| Opera celebrates 1001st browser Widget |
Mar. 08, 2007
 On March 6, the 1001st Widget was announced by Opera Software. Widgets, which are created by Opera users, are small, powerful Web applications that add unique and useful functionality to Opera's eponymous browser.
(Click for images of the most-downloaded Widgets)
Widget No. 1001 was "The Visitors" Widget. Created by dantesoft, a longtime member of the My Opera community, this Widget uses site analytics from HitsLink to create visitor maps that bloggers can post on their sites. The Visitors Widget can be found at widgets.opera.com.
Opera describes Widgets as "powerful content sharing tools" that add unique and convenient functionality, while improving and personalizing the user's browsing experience. They are developed using web standards, such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, and so on, and thus can be created, maintained, and modified with relative ease by most anyone. They run inside an instance of Opera that lacks the border, menus, and other "chrome."
"Widgets are a community-driven, grassroots movement," said Tatsuki Tomita, vice president of Opera Mini for Opera Software. "Hundreds of Web developers, like dantesoft, create Opera Widgets to showcase their skills at building fun, addictive, and useful applications. By creating an Opera Widget, their work will be seen not only by those with PCs, but [by] anyone running an Opera-powered device."
Another spokesperson commented that Widgets improve and personalize the user's browsing experience and mark a democratization in Web application development. Now, the spokesperson continued, Opera users, partners and customers can turn to developers to create the applications that interest them and their friends. This user-driven approach to application development and selection leads to increased customer retention and brand loyalty, the spokesperson said.
"Widgets are the first true ubiquitous development framework," said Tomita. "Instead of coding for a specific platform, developers now code for the Web. In the future, the most popular application on your phone may have been written for your TV."
Opera 9.1, the latest version of the company's browser, includes a phishing filter, an improved ad blocker, and a built-in BitTorrent link for speedier download. For further information, see our coverage of Opera 9.1's December release, here.
To peruse and download Opera Widgets, go here.
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