Opera Software launched a new web browser today. Called Opera Air, it is the second specialized browser by the company after Opera GX, a browser with a strong focus on gaming.
Opera Air is in early access. Opera says that it is “the world’s first browser with mindfulness at its core” that offers a “focused, balanced, and stress-free web” when used.
First, the basics. Opera Air is based on Chromium, which means that it offers the same excellent web compatibility and performance as other browsers that are based on it, including Google Chrome.
Apart from all the browsing, which you can still do, Opera has baked in several health features into the browser. These are:
- Mindful Breaks – short or long exercises to recharge.
- Exercises – breathing, full body, and neck exercises as well as medition.
- Boosts – play binaural sounds to “boost creativity, relieve stress, stay focused, and more.
The features are accessible from a small floating panel on the left side of the browser window. When you select Boost, for instance, you get to select one of the available background sounds that you may play. These use different frequencies and help users relax, improve concentration or creativity, according to Opera. You can change the volume and hit the pause or stop button at any time.
The exercises take between four and 15 minutes to complete. Each comes with a very soothing male or female voice, and in-depth explanations. Note that only English appears to be supported for now. While Opera Air did display German text when I switched the interface language to German, the instructors were still using English for communication.
Pay attention to the installation
The installer uses a few dark patterns, which you can only avoid if you are careful. First, you need to make sure you display the installation options. If you don’t, you will end up with the following:
- Opera as the default web browser.
- Feature usage information is send to Opera.
- Crash reports are send to Opera automatically.
- Opera Air launches with the computer.
Furthermore, there is another screen, Help make Opera better, that asks for consent to gain general usage statistics, general interests based on articles a user reads in “news feed, searches, websites you visit”, and personalized content, news, and ads.
That screen has a big accept button and no “no thanks” button. You need to select “configure in settings” to avoid this.
Closing Words
Opera Software seems to have carved out a niche for itself in the browser world. After launching a browser for gamers, it is now launching a browser for Internet users who are interested in health.
This is certainly not a browser for everyone, but it could attract a certain type of user just like Opera GX has done already. If you like those, and do not want to use third-party apps or extensions that offer similar functionality, then it could be a browser that you might want to take for a test drive.
What is your take on Opera Air? Is a specialized browser like Air or GX of interest to you? Feel free to leave a comment down below to join the discussion.
” If you like those, and do not want to use third-party apps or extensions that offer similar functionality, then it could be a browser that you might want to take for a test drive.”
This should not be a separate browser, just a feature on the main browser that can be easily switched on/off. Creating separate browser for one feature sounds too gimmicky. Basically, this is a marketing campaign. Next we will get browser for vegetarians 🙂