How to use Opera’s new Pinboard feature (and why you should)
Sometimes it feels like web browsers are just throwing new features at the wall to see what sticks. This has caused many browsers to feel like they are filled with so much bloat that they can barely function as a real web browser.
Opera somehow managed to cram a large number of features into its browser without even stalling the app. Recently, the developers added a media player to the sidebar, which allows you to control services like Spotify without having to use a new tab or open another app.
Opera also added a new beta feature called Pinboards. Opera boards are exactly what you think they are – a place to pin items so you can track ideas, things of interest, or content you want to look at later.
Boards allow you to collect things like websites, images, links, emoji, and notes. You can share your boards and create multiple themed boards. Within individual items on a board, you can add a title, description, image, and links. You can add multiple lines to an item title, choose from three different layouts (Standard, Spacious, or Dense), and even add background images.
So how do you use the Wall feature? let’s find out
Likewise: How to Use the Opera VPN (And Why You Should)
How to use Opera boards
Open Opera and you should see a small thumbtack icon in the left sidebar. Click on this icon and a new tab for the pinboard function will open.
In the window that appears, click New Board in the upper-left corner of the window.
You can check out the introductory pinboards to learn more. Image: Jack Wallen
At the top of the new board, click the default name and enter a new board name.
At this point everything should become quite obvious. Click the + to add an item to your new board. This creates an empty element, which you can then add a title and other content to.
Add more articles to fill your wall.
Adding new items to a new board. Image: Jack Wallen
How to change the look of your pinboard
If you click the Appearance button at the top right of the window, a new popup will appear where you can set the layout of your board and even upload an image to use as the board background.
Change the layout and background of a corkboard. Image: Jack Wallen
From my experience, the default layout is by far the easiest to use, but your mileage may vary.
How to share a board
Sharing Opera Pinboards is limited to the board itself. Individual articles cannot be shared. Therefore, make sure that your wall does not contain any items that contain sensitive information.
To share a board, click the share button at the top right of the window and click the ON/OFF slider for “Share board with a link” in the popup. Once the board is uploaded, you’ll be presented with a shareable link, which you can then send via email, messaging, or however you choose to share information.
Sharing a board is as easy as clicking an ON/OFF slider. Image: Jack Wallen
And that’s pretty much the gist of using Opera’s new Wall feature. Although Pinboards is still in beta, I’ve found it to be very stable and easy to use. Try the feature and see if it becomes your tool for keeping track of things that can’t live anywhere else in your browser or desktop.