Opera updates Mini browser

Opera Software ASA overhauled its popular Mini browser, adding a zooming feature that delivers close-up views of Web pages for mobile phones, a function similar to the iPhone’s much-touted Web browser.
The Norwegian developer unveiled a beta version of Opera Mini 4, which formats Internet content for the smaller screens and limited memory of wireless devices. Users can download the free application at operamini.com/beta.
Zooming functionality is quickly gaining favor among mobile software developers as a way to efficiently deliver content on the mobile Web. Microsoft Corp. features zooming on its Deepfish browser, and the startup ZenZui combines zooming with widgets for its wireless browser. Apple Inc. has also displayed zooming capabilities of its Safari browser set to launch on the iPhone.
Opera claims its new offering “is more than twice as fast as any other mobile browser,” and the application does appear to deliver even cumbersome Web pages quickly. The zoom feature allows users to choose a specific part of a large image-the upper left corner of a PDF file, for instance-for closer inspection.
More than 15 million people have downloaded Opera Mini since its debut in 2006, according to the company.
“We are excited to share the beta with the fast-growing community of Opera Mini users,” said CEO Jon von Tetzchner. “The feedback from the beta users will go to make Opera Mini even better and we thank the community for their efforts.”