Opera Composer custom-designs browsers

Opera Software, based in Oslo, Norway, has released software called Opera Composer that lets people customize their browsers. With the software, Opera browser users can change the graphics on the browser's buttons, change the appearance of their bookmarks and start-up screen, opt to include e-mail and news in the browser interface, and name the browser. The tool, offered for free from the company's Web site, is being marketed toward individuals as well as software publishers, Internet service providers, PC venders, educational institutions and other organizations. Opera Composer follows similar efforts by AOL Time Warner's Netscape Communications unit, whose recent browsers have had customizable options, including look and feel. The company also has released Opera 5.12 for the Windows operating system. In addition to bug fixes in the e-mail client, the minor-point upgrade claims improvement to its feature for closing pop-up windows and an upgrade in the Java version. Version 5.12 also lets people import Netscape e-mail.