Opera Mini 4.2 released

The latest build of popular mobile web browser Opera Mini, version 4.2, has been officially launched this week – just one day after the first beta build for Google's Android platform was offered for download.

According to ITWire, the new build brings back the ability to 'skin' certain parts of the application in order to customise the colour scheme – a minor feature, true, but one that many users had missed since it was removed after version 3.

Some major behind-the-scenes tweaks have been introduced in this latest build, too: of particular note is the creation of a new farm of servers located in the US which pre-compress the content before it is delivered to the handset, saving time and data access charges. While all versions of Opera Mini use these servers, the lack of a US-based farm has meant poor access times for American users. The new build, which is configured to take advantage of the new servers, promises to speed access times by up to 30 percent for those located in the US.

If you frequently view videos on your mobile, you'll be pleased by Opera Mini's ability to hand RTSP links to the in-built media player in the background – offering far greater compatibility than attempting to shoehorn a plugin into the browser.

The final addition to Opera Mini's feature set is enhanced support for the long-awaited 'Opera Link', a feature allowing users to synchronise information – including doodles and notes - between the mobile browser and an installation of its full-blooded desktop equivalent, Opera.

Opera Software's CEO, Jon von Tetzchner, stated that this latest release shows that "Opera never gets complacent" and that "we will always be improving our product, adding speed, new functionality and features, and ensuring that it is accessible by all."

Compatible with the vast majority of handsets out there, this latest build is available free of charge from Opera's website right now.

Does Opera Mobile make your 'phone worth having, or have you never needed anything but the default browser – or no browser at all? Share your thoughts over in the forums.

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