Opera Mini for Android 7.5 gets a social, location-based reboot

Opera has just launched the latest version of its mobile browser. Opera Mini for Android 7.5 brings a few new touches, including a socially focused Smart Page.

The Smart Page includes a social tab, a news section, and a selection of links curated based on your location. The social tab will bring updates from Twitter and Facebook into an at-a-glance interface.

“This is a real time saver,” said Opera CEO Lars Boilesen in a statement on the news. “There are just too many social networks, and I’m a busy man. Now, thanks to the Smart Page, I can get all the updates at a glance, even from my favorite Danish newspapers.”

Here’s a sneak peek:

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The new version of the browser keeps current features such as Speed Dial, which stores shortcuts and displays them in new tabs.

On the technical side, the mobile browser compresses data to compensate for congested carrier networks and limited data plans. In fact, Opera is so confident about this particular feature, it’s claiming it can save users up to 90 percent of data charges on a pay-per-megabyte data plan.

You can download the latest version of Opera Mini now free of charge.

Mobile browsers are a bit of a hot topic lately. Firefox for Android is leading the charge, especially when it comes to user features and tech-side enhancements. There’s also Chrome for Android and Yahoo Axis; in China, web giant Baidu just launched a mobile browser for Android and Windows Phone. All of it adds up to more fuel for the mobile web fire — and the related mobile web versus native debate.

Top image courtesy of Kostenko Maxim, Shutterstock