Opera launches Unite, sticks Web server in browser

Computerworld - In a bid to boost its share of the browser market, Opera Software today unveiled an alpha build of Opera Unite, a technology platform that adds a compact Web server to its browser and lets users share files, photos and music without using third-party services.

"We are enabling every single computer to be a two-way street on the Internet," CEO Jon von Tetzchner said in a Webcast the company held early this morning to introduce the early version of Unite.

The collaborative technology has been embedded in Opera 10, the still-in-beta browser that the company will release in final form alongside that application, said Christen Krogh, the company's chief development officer. He declined to set a timetable, but said that Unite would be "part of Opera 10" and would be released "as soon as possible." The beta version of Opera 10 was launched last week.

Along with the alpha -- which Krogh pitched to developers as a platform for creating additional services -- Opera packaged half a dozen services of its own, including file sharing, a media player, photo sharing and a Facebook-style "wall" dubbed "Fridge" where users can leave notes for each other.

The "Web Server" service, meanwhile, allows users to host an already-created Web site from any Unite-equipped computer using a special URL that Opera assigns. Users will have to turn to other tools to craft such sites, however.

"This is a new platform for utilizing a Web server inside your browser," explained Krogh. "It's a normal Opera browser, but bundled with a Web server inside that browser."

The six included services add functionality to the browser. The media player service, for example, effectively turns any Opera-equipped computer into a music file-sharing service that streams tunes to any other browser. Users can set the service as public, private or a password-protected hybrid. Only tracks that lack anti-piracy protection can be shared.

Although Opera 10 is needed to run Unite and its server-like services, any browser can access the shared content.