Opera 10.52 beta 2 (with Opera Widgets for Desktop) for Mac changelog

Release notes

This is a beta version of Opera. Please use it only on properly backed up computers. It incorporates new features, stability improvements, and security fixes. For your reference, the changelog for Opera 10.50 beta 1 (with Opera Widgets for Desktop) for Mac is available at the Opera Changelogs for Mac Web site.

Release date: April 15, 2010

New features

Better integration with Mac native systems

• Cocoa Framework
• "Growl" notification
  • "Growl" license included in opera:about

Opera Carakan JavaScript engine

• Cross-platform bytecode interpreter for a new register-based instruction set
• Internal object model with automatic classification and inline property caching
• Machine code generation (JIT compiler)
• Divided garbage collection heap: automatically traverses the memory of active heaps
• Caching of compiled programs
• Reduced memory usage
• Further Carakan information (http://my.opera.com/core/blog/2009/12/22/carakan-revisited)

Opera Presto 2.5 rendering engine

The Opera Presto 2.5 rendering engine includes the following additions and improvements.

CSS

• CSS 2.1 visibility: collapse
• CSS3 border-radius property (rounded corners)
• CSS3 Backgrounds and Borders
• CSS3 2D Transforms
• CSS3 Transitions

HTML

• HTML 5 <video> element DOM APIs to reflect changes in the specification
• HTML 5 <param> element (child of the HTML 5 <object> element) support for controlling animations/scripts; see:
  • W3C testsuite (http://www.w3.org/2004/CDF/TestSuite/WICD_CDR_WP1/)
  • W3C specification (http://www.w3.org/TR/WICD/#param-elements)

SVG

• SVG buffered-rendering property; see the W3C reference (http://www.w3.org/TR/SVGTiny12/painting.html#BufferedRenderingProperty)
• Text search inside SVG
• Animated raster images (APNG, GIF) in all the SVG elements that support raster graphics, i.e., <image>, <foreignObject>, and <feImage>

Opera Vega graphics library

• Renders all graphics in Opera
• Employs rounded corners, box shadow, animations, etc.
• Improved support for SVG and the HTML 5 <canvas> element
• Further Vega information (http://my.opera.com/core/blog/2009/02/04/vega)

Opera Widgets for Desktop

Although they run outside the browser, Opera Widgets have been treated as entities inside the browser in many respects. The new Opera Widgets for Desktop ends this dependency on the browser and moves Opera Widgets to the next level: that of first-class applications. Above all, Opera Widgets for Desktop gives widgets the potential to replace some native applications on the computer.

Opera Widgets for Desktop includes the following features:

• A Widget menu located within the Mac menu bar. Menu options include:
  • Get Widgets
  • Manage Widgets... (opens the Widgets panel in the Opera user interface)
  • What are Opera Widgets?
• Widget lifespans are separated from the Opera desktop browser.
• Each widget runs in a separate process.
• Integration with the operating system includes support for creating desktop and Dock-based application shortcuts.
• Widgets are now visible in Mac Exposé
• Widget control buttons organize important actions:
  • Move
  • Close
  • Minimize
  • Settings
• Support is provided for different widget modes such as "Application" and "Widget".
• Notification pop-ups are supported.
• Password manager is supported.
• File I/O (Input/Output) access is supported.
• The upgrading of installed widgets from current to new runtime is supported.
• Improved support for Opera Dragonfly is provided.
  • Remote debugging is possible; configurable via a widget's context menu.

Non-modal notification messages

• Notification message windows no longer interrupt workflow
  • JavaScript alerts, HTTP notifications, Password Manager, etc., now display as page overlays
  • Switching of tabs or windows while these dialogs are displayed is now allowed

Private browsing

• Creating, browsing, and then closing private tabs and private windows removes all records of Web sites visited through them.
  • Using the traditional Mac Dock or File menu, go to:
    • File > New Private Tab
    • File > New Private Window

Web Storage

• Support is established for:
  • Session storage: offers a temporary storage of data.
  • Local storage: stores data for a longer period until the user explicitly clears it.
  • The Address field autocomplete list now includes opera:webstorage.
  • Warning dialogs when exceeding storage quotas:
    • User option is available to increase, or set unlimited quotas for web storage.
  • See: Web Storage W3C Working Draft (http://www.w3.org/TR/webstorage/).

Web SQL Database

• Support is established for:
  • Storage of data in a more structured manner.
  • Querying data using SQL.
  • Warning dialogs when exceeding storage quotas:
    • User option added to increase, or set unlimited quotas for web database.
  • The Address field autocomplete list now includes opera:webdatabases.
  • See: Web SQL Database W3C Working Draft (http://www.w3.org/TR/webdatabase/).

Changes since Opera 10.50 beta 1 (with Opera Widgets for Desktop) for Mac

User interface

Mail, news, chat

Display and Scripting

Network

Security

Miscellaneous

Opera Widgets for Desktop