Migration to Blink-based Opera 15+ from Opera 12+ (Presto based) [Updated Regularly]

Story was first published on 18th March, 2014

I am a long time Opera desktop user (on Android I use Dolphin) and when the company moved on to Blink from its own Presto I did not move on as Opera desktop version was a downgrade of features.

However next update to Opera Presto is yet to come, and company's dev team is not caring about Presto-powered version anymore. So I am starting the migration to Opera Blink today.

This is a long process, and I will update here, as soon as I made some movement.

Jump into the water

Installed Opera 18.0.1284.63, installation was straight forward and there is no issues. When you first use it, you have to learn few new things:

Open a new tab, you will find 3 options - Speed Dial, Stash and Discover. We know about Speed Dial.

Stash means where you can dump pages to read on later. [on Opera 12 I use Tab Vault, another extension]

Discover is a Flipboard-like stuff which can show you news on different categories and that's too country-specific. This feature was debuted on Opera for Android and now it is available on desktop too. I don't find it's much useful. (Update: It's now Personal News, or feed reader inbuilt)


Extensions
Opera has its own range of extensions over there - https://addons.opera.com/extensions

With Blink under its hood, you can also install Chrome's extensions with the help of 'Download Chrome Extension' (a Opera extension), then visit Chrome Web Store. Note only extensions will work, not other apps from Chrome Web Store work on Opera.

My favorite extensions:

• Gmeilus - http://gmelius.com
• Ad Block Plus - https://adblockplus.org/
• MakkhiChoose -  https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/makkhichoose/gllmlkidgbagkcikijiljllpdloelocn?hl=en   || Compare prices across online stores in India. Save money!
• IDM CC - It's quite tough to find out Internet Download Manager enabled on Opera 15+. First you have to get IDM CC - It is located at C:\Program Files\Internet Download Manager (for 32bit installation) or C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Download Manager (for 64bit installation) and find the IDMGCExt.crx file. Drag the file to Opera and it will be automatically installed or ask for your permission. Then you have to enable it.  
• User Agent Switcher - https://addons.opera.com/en/extensions/details/user-agent-switcher/

• Adguard - https://addons.opera.com/en/extensions/details/adguard/  I preferred Adguard to Adblock or Adblock Plus  

Though with Opera 37 there is a native adblocker in the package.

Using our native ad blocker is really simple. It’s deactivated by default, so you need to go to Settings (or Preferences on Mac) and flip the “Block ads” switch to turn it on. To activate or deactivate ad blocker for a specific website, simply click the shield icon in the address bar and flip the switch there.

The ad blocker dialog will reveal statistics showing how many ads you’re blocking on the current page and how many you’ve blocked overall. If you disable ad blocking on a website, the website is added to an exception list, which you can manage from Opera’s settings. You can click the gear icon in the pop-up to go there quickly.

Autofill is back on Opera 16

Opera Menu → Settings (Alt+P) → Manage Autofill Settings →  Add new street address, fill up your details and enjoy!!

Opera 17 allows:

Pin Tab

adding Custom Search Engine (just right click on your fav website's search place > Create Search Engine)

Opera 18: New features

Rocker gestures

Navigate back and forward between pages in a tab's history by rocking your fingers across your mouse buttons.

Tab enhancement

You can now drag tabs between open windows.

RSS Feed Reader

On v41 Opera added RSS Feed Reader built-in. Visit Settings →; Browser→  User Interface and check ‘Show available news feeds’ 

Now when web feeds are detected for a site you’re on, Opera will show the Newspaper icon –RSS icon would’ve been better– in address bar, clicking on it shows feeds available, further clicking on a feed opens Personal News and displays the feed preview, you can subscribe to that site from there by clicking on ‘Add to my sources’.

Early Discover option removed, now merged with RSS Reader - Personal News.

Killing of Anti-Adblocker on certain websites: 

This is very important, as I often find that ads are very intrusive. Now websites are clever now, they would ask you to disable it before they show your their contents. So they put anti adblocker on them, and we again kill it. Let's see how: 

1. Install Adguard

2. Install Tampermonkey 

3. Subscribe to filter list from Github : http://reek.github.io/anti-adblock-killer/#filterlist

4. Install Userscript from github.com

From : https://github.com/reek/anti-adblock-killer 

On my old Opera (based on Presto) I have a button for search within a website.
How: by some user scripts I guess!

On Opera (Blink based) you can do it with an extension easily - link (Search the Current Site)

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What am I missing with Opera 15+ ?
Powerful customization options on right click, Notes, Proper better Bookmarking system, Tab stacking, Private Tab, Content Blocker,

I am coming to other points in the next writing.

Vivaldi - update on 2015 (Jan-Feb)

Let me introduce Vivaldi - a web browser based on Chromium, but brings back the good ol' Opera feel. It is made by Vivaldi Technologies, a company founded by former co-founder and CEO of Opera, Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner. 


I used it but really liked it. However as Chromium uses each tab a seperate process, I am still stick to Opera@USB 12.15.