Opera Software has introduced video boost feature in its Opera Mini 9 web browser. To address the issue of stalled videos when watching the same on the iPhones and tablets, which also result in wastage of data plan also, this feature of video boosts will bring down buffering time for video viewers, by reducing the size of video data. Using the Rocket Optimizer engine from Opera’s Skyfire division, video boost can also save users on their data bills.
According to Opera, optimizing videos is becoming increasingly important, as video viewing explodes on mobile phones. Mobile video represented 53% of the world’s mobile-data traffic at the end of last year and is forecast to reach 69% of mobile-data traffic by 2018.
Video stalling, lagging and buffering delays are widespread, according to Opera Software research conducted in five markets earlier this year. Of all videos played in the United States, 40.8% experienced stalling across 2G, 3G and LTE networks, and up to 73.3% of videos played in India. In all, 49.6% or more consumers in each market said they experienced mobile video problems “often” or “all the time”.
“This is the first time video optimization has been integrated into a web browser, so your browser can now take pride of place as your favorite video app” says Lars Boilesen, CEO of Opera Software. “Video snags are a small problem, but an annoying one — a pothole on the internet highway. And Opera fixed it.”
Opera Mini 9 for iOS is available for free in the Apple App Store. Video boost is available when users turn on video optimization in Opera Turbo mode. Under the “O” menu in Opera Mini 9, simply tap the data savings summary to change mode. Video boost also shows how many videos it has optimized.
The new Opera Mini 9 also sports extra options for editing Speed Dial website shortcuts, a revamped data-savings gauge and support for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
