Opera announces “Opera Unite”, a web server within a web browser
Opera tantalized everyone last week with its proclamation that the Norwegian company was about to reinvent the Web. We were skeptical at best. Here we are on launch day and, well, the Web kind of feels the same, but Opera has announced its latest and greatest innovation, dubbed Opera Unite. According to the post at Opera Labs, Opera Unite is an application that will turn any computer running the software into a web server. Users running Opera Unite will be able to share content with multiple computers over the Internet through the web browser, or even web applications called Unite services. Opera is pushing the service as a social media tool that requires no third party service, no complicated setup and no additional fees. Your data shared from your computer, on your terms and under your control. The service will launch with a few demo applications including Opera Unite Jukebox, an in-browser media player, and an instant messaging application. Opera Unite will work on Mac, Windows and Linux PCs with expansion to mobile browsers and other devices expected in the future. An alpha version of the Opera Unite software is now available for download.
Cable providers frown on servers by Joe Normal User – usually the ability to do this is an extra-cost service.
Chances are they won’t know you’re doing it. The traffic that people are likely to generate won’t even cause a blip on the radar.
only used it once, but so far I’m impressed. the only downside is that if this pans out, one of the bigger browsers will co-opt it and most people will credit them with the feature. such is life for an also-ran browser.
I just tried hooking it up to my iTunes and it will only play DRM-free tracks. So much for all of that.
Wait… so this does WHAT again?
Forgive me for being an idiot, but I fail to see what Opera is trying to do…
~sniff sniff~ Do you smell that? Smells like a copyright lawsuit coming Opera’s way.
And this is hot! Because now every script kiddie will be able to set up his own botnet thanks to Opera Unite.
On a more serious note I really fail to see the benefit of running your own web server in the browser.
It is supposed to enable all these features in one application:
File sharing — securely share files direct from your computer
Web server — turns your home computer into a web server via Opera Unite URL
Media player — direct link to your music collection from any web browser
Photo sharing — shares your image library over the web without requiring a photo service
Lounge — self-contained chat service running on your computer
Fridge — a place where friends and family can post notes
Sorry “Opera Unite”,
due to potential increase in “Botnet” style abuse, it is not for me.
Thank You
Where’s Mad Mike? This sounds like a “Pimp My Internet” pilot going wrong.
Sweet! Does it provide a place to hand over my financial records, social security number, and ginormous pr0n collection too?
u might want to check out tonido. Tonido did the same thing 3 months back.
Actualy, they didn’t. Most of their services require that both have Tonido installed. Opera Unite works in any browser.
@riveryacht
“u might want to check out tonido. Tonido did the same thing 3 months back.”
Actually, they didn’t. Most of their services require that both have Tonido installed. Opera Unite works in any browser.
@Roger A:
“Wait… so this does WHAT again? Forgive me for being an idiot, but I fail to see what Opera is trying to do…”
http://labs.opera.com/news/2009/06/16/
wouldnt this be similiar to what google is trying to do with the wave
That’s a great idea. Take the “cloud” outside the gigantic data centers and put it on everyone’s computer.
Opera’s bills will go down and then they can work on better advertising.
RIAA will try and jump all over this. Only thing, it’s overseas. Just look at The Pirates Bay, still alive and kicking. I’ll be sure to have my NAT and stealth mode on my, Macbook Pro.
Oracle distributed a browser that did this back in 1996
Oracle PowerBrowser was a web browser created in 1996 by Oracle Corporation. It featured a multiple document interface and offered the possibility to act as a web server allowing users to host webpages on their computers. However, it completely lacked CSS and scripting support.