Opera has introduced Opera Unite (now dead). To me, this looks an awful lot like Google Wave, or at least a "lite" version of what that says it will be. However, there's an important difference: Google Wave, if and when it ever becomes real, will require a Wave Server. Opera Unite shares from your computer.
Well, sort of. Opera's servers access your content and share it with others. So it's not direct access to your computer... but really that technical difference hardly matters. As the developer docs (now long gone) explain:
So you are trusting that the developer of the sharing app didn't screw up? Opers says they have that covered: they "screen" all apps. Yeah, that's comforting.
OK, so if you are the trusting sort, this could be an easy way to share photos and files with friends and family without having to upload them to Facebook or some other server. The downside, of course, is that your computer has to be running and connected to the internet.
And that raises more questions of security. You can require a password to access your content, but does that really make you feel safe? Opera says that this is safe, but plenty of apps have been fully embarrassed after making similar claims. I may be a big worry-wart, but I'm not about to open up my computer like that.
It's apparently possible to really cast caution to the winds (from their FAQ):
Yeah - let's turn THAT on.
No, I think I'll pass on Opera Unite, at least for now. I wonder how long it will be before the first security patch?
Got something to add? Send me email.
More Articles by Anthony Lawrence © 2009-11-07 Anthony Lawrence
A C program is like a fast dance on a newly waxed dance floor by people carrying razors. (Waldi Ravens)
Wed Jul 8 11:55:44 2009: 6623 BrettLegree
It certainly is an interesting time, isn't it, with Unite, and Wave, and now (well, later) Google Chrome OS coming. I think Microsoft's been put on notice again.
Anyway, back to the topic - I feel the same way about Unite. It looks interesting, but I don't think I trust it yet.
------------------------
Printer Friendly Version
Opera Unite is a little Wave Copyright © July 2009 Tony Lawrence
Have you tried Searching this site?
This is a Unix/Linux resource website. It contains technical articles about Unix, Linux and general computing related subjects, opinion, news, help files, how-to's, tutorials and more.
Contact us
Printer Friendly Version