Opera has unveiled version 5 of its Java-based Opera Mini browser. The release, available to download in beta form at Opera.com/mini/next, will work on any handset capable of running Java ME applications and promises to deliver "the next generation of mobile browsing".
The beta revision sports a new-look UI for both standard and touchscreen handsets, and in an effort to enhance functionality, a selection of features found in Opera's desktop browser have been deployed in Opera Mini. Such features include tabbed browsing, Opera's familiar speed dial homepage, and password manager.
Welcome improvements, but there's still no sign of support for Adobe Flash and the first beta of Opera Mini 5 strips some of the functionality found in older versions - most notably Opera's cross-platform synchronisation tool, Opera Link.
Still, for BlackBerry users fed up of waiting for Skyfire, Opera Mini 5 beta looks a very decent solution. Here's a short Opera-provided video introduction:
