Good news for the users who want an alternative to using Chrome as their mobile browser: Opera got a rebranding and is sprouting fresh features in the latest update for its Opera for Android app.
The Norway-based company is already popular on both desktop computers and mobile devices that have an Android operating system. On Sept. 22, Opera revealed its new logo and revamped brand identity. As it was expected, the initial letter 'O' remains the sigil of the company, but the visual style is more sleek and contemporary.
With the refresh in aesthetic appeal also comes an update for the Opera for Android app, which was already present in the beta version of the application for some time. "Opera 32" is the name of the latest version of the browser, which is powered by Chromium 45. The update provides fixes and debugs as well as useful new possibilities.
One of these is that you can now add web pages to your smartphone's home screen. It is like having a shortcut to any site that is currently open in Opera. You simply click the plus sign situated on the left of the search/address bar, select 'add to home screen option' and voila, you can now access one of your favorite sites instantly.
The Discover feature allows users to get "the latest news, tech, sports and other content from world-leading magazines and newspapers." The feature has been improved so the quality of the images you receive is considerably better, provided you have a display that supports that sharpness. Synchronization has been upgraded as well. Now everything from typed history to browser tabs and bookmarks can be synchronized among your devices.
User experience enhancements were also introduced. In previous versions, a manual tap of the 'refresh' button was mandatory for a page to reload. Opera 32 now allows you to refresh the page by simply swiping down, a function that is common in a number of other browsers.
Increased functionality and catchier visuals are reasons why the Opera update for Android is getting positive ratings. If you already use the browser, the update awaits for you to test out the new features. If you don't, the app is available on Google Play Store where it has a general score of 4.3/5 and more than a million five-star ratings.
