Vivaldi Applied sciences immediately launched model 7.8 of its browser with a totally reimagined tab tiling system that enables customers to create split-screen layouts by way of drag-and-drop interactions, positioning itself as an alternative choice to AI-powered browsers from Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI.

The Norwegian firm launched the replace on January 29, 2026, with options centered on handbook management and workspace flexibility moderately than algorithmic help. Based on Jon von Tetzchner, Vivaldi’s co-founder and CEO, the discharge represents a philosophical rejection of the AI-first strategy dominating browser growth throughout the know-how trade.

“Your complete browser trade is fixing the flawed drawback,” von Tetzchner acknowledged within the announcement. “They’re constructing assistants that filter what you see, determine what you do not see, and in the end outsource your judgment. We’re constructing instruments that amplify your potential to discover, examine, and suppose.”

The excellence arrives as Chrome maintains 66.3% global market share whereas integrating AI options together with summarization and content material technology, Edge incorporates Copilot performance, and Safari provides AI writing instruments. Vivaldi operates in a browser ecosystem the place AI integration has change into the dominant growth precedence amongst main platforms.

Drag-and-drop performance transforms tab tiling

The centerpiece of Vivaldi 7.8 facilities on redesigned tab tiling that eliminates earlier activation steps. Customers can now drag tabs from the tab bar instantly into the primary content material window, hovering over completely different areas to decide on horizontal, vertical, or grid preparations.

The system permits rearrangement of tiles throughout lively classes, resizing particular person sections, or including extra tabs to present layouts with out interrupting workflow. Based on the technical documentation, tiled tabs preserve conduct similar to common tabs, enabling customers to mix tiling with different Vivaldi options together with periodic reloading on chosen tiles.

This implementation differs from split-screen options in Chrome and Edge, which stay restricted to two-tab configurations. Vivaldi helps limitless grid layouts, permitting customers to find out complexity primarily based on process necessities.

The “Open Hyperlink as Tiled Tab” function extends this performance by permitting customers to right-click any hyperlink and open it instantly right into a tiled view beside present content material. Mouse gestures can set off this motion, eliminating the necessity for menu navigation throughout fast multitasking classes.

These capabilities handle workflows requiring simultaneous reference to a number of sources. Writing whereas protecting documentation seen, evaluating product specs throughout retailers, or monitoring reside knowledge feeds whereas working in one other tab change into potential with out fixed window switching or handbook structure reconstruction.

Area restriction improves pinned tab predictability

Vivaldi 7.8 introduces area restriction for pinned tabs, stopping unintentional navigation that breaks pinned tab group. A pinned mail tab now stays on mail domains, whereas pinned undertaking instruments keep inside their designated platforms.

Based on the changelog, this function addresses consumer suggestions about pinned tab conduct. The event workforce acknowledged they “did not consider it earlier than” regardless of the performance showing apparent looking back.

For customers of Vivaldi Mail, the built-in e-mail consumer, pinned tabs now persist throughout all workspaces and home windows. Beforehand, mail views existed in single home windows, requiring window switching to verify or write messages whereas working elsewhere.

This architectural change treats mail as built-in browser performance moderately than an connected software. Mail entry turns into accessible throughout workspace reorganizations or new window creation, supporting advanced multi-window setups with out forcing context switching.

Stability enhancements dominate growth cycle

The discharge contains what Vivaldi’s high quality assurance workforce describes as “two full buckets of crash fixes” following implementation of improved crash logging methods. The up to date logging enabled identification and determination of crashes that earlier methods didn’t detect.

Based on the technical documentation, “all identified crashes in our personal code are mounted.” The event workforce notes remaining crashes might consequence from exterior components together with {hardware} points or cosmic radiation affecting system reminiscence.

Extra enhancements embrace caret shopping as a devoted accessibility setting, enabling keyboard-based navigation and textual content choice for customers requiring various enter strategies. The Home windows installer acquired an entire redesign for smoother setup processes and improved reliability.

The discharge additionally introduces an non-obligatory day by day background picture function for begin pages, robotically updating with images from Unsplash. This function stays disabled by default, sustaining Vivaldi’s emphasis on consumer alternative over automated performance adjustments.

Philosophical divide intensifies between browser builders

The browser market has skilled vital bifurcation in growth philosophy throughout 2025. Whereas Google expanded AI search with canvas and video features in July, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Atlas browser in October, and Perplexity released Comet browser with built-in AI assistants, Vivaldi has maintained concentrate on handbook management options.

This divergence displays contrasting assumptions about consumer wants. AI-powered browsers place algorithmic help as lowering cognitive load and accelerating process completion. These platforms argue that AI can synthesize info, automate repetitive actions, and predict consumer intent extra effectively than handbook processes.

Vivaldi’s strategy assumes customers want direct management over automated help. The corporate argues that AI assistants introduce layers between customers and content material, doubtlessly limiting exploration and constraining decision-making to algorithm-defined parameters.

“Searching ought to mild up your mind, not numb it,” von Tetzchner acknowledged within the announcement. “If you outsource exploration to an algorithm, you are not shopping anymore. You are being browsed.”

The excellence turns into notably related as research suggests AI search impact may be less severe than initially predicted. Knowledge from NP Digital signifies 55.5% of entrepreneurs report elevated site visitors since AI Overviews implementation, whereas 36.2% observe steady site visitors ranges.

Privateness-focused browsers preserve area of interest positioning

Vivaldi’s market place displays broader tendencies in privacy-focused browser adoption. Brave browser reached 100 million monthly users in September 2025, demonstrating rising demand for options to surveillance-driven enterprise fashions.

The corporate fashioned a strategic partnership with Proton VPN in March 2025, integrating VPN performance instantly into the browser. This collaboration emphasised European know-how corporations offering options to dominant U.S.-based platforms.

Nevertheless, Chrome’s dominance increased from 63% in Q1 2025 to 66.3% in Q3 2025, suggesting mainstream customers prioritize integration with present Google providers over privacy-focused options.

DuckDuckGo’s browser redesign in July 2025 demonstrated how privacy-focused browsers can incorporate non-obligatory AI options whereas sustaining consumer management. DuckDuckGo permits customers to disable Duck.ai performance by way of settings, implementing AI as non-obligatory enhancement moderately than obligatory integration.

Firefox announced completion of fingerprinting defenses in November 2025, chopping consumer identifiability by way of fingerprinting by almost half. These protections function with out blocking identified trackers, as a substitute limiting info accessible to web sites by way of privacy-by-design approaches.

Technical implementation distinguishes Vivaldi from rivals

Vivaldi builds on Chromium structure whereas sustaining proprietary modifications that differentiate it from different Chromium-based browsers. The corporate develops options in-house moderately than counting on Chromium’s growth roadmap, enabling implementation of performance unavailable in Chrome or Edge.

The tab tiling system represents vital engineering funding in workflow optimization with out AI dependency. Creating versatile grid layouts that adapt to consumer conduct requires refined interface design and state administration that pure algorithmic approaches can not replicate.

This contrasts with AI browser implementations that depend on pure language processing and machine studying fashions to automate duties. Whereas Perplexity’s Comet browser uses AI assistants to manage tabs and navigate pages autonomously, Vivaldi gives handbook controls that allow exact workspace configuration.

The corporate’s strategy aligns with rising considerations about AI agent security vulnerabilities. Analysis from Courageous Software program’s safety workforce revealed elementary challenges affecting agentic browsers, the place malicious directions embedded in web sites can manipulate browser AI assistants by way of oblique immediate injection assaults.

Enterprise mannequin independence allows various growth

Vivaldi operates as an employee-owned firm with out enterprise capital funding or promoting income dependencies. This possession construction allows growth priorities that diverge from mainstream browser methods centered on AI integration and knowledge assortment.

The corporate’s monetary mannequin depends on partnerships together with search engine income sharing and VPN service integration moderately than consumer monitoring or promoting optimization. This strategy contrasts with Chrome’s integration into Google’s promoting ecosystem and Edge’s connection to Microsoft’s cloud providers.

Based on the announcement, Vivaldi doesn’t observe consumer conduct or deal with consumer knowledge as a enterprise mannequin part. The corporate emphasizes that it doesn’t reply to traders pushing options benefiting them moderately than customers.

This independence turns into notably related as AI browser growth more and more includes knowledge assortment for coaching functions. Perplexity’s browser strategy explicitly includes tracking user activities across the internet to construct complete consumer profiles for promoting functions, in keeping with CEO Aravind Srinivas.

Implementation particulars reveal engineering priorities

The Vivaldi 7.8 changelog paperwork 27 crash fixes addressing points starting from extension dealing with to mail performance. The event workforce carried out enhancements throughout bookmark administration, search performance, and workspace dealing with.

Particular fixes embrace addressing bookmark duplication when including pages, correcting mail sorting inconsistencies, and resolving keyboard shortcut conflicts. The workforce mounted points the place F2 key presses for renaming gadgets additionally triggered Fast Instructions, demonstrating consideration to interplay conflicts that degrade consumer expertise.

The mail consumer acquired 18 separate fixes addressing account setup, threading conduct, and column sorting. These enhancements construct on Vivaldi 7.5’s stability focus launched in July 2025, which prioritized bug fixes over new options.

Technical debt discount seems central to Vivaldi’s growth technique. Fairly than constantly including options, the corporate alternates between function releases and stability-focused updates that handle amassed points.

Accessibility options obtain continued consideration

The caret shopping implementation gives keyboard-based navigation enabling customers to maneuver by way of web sites as in the event that they have been textual content paperwork. This accessibility function helps customers requiring various enter strategies or preferring keyboard navigation over mouse interactions.

The function joins present accessibility capabilities together with zoom controls, web page styling choices, and intensive keyboard shortcut customization. Vivaldi emphasizes that accessibility options needs to be built-in moderately than requiring extensions or third-party instruments.

This strategy contrasts with accessibility implementations in AI-powered browsers that depend on pure language instructions. Whereas voice-controlled AI assistants can enhance accessibility for some customers, keyboard-based options stay important for customers with completely different wants or preferences.

The corporate’s emphasis on a number of enter strategies displays understanding that accessibility necessities fluctuate considerably throughout consumer populations. Constructing complete accessibility assist requires handbook function implementation moderately than counting on AI to interpret consumer intent.

Market positioning emphasizes consumer management over automation

Vivaldi positions itself for customers who “love exploring the online, and who demand extra from their browser,” in keeping with the announcement. This positioning targets technically refined customers, former Opera customers, and people dissatisfied with mainstream browser limitations.

The corporate’s consumer base of roughly 3.5 million lively customers represents a small fraction of world browser utilization however demonstrates sustained demand for options to dominant platforms. This area of interest positioning allows centered growth on options serving particular consumer wants moderately than optimizing for mainstream adoption.

The tab tiling implementation exemplifies this technique. Whereas informal customers could by no means make the most of multi-tab layouts, energy customers managing analysis tasks, growth environments, or content material creation workflows profit considerably from versatile workspace preparations.

Von Tetzchner emphasised this distinction within the announcement: “That is what best-in-class options seem like in a browser: not sophisticated, simply deeply efficient when you begin utilizing it.”

Historic context shapes present growth strategy

Von Tetzchner co-founded Opera Software program and served as CEO earlier than departing in 2011. He subsequently established Vivaldi Applied sciences in 2015 after Opera’s transition from its Presto structure engine to Chromium prompted consumer dissatisfaction.

This historical past influences Vivaldi’s growth philosophy. The corporate targets customers who valued Opera’s intensive customization choices however felt deserted when Opera simplified its interface and adopted Chromium’s function set with out preserving distinctive performance.

Vivaldi’s strategy includes preserving superior options whereas sustaining accessibility for much less technical customers. The browser contains built-in advert blocking, popup blocking, tracker blocking, e-mail consumer, feed reader, and calendar administration with out requiring extensions.

This complete function set contrasts with minimal browser designs exemplified by Chrome’s streamlined interface. Whereas mainstream browsers more and more depend on extensions for extra performance, Vivaldi integrates options instantly into the browser structure.

Future growth priorities stay centered on handbook management

The announcement signifies Vivaldi will proceed prioritizing consumer management over algorithmic automation. The corporate acknowledged it can “not flip the enjoyment of exploring into inactive spectatorship” regardless of AI integration changing into customary throughout competing browsers.

This dedication suggests future releases will emphasize workflow instruments, customization choices, and productiveness options requiring handbook configuration moderately than AI-powered automation. The corporate’s growth roadmap seems centered on increasing capabilities accessible to energy customers moderately than simplifying interfaces for mainstream adoption.

The philosophical stance displays broader debates about synthetic intelligence’s function in know-how merchandise. Whereas McKinsey research indicates AI agents will reshape advertising landscapes and Kantar identifies AI agents as top marketing trend for 2026, various views query whether or not AI help genuinely improves consumer experiences or just automates duties customers want controlling instantly.

Vivaldi’s strategy assumes the latter, sustaining that refined instruments enabling exact management ship higher outcomes than algorithmic assistants making choices on customers’ behalf.

The corporate inspired customers to suggest Vivaldi to others, stating that “suggestions from individuals who truly use the browser issues extra to us than any commercial ever might.”

Vivaldi 7.8 is on the market for obtain on Home windows, Mac, and Linux at vivaldi.com. The browser stays free with no monitoring, knowledge promoting, or obligatory AI assistants.

Timeline

Abstract

Who: Vivaldi Applied sciences, a Norwegian employee-owned browser firm led by co-founder and CEO Jon von Tetzchner, launched the replace concentrating on technically refined customers and people looking for options to AI-powered browsers from Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI.

What: Model 7.8 introduces drag-and-drop tab tiling enabling limitless split-screen layouts, “Open Hyperlink as Tiled Tab” performance, domain-restricted pinned tabs, cross-window mail entry, and intensive stability enhancements addressing a number of crash eventualities with out incorporating AI assistants or algorithmic automation.

When: The announcement occurred on January 29, 2026, with speedy availability for obtain on Home windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, following six months of stability-focused growth and bug fixing.

The place: World launch affecting Vivaldi’s roughly 3.5 million lively customers throughout desktop platforms, with the Norway-based firm emphasizing European options to U.S.-based know-how platforms managed by main companies.

Why: The replace displays Vivaldi’s philosophical rejection of AI-first browser growth, arguing that handbook management instruments enabling exploration and comparability ship higher outcomes than algorithmic assistants that filter info and outsource consumer judgment to automated methods.


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