Opera 10 hits release candidate status

Opera Software has spun out a near-ready version of its upcoming web browser - Opera 10.

The Release Candidate comes loaded with "a surprising array of new features, a fresh look and feel, a new application icon, and enhanced speed and performance," said the Oslo, Norway-based firm.

The completed version of the browser will land on 1 September, it said.

Opera 10 includes improvements to its mail client, better thumbnail tabs and boosts speeds 40 per cent faster than the 9.6 version of the browser, according to Opera.

"We paid special attention to the mail client, which is one of our most enduring and popular features. Now, we are very close to releasing the best browser in Opera's long history," said Opera desktop products veep Jan Standal. ®