without documents.
</OL>
<BR>
<BR>
<A NAME="opera2122"><FONT SIZE="4">New features in Opera 2.1 beta 2:</FONT></A>
<HR SIZE=1 align=left noshade width=70%>
<FONT FACE="MS Sans Serif" SIZE="2">[ <A HREF="#top">Top of the document</A> ] [ <A HREF="alfaindx.htm"> Index </A>] [ <A HREF="ui.htm">Home</A> ]</FONT>
<P>
<OL>
<LI> Improved news implementation, with better keyboard handling, more settings, support for multiple news servers
<LI> New improved look on the help files.
<LI> Set the font and color of the button bar (normal and news).
<LI> Save multiple window setups and load at will!
<LI> HTTP_REFERRER support for scripts that require that. Can be turned off.
<LI> Greatly improved frames implementation.
<LI> Even better printing.
<LI> New popup menu items for frames and background.
<LI> Improved zoom function.
<LI> New search the Internet window.
<LI> Loads of small changes to improve the functionality and fix bugs.
<LI> Windows '95 version ready.
</OL>
<BR>
<BR>
<A NAME="opera2121"><FONT SIZE="4">New features in Opera 2.1 beta 1:</FONT></A>
<HR SIZE=1 align=left noshade width=70%>
<FONT FACE="MS Sans Serif" SIZE="2">[ <A HREF="#top">Top of the document</A> ] [ <A HREF="alfaindx.htm"> Index </A>] [ <A HREF="ui.htm">Home</A> ]</FONT>
<P>
<OL>
<LI> Frames support. Opera can now show those frames document on the net. You can of course access these frame windows from the keyboard and we have added new keyboard commands for switching between frames. Of course you can turn off frames support if you do not like frames. All in the spirit of Opera.
<LI> Output control. You can now choose to have all links clicked in one window display in another. This gives you great flexibility in configurating your own system. The output settings are saved when window settings are saved allowing you to start up with the configuration of your choice.
<LI> Single key window switching (see below).
<LI> Single key frame switching (see below).
<LI> Alternative zoom keys for access without a numeric key pad or when the numeric key pad is in use (see below).
<LI> Improved print speed and quality
<LI> Table background color
<LI> Double click the next/previous buttons to go out of a frame or use the history. <BR>
