Wii Warm Up: Surfing

by David Hinkle { Oct 28th 2008 at 8:00AM }

It's been awhile since we talked about the Opera browser for the Wii. How often do you use the Internet Channel? We know some of you use it to participate in Game Night, which is awesome, but how else do you enjoy the console's ability to surf the interwebs? Did you get a Wii too late to get the Internet Channel for free? Hate the browser? Love it? Tell us already!

Tags: internet-channel, opera, web-surfing

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Matt @ Oct 28th 2008 8:08AM

I'd rather not discuss that. *shifty eyes*

Carl @ Oct 28th 2008 8:15AM

I wish I could surf on my Wii...

I got the browser when it was free... but it's kinda pointless when there's no space to keep it on the browser... I have a very small collection of games actually on the wii, and the rest is resting going unused on a 2GB SD card...

Anyway... I deleted the browser when the new bomberman came out...

Donald @ Oct 28th 2008 8:17AM

I actually use it a fair bit for ordering food, and watching SBEmails to get pumped for SBCG4AP.

Steve @ Oct 28th 2008 8:24AM

Phhfff.. what is the point.. every site uses a version of flash higher than the browser supports.. Why hasn't Nintendo forced opera to addressed that?

Anonymous @ Oct 28th 2008 3:18PM

Nintendo doesn't care about Wii's browser, to put it bluntly. Opera has some improvements they would like to make, but Nintendo won't let them. The reason the Wii's flash is so outdated is because of licensing issues... or at least, this is what I've heard from browsing Opera's forums.

Undead Priest @ Oct 28th 2008 10:02AM

Because it's not Opera or Nintendo's decision. Adobe refuses to license use of Flash 8 or higher for Devices (which the Wii Browser is considered).

Apothekari @ Oct 28th 2008 10:09AM

Adobe released the controls on the SDK almost 2 months ago so there is at this point NO reason other than Nintendo doesn't care.

Smoffie @ Oct 28th 2008 2:09PM

"Why hasn't Nintendo forced opera to addressed that?"

Nintendo doesn't have to force Opera to do anything.

It isn't Opera which refuses to add a newer version of Flash. It's Nintendo.

Remember, Nintendo is the customer and dictates what the browser is like. Opera has no choice but to do what Nintendo asks of them

It's all up to Nintendo.

andreas @ Oct 28th 2008 8:25AM

Wiicade! But it would be so much better if it supported Flash 8 or at least if it were a bit faster.

andreas @ Oct 28th 2008 8:26AM

Steve, check out this link:

http://my.opera.com/haavard/blog/2007/04/13/wii-browser-out-but-why-flash-7-and-not-8-or-9

Apothekari @ Oct 28th 2008 10:04AM

Adobe released the newer version almost 2 months ago so there is at this point NO reason other than Nintendo doesn't care.

RSL @ Oct 28th 2008 12:48PM

How is this Nintendo's fault when Opera is the one who develops the browser?

Smoffie @ Oct 28th 2008 2:14PM

@RSL

Because it's Nintendo's browser. They call the shots. Opera obviously can't just enter Nintendo's systems and start messing around with stuff to update the Internet Channel.

Moose @ Oct 28th 2008 8:28AM

I use it for the occasional game of Duck Hunt and that's about it.

scissors125 @ Oct 28th 2008 8:40AM

I really don't use any of the channels on my Wii besides Megaman 9 (if you count that as a channel) and the disk channel.

Everything else I deleted in hopes for having enough room for some homebrew and VC games.

raindog @ Oct 28th 2008 8:42AM

I used it quite a bit in my old apartment when I was keeping my laptop next to the bed. In this place I keep my laptop in the living room, and it's faster to open it up and use the already-open browser than to switch on the Wii (if it's not sitting paused in someone's game already) and fire up the browser.

Mr Khan @ Oct 28th 2008 8:51AM

Haven't really used it since i got my laptop.

WalkingCarpet @ Oct 28th 2008 8:59AM

I bought it solely to use to watch episodes of South Park online on this one website I found, but all of a sudden it quit, and I really haven't used it much since.

jacob_lucas1983 @ Oct 28th 2008 9:07AM

Opera is a horrible operating system. What is the point of making a brand new operating system that doesnt support 75% of stuff on the internet? Most of what people do anymore is watch videos and play games online, and opera wont support the majority of that software, also, does Nintendo plan on putting out a keyboard anytime soon so we dont have to keep "typing" with our controller. I know some people hunt and peck, but for those of us that can actually type, its a real pain in the ass!

bug frawg @ Oct 28th 2008 9:18AM

First off, you can use a regular usb keyboard with the internet channel(assuming you updated)

second, opera is a browser, not an os.

third, it's not meant to be a fully featured browser like that of a pc. it's more of a utility than anything.

jacob_lucas1983 @ Oct 28th 2008 9:26AM

but for those of us that only have laptops, we dont have keyboards to use. Even though you are correct, I used the wrong term, it is not an operating system, it is a browser, still, to call it the Internet Channel, and then you cannot access a large portion of the internet, something needs to be changed.

Feba @ Oct 28th 2008 9:33AM

frankly, you know nothing of the internet, how it works and was designed, and how it's meant to be used. But to be brief and non-technical, it wasn't designed to be a multimedia powerhouse, it was meant for simple browsing.

bug frawg @ Oct 28th 2008 10:51AM

@jacob_lucus1983: You're not making any sense, why would you want nintendo to design a keyboard when usb ones work fine? you'd have to pay for a keyboard either way.

Jake @ Oct 28th 2008 2:22PM

Im not saying that absolutly NEED to make one, yes, a usb keyboard will work fine. I guess I just didnt choose my words correctly. I suppose Im just surprised that they didnt make a keyboard. And as for what the internet was "designed for", it doesnt matter what it was originally designed for, what matters is how it is being utilized now. And the majority of people online use the internet for browsing, and enjoyment. And the fact that Opera does not allow the viewing of most videos is absurd. I still enjoy going online with my Wii, it can be fun, but I think that it could be SO MUCH MORE.

Smoffie @ Oct 28th 2008 2:16PM

"What is the point of making a brand new operating system that doesnt support 75% of stuff on the internet?"

Most sites don't use Flash.

And besides, Opera DOES support Flash. It's just that Nintendo refuses to upgrade the Flash support. Opera can't do anything about that.

"opera wont support the majority of that software"

Opera does support Flash. Opera for other platforms support the Flash 10 plugin. This is up to Nintendo, not Opera.

Jake @ Oct 28th 2008 2:27PM

Smoffie,

I did not realize that opera was used on other systems. Thank you for informing me of that, now I know that it is in fact not the browser, but Nintendo. I honestly didn't know that. I think some of the people that have been replying to my comment think that I'm bashing Nintendo, I love my Wii, and I think getting on the Internet is great, but I also think it could be better, as it is with any technology. But I think the points at which it could be improved by Nintendo (not opera, i now know), even though those points aren't vital, they would help tremendously.
I also see now that many people (not all) think these comment boards are for praises and compliments only. I left a bad comment and some people freaked out. A simple conversation is fine, but there is no reason to be rude.

Smoffie @ Oct 29th 2008 2:53AM

Jake, you really should check out Opera for your PC. It's a free download from www.opera.com.

It's got a lot of cool functionality (such as mouse gestures for navigation, Speed Dial for quick access to your top sites, content blocker, synchronize your bookmarks between different computers and stuff), unlike the Internet Channel which is really stripped down because Nintendo thinks that's a good idea ;)

Jake @ Oct 29th 2008 9:35AM

definatly will check it out. I have been using the new Google Chrome, and its not to shabby. But I will check out Opera and see what its REALLY supposed to be like. HA, thanks for the tip

samfish @ Oct 28th 2008 9:06AM

I can't remember the last time I used it.

Ian @ Oct 28th 2008 9:15AM

I got it when it was free. I still occasionally use it to listen to my Finetune channels since they actually support the Wii broswer. I don't have a computer downstairs, and the Wii is hooked up to my stereo, so it works out great.

Hamster @ Oct 28th 2008 9:15AM

Yeah I use it quite a lot. Even though it's quite cumbersome for a lot of things, I use it mainly to watch videos. The way my TV/Wii is set up I can watch it whilste lying in bed before I go to sleep, so I tend to watch a lot of stuff on YouTube and the BBC iPlayer with the Internet Channel.

bug frawg @ Oct 28th 2008 9:21AM

I use it to check news/blogs before or after gaming sessions.(on wii naturally)

ejamer @ Oct 28th 2008 9:53AM

Internet Channel hasn't seen reduced use over here lately... but it's still convenient to look up info on www.gamefaqs.com when you're stuck in a game, or to download new Blast Works content without getting off the couch, watching the latest Homestar Runner cartoons, or looking up information on www.imdb.com after watching a movie.

--- ---

It is technically *possible* for the Wii browser to support Flash 8 now (maybe even Flash 9?), but that would require Nintendo to pay Opera for the update and Adobe for licensing fees. With the amount of memory and processing power on Wii being so limited, the update probably isn't worthwhile IMO.

ronnie @ Oct 28th 2008 9:49AM

i think it's cool it's offered and use it occasionally

milan @ Oct 28th 2008 10:51AM

Yeah! I also wish my wii doubled as a computer!

markyb @ Oct 28th 2008 9:53PM

Mac Mini!

ngc628 @ Oct 28th 2008 11:05AM

I use quite the Internet Channel for surfing from my couch. It is easy to read on the TV screen (HD) and easy to navigate through the page (up/down, zooming in and out). It is limited by its lack of Flash support and multiple windows but for casual browsing on efficient quick sites it is very useful.

I use it daily check out the TV listings, check my email, check out ebay, amazon and other retailers and to watch YouTube. I have a PS3 as well and rarely use the browser on it. I will sometimes play a game on the PS3 and have the game guide running on the Wii. Sadly, I use the Wii more to browse than to play games.

A find text function would be a welcome improvement.

Best 500 points I have spent on the Wii.

DaisukeKiriyama @ Oct 28th 2008 11:34AM

I got my Wii too late to get the channel for free.

I'm enjoying Secret of Mana in the meantime though.

m-p{3} @ Oct 28th 2008 11:56AM

If Nintendo and/or Opera would move their butts and update the Flash player version, then maybe I'd use it again.

Even Sony updated their version of Flash on the PS3. Nintendo like to innovate, but not on useful stuff.

Smoffie @ Oct 28th 2008 2:17PM

It's up to Nintendo and Adobe whether Flash is updated or not. Opera can't do anything except what Nintendo tells them to do.

Sqube27 @ Oct 28th 2008 12:06PM

It's merely adequate. I use it for Orb and... that's it.

The fact that it shipped with an old version of Flash, and the fact that it will never be updated, means it is becoming less and less relevant by the day.

bug frawg @ Oct 28th 2008 12:10PM

And how do you know it will never be updated? it's not like anyone at nintendo/opera confirmed this.

Craig M @ Oct 28th 2008 1:05PM

I use it every once in a while to check email or watch stuff on homestarrunner.com or even to watch YouTube videos when I am too lazy to get out my laptop.

I would probably use it more if it supported the newest Flash version so i could watch videos on Hulu and many other things that use newer versions of Flash.

Smoffie @ Oct 28th 2008 2:18PM

Remember: It's Nintendo and Adobe who make decisions on Flash. Opera is just the supplier of the browser itself. I'm sure Opera would love to add a newer version of the Flash plugin, but Nintendo is in charge...

TWOO DEE @ Oct 28th 2008 2:28PM

i usually use it on weekends to stream 'podcasts' on youtube, while cleaning

i hate having to reload pages almost constantly due to memory issues but other than that, i'm fine with the browser

Gohren @ Oct 28th 2008 3:12PM

From time to time.

benmully @ Oct 28th 2008 3:59PM

Echoing many comments above, would love to use the browser, as often did, but no bloody room on my Wii!!

TheOverlord#2 @ Oct 28th 2008 4:24PM

Why yes, I am actually using it right now! I use it during Game Night also(the house computer broke last year and my only choice is this). It's great for the occasional Youtube video or reading Wii/DS Fanboy and Joystiq. Though...I wish it had at least Flash 8 support or if it could go a little bit faster. I also would like if it supported video/audio podcasts like the ones 2P Start! uses.
I'm gonna try and get a laptop next year and when I do, i'll delete the Internet Channel, but until then, the IC is fine(could use better video support though >_