Its not a BETA or RC release, but it is up right now. Unsupported and still under work, phpBB 2.1.2 (Version for phpBB 2.2 testing board) is up right now. It has a sleek smooth new interface with a new profile backend. If your looking forward to a great User Control Panel, then your in luck. The new UCP is more better then ever including Overview Front Page, Subscribed Topics, Important News, Bookmarks, and Saved Drafts followed by Profile, Private Messages, Preferences, Friends and Foes, and lastly Attachments.

Newer features include Advanced Posting, expanded ACP and so much more. You seriously have to see this, visit the demo board at http://www.da-hot-spot.com/phpbb/index.php and register. Access to the ACP is unavailable right now as I fix an error that is in it, but you'll definitely get to see it too.