Opera has released a new browser called Opera One that will eventually replace its flagship browser. The Norwegian company said this new browser has elements that will prepare it for a “generative AI-powered future” without specifying what it means. A key feature of Opera One, coming as a developer preview, is a new concept of grouping tabs called tab islands. Automatically group tabs based on context. For example, if you’re looking for a restaurant, tabs with different menus and places merge together.
They are also grouped when working with multiple Google Docs. Each island (or group) is represented by a vertical colored pill, which you can expand and collapse with a click. There is a handy tooltip feature for collapsed islands, which can help you find the correct tab group. Joanna Czajka, product director at Opera said that this new approach is “a natural way of arranging your tabs into contextual groups without disturbing your flow.”
However, Opera is not the only browser maker trying to approach tabs in a new way. Startups like the Browser Company and SigmaOS have focused on creating different workspaces and opening/finding tabs through a taskbar. The company added that Opera One uses Multithreaded Compositor, which helps in rendering different complex web animations smoothly through the GPU. Other upcoming features, such as a tab island and a redesigned address bar, will help improve productivity, Seagull said. Regarding the new browser’s AI focused features, Opera did not provide details.
However, ChatGPT and ChatSonic integrations, which were introduced in the flagship browser in March, are said to be enabled by default. Opera says this is the first version of Opera One, which will replace the company’s flagship for Windows, MacOS and Linux later this year.
