The former CEO of the company that developed the Opera browser, Jon von Tetzchner, launched a new browser on Tuesday designed specifically for power users.
Vivaldi is designed for the person who is always struggling to fit all their tabs onto a single screen.
The browser, which is currently in “technical preview,” still needs a lot work, according to developers. There is no mobile version of Vivaldi, either, for the time being — so the browser is definitely in its early stages.
The new browser offers “tab stacks,” which let users group similar tabs in clusters, rather than lining them all up in a single row at the top of the browser screen.
A quick-command shortcut system is customizable, and a Notes feature allows users to take notes while browsing and keep screenshots for reference in an in-browser Notes panel.
But I already have Chrome, or Safari, or Opera, you say. Von Tetzchner said people will be drawn to Vivaldi because it offers features for advanced users, which was the original goal of Opera.
However, the browser ended up in a more Chrome-like direction that didn’t sit well with him.
“Most of the browsers seem to have a goal of making something simpler and simpler,” von Tetzchner told Mashable in an interview.
“The advanced user is not really being covered.”
“The advanced user is not really being covered.”
While a technical preview of Vivaldi is available for download, it’s only meant to act as a showcase for the browser. The team is working on a mail system to include, too, but von Tetzchner said it simply wasn’t ready for this launch.
Also on the agenda is spatial navigation, which will allow Vivaldi users to navigate the browser using only their keyboard. Developers plan to add support for browser extensions, though they want Vivaldi to be a “powerful, feature-packed” experience without them.
Vivaldi is available for download on its website; you can submit suggestions there, too.
“We are not building a browser for everyone,” von Tetzchner said, “but we are building one for people who want more.”
Source: mashable.com