Opera, the formerly innovative, long since fledgling Norwegian browser minter, has a new big idea… so big they claim to have “reinvented the web.“  ~  [ chuckle ]

Opera Unite bundles the company’s browser with a server – allowing any computer to serve content without need for third-party servers. Marketing terms this “cutting out the middleman.”  You know, because supposedly he’s doing such a ghastly inefficient job of it.  Let’s not get bogged down in technical details: Opera is a seriously lame browser that next-to-no-one cares about, which accounts for its struggle to retain a 0.7% market share.  This isn’t an innovation in client/server technology or personal publishing. Server application bundles and collaboration tools have been freely available for over a decade.  And let’s face it – anyone likely to try Unite has been using something else rather successfully.

Still, Opera clearly has great aspirations for Unite’s “revolutionary potential.”  I’m curious how far they thought this out whilst busily reinventing an unremarkable web server, and how Unite fits into the company’s Environmental Policy:

Opera Software ASA understands the importance of supporting the environment. For this reason, Opera has adopted an environmental policy to indite the Company’s mission in preventing any environmental impact of its activities. Opera shall:

1. Act according to environmental laws to limit the environmental burden on earth, air, water and ecosystem.
2. Commit to using environmentally safe products in the workplace.
3. Educate staff about company environmental regulations.
4. Evaluate the consumption of energy and other resources to determine means of control.
5. Ensure the development of environmental protective procedures.

Consider what happens if they gain the traction they’re after; Millions of home computers always on – each consuming 120 watts/hr – endlessly waiting to serve content to few who are interested. And in most cases, serving through an upload connection incapable of supporting more than a smattering of visitors. Sounds too clever by half, if not two steps backward to an era of irresponsible power waste. Haven’t we already turned that corner?

Shamembarassing.