Opera Mini Takes a Big Step Forward

Opera Software has released a new beta version of Mini, a somewhat major upgrade to the mobile browser. If you consider speed to be the main selling point when it comes to surfing on-the-go, Mini 4.1 Beta does not disappoint. The company claims that server upgrades have produced a 50% increase in Web page request time, providing a desktop-like experience when it comes to speed. Staying on the topic of getting things quicker, the browser now lets you search for text within a page and also auto-completes URLs based on your history and Bookmarks.

In addition to the velocity factor, Mini 4.1 Beta offers some nice additions for devices using the JSR-75 specification. These include the ability to upload and download files without being re-routed to your phone's native browser as well as the option to save Web pages for offline viewing. This can come in very handy, especially when you are in an area without Internet access. Combining this functionality with the rich feature set that already existed in Mini 4, Opera has created a very respectable browser for the road warrior in all of us. To download 4.1 Beta, simply visit mini.opera.com/beta using your device's existing browser and follow the instructions from there. Keep in mind that this is a beta version, so stability may be an issue from time to time.