Mozilla has released a beta version of its new Firefox 3 web browser.

Reports suggest that the third beta of the popular open-source web browser contains around 1,300 changes that should result in a more stable and faster performing system for users.

Mike Beltzner, Mozilla's interface designer, explained some of the improvements. He said that the new version boasts improved security features such as "better presentation of website identity". He added that the new system also offered "richer personalisation" through easier one-click bookmarking tools, smart bookmark folders and a new system that promises "to provide better matches against your history and bookmarks for URLs and page titles".

The new version will function on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux and can be viewed in 30 different languages.

However, Mr Beltzer stressed that the new version was currently intended for "testing purposes only". He explained: "We do not recommend that anyone other than developers and testers download the Firefox 3 Beta 3 milestone release."