Changelog for Opera 5.x for Windows

What's new?

Opera 5 for Windows is free

Opera has entered the free browser market! The new sponsor-supported version offers users a USD39 value in return for having one single banner-ad in the browser interface. On installation, Opera defaults to the advertising mode. However, the ad will be removed if one registers Opera at a cost of 39 USD.

All users who have paid and registered their copy of either Opera 4.x or Opera 5.x for Windows are entitled to a free upgrade to Opera 5.12 for Windows. The old registration code is still valid.

New in Opera 5 is a powerful search capability, as well as an instant messaging client. In the search feature, users can easily migrate between the most popular search engines to search for terms, images, video, audio, stocks, books, help, and company information. The new integrated instant messaging client offers the possibility to chat with anyone using the ICQ instant messaging protocol.

Opera 5 also includes improvements to existing functionality and features:

  • JavaScript
  • E-mail
  • Stability enhancements
  • More efficient memory usage
  • Augmented Web accessibility

At Opera we don't stop working on the browser just because it is "good enough" -- we believe in providing the best Internet experience!

Powerful features for the best Internet experience

Fast rendering of pages
Opera is the fastest full-featured browser on the market today.
Instant toggling of image and documents settings
For even faster browsing, images can be turned on or off with just the press of a key.
Easy keyboard navigation
Opera's easy keyboard shortcuts save time as well as benefit people with disabilities.
Multiple windows support
Inside Opera, users may browse in several windows at once, without straining system resources.
Zooming without loss of quality
Opera users can zoom in on a page up to a 1000 times without loosing anything in terms of resolution.
Small size
Opera is only a 2.19 MB download, so updating to the latest version available is always fast and easy. (Adding Java is a one-time 7.7 MB download.)
Integrated clients and utilities
Opera can handle news, your e-mail, direct searching, and instant messaging
Standards Compliant
Opera continues its commitment to the standards as laid out by the W3C. Opera 5 for Windows supports the following technologies: 128-bit encryption, TLS 1.0, SSL 2 and 3, CSS1 and CSS2, XML, HTML 4.01, HTTP 1.1, ECMAScript, JavaScript 1.3, limited new support for DOM/DHTML, and WAP/WML.
Built in plug-in support
Opera supports Netscape's API, making it easy for developers to migrate between the two platforms.

Sponsor mode with the users in mind

Opera's new sponsored mode is designed to provide users with the best possible advertising experience. Ads appear one at a time in the user interface, and their categories are easily modified in the "Advertising" section in Preferences. The goal is to offer advertising that users will want to see, akin to seeing for example only chocolate and car commercials on TV.

Opera Software has implemented strict guidelines to ensure that the ads are not unnecessarily distracting. Offensive ads, or ads containing sound, are not allowed.

Privacy Protection

At Opera Software, we take extra steps to protect the privacy of individual users. Users are not required to provide any up-front profiling information in order to receive the new Opera Web browser. Users will be asked to profile themselves on a purely voluntary basis. This data will only be used to offer more relevant advertising, and user's personal information will not be shared with advertisers.

Opera 5.12 for Windows

Opera version 5.12 is now available for download. The Java enabled version includes the newest Java 2 Runtime Environment, version 1.3.1.

Version 5.12 fixes some bugs, mainly in the e-mail client, and adds a few features. Note the option to search Opera's knowledge base directly, the Netscape e-mail import, and the possibility of sending a URL to Opera's e-mail client.

Opera 5.12 for Windows has the following changelog:

Install

  • Opera now starts with an empty window maximized as default when no win-file is found
  • The Hotlist is not shown if screen resolution is 800x600 or lower
  • Updates to internal stylesheets

User Interface

  • Fix in cookie filter dialog
  • "Remove background skin" no longer added multiple times
  • A few fixes to the "Languages" dialog and handling
  • Improved URL dialog (F2)
  • Added menu items to open Hotlist tabs directly from the Bookmarks, E-mail, and Messaging menus
  • Improvements to History
  • Fix for lost focus after creating new windows

E-mail

  • Improved zooming
  • Improved filtering
  • Improved sorting
  • Send an URL to Opera's e-mail client (Send address in e-mail)
  • Netscape e-mail import added
  • A few fixes

Search

  • "Opera support" knowledge base added to the search box
  • Changed to the new Tucows domain search
  • Renamed "Prices" to "Shopping"

ECMAScript

  • Some fixes
  • Option to block pop-up windows enhanced

Opera 5.11 for Windows

Opera version 5.11 is now available for download. Version 5.11 is an improvement on version 5.10 and has the following changelog:

Startup

  • Fixed crashing on startup when having certain plug-ins, i.e. GetRight and SVGV view (which is installed with Adobe Acrobat 5)

Languages

  • Fixed language preferences dialog, which would not save changes done to accept language

User Interface

  • Fix to horizontal scrolling while in fullscreen mode

Security

  • SSL fix where certain version 2 servers would choke on version 3 handshaking

Read more about the New features in Opera 5.11.

Opera 5.10 for Windows

Opera 5.10 incorporates functions such as even better support for HTML and CSS. Recommended update for surfing.

A short list of changes:

Standards

  • Support for the XHTML namespace
  • Improved JavaScript support for JS objects and form controls
  • Improved ECMAScript regexp object
  • Improved support for HTML event handlers
  • Changes in NOSCRIPT to be in compliance with HTML
  • Support for the deprecated S-element
  • Support for CSS system colors and better color handling

News and e-mail

  • Improved news and e-mail handling
  • Better and more configurable e-mail/news message interface

File Transfer

  • Improvements in the SSL handling of certificates
  • Improvements in FTP

Read more about the New features in Opera 5.10.

Opera 5.02 for Windows

Opera 5.02 represents many small changes that make Opera more efficient and better handling than ever! Opera 5.02 for Windows is a recommended update, but does not contain major feature additions.

A short list of changes:

Memory Optimization

  • Memory Usage: enhanced memory/resource handling for transfer window
  • Memory Usage: optimized memory/resource handling in IM client

Mail

  • Mail: time zone support
  • Mail: optimized filter configuration
  • Mail: updates to saving of mail windows
  • Mail: added variable mail root directory
  • Mail: column header click action
  • Mail: delete from server optimized
  • Mail: signature inserted in compose window
  • Mail: do not insert signature when Sending Again
  • Mail: other minor modifications and enhancements

General Additions

  • Addition: JavaScript security model
  • Addition: updates to opera.jar
  • Addition: winbar attention color entry to prefs
  • Addition: support for navigator.cookieEnabled in MSIE mode
  • Addition: sound dialog optimizations
  • Addition: display of the name of the plug-in associated with type
  • Addition: resolve to system settings when Trust Server to return correct type is not active
  • Addition: file extensions for word, postscript, wp51, video, sgml
  • Addition: mime types for microsoft excel and powerpoint
  • Addition: mime types for Real-types
  • Addition: miscellaneous minor additions

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Backspace or Backspace to browse parent directory. Eg. http://www.opera.com/download/windows/ becomes hhttp://www.opera.com/download/
  • Keyboard shortcut: pressing Ctrl+F in help window brings up the Find dialog

Instant Messaging

  • IM: optimization of message search contact addition (manual)
  • IM: window handling enhancements
  • IM: other Minor additions and optimizations

Print

  • Print Preview: help context
  • Print Preview: sizing of window in print preview mode
  • Print preview: enhanced form element handling
  • Print Preview: general minor optimizations and fixes
  • Print: modified header and footer printing

Forms

  • Forms: radio and check box checking selection via keyboard optimized
  • Forms: additions for form mailto submissions

File Transfer

  • File Upload: a wider button in the file upload object
  • Transfer Window: optimal columns
  • Transfer Window: only shows hours if needed
  • Transfer Window: shows time left in caption, and thus also in windowbar
  • Transfer Window: horizontal scrollbar
  • Transfer Window: size (display)
  • Transfer Window: support for high speed download

Miscellaneous

  • Help: links in the help window
  • News: enhanced printing for news
  • Hotlist toolbars optimized
  • Tooltip optimized
  • Optmized viewer support
  • Optimized cell spacing
  • Many general optimizations, fixes and additions too small to mention

Try it now or read more about Opera 5's features.