The first stable release of Opera for Linux in more than 18 months is now available for download.
Opera for Computers for Linux 26 (no really, that’s its name) features a complete top-to-bottom overhaul, new features, and better performance thanks to its Aura and Blink underpinnings (yes, it’s no longer based on the proprietary Presto web engine).
Features
The browser wiggled its toes in tux-friendly waters back in June with the launch of a developer preview, but if you last tried Opera when it looked like this, you’ll want to grab some smelling salts: things have changed.
Alongside an impressive new look and blazing fast, standards-compliant rendering engine come many new and improved features.
- Discover — Shows articles from around the web in a range of categories
- Speed Dial — Supports interactive widgets, folders, and themes
- Tab Peek — Preview the content of an open tab without switching back to it
- Opera Turbo — Data-saving mode ideal for patchy connections
- Rich bookmarking — including new sharing functionality
- Add-ons — compatible with Chrome extensions, too
- Support for HiDPI displays on Linux
Download Opera for Linux 26
Opera say those running Opera 12.6 on a 64-bit version of Ubuntu still supported by Canonical will automatically receive this new update through the Ubuntu Software Center.
But in all honesty I’m not sure anyone is in that boat! So, helpfully, a Debian installer can be downloaded from the Opera website. This will also add the Opera repository to your Software Sources to enable you to receive future updates in a timely fashion.
Feel free to kit your new browser out with our nifty Opera Add-On, too:
Important Notice about Linux Support
Opera for Linux is 64-bit only. The company say this decision was made based on ‘what most Linux desktop users have installed’. While annoying it is part of a larger overall trend away from 32-bit software, with Opera for Mac also being 64-bit exclusive, too.
In another case of “spending limited resources wisely”, this release is only being officially supported on Ubuntu (and ‘buntu-based derivatives, including Linux Mint).
Users on other distributions, from Arch to openSUSE, can still install Opera for Linux but will need to use a (fairly simple) workaround or hunt down an unofficial repository.
If you give it a spin let us know what you make of it in the comments below.
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