Opera is a web browser and internet suite developed by the Opera Software company. Opera handles common Internet-related tasks such as displaying web sites, sending and receiving e-mail messages, managing contacts, IRC online chatting, downloading files via BitTorrent, and reading web feeds. Opera is offered free of charge for personal computers and mobile phones, but for other devices it must be paid for. Features of Opera include tabbed browsing, page zooming, mouse gestures, and an integrated download manager. Its security features include built-in phishing and malware protection, strong encryption when browsing secure web sites, and the ability to easily delete private data such as cookies and browsing history by simply clicking a button. Opera runs on a variety of personal computer operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris. Though evaluations of Opera have been largely positive, Opera has captured only a fraction of the worldwide personal computer browser market. Opera has a stronger market share on mobile devices such as mobile phones, smartphones, and personal digital assistants. Editions of Opera are available for devices using the Symbian and Windows Mobile operating systems, as well as Java ME-enabled devices. Approximately 40 million mobile phones have shipped with Opera pre-installed. Opera is the only commercial web browser available for the Nintendo DS and Wii gaming systems. Some television set-top boxes use Opera as well, and Adobe licensed Opera technology for use in the Adobe Creative Suite.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera_%28web_browser%29

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1461:

Ming Chinese general Cao Qin staged a failed coup against the Tianshun Emperor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebellion_of_Cao_Qin

1679:

Le Griffon, a brigantine by René-Robert de LaSalle, became the first sailing ship to navigate the Great Lakes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9-Robert_Cavelier%2C_Sieur_de_La_Salle

1782:

The Badge of Military Merit , the original Purple Heart, was established as a military decoration in the Continental Army. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badge_of_Military_Merit

1942:

World War II: U.S. Marines initiated the first American offensive of the Guadalcanal campaign with landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi in the Solomon Islands. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tulagi_and_Gavutu%E2%80%93Tanambogo

1947:

An expedition led by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl on his raft, the Kon-Tiki, completed a 101-day journey across the Pacific Ocean. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kon-Tiki

1998:

Car bombs simultaneously exploded at the United States embassies in the East African capital cities of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya, killing over 200 people and injuring over 4,500 others. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_United_States_embassy_bombings

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

badger (v): 1. To pester; to annoy persistently. 2. (British, informal) To pass gas; to fart http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/badger

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The question isn't whether you have a good master or a bad master. It's to be your own master. That is the dignity of humanity. --Alan Keyes http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alan_Keyes