Opera has introduced a new browser that promises to help users enhance concentration, strike a healthy work-life balance, and manage stress. These ambitions might seem a bit ambitious for a browser, but Opera Air is packed with features specifically aimed at promoting mindfulness. Now available in early access for anyone curious to try, Opera Air leaves a positive first impression as a reliable everyday browser equipped with some truly beneficial tools for mental well-being.
Browsers rank among the most frequently used applications across all devices. Google Chrome typically rules the market in terms of user share, while Apple’s Safari holds its own with a significant user base. As per StatCounter, Chrome leads with a 67.05% market share, followed by Safari at 17.96%, leaving other browsers fighting over the remaining 15%. To succeed, developers need to differentiate their browsers by offering unique features, whether by focusing on heightened security or exclusive browsing capabilities.
In creating Opera Air, the team took a novel approach. It boasts all the standard browsing features you’d expect, such as an ad blocker, a built-in VPN, and comprehensive web compatibility, but its standout elements focus on mindfulness.
Within Opera Air, you’ll find shortcuts to smart exercises, meditation sessions, and “Boosts” integrated into the browsing experience. The Boosts, in particular, have attracted considerable interest. They offer a variety of audio tracks designed to engage different brain waves, with binaural beats playing a pivotal role. These beats leverage slightly different frequency tones, resulting in the perception of a third frequency, which acts as the driving force behind the Boosts.
Although I’m no expert in medicine, I can only speak from personal experience regarding the “Theta 6Hz” audio file. It’s said to enhance creativity, and from my standpoint, these Boosts seem to deliver on their promises. The “Creativity” Boost provided a soothing experience without making me sleepy. A delightful feature is the ability to personalize various sound elements, such as adjusting the volume of either the binaural track or ambient noise.
Naturally, Opera doesn’t hold exclusive rights to neck exercises, guided meditations, or soundtracks designed to engage brain waves. However, what sets Opera Air apart is its ability to seamlessly incorporate all these features into one cohesive interface. This means users don’t have to scour the web for different resources or juggle multiple open windows. It’s an innovative approach that’s causing quite a stir. My colleague Stephen Warwick, who writes for TechRadar, has already made the switch from Chrome to Opera Air for his personal browsing. Nonetheless, given our parent company’s reliance on Chrome, both Warwick and I must keep it handy for our professional needs.
