Reminder: Wii Opera browser grace period ends tomorrow

21 Comments by Alexander Sliwinski Jun 29th 2007 11:15AM
Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Online

The best things in life are free. The Wii's internet channel isn't one of them, but it's free, and time is running out on that part. Wii owners have been able to download the final version of the browser for their Wii free since April 11; however, beginning July 1, the application will cost 500 Wii points ($5) to download.

Wii owners who download the Opera powered browser before the July 1 deadline will "retain the application at no cost for the life of the system." So even if you aren't going to use it -- get it. When a global corporation gives you an item for free, even if you're just going to pocket it, unless it's some vast conspiracy to take over our minds, we aren't going to say no. Who knows, we fear we may be stuck in bed some day soon and not be able to make it to our computers with a desperate need to watch a YouTube video or something else important. When that time comes -- if it comes -- we'll be happy to have our free Wii browser.

[Via Press Release]

Tags: browser, opera, wii, wii points, wii shop channel, WiiPoints, WiiShopChannel

(Page 1) Reader Comments

Paul P.: Jun 29th 2007; 11:21AM

I use mine all the time. Mainly because I don't have a PC at home. Even when I get my PC back I think I'll find that for casually browsing sites I prefer laying on my couch.

Ashley: Aug 4th 2007; 1:02PM

But surely someone who already has the browser installed could just copy it to the sd card, copy to the computer, zip/rar it and upload it for other users?

please email me with the answer

dudley_507@hotmail.com

or myspace

www.myspace.com/duds12

DckPump: Jun 29th 2007; 11:27AM

The 360 doesnt have a web browser.

samfish: Jun 29th 2007; 11:28AM

Sometimes without realizing it, I accidentally start jerking the Wiimote instead.

JodyAnthony: Jun 29th 2007; 11:29AM

hahahahaha @ samfish

Jeremy: Jun 29th 2007; 11:32AM

Now, if only I could find a Wii first to go and download it by the deadline ....

Chessasaur: Jun 29th 2007; 11:49AM

According to this Joystiq post:

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/22/fat-lady-sings-opera-free-longer-but-wii-internet-channel-dela/

it looks like it was changed to the end of July. The section reads:

The Opera browser will cost 500 Wii points ($5 for Americans) after the free period, which was set to end in June, but will now be sliding to July.

Was this wrong or did it change again?

Jonathan Tran: Jun 29th 2007; 12:08PM

The browser is useful but the resolution is too low for anything serious. It is good for when I want to watch TV shows like the office or my gf wants to watch gray's anatomy from the nbc website on a large screen.

Speaking of screens and video games:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyXUVd2c83c

WickedDrag0oN: Jun 29th 2007; 12:09PM

OK seriously did anybody else notice that dude is in the original black power ranger suit?

JodyAnthony: Jun 29th 2007; 12:16PM

The browser is really only good for simpler things, Jonathan Tran is right. I still use it regularly though, mainly for homestar runner and the flash tub on somethingawful. I also use it to check gamefaqs when I'm playing PS2 or whatever

SKI: Jun 29th 2007; 12:36PM

I use it for Wiicade, which is awesome I might add.

Kye: Jun 29th 2007; 12:37PM

Is the guy in the pic hitchhiking or simple telling someone everything's OK?

I think he's hitchhiking.

Twinkie: Jun 29th 2007; 12:43PM

wait so if im reading this correctly, i get to KEEP it forever and ever for free if i already downloaded it? or am I just seeing things?

JodyAnthony: Jun 29th 2007; 12:46PM

twinkie, if you already downloaded it, you get to keep it for the life of the system. Even if you delete it from your wii, you can redownload it at no cost.

TWiNKiE: Jun 29th 2007; 1:03PM

thank god.... now i feel stupid. My friend told me i would have to pay later, so i saved 500 wiipoints. now that THAT is settled with, i can buy me some vc games in peace.

WhatIsThatThing: Jun 29th 2007; 1:38PM

When I lost my computer for a week (due to a broken CPU fan), the Wii browser provided a suitable internet connection.

Rob Accomando: Jun 29th 2007; 2:57PM

I like it but I wish you could use an SD card for internet cache. Especially for long flash videos.

Mabui: Jun 29th 2007; 3:09PM

I like the browser, when it's too hot for my laptop to run high processor things I sometimes use it to casually surf the internet, watch Youtube, and such.

I would definitely invest in a memory card just for my Wii if they allowed it to browser cash onto it so videos wouldn't become too much for it. Also, I hope Macromedia hurries up and allows other devices use the latest Flash, so they can update and all the videos everywhere will become available.

Maybe if companies who run websites started complaining to them about the inability of people within the new market of web-surfing being able to view latest content they might break down and start releasing it for other systems.

Mr Khan: Jun 29th 2007; 4:08PM

It really works well for when i have an impulse to look anything up and the PC isn't turned on/is occupied

They still don't have a solution to the pop-up problem, although the browser is better at tracking which page is supposed to be the "main page" and which are the ads (as opposed to the days of the beta)

baby sea tuna: Jun 29th 2007; 4:45PM

This was novel for about a week but honestly, after using it to look at porn, play some of those wiicade games, and check my email a couple of times, I ended up just deleting the browser and going back to a laptop. The good thing is, I guess I could still get the news and weather through their respective Wii channels.

laserboyjc: Jun 29th 2007; 7:07PM

I like it but surf the net on my pc...it came in handy the other day though to have my parents check their email and get their anniversary ecard from my sis on the HDTV in the living room...

I would love to see them upgrade the software by adding support for Real and Windows Media video...it's bad that there can't be HD output of web sites, but at least the system can rearrange text and also zoom easily to make reading easy

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