New Opera browser boasts higher speeds

A new version of the Opera browser has been released, promising a major boost in speed and several new features.

"With the final version of Opera 10.60, the browser scores more than 50 percent faster than its predecessor - which was the fastest browser on Earth - in key benchmark tests.," the release announcement said.

"This translates into a faster browsing experience for users on modern JavaScript-heavy sites such as Gmail and Facebook."

It's "turbo" feature compresses the data going over your connection up to a factor of two or more, which aims to provide a better browsing experience when using a slow or congested connection, like wifi at a cafe.

Other features included in Opera, such as mouse gestures, make you a more efficient user when browsing the Web and cuts down time spent on navigating between different webpages.

Extensive built-in search functions give you quick and powerful searches both on the Web and in large webpages.

An AVG-supported anti-fraud system and phishing protection has been introduced in this version.

Live feeds supply fresh information on the latest web threats to the users, making them aware of potential malware, harm or scams.

Geolocation will enable websites to get geographical information about their visitors and serve content accordingly (this is something Firefox and Chrome have had for a while).

Users have full control over sharing their geo data.

Opera, with 120 million users, runs a distant fourth chk in the browser stakes behind Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari, and it is the most popular browser in parts of the former Soviet Union such as Uzbekistan and Belarus.

Anyone wanting to try the browser can download it free from here.