Wii: Opera Browser Free (for a limited time)

[TheGreenElf]

Source: http://wii.ign.com/articles/735/735570p1.html
Wii Surf for Free
For a limited time, the Opera Web browser will be available for free on Wii, the company confirms.
by Matt Casamassina

September 26, 2006 - Last week Nintendo revealed a new Channels based interface for its Wii console. The company explained that users could simply point their Wii remote at on-screen icons to connect to different Wii Channels, including everything from weather forecasts and news updates to an Internet browser.

Of course, the console will utilize the Opera Web browser to connect to and surf the Internet, but after last week's conference there was still some confusion about whether or not Opera would be available on Wii for free or for a price. Nintendo's Japanese branch said that it would be free through June of 2007, but the company's American subsidiary noted that the browser could be purchased for Wii points.

This week Opera Software issued a press release that offered further clarification and there's good news for US buyers. Opera's release confirmed that the browser will be available for download "free of charge as a temporary promotion" through June 2007 from the Wii Shop Channel. After that, Wii owners will be able to buy the browser using Nintendo's previously announced Wii Points system. Nintendo has not yet specified how many Wii Points the browser will cost after the free promotion ends.

Opera for Wii will make use of Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection to enable surfers quick access to the Web. The browser offers support for Flash and AJAX-based content and is fully compatible with the Wii remote. Users can use a new zoom function to enlarge portions of the screen, add bookmarks, and more. And accessing content is always as simple as a point and click away.

The Opera browser is also available for Nintendo DS. Although browsing the Web on Nintendo's handheld is not ideal - users call the experience slow - surfing the Net on Wii should prove much speedier.

IGN will update in the coming weeks and months with much more on the Opera web browser for Wii.
We all thought it would be available for use until June for no cost, at which point we will have to purchase it if we want to continue using it, but it seems Nintendo had a different idea, and as a promotion would be free to buy permanently between launch and June as a promotional offer. Awesome, I say.

[Khaos]

Oh yes!

Any screens of the browser yet?

[Viper]

Why is this news now? Opera stated this when the Wii bombs were dropped on the 15th.

[HolyPaladin]

Why is this news now? Opera stated this when the Wii bombs were dropped on the 15th.

Did they say that? I must have missed it. I was one of those that was under the impression that it was just free until next summer and then we'd have to pay for further use. I wasn't aware that it was permanently free.

Maybe I don't get to follow the news as closely as I should, anymore.

[Viper]

Yeah, free to download until then. Remember, Nintendo isn't charging for online access meaning a monthly fee for browsing was never even an option.

Oddly enough, it was IGN who first reported this on the 14th.

[Coded-Dude]

So will it have htese online functionalities at launch?
Or will those be later next year as well......

[TheGreenElf]

Most people were under the impression that it would be a free trial until June, then we'd have to actually use Wii points to purchase the browser after that.

[Coded-Dude]

so the Wii will have online functionality at launch, but its games won't
(I love ninty, but htye dropped the ball if htats the case)

[TheGreenElf]

so the Wii will have online functionality at launch, but its games won't
(I love ninty, but htye dropped the ball if htats the case)It's 2007 when the Nintendo published games will go online, but I'm pretty sure it's up to the developer if they want to do it now or not, and besides, 2007 is only a little over a month.

[Coded-Dude]

this is what I understand.........

publishers don't even have the online libraries to make online games, and won't until sometime in 2007
(that may NOT be january 1, it could be march 1 or even may1)
Which means we won't see anythign for another 3-6 months!
2007 is only a little over a month.
October + November + December is not a little over 1, its 3+

Not trying to bash, I am not planning on buying a Wii until Galaxies comes out anyways.
I just find it unusual that Ninty would promote their own online content, and not let developers/publishers release their content at launch as well.

[TheGreenElf]

Maybe you are right, I'm just saying it could be sooner than you think, and it is speculated that Far Cry may be online, and that is a launch title, so I thought it was up to the publisher and developer. Also, it won't be out until late November, so that's what I mean by 2007 will be only a little over a month away from the Wii's launch, not from the current date. :)

[gljvd]

well its a launch title right now . You never know if it will still be a launch title tommorow :-(

[Unspoken]

Well, looks like I'm going to have to go to my aunt's house and download it really fast and take it back home. :)

[Teh Roxor!]

I'm pretty sure everyone here has a better tool for browsing the Internet than Opera on a Wii. Screw it, I'd rather play games on my television.

[Lynk Former]

Well everyone DOES have a better tool for browsing the internet... what Opera Wii is is a convenience, I can just see someone playing an RPG who has been stuck in the same battle for ages going onto GameFAQs to get some help right there on his TV...

[Viper]

Step away from the 'everyone-has-a-PC-with-Internet' mentality for just a moment and you'll see how this is a good thing for Wii.

[Resident Darkness]

I don't have a PC in my room, so thanks for this :)

[Unspoken]

I have a computer in my room, and... That's the only technologically-enhanced thing there. So, I'm going to have to keep my Wii in the basement *step away from the perverted jokes for a minute* so I can play it anytime I want. And the good thing is that I can blast my music and games downstairs! w00t! I'll just move down there! :)

[Gookanheimer]

Most people were under the impression that it would be a free trial until June, then we'd have to actually use Wii points to purchase the browser after that.
They were?

Must just all be too pessemistic :P

[Zeep]

Yeah, a lot of people thought the free version would 'expire' in June. Just read the original thread (http://forums.e-mpire.com/showthread.php?t=61882). In fact, I think I was pretty much the only person in there that understood it was a one-time download for free. [/brag]

[Gookanheimer]

You mean WE were the only ones ;)

[Teh Roxor!]

Step away from the 'everyone-has-a-PC-with-Internet' mentality for just a moment and you'll see how this is a good thing for Wii.
I only meant to express my own lack of enthusiasm. It probably would be useful to some people, but it's likely going to be something I'll not use.

...on second thought, do we know if it can play flash? If it can do that, it can play videos on YouTube, Google Video, etc. I think in that way it could be very useful.

[OnBake Platinum]

Well, looks like I'm going to have to go to my aunt's house and download it really fast and take it back home. :)
You can't use Opera wii on a dial up connection. It's wifi.

[Gookanheimer]

You could if you have a USB dongle on a computer with a dialup connection. Or a wireless network card. Or even a laptop with inbuilt wireless. I've heard of guys using the DS online with dialup.

...on second thought, do we know if it can play flash? If it can do that, it can play videos on YouTube, Google Video, etc. I think in that way it could be very useful.
Yep, they said it does have Flash compatibility.

[Zeep]

yup, flash compatible = youtube on TV.

[TheGreenElf]

I own a laptop and personally find this to be awesome still. Turn on my TV in the morning and surf something I want to check or hop into the forums and see what's up without moving out of my bed...

[Shade Valkyrie]

We all thought it would be available for use until June for no cost, at which point we will have to purchase it if we want to continue using itActually I never thought that...

But overall I think this is good news (although old for me), I rather buy Wii at launch for 250$ and get a 40$ game and 10$ browser (assuming price) than to wait until June to get a Wii for 200$ without a game and free browser download.
Step away from the 'everyone-has-a-PC-with-Internet' mentality for just a moment and you'll see how this is a good thing for Wii.Uhm, I got internet access on my comp, but I still see myself using that feature a lot. I mean, I find it a huge bother to turn on my comp everytime I want to check out something on GameFAQs for example while playing a console game. With Wii I will be able to access such game related sites directly from the Wii channel menu without having to walk from my room and to the living room before spending an eternity booting up my comp just to check if I have completely cleaned out an area for secrets... That will for me be a revolution just in itself, lol.
...on second thought, do we know if it can play flash? If it can do that, it can play videos on YouTube, Google Video, etc. I think in that way it could be very useful.Like people have already stated here it has, unlike the DS version, Flash support... But I thought I should add that it has AJAX support as well (but don't ask me what that is, lol).

[Viper]

AJAX allows for real time updating without having to reload the whole page. Like how you can edit your post now right there in the post box without going all the way to a new edit screen?. That's AJAX. Does lots of other cool stuff too.

[Shade Valkyrie]

Oh thank you for the info! I felt a bit lazy and didn't bother to research it myself, at least not today (been spending all day studying economics and accounting so my learn-something-new-on-my-own motivation quota have been used up, lol).

[Unspoken]

You can't use Opera wii on a dial up connection. It's wifi.
Sorry for the late reply on this. It sounded kinda weird there for a second.

What I meant was that I need to go and download it at her house, so I can have it without having to pay Wii points to get it later, like if high speed moved in my area. *can't wait for the promised T1 lines to come to my area*

I'd rather download it for free now rather than spending precious Wii Points to get the same thing later. ;)

[Teh Roxor!]

AJAX is Asynchronous Javascript and XML. In addition to what Viper said, it allows for websites to become more like applications. See writely.com for an example.

I'm learning a lot about AJAX in class now.

[OnBake Platinum]

Sorry for the late reply on this. It sounded kinda weird there for a second.

What I meant was that I need to go and download it at her house, so I can have it without having to pay Wii points to get it later, like if high speed moved in my area. *can't wait for the promised T1 lines to come to my area*

I'd rather download it for free now rather than spending precious Wii Points to get the same thing later. ;)
Oh, ok.