Today, Internet technology is developing rapidly. Accordingly, the developers of web browsers do not stand aside and are trying to optimize their browsers for the latest devices and the operating systems installed on them. Among them there are not so many who introduce completely new software products, trying to compete with such giants as Chrome or Mozilla. One of the most interesting developments of recent times is the Vivaldi browser. User reviews about the new software product that can be found on the Internet are clearly divided. But those who liked the new product are clearly more, despite even some of the minuses of the browser. However, in theory, it should be so, because without mistakes it is simply impossible to create truly something worthwhile.
Vivaldi Browser: First Acquaintance
To begin with, this software is the direct successor to the notorious and very popular Opera browser, as its main developer and ideological inspiration for a group of enthusiasts was Jon Stephenson von Techner, who once served as head of the CEO department at Opera Software. He left the company in 2011 and created his own brand Vivaldi, under whose brand the work on creating a new browser began. And the fact that many of the design elements and the board were borrowed from the Opera looks completely unsurprising. However, judging by the reviews of the latest version of the Vivaldi browser, it looks much more interesting than its predecessor, works much faster and has some very unusual features that are not available in similar software products.
You can download the installation distribution directly from the official resource of the developer, while the user's location and operating system will be determined automatically. Right on the download page, it will be offered to download the Vivaldi browser in Russian (the page itself is also Russified). Installation takes a couple of minutes. You can not change the parameters (unless you set the browser to be used not for one, but for all users of the computer). Please note that the version of Vivaldi browser 2.0 has become popular, but the latest build in the form of modification 2.2 is offered on the same official site for installation.
Grouping tabs by content and topic
At the first start of the program, it immediately becomes clear that we are faced with something like "Opera".
At least, the appearance of the interface with a side and express panel repeats the “Opera” exactly. But when you start working with the browser, you notice a lot of unusual things. The first and most important thing is the ability to group tabs by topic or content and generally whatever. Reviews about the Vivaldi browser speak in favor of the fact that you can simply drag one styling over another, and the group will be created automatically without user intervention.
You can also simply mark all pages, and group through the RMB menu. In this case, when you hover over a group, all thumbnails will be displayed. The group itself is saved even when you exit the program. This is convenient if, when starting the browser, you open not the express panel, but the last tab (or group). Pages in the group also open very quickly.
Quick access to settings and commands
Particular attention should be paid to the feedback on the Vivaldi browser regarding access to basic settings and commands. The use of filters, in particular, when entering a search query of some parameter, allows you to quickly go to the desired option, even if the input of a whole word or name has not been completed. Apparently, this technology was also borrowed from the Opera.
In addition, the browser has another interesting feature, which consists in invoking the command filter by pressing the F2 key, which allows you to call additional tools like the same “Task Manager” (the browser monitors incoming and outgoing traffic).
Choosing the optimal page view
Another interesting innovation is the ability to select the viewing mode of multiple pages. The Vivaldi browser reviews confirm that you can set the view in such a way when several open tabs (pages) are shown in a reduced form in one main browser window.
To switch, you need to select several tabs while holding down the Ctrl key, and then click the button below and select the desired mode. If necessary, using the main menu or the button with the camera icon on the bottom panel, you can take a screenshot.
Gesture management
This function cannot be called a special innovation, but it works very interestingly. The most important difference from Chrome and Firefox is that it is completely optional to install additional plugins to use this feature.
But the number of supported operations so far leaves much to be desired, since there are not so many major gestures yet. However, apparently, it is hoped that over time their number of developers will increase.
Create notes
Finally, the browser initially has built-in tools for quickly creating notes. At the same time, you can easily add screenshots to the created note, indicate the date and time of creation, attach files, etc. However, even the developers themselves claim that this tool is very far from perfect, and you still need to work on it. Nevertheless, for many users this feature can be very useful.
Adaptation to plugins
Of particular note is the fact that the creators of the Vivaldi browser, as they say, did not reinvent the wheel, but tried to do everything possible to fully adapt their software product to all kinds of additional extensions that could be installed in exactly the same way as with any other popular browser. The thing is that absolutely all plugins designed for use in the same Chrome can be integrated into this browser in a completely elementary way.
In general, according to most experts and users, the Vivaldi browser combines the speed of the Opera and the capabilities of the Chromium engine, which today is unsurpassed.
Cons of the latest version of the Vivaldi browser
As for the weaknesses of the new browser, there are not many of them, but they are. So, for example, the most important gripe is that, despite fairly quick access to all available options and capabilities of the browser, fine-tuning for yourself will be quite problematic, since all the necessary steps to arrange buttons, switches and controls in the interface take a lot time.
Some users complain that the browser is completely missing at least some kind of news feed of the Yandex.Zen type, which could be customized based on their interests. It turns out that it is also impossible to change the start page, not to mention turning off the animation on the front page, which annoys many people incredibly. There is no synchronization as such.
In addition, it is somewhat unclear why the developers refused to use the usual hot keys and their combinations, and set their own combinations.
Finally, if we compare the Vivaldi browser with its progenitor in the form of the Opera, the developers absolutely did not foresee the use of the built-in VPN client.
Nevertheless, if the creators can work on these shortcomings, we can confidently say that this software product has a very bright future.