Opera Wii - temporary free until June 2007 (All regions) [Archive]

Dante

26-09-2006, 04:08 PM

Opera Software today announced details on its browser for Nintendo’s soon-to-be released game console, Wii. Opera’s full Web browser is available for download from the "Wii Shop Channel". Nintendo has stated that they will offer Opera free of charge as a temporary promotion for all Wii users until June 2007.

From July 2007, users can purchase the Opera browser using Wii points. Wii points are credits users can buy that allow them to add new games or the Opera browser to their Wii consoles. The number of Wii points required to purchase Opera has not yet been announced.

With support for Flash and AJAX-based content such as Google maps, Wii users will benefit from a feature-rich Internet experience that is uniquely customized for the Wii. Opera for Wii boasts the same complete standards support as the Opera 9 Desktop browser, and includes the added functionality of "Zoom" and "Bookmarks". The Wii remote control will also be an integral part of browsing, allowing users to intuitively control the Web with their Wii remotes.

Nintendo has previously announced that Wii will be available in the U.S. on November 19, 2006, Japan on December 2, 2006, and in Europe on December 8, 2006. The cost for the console is $249.99 or 25,000 Yen.

Opera (http://www.opera.com/pressreleases/en/2006/09/26/)

*Dalco*

26-09-2006, 04:10 PM

nice don't mind having it for free as its a nice feature to have

Tellyn

26-09-2006, 04:11 PM

So does that mean that if we buy a Wii on launch or before June, we get to keep the Opera Browser? Or does it go away after June? Then you have to rebuy it? The thing just seemed vague because it said temporary promotion.

Dante

26-09-2006, 04:18 PM

Tellyn888

Opera’s full Web browser is available for download from the "Wii Shop Channel". Nintendo has stated that they will offer Opera free of charge as a temporary promotion for all Wii users until June 2007.

From July 2007, users can purchase the Opera browser using Wii points. Wii points are credits users can buy that allow them to add new games or the Opera browser to their Wii consoles. The number of Wii points required to purchase Opera has not yet been announced.

Gaijin von Snikbah

26-09-2006, 04:19 PM

I think it means you wont have to re-purchase it.

Stefkov

26-09-2006, 04:24 PM

This is great news. I was a bit miffed about having to pay for it, but now im happy.
No more booting up my pc, taking ages just to look at a guide. :D

The Lillster

26-09-2006, 04:27 PM

I think it means you wont have to re-purchase it.

Yeh! That's what I think too.

Basicly people who buy the Wii before June 2007 get a free web-browser and hopefuly to keep/ not have to re-purchase it.

mario114

26-09-2006, 04:29 PM

Sounds good, as it would be useful but not quite worthy of money.

mcj metroid

26-09-2006, 04:32 PM

but how do u type with it?

Eddage

26-09-2006, 04:37 PM

on screen keyboard I guess, shouldn't be too hard once you're used to the controller!

Gaijin von Snikbah

26-09-2006, 04:39 PM

It could be pretty fast. Faster than writing the keyboard with one finger!

ShadowV7

26-09-2006, 04:47 PM

Free Wii Sports and free Opera,not to shabby :heh:

Tellyn

26-09-2006, 04:48 PM

How can anyone knock the Wii now?

xernobyl

26-09-2006, 04:49 PM

A propper keyboard will be released. Probably.

ShadowV7

26-09-2006, 04:51 PM

A propper keyboard will be released. Probably.

I'll buy a cheap wireless one if I see one lying about.

monkeyking87

26-09-2006, 05:07 PM

Im sure that itll mean that it wont be free for all after July Id be well surprised if it was, after all this is a company and they are out to make money as well as the fact that its pretty common for premium services to be free for the beginning of its life only when it has a lot more customers it demands to be paid for!

Well we can live in hope anyway!

pedrocasilva

26-09-2006, 05:16 PM

A propper keyboard will be released. Probably.

http://www.planetgamecube.com/media/2389/1/9342.jpg

I'd love to see the return of this one.

ShadowV7

26-09-2006, 05:27 PM

http://www.planetgamecube.com/media/2389/1/9342.jpg

I'd love to see the return of this one.

Ah,I remeber that.Did it ever get released in Europe?

triforce_keeper

26-09-2006, 06:02 PM

That thing got released? omg what is the world coming too......

Sarka

26-09-2006, 06:04 PM

Dilli Gee

26-09-2006, 06:05 PM

Why the hell would anyone want to pay for a browser? Firefox and IE are free on Macs and PCs, why does it have to cost money for a Wii browser?

Outside of computers, Microsoft don't charge for IE on mobile phones and PDAs either.

Charlie

26-09-2006, 06:06 PM

That thing got released? omg what is the world coming too......

https://www.spelkontroll.se/images/gc-re4-chainsaws.jpg

I saw one of them in Virgin in Glasgow a few months back.

Only thing, how does the Wii go online? With the dongle? Cause if that's how then, well, there ain't much point.

With the dongle, wireless router, wireless PCI card or the USB ethernet thing that Nintendo spoke about a while ago.

Dilli Gee

26-09-2006, 06:06 PM

It's good news even if they take it off of us after June, it's better if they let us keep it but whatever. Only thing, how does the Wii go online? With the dongle? Cause if that's how then, well, there ain't much point.
It goes online through the wi-fi. There's no ethernet port on the system, so that seems to be the only logical explanation.

Owen

26-09-2006, 06:15 PM

I doubt i use this anyway. Of course it's nice it's free till June at least.

Can't help thinking it should be free all the time, but overall? I really don't care.

Nintendork

26-09-2006, 06:27 PM

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/475/graphmz9.jpg

pedrocasilva

26-09-2006, 06:32 PM

Ah,I remeber that.Did it ever get released in Europe?No, Japan only, it was made by Sammy (iirc) before Sammy bought/merged with Sega.

I believe it was compatible with PAL PSO 1&2 though, thus there was people importing.

AshMat

26-09-2006, 06:34 PM

This is good then, because my Wii will be in the same room as my PC, i wouldn't have ben buying it. At least this will be a quicker way to get online in the morning.

raven_blade2006

27-09-2006, 10:45 AM

This is good news. Now we need more good news about another aspect of Wii + Online.

Nintendork

27-09-2006, 10:46 AM

solitanze

27-09-2006, 10:59 AM

Ah,I remeber that.Did it ever get released in Europe?

Anyone have one of these? If anyone has the original box and all other relevant documentation and its perfect working condition, i'll buy it for 1000 pounds.

http://www.planetgamecube.com/media/2389/1/9342.jpg

----------

assofaman

27-09-2006, 11:37 AM

Sorry, too little. You trying to rip us off or something?

Smiter

27-09-2006, 01:08 PM

solitanze

27-09-2006, 01:09 PM

£1000? Sold! :p

Ahh, memories. :) I still have that controller, it was a great help when I used to play PSO GC. Still got documentation, box, everything...

On topic: I'm very happy to hear Opera will be free for the first few months, I'll definitely download it. It won't replace my desktop PC in internet browsing, but it could be useful for quickly looking up references, guides, reviews, and news without having to move away from the Wii.

How did it feel holding such a long controller? Was there any difficulty in actually playing games with it?

ON TOPIC: Browser i'll get 100% guaranteed, nice bonus. But how will it compare to a normal internet browser? & Will you able to access any website on it, including adult material? I certainly won't be doing looking at this sort of material as I don't do it on my computer, but some kids might just get the idea of playing with both their Wiis at the same time...

Pit-Jr

27-09-2006, 01:21 PM

How did it feel holding such a long controller? Was there any difficulty in actually playing games with it?

ON TOPIC: Browser i'll get 100% guaranteed, nice bonus. But how will it compare to a normal internet browser? & Will you able to access any website on it, including adult material? I certainly won't be doing looking at this sort of material as I don't do it on my computer, but some kids and most adults might just get the idea of playing with both their Wiis at the same time...

Fixed for reality

Smiter

27-09-2006, 01:30 PM

How did it feel holding such a long controller? Was there any difficulty in actually playing games with it?

It was comfortable, I just rested it on my lap and had no problems. :) It's a light thing too.

The only drawbacks were no rumble and the keys could be quite small as well (they were designed for Japanese hands, and I have gigantic hands), making it tricky to type while moving and/or in combat.

ON TOPIC: Browser i'll get 100% guaranteed, nice bonus. But how will it compare to a normal internet browser? & Will you able to access any website on it, including adult material? I certainly won't be doing looking at this sort of material as I don't do it on my computer, but some kids might just get the idea of playing with both their Wiis at the same time...

Well, I dunno about any filtering, but Opera Wii will definitely be able to access almost everything on the web, it can access Flash and Ajax. The only exception could be Java - no big loss since Java is damn clunky and a haven for viruses.

mario114

27-09-2006, 02:01 PM

Would it only work well with a HD LCD tv?

Smiter

27-09-2006, 02:11 PM

Wii doesn't even output HD so that's a bit of a silly question. It outputs either standard definition or 480p progressive scan.

But I'm sure that Opera has spent a lot of time making sure that it looks good and is very usable on SD TVs. Hell, if they can make a browser work well on the DS's tiny screens, surely it'll be fine on a normal TV with a decent connection (SCART, S-Video, composite)?

mario114

27-09-2006, 02:18 PM

Yeer I guess so, it's just the though of all that text on a normall tv.

Sariachan

27-09-2006, 03:39 PM

http://www.planetgamecube.com/media/2389/1/9342.jpg

I'd love to see the return of this one.
My boyfriend too, who spent a fortune to buy it to play PSO on the GC... -__-'

ShadowV7

27-09-2006, 03:46 PM

I'm surprised so many people have PSO on here,i've started playing it again.

The Lillster

27-09-2006, 04:19 PM

Yes because loads of people have WiFi internet access but don't have a computer with a keyboard, mouse and browser as standard.

The Wii online features are nice but I think we're all bullshitting when we say we'll actually use them frequently.

Maybe not as frequently as a PC browser, but it will be conveinient when someone else is on the computer, or you just can't be arsed to switch the computer on/wait for it to bootup.

Helmsly

27-09-2006, 05:04 PM

http://www.planetgamecube.com/media/2389/1/9342.jpg

I'd love to see the return of this one.

I wanted that thing so badly when I used to play PSO but it was far too exspensive so I settled for that other keyboard adapter.

I could see people in my house using the browser since a lot of the time when my Mum or sister want to look on the internet its for short periods of time. Just turning on the Wii and accessing it would be a lot quicker then booting up the PC.

Dante

28-09-2006, 05:46 PM

Wii.com Update - Wii Internet Channel Video (http://wii.com/en_US/movies/internetchannel/)

red-man-mark

28-09-2006, 11:14 PM

http.://img92.imageshack.us/img92/475/graphmz9.jpg

good point mate, why any of u say this is a good thing i dont know, so now we have no dvd player, no 5.1 sound and now unless you get the wii early you have to pay for something that should also be thrown on on a profit system. that really is so stupid, who is going to have wifi without internet, im getting more and more dissapointed with the Wii every press release...
i thought this would always be free as standard, i was such a big fan of the wii selling it to all my mates, now im just drifitng away from the constant let downs.
and how long til they make the remove with a Li-on battery? i bet you they have already made one, give them about a year they will release with a slight name change and scank us all off.

Daroh

28-09-2006, 11:39 PM

I considered getting that controller, until I realised there was a small adaptor for sale that you could plug into a controller port, then plug a computer keyboard into that so never bothered getting it in the end.

Wonder if I can use it on the Wii?

blender

28-09-2006, 11:49 PM

the wii has usb ? just maybe a usb keyboard will work?

pedrocasilva

29-09-2006, 12:03 AM

the wii has usb ? just maybe a usb keyboard will work?if they enable it... perhaps, even through wi-fi for some wireless keyboards.

But I'd say that support at launch is not likely (and even after).

red-man-mark

29-09-2006, 08:30 AM

i doubt it to, that means nintendo would actually have to spend money on getting developers to write the necesarry code into the firmware, cant be doing that now, eats into profits, hey maybe there add it to da Wii channels and we can all buy it.
seriously though, that could be a hoover board from back to the future, its massive

DCK

30-09-2006, 01:01 PM

USB keyboards have a basic setup that's similar for all keyboards. You can download code for that straight from the net even. Support for that is pretty easy, a programmer could have it working in a day.

Charlie

30-09-2006, 01:06 PM

and how long til they make the remove with a Li-on battery? i bet you they have already made one, give them about a year they will release with a slight name change and scank us all off.

They never said there would be a Li-ion battery, thankfully. As we've discussed already, AA's are much better than Li-ion's

Nintendork

30-09-2006, 01:13 PM

I love Reggie's bluntness, in the AOL or Yahoo! interview recently he was asked about how people are going to pay for a typically free browser.

He was tired and said, yeah we're gonna have to work on that I suppose.

He didn't sound enthusiastic and didn't seem to have much faith in the idea that people will pay for it.

Cube

30-09-2006, 06:21 PM

http://wii.com/uk/movies/internetchannel/

Opera in action.

Zoom looks lovely.

Dante

30-09-2006, 06:23 PM

Has been posted one page back Cube.

pedrocasilva

05-10-2006, 06:25 PM

Anyone have one of these? If anyone has the original box and all other relevant documentation and its perfect working condition, i'll buy it for 1000 pounds.It's on stock here:

-> http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-23-49-en-70-1xe.html

$69.90... that's 55€ or £37 plus transport fee's, much cheaper than £1000 I might add.

(I'd consider buying one if it was compatible with Opera and Wii)

mario114

05-10-2006, 06:29 PM

The web browser does look nice, and will mean I can post of here from my bedroom. :D

solitanze

08-10-2006, 12:11 PM

Has it been 100% CONFIRMED that it will be free for a temporary period?

pedrocasilva

08-10-2006, 12:14 PM

Has it been 100% CONFIRMED that it will be free for a temporary period?Yes, even reggie talked about it in a interview, on how he doesn't know how it could sell after June and that they still needed to look into it.

Now, don't start reviewing it just yet.

solitanze

08-10-2006, 12:35 PM

This is a 5/10 situation for Nintendo and Opera... The promotional period may just work against them, where only 1 person after June 2007 actually buys the Wii browser. Theres gonna be some form of negative trade off no matter what they do. I think what they've planned on doing is probably the best thing in the long run sales wise.

Stefkov

08-10-2006, 01:20 PM

Opera is free to download on the internet anyway, im not saying to get that on the pc instead of the Wii, im saying that Opera already have it free on the internet, i doubt they will lose millions (if they have that much) by giving it free on the Wii.
In al its a positive for everyone. Opera is getting recognition throughout the world in a different format, nitnendo is getting the internet on the Wii. And also Opera has expeerience with developing on the Wii, be it for an accessory so they could do whatever now technically.