CBS 60 Minutes did a segment yesterday on the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) laptop (watch here). The Opera browser runs on this computer. A few months ago Hakon Wium Lie, the CTO of Opera, gave me a demo of Opera on the OLPC laptop (watch here).
OLPC on CBS 60 Minutes
Opera on the OLPC
(via OLPC.tv)
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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
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No mention of Opera in the 60 minutes OLPC video?
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GT500, that’s correct. 60 Minutes didn’t mention Opera, though they gave a nice overview of the project’s mission.
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Cool laptop.
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If i start the google video:”This video is currently not available.Please try again later”
?
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If you want to see the 60 Minutes segment (the Google Video version was taken down) and comment on the OLPC activity, check out OLPC News.
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for linux users, you can try it now, firstly get it from here or directly from here, (i assume it is not the latest), it will work fine, if you want it to be nicer, install the sugar desktop (which is the real headache), then install opera activities, sugar is the olpc DE and opera is very well integrated with it, take a minute with the screenshots.
you can find its technical biography here and all about it from its childhood from here (thanks to Claudio sharing it with us)
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BTW, does anyone know if the OLPC project team will make Opera their default browser ?, or they still want it to be delivered (out of box) with free software only ?, even firefox (the current default browser) is proprietary and isn’t totally free like many people think!
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Khaled Khalil, by default Opera will not come with the OLPC, since the OLPC Project has a policy of putting only-Open-Source applications on the laptop.
However, governments are actually the ones who are going to buy these laptops. Opera is working with various governments in arranging that Opera be pre-installed for them.
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The Google Video version was taken down by Google because of copyright. You can check my site to get the Sevenload or Dailymotion version which work.
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For a minute I thought Opera’s included on the OLPC! “Opera runs on the OLPC” and you also put the video of the Opera guy right underneath the 60 Minutes clip, which made me think the Opera clip was an excerpt from 60 Minutes on the OLPC. Oh well. The actual included browser is built on Mozilla’s Xulrunner, according to OLPC site. Maybe soon!
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Khaled Khalil: “even firefox (the current default browser) is proprietary and isn’t totally free like many people think!”
In what way is Firefox proprietary? It’s available under the MPL, GPL or LGPL (take your pick). The trademarks (the name “Firefox” and the logo etc.) aren’t free but all the code is open-source.
In any case, the XO won’t ship with Firefox, it will ship with a Mozilla-based browser.
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Khaled Khalil, Alex Bishop is correct. Firefox is fully open source, and not proprietary.