New Opera Browser Features Aim to End Safari Tab Management Woes

[MacRumors]

Opera is making a bold claim about fixing one of mobile browsing's most persistent annoyances: tab overload. The company's latest Opera One for iOS update introduces what it calls "the most advanced tab management system" on the platform, in what sounds like a concerted effort to target Safari and Chrome users drowning in dozens of open tabs.

The Norwegian browser maker has rolled out several desktop-inspired features to mobile, including customizable grid and list layouts for better tab visualization. Users can now organize tabs into color-coded groups for keeping work projects separate from vacation planning or shopping comparisons, for example.

Perhaps most useful is the new tab search function, which lets you quickly locate specific pages by typing keywords that appear in the webpage title or URL. The interface also supports intuitive swiping between regular tabs, private browsing, and synced tabs from other devices.

"Some people say we're too much into tab overload, and indeed we are – because we can control it," reckons Opera product manager Jona Bolin.

Whether Opera's solution will convert committed Safari users remains to be seen, but the company clearly believes better tab management could be its ticket to wider mobile browser relevance.

Beyond tab management, Opera has made the browser more personal with customizable menu options. You can now configure which features appear in the main menu, keeping your most-used tools within easy reach.

The update also relocates Opera's Aria AI assistant to a more prominent position in the center of the bottom bar, providing one-tap access to the company's multi-model AI system that can tap into GPT-4o or Gemini 2.0 depending on the query.

If you're suffering from mobile tab chaos, Opera could be the solution you're looking for. Opera One for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store for free [Direct Link].

Article Link: New Opera Browser Features Aim to End Safari Tab Management Woes

 

[555gallardo]

Cupertino, start your photocopiers please. Opera has definitely one of the best tab management systems out there.

 

[cicalinarrot]

I barely consider the ones on my iPhone's browsers to be real tabs.
They have to reload and throw away what I was doing so frequently when I switch tab or app, I can never rely on them.
They're nothing more than a quick-access history.
That's an aspect where phones haven't reached the practicality I had on computers 20 years ago. Wish they could fix this first.

 

[stocklen]

what am I missing here?

When you pinch in on safari you get a very similar view of all your open tabs and the ability to search them...? thats been the case for a while.

 

[SilmarilFinder]

They have to reload and throw away what I was doing so frequently when I switch tab or app, I can never rely on them.
They're nothing more than a quick-access history.
That's an aspect where phones haven't reached the practicality I had on computers 20 years ago. Wish they could fix this first.

Agreed. I find mobile browsers clumbersome too. Same thing happens with open apps as well, like they just give up existing. Probably down to lack of RAM. Although of course, Apple’s RAM is supposed to be ten times bigger and better than everyone else’s.

what am I missing here?

When you pinch in on safari you get a very similar view of all your open tabs and the ability to search them...? thats been the case for a while.

You can colour code the tabs and use different profiles (eg work and personal). Nothing spectecular new or important in my use case.

 

[wanha]

someone explain the headline to me like I'm five:

how tf does Opera adding better tab management to its browser help "end Safari tab management woes"?

 

[Bokito]

I barely consider the ones on my iPhone's browsers to be real tabs.
They have to reload and throw away what I was doing so frequently when I switch tab or app, I can never rely on them.
They're nothing more than a quick-access history.
That's an aspect where phones haven't reached the practicality I had on computers 20 years ago. Wish they could fix this first.

The problem here is memory management and that’s only partially a browser thing. The WWW got a lot more bulky in the last 20 years. More complex websites means a bigger payload and more RAM usage. Also websites have added huge loads of tracking, analytics and ads. If you have 20 daringfireball.net tabs open, that will be ok, but 5 MacRumors tabs is definitely gonna hurt pre-8GB phones.

 

[drmacnut]

I wish this new Opera on iOS could import all of my currently open tabs in Safari (iOS). I have 497 tabs "open" in Safari at the moment and would love to see what Opera would make of them all. The limit in Safari iOS is 500 which is the reason I only have 497 open at the moment. 🤣🤦🏻‍♂️

 

[contacos]

I am that kind of person that only ever uses one tab, even if I go back to the same page one moment later again. Does it make sense? No but I can't 😅 just like I can't deal with app icon number badges or crap on the desktop

 

[Slash787]

Today I learnt that Opera is Norwegian.

 

[bradman83]

someone explain the headline to me like I'm five:

how tf does Opera adding better tab management to its browser help "end Safari tab management woes"?

It’s a poorly written headline. It’s something along the lines of “If you dislike Safari’s tab management system check out this new update for Opera instead.”

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Today I learnt that Opera is Norwegian.

It was, but Opera is now owned by the Chinese company Kunlun Tech Co., and their CEO is Chinese. They are still headquartered in Oslo, however.

 

[Corefile]

So this would require installing Opera on my device? LOL Nope. Not happening.

 

[CarlJ]

Dozens? Amateurs.

 

[balcis]

It’s not only about configurability or giving more options but sometimes thinking ahead. When I open a new tab on my iPad it’s not automatically opened in my iPhone or MacBook but if I open it in a specific tab group then it’s ready on my other devices. I love this.

 

[CarlJ]

The limit in Safari iOS is 500 which is the reason I only have 497 open at the moment. 🤣🤦🏻‍♂️

The limit in Safari was 500. They raised it at some point (iOS 18?). Not sure what the upper limit is now.

 

[macjaffa]

I wish this new Opera on iOS could import all of my currently open tabs in Safari (iOS). I have 497 tabs "open" in Safari at the moment and would love to see what Opera would make of them all. The limit in Safari iOS is 500 which is the reason I only have 497 open at the moment. 🤣🤦🏻‍♂️

Just close some tabs

 

[TechRunner]

The limit in Safari iOS is 500 which is the reason I only have 497 open at the moment.

Yikes. And also, wow! I can't imagine trying to keep track of what is open where with 497 tabs. You're way more dedicated to your browser than I am. I think the most tabs I've ever had open at once was in the low 30s.

 

[Populus]

Perhaps most useful is the new tab search function, which lets you quickly locate specific pages by typing keywords that appear in the webpage title or URL

Opera’s -perhaps- most useful feature is also available on iOS, has been for a long time. You just have to enter the multi-tab view, touch the top edge of the screen, that will place you at the top of the multi-tab view, where you’re able to use a search field. That will search across all your tabs for keywords.

By the way…

The Norwegian browser maker

Is this company still Norwegian? I thought they were bought by a Chinese company or Chinese capital…

 

[the 12th Doctor]

I see what you did there China. Nope. I don't think so.

 

[Korb3n_Dallas]

I imagine a time when apple would of looked at the issue and done it themselves. Does not surprise me that a 3rd party company has to out innovate Apple.

 

[svish]

Prefer to use Safari. Will download it and give it a try. Sometimes I do have a dozen tabs open.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

I wonder if Opera unloads background tabs as aggressively as safari does.

 

[DesignatedSurvivor]

It was, but Opera is now owned by the Chinese company Kunlun Tech Co., and their CEO is Chinese. They are still headquartered in Oslo, however.

Yeah. But it is still Norwegian, they pay their taxes there, their CEO is employed under Norwegian Law. So technically they are still a Norwegian company.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Yeah. But it is still Norwegian, they pay their taxes there, their CEO is employed under Norwegian Law. So technically they are still a Norwegian company.

I guess... It's 72% owned by Kunlun Tech and Zhou Yahui (their CEO) lives, by all accounts, in Beijing and is a Chinese citizen.

It doesn't bother me either way...I'm not scared of China and their companies like everyone else here seems to be. They are also on the US NASDAQ.