[Andrex]

TheNextWeb: Facebook to acquire browser maker Opera? Maybe. Here’s what we know.

Yandex and Google (buying Opera) also rumored, although a Google buyout would never fly in the EU. Lots of movement in the browser space recently, first Yahoo Axis, now this...

[BobsRevenge]

STAY THE FUCK AWAY FACEBOOK I'M WARNING YOU

[DMczaf]

STAY THE FUCK AWAY FACEBOOK I'M WARNING YOU

You've convinced them. They're not doing it now.

[Copernicus]

Uh...wtf time to erase my opera profile.

[KTallguy]

Wait... what's the point? I guess to make a Facebook browser?

[Cheesemeister]

Odd, I could've sworn that Facebook had a close partnership with Microsoft.

[btkadams]

STAY THE FUCK AWAY FACEBOOK I'M WARNING YOU

what's the big deal?

[Andrex]

So if Facebook does buy Opera, I can't see any of Opera's current users staying, at least the desktop ones (Opera's share has been eroding in mobile for several years now, as well.) So I would imagine these users would go to Firefox or Chrome, which wouldn't be a big boost, maybe a percentage point for each.

Facebook would then probably repurpose the entire thing and make it like Rockmelt or something, for both desktop and mobile. Opera still has a large base in mobile, and as the IPO showed Facebook is extremely weak there, so I guess it makes sense on the business side.

[Tobor]

Opera finally found a way to get people to use their browser.

[claviertekky]

Dislike.

[SimleuqiR]

I'll take the rocket.

[C-Drive]

Well, it sucks I just moved to FastMail, then.

[Sentry]

Was just about to post this, here's the original Pocket-lint story/source. The fact that both companies are declining to comment is even more telling than Opera being on a hiring freeze.

[Krakatoa]

Wow they really want to drive down that stock price.

[FunnyBunny]

Opera Mobile is solid.

Facebook Phone is incoming (messenger for texts, instagram for camera and opera for browser).

[Lord Error]

It's gonna be Google vs. Facebook.

And I have a feeling Facebook's gonna win.

[btkadams]

So if Facebook does buy Opera, I can't see any of Opera's current users staying, at least the desktop ones (Opera's share has been eroding in mobile for several years now, as well.) So I would imagine these users would go to Firefox or Chrome, which wouldn't be a big boost, maybe a percentage point for each. Facebook would then probably repurpose the entire thing and make it like Rockmelt or something, for both desktop and mobile. Opera still has a large base in mobile, and as the IPO showed Facebook is extremely weak there, so I guess it makes sense on the business side.

what are you basing this on??

[SimleuqiR]

Wow they really want to drive down that stock price.

FB wants to be the next Google. No matter what Tim Cook says, FB is not Apple or comes close to anything Apple. There is just something bout their leadership that does not give off any of those vibes.

[nVidiot_Whore]

I have a hard time gauging how talented Facebook's actual software developers are.

It's not exactly all that complex of a site. They likely have some great database performance optimization experts, but the site itself is pretty basic.. even considering the 3rd party app support, etc.

VBulletin is more complex than Facebook.

[Andrex]

what are you basing this on??

Because the current Opera desktop users are an extremely small but evangelistic group, mostly because Opera's a little fish in a big ocean? That's always the impression I got. As soon as Opera "sells out" and Facebook starts mucking with it then I can't see most of them staying, not when there are real alternatives out there.

Disclaimer: Opera was my main browser for about three and a half years.

[Stumpokapow]

Disclaimer: Opera was my main browser for about three and a half years.

Yikes. ;)

[Andrex]

It's gonna be Google vs. Facebook. And I have a feeling Facebook's gonna win.

Lord Error, I fear your name is apt.

Yikes. ;)

It was the best browser out there by far during that time, even after Chrome came out (until it got extensions.) Opera had the extensibility and customizability of Firefox, nearly the speed of Chrome, and was on the bleeding edge. They were also always trying new things, like Opera Unite, which was actually sort of semi-useful until I forgot about it.

[Copernicus]

Because the current Opera desktop users are an extremely small but evangelistic group, mostly because Opera's a little fish in a big ocean? That's always the impression I got. As soon as Opera "sells out" and Facebook starts mucking with it then I can't see most of them staying, not when there are real alternatives out there. Disclaimer: Opera was my main browser for about three and a half years.

Yup, as a current Opera user*, I'll be moving on if it gets absorbed by FB.



*this entitles me to about 22% speaking power of all Opera users.

[brumx]

Damn it dont sell out to them I like my private browser

[LQX]

I'll take the rocket.

How is Firefox nearly unusable because of all the add-ons? That makes no sense. If anything that's what makes it great.

[Delio]

It's gonna be Google vs. Facebook. And I have a feeling Facebook's gonna win.

Gonna be a fun fight :)

[Grakl]

I pretty much only use Opera as well - if Facebook buys Opera, then I'm gone.

[Shard]

It's gonna be Google vs. Facebook. And I have a feeling Facebook's gonna win.

Not as long as that stock keeps dropping.

[Forsete]

Opera used to be awesome, until that update which screwed up the rendering of some websites. :/

Chrome/Firefox for me now. However I've always loved Opera, Facebook buying them is the kiss of death as far as my usage of it.

[Haziq]

Oh man.

I don't use Opera, but I'd hate if that happened to the browser I use.

[CornBurrito]

How is Firefox nearly unusable because of all the add-ons? That makes no sense. If anything that's what makes it great.

I've found Firefox to be stupendously slow after a couple of add-ons, while I haven't had the same problem with Chrome.

Idk. I dropped Firefox after 4.0, but it may have gotten better.

[andycapps]

I don't think Facebook has enough money to buy out Google. But buying out Opera, that's possible.

[Sentry]

Disclaimer: Opera was my main browser for about three and a half years.

No wonder you posted this so fast.

I was an Opera user for about a year, a long time ago. That was before Chrome, though, and I was still on Windows.

I don't think Facebook has enough money to buy out Google. But buying out Opera, that's possible.

It would disastrous on apocalyptic levels.

[MrHicks]

opera should just give up
its the linux desktop of browsers

AKA forever irrelevant marketshare wise

[Souldriver]

Can someone with some knowledge on the matter tell me how Facebook would benefit from an Opera buyout?

[Gentleman Jack]

How is Firefox nearly unusable because of all the add-ons? That makes no sense. If anything that's what makes it great.

It's mostly flash bogging down firefox. I don't know why, but an hour of watching youtube vids in firefox crushes its performance. Don't even ask about silverlight performance. I don't get the same problems in webkit browsers.

But yeah I couldn't really enjoy the web without certain firefox addons.

[CurlySaysX]

fuck no!
Leave my Opera Mini/Mobile alones!

[Copernicus]

So if this were to happen, wouldn't it's user share just skyrocket as soon as they post the download link at Facebook? You know....1 Billion users and all that.

[LQX]

I've found Firefox to be stupendously slow after a couple of add-ons, while I haven't had the same problem with Chrome. Idk. I dropped Firefox after 4.0, but it may have gotten better.

Well yeah. They're on I think 8 now. I have about 5 essential add-ons and I never find it to be slow.

[Tobor]

opera should just give up its the linux desktop of browsers AKA forever irrelevant marketshare wise

Unless they're purchased by Facebook, and rebranded as the Facebook browser. Instant relevance.

[Grakl]

Can someone with some knowledge on the matter tell me how Facebook would benefit from an Opera buyout?

Cheapest way to get in to the browser market, I suppose.

[vaelic]

LOL, I thought it read OPRAH as in the talk show host

[Lord Error]

Lord Error, I fear your name is apt.

For once, I hope so.

[Art Teitlebaum]

Fuck, if true. Love my Opera, though I have to admit, that the quality is going down a little bit since 10. If they really get swallowed by FB then I would switch to good ol' FF.

Still hoping that this is a hoax.

[itxaka]

Facebook browser so they can sell facebook machines and phones?

[SimleuqiR]

Can someone with some knowledge on the matter tell me how Facebook would benefit from an Opera buyout?

Promote said FB browser on their site to users - leveraging how no matter where they are on the web they will still be on FB (without extensions or keeping a tab open, etc)

• Automatic status updates
• Automatic Message/Post notifications
  
• Blah, blah, blah.

It could cause a ripple affect on the web, and change the market share of browsers.
I mean, people feel compelled enough to open a FB account, why not just download their browser?

[gcubed]

The IPO of Facebook was the beginning of its slow spiral if these are their ideas now.

[Copernicus]

Promote said FB browser on their site to users - leveraging how no matter where they are on the web they will still be on FB (without extensions or keeping a tab open, etc) Automatic status updates Automatic Message/Post notifications Blah, blah, blah. It could cause a ripple affect on the web, and change the market share of browsers. I mean, people feel compelled enough to open a FB account, why not just download their browser?

So basically Facebook+.

[SimleuqiR]

So basically Facebook+.

But with users.

ZING!

[Andrex]

I've found Firefox to be stupendously slow after a couple of add-ons, while I haven't had the same problem with Chrome. Idk. I dropped Firefox after 4.0, but it may have gotten better.

That's because Chrome's extension model is brilliant. People used to complain it wasn't powerful enough since all they are is HTML and JS, but that was a good tradeoff IMO. Better security, doesn't bog down the browser, and they're never "out of date."

I never got that, and still don't, about Firefox. Extensions can get out of date when the browser upgrades. Worse functionality in a new browser. Madness.

opera should just give up its the linux desktop of browsers AKA forever irrelevant marketshare wise

This is pretty dumb logic. If Linux gave up after Windows beat it we wouldn't have Android, or like 75% of the web since there wouldn't be any Linux servers, so no LAMP.