Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Wii Goes to the Opera

Geoff Duncan
By
Wii Goes to the Opera

A trial version of the Opera Web browser is now available for download for Nintendo’s Wii video game console. Assuming Wii owners have connected their systems’ to a home network or otherwise set them up for Internet access, the browser can be downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel on the Wii menu; from there, click Wii Ware (or Wii Software in the EU), then click Download the Internet Channel. (There’s even a comic explaining the process.)

The current trial version of Opera for the Wii is free; a final release of Opera for the Wii is expected to be released in March 2007. The software will remain free through June 30, 2007, after which it will be available from the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Wii points—however, anyone who downloads the browser for free before June 30, 2007, can continue using it at no cost.

Recommended Videos

Opera for the Wii features an on-screen keyboard which can be operated using the Wii remote; a predictive text feature helps with text entry. The browser also features new Intelligent Zoom technology which enables users to point to an object or area on a Web page and Zoom into the item with the + button on the Wii remote; users can pan around the page in zoom mode. Opera for the Wii also features a single column mode derived from the Opera’s Small Screen Rendering technology developed for Opera Mobile; basically, it enables users to view a Web page’s contents as as a single vertical bar which can be scrolled up and down, rather than being forced to scroll up and down and side to side to scan certain wide Web pages. Opera for the Wii also supports Flash content, and supports Ajax-based applications like Google Maps.

“Opera on Wii adds a new dimension and functionality to a video game console system. It is a unique Web experience that everyone can use, and the Intelligent Zoom feature allows consumers to read Web content on the TV from the comfort of their couch,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo America’s President, in a statement. “Whether surfing the Web or playing a Wii game, users of all kinds will find fun, new experiences with Wii.” Nintendo clearly hopes that “putting the Web on the living room TV” will expand the appeal of the Wii outside the traditional gaming audience. Only time will tell if that gamble can pay off, but Nintendo has always been willing to reach out to new audiences, and offering top-flight TV-based Web access and underselling both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 might be a winning formula for many consumers. Opera also makes a version of its browser for the Nintedo DS handheld, currently .

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Geoff Duncan
Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
Best PS5 SSD deals: Add more storage to your PS5 from $120
A 2TB WD Black

When the PlayStation 5 was originally released, it had the option to expand its internal memory, which was quite small at the time at a little under 900GBs. Of course, the issue is that there weren't any SSDs that worked on the new standard the PS5 was using, so even if you wanted to upgrade, you couldn't. Luckily, since then, there have been a lot of great SSDs for the PS5 that have been released, and upgrading its storage is pretty easy and can be done by pretty much anybody, provided they have a screwdriver. So, whether you picked up a PS5 from one of the PS5 deals or already have a PS5 and want to upgrade, be sure to check out the SSDs that will work great for your PS5 below.
Our favorite PS5 SSD deal

It wasn't that long ago that you'd have to pay well over $100 to get an SSD for your PS5, and often, it'd be slower than the pricier alternatives. These days, you can buy a Samsung 980 Pro 1TB SSD with heatsink for just $120 from Best Buy, thereby saving $45 off the regular price of $165. The SSD offers speedy performance while also having its own nickel-coated high-end controller to help deliver effective thermal control. It means it won't overheat and performance won't be compromised. Being a PCIe Gen 4 SSD, you get twice the data transfer speed of PCIe Gen 3 which is useful. Offering maximum read speeds of 7,000 megabytes per second, it's a good upgrade to go alongside your existing hard drive with 1TB offering plenty of extra space at a shrewd price.

Read more
The Sims 5: release date speculation, trailers, gameplay, and more
sims 4 for rent expansion pack shared living the 6

It's time to brush up on your Simlish if it's rusty because the long-awaited The Sims 5, aka Project Rene, is officially on the way. This has been the longest gap between main entries since the series began, and while we did get tons of expansions for The Sims 4 to hold us over, plus the change to it becoming free to play, we're more than ready for a new entry. Each time a new game in the franchise comes out, die-hard fans always need to have a bit of skepticism about what features will be there -- both new and returning.

We can't answer all your questions yet, but here's everything we know about The Sims 5.
Release date speculation

Read more
VR headset deals: Meta Quest 2 and VIVE XR
htc vive vs pro headphones

While VR may not be as big as was predicted back in the early 2000s when the original Oculus Go was released, there is still a considerable market these days, and some great VR games like Half-Life: Alyx that you can have fun with. Of course, VR headsets remain expensive, and while options like the Meta Quest don't necessarily require a high-end gaming PC, they can still be a bit pricey for those who just want to put a foot in the hobby. Luckily, there are some good deals you can take advantage of, even on some of the best VR headsets, so be sure to check out all your options below.
Meta Quest 2 -- $199, was $200

Even though the Meta Quest 3 came out quite recently, the Meta Quest 2 is still a pretty powerful contender, especially since it has a wider library and app support than the Quest 3 currently has. Even more so, the Quest 2 is a lot cheaper than the Quest 3, and with the latest permanent discount down to just $200, that's a whole $300 or so difference from the Quest 3. Of course, the Quest 3 does have more advanced AR and slightly better performance with software and Wi-Fi, but that may not be worth the extra cost for some. Either way, be sure to check out the breakdown between Quest 2 and Quest 3 to get a better sense of what you should pick up.

Read more