Facebook is rumored to want to buy Opera, one of my favorite web browsers, even if it isn't widely used (by about 1% of internet users).
An acquisition of the Norvegian firm by Facebook would be an enormous boost to the browser's popularity, but what would that browser be like? Would it send to Facebook everything you do online? What would happen to Opera's most advanced features, would they be killed to make a simpler product?
Opera may not be the most popular browser, but it has often proven itself to be a strong source of innovation: tabs, the "speed dial", sessions… those features have been on Opera for a long time.
As for rendering quality, this browser has long been at the top of the scores for online tests like the Acid Test, even though today the leader's position is taken by browsers based on the Webkit engine, that is Safari and Chrome.
Opera's rendering engine is used in Nintendo products (the DS & the Wii), and it is also very good on mobile devices (Opera Mini & Opera Mobile). If you do not know what Opera is, try it for free at opera.com, or download Opera mobile on your smartphone.
So, if the rumors are true, it may be the best thing for Opera yet, but I'm doubtful.
