Opera 11.50's new "featherweight" interface packs a punch

Opera has released version 11.50 of its desktop Web browser. The significant update introduces Opera's new "featherweight" user interface and brings a number of other new features and performance improvements.

The major browser vendors have all been working to simplify their user interfaces and reduce the amount of functionality that is exposed in their default layouts. Opera took a big step in that direction with the 10.50 release last year, when they hid the menu bar by default. The new "featherweight" interface takes the existing streamlined layout and overhauls it with a much more consistent style.

In our review of 10.50 last year, we highlighted the strengths of the streamlined layout but had a lack of enthusiasm about the feel. The issue is that simplifying an interface by pulling out elements tends to detract from the seamlessness and sense of balance. To get it right, Opera really needed a more holistic redesign of the navigation and tab interface—with an approach that takes the new simplified layout into consideration from the start.