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Opera Co-founder Geir Ivarsøy Passes Away

Published March 17th, 2006 8:50 AM EST By Daniel Goldman

geir

Geir Ivarsoy, the co-founder of Opera Software, passed away after a long battle with cancer.

Geir along with Jon von Tetzchner developed the Opera browser, initially known as MultiTorg Opera, while working for a Norwegian Telecommunication company in 1993. In 1995 the two of them spun off their project and founded Opera Software.

At a board meeting in January of 2004, Geir (together with von Tetzchner) announced his wish to resign as a board member in Opera Software, though he remained active in the company even after that. In June of 05 he was elected as a member of the Nomination Committee of the company.

He passed away on March 9th; Opera employees will pay their respects to Geir at his funeral today at Grefsen Kirke in Oslo.

My condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues at Opera.

RIP Geir Ivarsoy.

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3 Comments

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  1. 1 Anonymous Mar 17th, 2006 at 10:56 am

    [']

  2. 2 Anonymous Mar 23rd, 2006 at 6:13 pm

    His ideas live on in Opera. May he rest in peace.

    Thanks for sharing the information.

  3. 3 Anonymous Mar 28th, 2006 at 5:29 am

    RIP

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Opera Watch, an Opera browser blog, is run by Daniel Goldman, who used to work for Opera Software as a Technical Evangelist.

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About Opera


Q: What is Opera?
A: Opera is one of the most powerful Web browsers around. A Web browser is the program that allows you to view Web pages. Opera is well known for innovation for PC browsers and bringing the full web to mobile phones and devices.

Q: Is Opera free?
A: Absolutely free.

Q: Why should I download a browser? Doesn't my computer already come with one for free?
A: It's about getting more out of the time you spend on the internet. Opera is designed to be much faster than these browsers and gives you powerful features that the default browser lacks. Default browsers like Internet Explorer are also more likely to be subjected to dangerous software such as viruses and spyware.

Q: Will Opera keep me safe from fraudulent websites and malicious hackers?
A: According to Secunia, a respected firm that tracks security in browsers, Opera has the best reputation and track record when it comes to browser security. Keeping our users safe from security vulnerabilities, fraudulent websites, and malicious hackers is a top priority for Opera. Opera is maintained by hundreds of engineers, developers and security experts who are constantly looking to make the browser even safer.

Q: Doesn't Opera copy all of their features from other browsers?
A: Absolutely not. In fact, many of the features that are popular in other browsers today were invented and pioneered by Opera a long time ago. Opera invented the precursor to tabs (in 1994), Page Zoom (1994), was the first browser to block pop-up ads (2000), first to add a Search field in the browser toolbar (2000), Sessions (1996), deleting private data (2000), Mouse Gestures (2000), User JavaScript (2005), BitTorrent support (2005), Widgets (2006), Speed Dial (2007), and much more.

Q: Does Opera support extensions, such as those found in Firefox?
A: Much of the functionality provided through Firefox extensions is already built directly into Opera, so you don't have to download additional extensions in Opera. In addition, Opera is highly customizable and supports all standard plug-ins.

Q: Can I also use Opera on my mobile phone?
A: Yes. And your Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS or almost any connected device and mobile phones. Opera Mobile oftens comes preinstalled from the manufacturers, but if it doesn't you can install Opera Mini which runs on nearly all phones.

Q: This all sounds great, so how do I download Opera?
A: -- Opera on your computer
-- Opera Mini on your phone
-- Opera Mobile on your phone
-- or learn more about Opera at www.opera.com