Opera 10 browser is speedy

Bringing some more speed to the browser scene.

Opera 10 is out now and by all accounts it's a decent web browser, standards compliant and rather fast.

One of the most interesting features in this latest release of the Opera browser is the speed boost. The outfit said it added compression technology called Turbo that speeds up slow net connections, whether fixed-line or mobile.

In a statement the firm said, "If your network speed slows to a crawl, simply enable Opera Turbo to browse the web at broadband-like speeds. Opera Turbo will automatically detect when network speeds will enable you to benefit. Once you turn it on, Opera Turbo instantly compresses pages, so less data needs to be transferred over a limited connection." It claimed that its lab tests found that Turbo could boost perceived network speeds by up to eight times.

Other new features in the browser, which Opera called the world's most innovative, include a new interface, faster page loading and more Tab options. These can be put at the top, side or bottom of the page, and once clicked will show a thumbnail of the page in question.

Accompanying the Opera browser is the Opera email client, which can translate as many as 51 different languages and has a number of usability improvements.

If this usability stuff fails to grab you, Opera has released a number of standards compliant developer tools based on its own Dragonfly. These will allow more technologically adept users to edit the DOM and inspect HTTP headers and generally have a bit of a tinker about. And if you know how to do those things, you know you'll want to.

"At Opera, we have always worked hard to innovate new ways to improve everyone's browsing experience," said Jon von Tetzchner, Opera's CEO. "Opera Turbo is our newest innovation, and one we think everyone should try, because we all will face a slow connection at some point. Now, there is a solution, and it is absolutely free. We are excited to offer Opera 10 to the world, and we hope even more people discover what the 40 million people who have already made the switch know: browsing with Opera makes the Web a safer, more enjoyable and more interesting place."

Opera 10 is available now.