Mozilla has released a second beta of its internet app suite SeaMonkey 2.0.

The latest test version is based on the same browser core as Firefox 3.5.3, which means there’s no longer support for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT and Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther).

It comes with several new features including the ability to open emails, folders and accounts in tabs slotted inside the Mail & Newsgroups window. There’s also a simple HTML editor, web development tools and IRC chat.

The SeaMonkey 2.0 beta 2 landed just eight weeks after the first beta rocked up.

Mozilla said it expects to spin out the finalised version of the suite, which it described as a modern day Netscape Communicator, at some point in October this year.

Among the tweaks in this release of SeaMonkey, Mozilla has added simplified interfaces for extension developers and allowed for the reopening of closed browser windows.

The default theme on Mac OS X has been updated to better align with Apple’s Leopard and Snow Leopard platforms. ®