Undetectable Humanizer: Lifetime Subscription
Transform AI-Generated Text into Human-Like, High-Ranking Content & Bypass Even the Most Sophisticated AI Detectors
Get 95% Deal

Vivaldi 1.5: Delta updates, Philips Hue support

Martin Brinkmann
Nov 22, 2016
Updated • May 22, 2018
Internet, Vivaldi
|
28

Vivaldi 1.5 is the newest version of the web browser based on Chromium code and developed by former Opera Software employees.

The Vivaldi browser has been out for a while as a stable browser -- since April 2016 to be precise -- and has received several updates -- Vivaldi 1.1, Vivaldi 1.2, Vivaldi 1.3 and Vivaldi 1.4 -- in recent months.

Vivaldi 1.5, the latest version of the browser, is already available for download at the official website.

Users of the web browser may get update notifications when they start the browser the next time. This enables them to update the program automatically using built-in mechanics.

Vivaldi 1.5

The biggest feature of Vivaldi 1.5 is also one that is pretty niche if you ask me. The web browser ships with support for Philips Hue color lights.

Basically, what it allows you to do is to link the browser to the Philips Hue system to change the color of the linked lights based on the color scheme of the websites you visit in the browser.

You find an option to enable Philips Hue in the Vivaldi preferences under Themes.

Tab dragging improvements

We reviewed Vivaldi's improved tab dragging functionality previously already. The new feature enables you to use tab dragging like it is supposed to. Drag a single tab, multiple selected tabs, or a tab stack to another browser window or a new window directly using only the mouse.

You had to right-click on the tab selection previously for some of the operations. That option is still available, so if you prefer that option you can still make use of it.

Delta Updates

Vivaldi 1.5 ships with support for delta updates. The change reduces the size of stable and snapshot updates of the browser.

You had to download the full browser previously when updates were released. This is no longer the case as only changed bits are now downloaded and installed.

This should improve the update process on slow or unreliable connections significantly.

Reader View accessibility

Reader View is not a new feature in Vivaldi, but its accessibility has been improved in version 1.5 of the browser.

The feature improves the readability of articles on web pages by removing all the clutter that surrounds it.

Clutter in this regard means site navigation, header, sidebar and footer content, as well as advertisement and other dynamic content.

Automatic screenshots when taking notes

Vivaldi supports note taking, either by right-clicking on a text selection on a web page and selecting the add as note feature, or by adding notes manually using panels.

Vivaldi 1.5 adds a screenshot of the pages you take notes from automatically. This new functionality adds a visual component to the note.

Please note that the screenshot captures the visible part of the page and not all of it.

Closing Words

Vivaldi 1.5 improves the web browser in several regards. Improved tab dragging is probably the major new feature in the release, while support for Philip Hue lights a first but with niche appeal.

In other news, Vivaldi is preparing to launch a mobile version of the browser and the anticipated email client in 2017.

Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. Matt said on November 23, 2016 at 11:37 pm
    Reply

    As of now Vivaldi’s soley source of funding is it’s CEO. So, sponsored features aren’t really all that surprising. And as long there’s a clear on/off option with off as default, I’m not having much of a problem with it.

  2. jack_mustang said on November 23, 2016 at 9:59 pm
    Reply

    I don’t think “the biggest feature” is Philips HUE support, it’s even the last entry in their blog post. I would say that the improved tab stacking is “the biggest feature” of 1.5.

  3. Gunnir said on November 23, 2016 at 2:43 pm
    Reply

    This is the first time I hear “Philips Hue”, is it a filter for filter CSS ?

  4. Clairvaux said on November 22, 2016 at 9:38 pm
    Reply

    I hope this is the explanation for Philips Hue “support”. Because otherwise, it has to rank as one of the most silly, attention-grabbing new features to add to any software !

    [Answering Anonymous about Vivaldi being sponsored by Philips.]

  5. Doc said on November 22, 2016 at 6:37 pm
    Reply

    Vivaldi is NOT based on the Chrome(ium) source code or the Blink layout engine; Jon von Tetzchner, who headed the original Opera team, created it to keep using Opera 12’s Presto layout engine (and many features that modern Opera dropped in switching to Blink).
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivaldi_(web_browser)

    1. insanelyapple said on November 22, 2016 at 9:30 pm
      Reply

      I’m pretty sure that as long as user agent string shows “AppleWebKit”, it’s one kind of browsers.

    2. RolandiXor said on November 22, 2016 at 7:44 pm
      Reply

      It actually is based on Blink (you just misunderstood the sentence you referenced). It even says so on the Wikipedia article you linked to (right in the sidebar). It doesn’t use Presto, it seeks to bring back the features that were in the Presto-based Opera 12.xx.

    3. Martin Brinkmann said on November 22, 2016 at 6:44 pm
      Reply

      Vivaldi does not use the Presto engine, it uses Blink.

  6. Anonymous said on November 22, 2016 at 4:56 pm
    Reply

    They just have new sponsor (Philips), so they put some product placement (Hue).

  7. Yuliya said on November 22, 2016 at 3:30 pm
    Reply

    “Philips Hue support”

    They’re doing it wrong. That’s not what Opera v12 was all about. Vivaldi has the slowest, least responsive UI among the more known browsers (Fx,Chromium,Opera) on my PC. This is either an indicator of them bloating the browser with useless features (this should have been an extension, optional) or Chromium not being capable of providing more than a barebones browser; or maybe a combination of both.

  8. pd said on November 22, 2016 at 1:53 pm
    Reply

    Networked light globe support? That has to be one of the most esoteric, irrelevant and useless features ever built in to a browser.

    1. brandon said on November 22, 2016 at 8:43 pm
      Reply

      Welcome to vivaldi

  9. Nik said on November 22, 2016 at 12:14 pm
    Reply

    I cannot see comments on my mobile. You had enabled it for sometime then disabled again.

    1. Hy said on November 22, 2016 at 4:46 pm
      Reply

      @Nik: Martin is aware of this. They are currently testing a new version of the mobile site, and will try to find a solution to bring comments back.

      One workaround I found was to use “Request desktop site” in the mobile browser settings. This did not work for me in Firefox, but it did work for me in Brave. Of course, the comments don’t scale correctly that way, but at least they are viewable!

    2. MdN said on November 22, 2016 at 4:09 pm
      Reply

      Same here. And when I open gHacks with Opera Mini the drop down menu is open (can’t close it) and covering a good part of the page, especially the first headline.

  10. Noel said on November 22, 2016 at 11:35 am
    Reply

    Pardon my ignorance. I have noticed you mentioning Vivaldi a few times now. What makes this browser better than Chrome, for e.g.?

    1. Mike said on November 22, 2016 at 3:17 pm
      Reply

      I wouldn’t say it’s “better” than Chrome, Firefox, etc. It’s just that it bills itself as being different by offering users many customization, settings, and power-user options that Chrome, Opera, Firefox, and Edge do not offer. Most of those browsers I listed are pretty stripped down and basic and Vivaldi essentially does the opposite of that by adding features on top of features.

      Your mileage will vary on how many of these features you find useful, I mean the Phillips Hue support is VERY random and VERY niche, but I have found it’s a solid browser even for the casual user. It’s built on top of Chrome’s engine so it offers pretty much the same performance as Chrome, Opera, etc. and gives you access to Chrome extensions. I can’t say how it compares with Chrome regarding RAM performance and battery life, nor can I say how it compares to Chrome regarding security. Privacy is a give and take, obviously Chrome collects data like crazy from it’s users, but Vivaldi is not open source so that will always make some nervous.

      Overall, I would say Vivaldi is a good browser for people who want to be able to customize virtually everything about their web browser. If you are a pretty casual user, some of the options can seem daunting or overkill. For instance, Vivaldi is not the browser you recommend to your grandparents who are not very tech savvy. I would give it a shot and see if you like it though, I certainly feel better about Vivaldi’s future prospects than I do Opera’s, especially now that Opera appears to be laying off or firing a ton of people and the future direction that browser takes is unknown.

      1. Count Soxington said on November 24, 2016 at 1:50 am
        Reply

        This.

        It has a lot of great features, and is a powerful Web browser in its own right.

        Nothing will pull me away from Firefox until they implement the features of MixTab Plus or allow that plugin on other platforms :-)

    2. test said on November 22, 2016 at 3:14 pm
      Reply

      A lot of people are frustrated how Opera developed and will develop (personally I like the new opera since v32). And Vivaldi is made by the original founder of Opera and some old guys from Opera dev are working on it.

      Personally I am irritated why they are using web techniques for the UI. It is kind of slow and will also be. And now this Phillips Hue support. Or changing layout automatically then it is darker outside etc. Hm… There are more important things I would say.

      1. Mike said on November 22, 2016 at 9:35 pm
        Reply

        I agree. I want to use Vivaldi, but compared to Chrome it is just too slow. It’s not terrible of course, but Chrome just has a smoother UI than Vivaldi does. I sorta wish Vivaldi would put their resources towards improving the performance and smoothness of the browser, rather than working towards extremely niche things like the Phillips Hue compatibility.

  11. Lindsay said on November 22, 2016 at 11:08 am
    Reply

    Phillips Hue support.

    Hahahahahaha.

    1. Dave said on November 23, 2016 at 1:31 pm
      Reply

      Bad move. Jon SvT. No-one else cares about your stupid lights. This makes the browser look like a joke full of bloat.

    2. Sais said on November 23, 2016 at 7:07 am
      Reply

      Huehuehuehue

    3. Mark Hazard said on November 23, 2016 at 12:17 am
      Reply

      +1

    4. Anonymous said on November 22, 2016 at 2:39 pm
      Reply

      LOL +1

  12. ter said on November 22, 2016 at 10:53 am
    Reply

    Until I do not see any bad things in Opera Desktop Browser I will stick to it because I still prefer the overall look and feel of Opera towards Vivaldi. But maybe in future it will be an option.

  13. Karthikeyan said on November 22, 2016 at 10:33 am
    Reply

    Vivaldi browser is life saver for opera users and this is your next browser!

    1. Lindsay said on November 22, 2016 at 11:07 am
      Reply

      I wish that was the truth

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.