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Opera, the browser company, is introducing a new browser called Opera Max. Opera Max is a free VPN app that helps Android users in Africa manage and save data while streaming videos, music and viewing large photos through mobile and WiFi connection.

Sergey Lossev, Product Manager for Opera Max, will host an online press conference on Thursday, February 4, at 3pm WAT. During the press conference, he will talk us through the product and share new data and information on Africa’s browsing habits and favourite apps.

However, this app is a just data-saving app that compresses video size and helps you save data while streaming. It’s not a VPN app in the actual sense that it lets you bypass Netflix geo-restrictions. If it were, then it would mean Opera meaning is swimming against Netflix’s waves, as the video streaming service is currently cracking down on VPNs.

Last week, a VPN provider in Australia, uFLIX, reported that

Netflix had started blocking some of its users. The users were receiving this message: “You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.” Just the way Forbes won’t let you read anything on their site if you’re using AdBlock. Though it’s worth noting that uFlix already found a way to the fix .

What Netflix is  doing at the moment is it’s throwing things on the wall to see what sticks. Sarah Perez of Techcrunch explains that “Netflix may be able to temporarily disrupt services like uFlix, but dedicated proxy providers will quickly find a workaround.”

Photo Credit: yuuka1 via Compfight cc

David Adeleke Author

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