Opera announces "Opera Unite", a web server within a web browser

By on Jun 16, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Software June 16, 2009

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.

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21 Comments

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  • Gauntlet Down

    Cable providers frown on servers by Joe Normal User – usually the ability to do this is an extra-cost service.

  • bill

    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.

  • abe Aalen

    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.

  • Ross

    I just tried hooking it up to my iTunes and it will only play DRM-free tracks. So much for all of that.

  • 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://www.thezman.us The Z Man

    ~sniff sniff~ Do you smell that? Smells like a copyright lawsuit coming Opera’s way.

  • http://www.istudioweb.com/ Vlad (Small Business Blog)

    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.

  • YoshiFtJ

    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

  • F1

    Sorry “Opera Unite”,
    due to potential increase in “Botnet” style abuse, it is not for me.

    Thank You

  • http://thejetsblog.com Angel

    Where’s Mad Mike? This sounds like a “Pimp My Internet” pilot going wrong.

  • Floydian

    Sweet! Does it provide a place to hand over my financial records, social security number, and ginormous pr0n collection too?

  • http://www.codelathe.com/blog riveryacht

    u might want to check out tonido. Tonido did the same thing 3 months back.

  • webbie

    Actualy, they didn’t. Most of their services require that both have Tonido installed. Opera Unite works in any browser.

    • Kevin

      “Actually, they didn’t. Most of their services require that both have Tonido installed. Opera Unite works in any browser.”

      Are you sure you don’t have this backwards? Streaming music on Unite only works in Opera. On Tonido, it works in multiple browsers…

      Also, Tonido runs as a service, making it much easier to continue running if, say, your computer restarts. With Unite, you need to restart the browser after the restart…

  • webbie

    @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.

  • webbie

    @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/

  • Lui

    wouldnt this be similiar to what google is trying to do with the wave

  • http://www.dailyblogged.com Richard Ward

    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.

  • bbkernel

    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.

  • John

    Oracle distributed a browser that did this back in 1996

  • John

    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.

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