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Opera Browser adds support for video call popouts and Pinboards

Martin Brinkmann
Jun 24, 2021
Updated • Jun 24, 2021
Opera
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Opera Software released a new version of its Opera web browser for the desktop today. Opera R5, that is the codename of the browser, introduces support for video call popouts and the new Pinboards feature.

Usage of video calls has risen in the past year as many workers from all over the world started to work partially or fully from home. Opera Software found out that 57% of its users have joined video calls in "recent months".

Video calls happen in browser tabs, if the browser is used to join the call. While some users use the browser window exclusively for the call, others work on different tasks, e.g. switching to other tabs for searches or opening websites, or switching programs.

One issue that comes out of the multi-tasking is that it may sometimes be difficult to relocate the video call tab in the web browser.

Opera's popout feature for video calls provides a solution. It works similarly to picture-in-picture mode that many browsers have introduced in recent time to play video content in a popout. The main idea behind these features is to keep the media always in sight while using the browser for other tasks.

Opera's solution is compatible with Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Zoom. The video conferencing popout moves the video call into a floating window and keeps it on top of other tabs this way.

The feature is automatic, meaning that video calls will pop out whenever users switch to another tab while a video call is happening in the browser. Switching back to the tab of the video call will "pop-in" the widget again on the page, also automatically.

Opera users may configure the behavior in the preferences of the browser.

The behavior can be adjusted in settings. This makes multitasking easier, so you can stop juggling tabs during calls. There’s also a clever option to make the floating window transparent giving users both more screen and constant contact with people on the call.

opera videoconferencing popout

The preferences list three options related to the new video call popout feature of the browser. You may toggle it on or off, toggle the automatic detaching of video calls from the tab when switching tabs, and toggle the transparent feature, which makes the pop out transparent.

Pinboards

opera pinboards

The second feature addition in the new Opera browser is Pinboards. As the name suggests, it enables you to create collections of links, images and texts in the browser.

A click on the pinboard icon in the main toolbar displays options to start a new pinboard or add the current link to an existing pinboard. The management interface lists all elements that you have added to the active pinboard. You may add links and images from the local system manually, and add headlines and text.

Pinboards can be shared -- they use the address https://pinboard.opera.com/view/ followed by a unique identifier. The local view uses a different unique identifier than the public view on Opera's website, it is unclear if all pinboards are public by default and only obfuscated by the unique ID, or if they become public only after the pinboard creator hits the share button in the Opera browser. The public pinboard page loads in every modern web browser, and viewers may access the content and react to it with emojis.

Opera Software highlights several use scenarios, from article collections and trip preparations to shopping wishlists and home decoration idea collections.

Opera users who don't need to the feature can turn if off in the browser settings.

Music player improvements

opera browser music

The third and final improvement in Opera G5 adds support for more music services to the sidebar music player. Besides support for Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube Music, Opera supports Deezer, Tidal, SoundCloud and Gaana now as well.

New controls become visible on hover over the player icon in the sidebar. These allow users to control playback using a "mini control popup" without having to open the entire interface.

 

Summary
Opera Browser adds support for video call popouts and Pinboards
Article Name
Opera Browser adds support for video call popouts and Pinboards
Description
The latest version of the Opera web browser comes with support for video call popouts, Pinboards, and more music services.
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Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Honorius said on June 25, 2021 at 10:48 am
    Reply

    > Opera Software found out that 57% of its users have joined video calls in “recent months”.

    Yeah, “found out”… Is that what they call it now?

  2. clas said on June 24, 2021 at 5:37 pm
    Reply

    Chinese browser

    1. ShintoPlasm said on June 25, 2021 at 10:16 am
      Reply

      Norwegian/Polish browser. No China-based devs. Chinese overall ownership of the company.

      1. Blow Hard said on June 26, 2021 at 7:25 pm
        Reply

        Qihoo 360 bought most of Opera Software in 2016.
        Chinese cybersecurity company Qihoo 360 is based in Beijing.

        Due to U.S. national security concerns, Qihoo 360 was placed on the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Entity List in 2020.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qihoo_360

        Qihoo 360 has several award winning hacker teams. These teams have found many exploits with products/software from Google, Microsoft, and more.

        https://blog.360totalsecurity.com/en/qihoo-360-team-hacked-google-pixel-60-secs-pwnfest/
        https://blog.360totalsecurity.com/en/360-won-microsoft-msrc-worlds-most-valuable-security-elite-list
        https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/06/security-bugs-mercedes-benz-hack

        Qihoo 360 has a pivotal roll in China’s “Cyberspace Security Military-Civil Fusion Innovation Centre”.

        http://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/inside-china-s-cyber-war-room-how-pla-is-plotting-global-attacks-1708292-2020-08-06

        China has denied accusations of cyber-warfare and has, in turn, accused the United States of engaging in cyber-warfare against China – a claim the US government denies.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_cyberwarfare

      2. Klaas Vaak said on February 17, 2022 at 7:10 pm
        Reply

        @Blow Hard: you could be describing Chrome. But I understand your concern: anything from China and Russia is evil by definition, not to be trusted because those countries do things good ol’ Uncle Sam would never dream of doing, right? LOL.

  3. ShintoPlasm said on June 24, 2021 at 3:31 pm
    Reply

    Correction – The new release is called ‘R5’ not ‘G5’: https://blogs.opera.com/desktop/2021/06/opera-r5-desktop/

  4. chesscanoe said on June 24, 2021 at 12:35 pm
    Reply

    I forced an Opera update from 77.0.4056.90 to 77.0.4056.146. I assume this is the function you describe.

  5. Jeff M.S. said on June 24, 2021 at 11:05 am
    Reply

    Turning fast into everything and the kitchen sink browser.

  6. ShintoPlasm said on June 24, 2021 at 10:54 am
    Reply

    Do you have a link to this announcement, Martin? Can’t find anything on Opera’s blogs site.

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on June 24, 2021 at 1:58 pm
      Reply
    2. Martin Brinkmann said on June 24, 2021 at 12:07 pm
      Reply

      I checked and I don’t see the announcement yet online. Strange.

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