Author Topic: Wii Internet Channel Now Available (Read 15576 times)

WindyMan · « **on:** December 21, 2006, 07:33:00 PM »

The free trial version of the Wii Opera browser can now be obtained through the Wii Shop Channel.

Everyone in the world can now surf the Internet with the Wii remote. Nintendo just put the Wii Internet Channel up in the Wii Ware section of the Wii Shop Channel, and you can now hop on your console to download it. Weighing in at a hefty 278 blocks, the Opera-powered browser works just like a standard web browser, only designed for displaying webpages on your television screen.

The browser features the ability to zoom in to a page with the Wii controller's plus/minus buttons, an area for bookmarks and a special display mode that breaks up tables to make text very large for easy reading. Although you can't download MP3s or watch most types of video files, the Opera browser does support Flash. That means you can point your Wii to video sites like YouTube and watch Internet videos on your TV screen. Sweet!

The browser is kind of bare-bones, but Nintendo stresses that it is just a trial version of the software. More features could be added to the full version, which means the full version could also cost you some Wii Points when Nintendo makes it available. The trial version is free to download, though, so you might as well try it out. We're sure the first site you'll want to navigate to on your Wii is Nintendo World Report. As you'll soon see, we look sexy on your television screen. We designed it to be that way!

WindyMan · « **Reply #1 on:** December 21, 2006, 07:50:11 PM »

I'm totally posting this from my Wii!

Jonnyboy117 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 21, 2006, 07:55:17 PM »

Me too! I got a shock when one of our ads played a sound bite! Now to wiicade.com...

Weasel47 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2006, 07:56:56 PM »

Me too! Me too!

WindyMan · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2006, 08:05:13 PM »

Seriously, Youtube is awesome on the Wii. I can waste time watching videos on the tv from the comfort of my sofa chair!

Weasel47 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2006, 08:09:03 PM »

Youtube, you say?

Here's the best Youtube link to go to if you're reading this on your Wii:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScuUIjsr3Ds

(I used my computer to copy and paste this so I didn't have to memorize it and type it--has anyone found such a feature on the Wii yet?)

WuTangTurtle · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2006, 08:33:20 PM »

I wonder if nintendo realized we can now go onto chat rooms and talk to pediphiles.....

Bloodworth · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2006, 08:42:12 PM »

It's official, YouTube is the Wii's new killer app. I hope Opera implements a full-screen option for video in the final build.

Jonnyboy117 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2006, 08:46:10 PM »

YouTube already has a full-screen mode that looks great on Wii Opera. There is still a bar at the bottom with video controls and another bar with the Opera controls, but the video takes up the great majority of the screen.

Weasel47 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2006, 08:48:38 PM »

Here are a few more essential links to visit with your Wii:

http://www.fat-pie.com/supermario.htm

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/mario.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phTfYA0oxmk

Edit: Ok, apparently these links don't work on the Wii. Is it because they're trying to open in a new window from this site?

KDR_11k · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2006, 08:57:00 PM »

H*R is on TV!

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #11 on:** December 21, 2006, 09:26:43 PM »

This is cool. Downloading was a pain though since it got errors, and i don't like how blurry everything is.

Famicom · « **Reply #12 on:** December 21, 2006, 09:28:21 PM »

Lotta kinks to work out still:

-Limited Flash support (check gametrailers.com)
-It spits some sites right back to the homepage after a click or a scroll (gamespot.com)
-Gmail outright freezes the console.
-Some Flash sound lag; I think it occurs if you play around with the zoom while video is running, not sure of the trigger but it can happen.
-Support for WMV or QT streams would be nice (not expecting it though).
-Some pages have the Wii page scroll option, some have their own scrollbar. Probably a webcode thing, but kinda weird.

Not hating on it since it's beta though. Proper Youtube function is a big deal alone!

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #13 on:** December 21, 2006, 09:34:05 PM »

It would be pretty funny if the Wii Internet Channel paved the way for the rebirth of WebTV!

WuTangTurtle · « **Reply #14 on:** December 21, 2006, 10:05:26 PM »

Now if only u could multitask, like say pause a game, jump onto gamefaqs, and jump back to the game at hand....

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2006, 10:16:42 PM »

i have to agree with Famicom, it sucks that some sites cause it to kick you back to the start menu. Luckily this is just the beta (and that this will not replace my computer).

WPack911 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2006, 11:04:40 PM »

So writing this from my Wii right now, so awesome.

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #17 on:** December 22, 2006, 12:13:48 AM »

Posting from my Wii! Wii really need USB keyboard support.

Acefondu · « **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2006, 12:50:23 AM »

Is there any chance of contracting a Wii Virus down the road with this?

UncleBob · « **Reply #19 on:** December 22, 2006, 12:58:14 AM »

Needs keyboard support and ad blocker...

UncleBob · « **Reply #20 on:** December 22, 2006, 12:58:33 AM »

Oh look, it's me!

Pale · « **Reply #21 on:** December 22, 2006, 01:50:19 AM »

I wish I didn't have to be at work so I could play with it!

Pale · « **Reply #22 on:** December 22, 2006, 01:52:05 AM »

Hmm, out of curiosity, can someone check java applet support?

If you want a link, try doing this test...

http://aceorganic.pearsoncmg.com/lite/browsercheckup/testLC.html

If the applet doesn't load I wonder if there is a way you can install java.... hrmm.

Pale · « **Reply #23 on:** December 22, 2006, 02:13:27 AM »

Argh... This image...

http://www.wiicade.com/Images/Compat.jpg

...makes me a sad panda...

I guess that means the website for my place of employment won't run...

http://secondavesoftware.com

This sucks. Flash support is great, but not supporting Flash 8 is just ridiculous. I hope this is a consequence of the beta.

Edit: confirmed in the opera press release... Only Flash 7 is supported.

nitsu niflheim · « **Reply #24 on:** December 22, 2006, 02:15:58 AM »

I was forced awake this morning by a strange noise, and when I looked around I saw that my Wii had come alive with blue light and the noise was coming from my Wii. Too bad it didn't download it for me, but I did after getting out of the shower.

News:

Author Topic: Wii Internet Channel Now Available (Read 15576 times)