Opera 10 Has a Rude Updater

When it comes to software, rude is defined as software doing something that’s in your face that happens with no warning at all. The recent update from Opera 10.51 to 10.52 is exactly like this.

When Firefox has an update, the way most people have that browser configured is so it will auto-download the update. When it does, a toaster pop-up happens that tells you it downloaded something and that you should restart to apply the changes. In addition, upon re-launch, the software says, "Hey, I’m going to install an update, click a button to start it." This is polite. People like that.

That’s not the way it works in Opera.

I go to start the browser, and this happens:

There isn’t even anything here that tells you this is an update. All you know is that version 10.52 is being installed. That’s better than nothing, but unless you were aware 10.52 was a browser update, you’d have no clue what was going on. Some would freak out at seeing something like this, and rightly so because there was no warning of it.

Add to that this installer just goes and BLAM, starts running the moment you attempt to launch the browser. Like I said, no warning. This is a totally rude update procedure.

This is almost as bad as when XP downloads an update and restarts the computer on its own. Opera isn’t quite as bad as that, but darn close.

Opera, fix your updater. Please give us some notification in the form of a toaster pop-up or dialog box before doing something like this.

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Ken Starnes
My Opera 10.51 had an update ready last night BUT it showed up as a message box and there was also a small push button at the bottom right status bar of the browser to run it.
I think it must be a setting that you have because I just did a standard install of Opera and haven’t touched it since.

http://www.menga.net Rich Menga
Well, at least you got some notification. I had the scenario described above happen on both my netbook running XP and my tower box running Windows 7. Both updated the exact same way.
If it is a setting that’s doing it, I’d happily change it, but I couldn’t tell you which it is.

Larry
Opera is just rude normally The last time I tried it it displayed images horribly . I love and use Firefox but would choose explorer over Opera any day.
Duncan
On the first notification of an update, there is a checkbox for allowing automatic updates, uncheck to be notified only.
If you’ve already accepted the automatic process (inadvertently perhaps through skipping through dialogue boxes without bothering to read them), for future updates you should change the setting under preferences/Security and choose the option that suits you best

http://www.menga.net Rich Menga
It takes two extra steps to get there. It’s “O” menu, Settings, Preferences, Advanced tab, Security (and don’t say “Use CTRL+F12″ because nobody would ever remember that).
There are only three options for updates (don’t check, notify, automatic) and absolutely no options as to *how* an automatic update is performed, so there is no “best” setting for how it’s done. When it’s on, Opera just does it crappy, plain and simple.

http://mtrtmk.wordpress.com MtRtMk
I have it set to “Notify” in the security settings. Even then, one has to be careful that once you are giving the go-ahead for update, there is a checkbox in the popup which is checked by default saying something to the effect that from now on, Opera will install updates automatically. So, if ppl prefer Notify option to automatic, then just be careful to make sure to uncheck the box. Otherwise, have to go to security and change to notify again. Didn’t used to happen like this before, but with the recent 10.5x updates seems to be the norm.
Tim
I wouldn’t even bother with opera.
The only browser worth using these days is Google Chrome. Fast! Easy! and built for using, every day!
Ramon
That’s never happened to me. I always get a notice telling me a new version is available and the option to install. As has been mentioned, you must have it set to do so automatically. Perhaps with a new install it defaults to update automatically, but I’ve just been upgrading for years so I guess my settings haven’t been changed.
Force Flow
I think that may have been a setting specified if you upgraded from 10.1x to 10.50. The installation on one of my workstations auto-updated until I changed the option to “notify only”.
On another workstation, I upgraded from 10.1x to 10.51 and the auto-update setting was set to “notify”, rather than auto-update.