dW

The Kestrel and the Leopard

Back in June there was a post got got my and many others‘ hopes up about a proper Macintosh interface in the upcoming Opera 9.5, codenamed “Kestrel”. Out of everything discussed in that post that was what sparked my interest more. I’m a CSS fanatic, and widespread CSS selector support is fantastic but compares nothing to a proper, native interface. This is addressed toward the developers, specifically the Mac team.

First of all before I state anything else I do not intend on offending any of you guys in any shape, fashion, or form anywhere in this post. I am wanting to offer my opinion and suggestions on this matter. I realize you have felt insulted. That is not my intent.

Kestrel was released in an alpha form 4 weeks ago today. I would have to say I was greatly disappointed and disgusted with the interface, and in some respects I thought it was a step backwards from before. It was an alpha, and even within the past few weeks improvements have been made from what I initially caught sight of in the alpha. I think you guys care as much as I do, but I think I can help (more on this later). I even stated that and wanted a question asked about the interface, but I immediately was bashed for even hoping that Opera would improve its interface. I responded rather harshly, and I stand by what I said. I STILL think Opera can change things for the better despite what many of my colleagues say.

I asked elsewhere for the answer to my question and eventually asked it (and got it) on OperaNet in #weekly. I received a rather angry response from Tim and left the chat as I saw no need to persue the question further. Some friends of mine still were in the chat and relayed discussion after my departure. I returned, and what was said between Tim and myself are between the two of us. We reconciled, and I expressed my insistence that I intend never to attempt to insult the developers. I don’t believe I have, and if I did with my statements in that thread or anywhere else I apologize. Those were of my opinion, not a direct insult toward the developers unlike some other messages in that thread.

I want to provide information on how I think this problem should be approached. This is a major problem with the program. Kestrel has already addressed the sluggishness of the application. Now the interface really needs to take center stage. It doesn’t matter if it is changed with 9.5’s release, but I would love to see something done before Peregrine. I’m sick and tired of people demeaning Opera because of its non-native interface. I’m tired of pleading with people to give it a try despite this shortcoming. I want everyone to be excited when they open Opera for the first time on their Macintosh. I want them to be amazed at what it can do, and how elegantly it can do it. Opera can flex its muscles and look good doing it.

I think most of the work is already done. The base (Opera when unskinned) needs to change a bit and the skinning system needs to be improved to support features needed to recreate a Macintosh look and feel. I would offer to make the skin if what I propose would be implemented or something similar that brings the same results. I would even create a comprehensive icon set to go with it. What do you guys say to that? I’m a designer, and I want to help with this as much as I possibly can. This is the best way I can think of to help you guys.

I’ve actually started on the document, but I kept on running into roadblocks because of uncertaintly from Leopard. I’m probably just being paranoid, but I think the document would have to wait for Leopard because of changes being made to the UI in that release. As far as I’ve seen now not very many things were changed to the unified interface except for a color shift (to a darker shade) along with the removal of the old unified theme and brushed metal. Everything would be unified in Leopard, something many users were crying out for before Tiger was even released. I don’t think much would change, except maybe a light unified and dark unified skin for both Tiger and Leopard users.

I think I’ve shown in the past that I care a lot about Opera and its community. Anyone who knows me refers to me as “that Opera nut”. I sincerely want to help you guys out with this. I wouldn’t write about this if I didn’t care. I respect you guys. You’ve made the best browser in the world. I just think it needs a push in the right direction for it to be accepted by the Macintosh community.