Opera Software has made available a beta of its next generation Web browser which promises better viewing capabilities, improved RRS handling, a refreshed user interface and built-in speech technology.

The beta is classified as a major release that is sure to place added pressure on rival Microsoft, which has seen its market share slipping as of late. The currently unnamed browser innovates over previous releases by accepting voice commands and will even read Web pages to the user.

Opera's voice-enabled browser will one day accept commands that interact with online shopping and booking systems. For the time being, users can browse the Web with spoken words such as, "Opera next link," "Opera back," or "Opera speak." While it may not yet sing like a tenor, "Opera Speak" invokes a speech engine that will read back Web page content or e-mails.

As demonstrated in an earlier Windows beta, the software touts new usability tools that Opera boasts to put an end to the problem of rendering Web pages effectively regardless of screen size. To this end, Opera combines its existing rendering technologies with its zoom feature.

Collectively, Opera refers to its range of viewing tools as Extensible Rendering Architecture (ERA). ERA serves a dual purpose: it is an accessibility feature and fits to the screens of mobile devices, a segment of the browser marketplace where the company has achieved success.

"The new Opera version has dramatic improvements under the hood, in addition to some very helpful new features to welcome more and more users to take advantage of browsing the Internet in a fast, safe, and customizable way," Opera Software CEO Jon S. von Tetzchner said in a statement.

RSS newsfeeds have been placed front and center in the browser's interface. Really Simple Syndication (RSS) offers easy access to information from blogs and other sites so that users do not need to navigate around looking for links. Sites that offer RSS will invoke an icon next to the browser's address bar and newsfeeds can be added to Opera's e-mail client to be sorted, searched and stored locally.

Although RSS has been added to a place of prominence in the interface, Opera is striving to eliminate clutter. The new version has its main features placed in a "Start Bar" for easy access. A trash can recalls closed windows and blocked pop-ups and is layered together with Opera's existing Sessions feature as a safeguard against losing work.

In a coordinated effort to draw on consumer dissatisfaction stemming from highly publicized security incidents associated with Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Opera's spinsters are reminding customers -- and prospective customers -- that its browser is tightly coded so that it provides fast page load times with the security that they demand.

Opera claims that its software protects against viruses and spyware while also providing advanced security settings and its unique transfers panel feature.

"A browser is much more than what meets the eye, and to maximize speed, security, and page handling, Opera's Core and supporting code has undergone dramatic improvements based on the strict efficiency requirements brought in from the mobile phone market where Opera is a leading player," says Christen Krogh, Vice President Engineering, Opera Software. "In addition, the new Opera browser comes with an update check function to ensure that you will always have the latest version for maximum protection and performance."

The final release may carry a new version number and is expected to be ready in early 2005. Licensed owners of Opera 7 will receive a complimentary upgrade. The beta may be downloaded from FileForum .