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Wii

Final Version of Wii Browser Now Available 112

Posted by Zonk from the enjoy-your-www-button dept.
CVG points out that, as of today, the final version of the Wii Opera browser is available for download. Make sure and do the update sometime in the next month or so; as you might recall from the original announcement, it will only be free until the end of June. "You can finally ditch the trial version of the Opera browser and download the full and final package, which comes with added features, such as 'www.' and '.com' buttons as well as improved functionality like a faster boot-up and better zoom capability. You can download it right now for free, first by updating your system, then grabbing the update from the Wii Software page on the Shop Channel."
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Final Version of Wii Browser Now Available More

Final Version of Wii Browser Now Available

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  • List of new stuff (Score:5, Informative)

    by AKAImBatman ( 238306 ) * <<moc.liamg> <ta> <namtabmiaka>> on Thursday April 12, 2007 @11:40AM (#18703943) Homepage Journal
    • More advanced zoom. You can zoom in extremely close, or extremely far out.
    • Crisper fonts due to updated font rendering technology.
    • Optimized for faster browsing and video game playing. (Seriously!)
    • Other WiiMote cursors are now visible. They cannot interact with pages, but they can be used as laser pointer replacements.
    • Scrolling has been improved with the arrows only showing while scrolling and a line showing how fast you're dragging.
    • The arrow keys now scroll rather than navigating.
    • The so-called "A-button cooldown effect" has been fixed. This was the bug that prevented rapid clicking.
    • There are now settings for Proxies and other browser features.
    • The toolbar has been updated with easy access to the URL entry, search, and page information.
    • The toolbar can now be hidden.
    • Cursors have been updated with nicer loading and clicking effects.
    • Sounds are now associated with events like clicking and loading.
    • The browser now fills the entire screen. You can change the scaling if the browser is clipped.

    • I pulled it down yesterday when Nintendo sent out the notice to Wii's using Connect24. They indicated it was a new version of the trial browser. Nowhere did I see it branded as the final release.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Kuvter ( 882697 )
      I always had trouble with flash videos and wmv's playing.

      I'd like to know if they've patched this in the new version so sites with those elements work better?

      • Re:List of new stuff (Score:4, Interesting)

        by AKAImBatman ( 238306 ) * <<moc.liamg> <ta> <namtabmiaka>> on Thursday April 12, 2007 @12:08PM (#18704455) Homepage Journal

        I always had trouble with flash videos and wmv's playing.

        Flash players based on Flash Version 7 work fine. (Adobe refuses to license version 8.) They've actually gotten slightly better thanks to Opera's optimizations.

        The browser does not have a media player, nor are there plans for one. I believe they're going to support standard audio files (i.e. WAV; if it hasn't been added already), but that's about it. I wouldn't hold your breath for WMV support.

        Besides, WMV sucks. :P

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by jZnat ( 793348 ) *

          Besides, WMV sucks. :P
          But then how can I watch porn on my Wii? Everyone knows that 99% of porn videos on the internet are in WMV format for some reason...

          • Re: (Score:1)

            by KDR_11k ( 778916 )
            From what I heard several porn sites offer Wii-specific pages that probably include videos the Wii can play.

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by Kuvter ( 882697 )
          I missed the fact that streaming WMV doesn't work and what I thought was a streaming audio through flash.

          I'm not debating the quality of WMV. However when a site had content you want to see, and that's the only option, I'm going to complain that the Wii browser does not support it.
    • More advanced zoom. You can zoom in extremely close, or extremely far out. - Very critical!

      Crisper fonts due to updated font rendering technology. - hmm, ok

      Optimized for faster browsing and video game playing. (Seriously!) - Monty Python Tetris here i come! (Bring Out Your Dead!)

      Other WiiMote cursors are now visible. They cannot interact with pages, but they can be used as laser pointer replacements. - ok

      Scrolling has been improved with the arrows only showing while scrolling and a line showing how fast you

      • Re: (Score:1, Offtopic)

        by MindStalker ( 22827 )
        Monty Python Tetris here i come! (Bring Out Your Dead!) I thought this was PC cdrom. There is a web version of it? I sure can't find it?!!

        Please help!
        • Well, I have it on CD-ROM, and even ran it on WinXP on my laptop, but I keep hoping someone will make it a web-enabled game where each time you get a row of decomposed bodies, a donation of $1 goes to Darfur.

          One can dream. In fact, I have a song about that!
    • It seems like EVERYTHING i complained (to my wife, who ignored me) about when using the beta has been fixed or changed.. this is great! Now I can watch online vids of Robot Chicken without being frustrated by the crude control scheme.

      GJ nintendo.

  • Save the kiddies! (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Philomathie ( 937829 )
    So how long do you think it will be before an inebriated collection of soccer-moms bands together and attacks Nintendo of America for trying to sell these consoles complete with "porn-access" (a.k.a. an internet connection) to their kids...

  • Still can't get one (Score:5, Funny)

    by CokeBear ( 16811 ) on Thursday April 12, 2007 @11:50AM (#18704135) Journal
    Great! Now all I need is a Wii!

    (Still searching for one in Toronto)
    • Ditto, but in Kansas. They are nowhere to be found, and I hear shortages are going to continue because of unprecedented demand. Dang it.
    • Check out the forums at redflagdeals.com. They have heads up on stores in the GTA receiving them. That's how I got mine at Toys 'R Us a couple months back.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by mario64 ( 573112 )
      Just a quick reply, using the updated browser on my Wii....
    • Try the "Great Canadian Superstore", those giant rebranded Loblaws grocery stores.

      I found one in St. Thomas (just outside london) when I checked out their electronics department. People couldn't get them at the local EBs or Wal-marts, but nobody was thinking to check a grocery store.

    • I got mine 3 weeks ago at an EB Games in Winnipeg - I was 12th in line for 18 units. sweet!

      Unfortunately, no extra nunchuck (gad, I hate saying that word wrt a controller) yet.

      I grabbed the updated browser tonight after reading this story and I agree that the control (especially zoom) is greatly improved. - I am impressed.

  • Yay (Score:1)

    by LBt1st ( 709520 )
    Now if only I could disable those new sounds.
    B-Button scrolling is a bit too sensitive. I liked it better before. D-Pad scrolling is a nice alternative though.
    Opening the address bar does not open it with the current URL. That would have been nice.
    It would also be nice if it would make plain text URL's into links. Manual entry is hell without a keyboard.
    New font features kick ass! Text is MUCH easier to read now!

    • Re:Yay (Score:4, Interesting)

      by Erioll ( 229536 ) on Thursday April 12, 2007 @12:03PM (#18704373)
      Does the new text rendering also go into things like the news reader and Wii Shop? The text there could use some work too.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by 7Prime ( 871679 )
        No, unless the Wii firmware update that you had to do has some text updates, I doubt there's been any change. However, I would say that the News channel always had pretty good text, the Internet channel now matches the News channel's quality. If you're having problems, you should probably get a componant video cable, if that's an option for you... 480p looks A LOT BETTER.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Erioll ( 229536 )

          If you're having problems, you should probably get a componant video cable, if that's an option for you... 480p looks A LOT BETTER.
          I run my Wii through component into a 1080p LCD. ;)
  • Who's going to pay for it?
    • People without a computer, but... with an internet connection... people stealing their neighbor's wireless?
    • All the suckers who laughed at me for waiting in line on launch day.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by LKM ( 227954 )
      Do you mean "who'll use this"? Me. Usual scenario: A few friends are over. "Have you seen that weird YouTube clip?" "No, let's check it out." Looking at web pages with pals works very well with the Wii, much better than getting everyone to see the screen of my notebook.

  • Two Things (Score:1, Troll)

    by EXTomar ( 78739 )
    1. Does Youtube work? Does it handle streaming audio/video? I haven't found anyone who will (or can, see #2) comment on it. If not "interesting" but meaningless if some of the best reasons to browse stuff on a TV doesn't work. No one is dying to read /. on their Wii.

    2. When will Nintendo get around to actually selling people a Wii? Again these features are "interesting" but entirely meaningless if too few people actually have to hardware to enjoy it.

    • Re:Two Things (Score:5, Informative)

      by MBCook ( 132727 ) <foobarsoft@foobarsoft.com> on Thursday April 12, 2007 @12:17PM (#18704595) Homepage

      YouTube works. I've used it. In fact, I heard that was one of the original reasons the browser beta was delayed was so they could update flash and make YouTube work.

      They are selling people Wiis. That is just a troll comment. The fact they are so popular they can't produce them fast enough is not Nintendo's fault.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Necreia ( 954727 )
        "They are selling people Wiis. That is just a troll comment. The fact they are so popular they can't produce them fast enough is not Nintendo's fault."

        While I'm all pro-Wii... this statement is false. Nintendo not being able to keep up with demand is their fault.

        If customers want more products than you can produce, restructure to produce more.

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by gasgesgos ( 603192 )
      One of the major things I use the Wii browser for is Youtube, it works pretty well. Also wiiarcade.com has a handful of games that will work well with the Wii remote. I haven't tried other streaming sites, but I imagine that they would work as well (provided they use flash and not WMP). One warning, it seems that the browser only supports up to Flash 7.

      • Also wiiarcade.com has a handful of games that will work well with the Wii remote.

        I don't think you really want to be sending people to WiiArcade. As you said, they have a handful of games. WiiCade.com has all the same games, plus some good ones, plus games that actually use the gamepad functionality. (As opposed to mouse-only games.) About 300-some games altogether. (At least, if you believe the game ids.)

        Another great site to visit is video.stumbleupon.com [stumbleupon.com]. They have YouTube videos organized as channels.

      • While YouTube worked on the original release, it occasionally failed to load the whole video, and it was not possible to refresh/reload to get it to work. I haven't had the chance to put the update through it's paces yet, so hopefully that has been worked out.
    • 1. It handles YouTube great. Doesn't handle MySpace video, or NBC.com or ABC.com (at least for me). Which sucks because I was really looking forward to catching up on old episodes of Heroes and future episodes of Andy Barker on my TV (gf won't watch with me on my computer).

      Based solely on what I've read in this thread, I'm guessing it's the Flash version that's the problem, though some of these sites might also not support Opera in general; I don't know.
      • NBC doesn't mix well with Opera in general. I normally use Opera on my laptop but I had to open up IE to watch past Heroes episodes.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by ADRA ( 37398 )
      I did some Google video. I think it wasn't instant-play like my regular PC is, but it was still quite usable for video watching. It isn't a replacement for my home theater PC, but for those looking for a cheap and easy to setup browser for the living room, this will fulfill that need.
    • youtube worked with the original version. I haven't updated since i got the browser beginning of January, and was able to use Youtube without a problem.
    • 1. Does Youtube work?

      YouTube (and google video) has worked since the beta in December. There was even a site [wiitoob.com] created to help autoformat it so all videos display nicer on the Wii. This is just a front end to YouTube's site so you can bypass it if you don't care for how they are formatting it. Of note Strongbad, [homestarrunner.com] and Foamy [illwillpress.com] work great too.

      Does it handle streaming audio/video?

      The beta didn't do shoutcast, but I have been using Finetune [finetune.com] for quite some time.

    • 1. Yes, YouTube works. It works *great.*

      My favorites page is full of YouTube videos that I like to share with guests, friends.

      2. Get in line at 4AM, like I did, and they'll sell you one. :)
    • I have a Wii and have previously tried out the beta Opera browser on it. I have viewed on-line videos streamed through the Wii, I don't remember if it was YouTube or Apple's QuickTime movie trailers though.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by LKM ( 227954 )

      1. Does Youtube work? Does it handle streaming audio/video? I haven't found anyone who will (or can, see #2) comment on it. If not "interesting" but meaningless if some of the best reasons to browse stuff on a TV doesn't work. No one is dying to read /. on their Wii.

      Have you actually asked anyone? It has supported YouTube since the beginning.

      2. When will Nintendo get around to actually selling people a Wii? Again these features are "interesting" but entirely meaningless if too few people actually have to hardware to enjoy it.

      They're selling plenty. In fact, they will soon catch up with the 360. The issue isn't that they're selling small numbers, the issue is that demand is even higher than their production capacities. They are now looking for a second manufacturer, but these things take time.

  • Free until June - unless you can't get a Wii. (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Guspaz ( 556486 ) on Thursday April 12, 2007 @12:18PM (#18704615)
    The free-until-June deal originally seemed awesome. Until I realized that every store around here still sells out the Wii instantly the moment they have any in stock.

    There's a good chance that by the time the deal expires in June, it will still be almost impossible to find a Wii, and those of us that have been TRYING to buy one since launch day will have been screwed by Opera for not adjusting their deal to account for this problem.
    • 500 Wii points is only $5. If you can't find a Wii before the free download of Opera is gone, just pay the $5. I bet lots of people would overpay for a Wii by a lot more than $5 to get one today. Luckily I didn't have to.

    • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

      by SighKoPath ( 956085 )
      Get friendly with the people at wal-mart. Learn when they normally get their shipments, how often they come, how many they get, and what time the sale of new shipments starts.

      For example, I learned that my local wal-mart ALWAYS gets them in on Sundays, and they start selling at 8 am. Also, they do not put 'em out in electronics, but hide them over in Customer Service. As soon as I learned this, I was there the next Sunday morning at 9:30. They had 4 Wiis sitting there in the counter in CS (out of 5 receive

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by cHALiTO ( 101461 )
        Good piece of advice.

        If the people at the store doesn't seem friendly, you can also do it Corleone style: grease the right hand to give you a call when the next shipment arrives ;)
    • Just go online to Costco [costco.com] or WalMart or Target or where ever and buy it online.

      It will ship within days.

      Problem solved.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Guspaz ( 556486 )
        Right. You obviously never bothered to check if any of those stores even SELL the Wii online.

        Costco (US): Doesn't sell the Wii console itself
        Costco (Canada): Doesn't sell the Wii console itself
        Walmart (US): Only has the $600 bundle. Sold out.
        Walmart (Canada): Doesn't sell the Wii console itself.
        Target (US): Doesn't sell the Wii console itself.
        Target (Canada): There is no Target in Canada.

        What was that about problem solved? You'll see the same situation at pretty much any online store. If they carry it, they
        • This "sold-out" malarkey is alien to me, I pre-ordered mine in October, and picked it up 2/3 days after launch and have been enjoying it ever since (with a brief hiatus due to a bad back..:)

          Are there any U.K.-ians who are having trouble getting hold of a Wii? Or is it just in the US? I know there were shortages here shortly after launch, but is it still a problem?
    • You mean screwed by Nintendo. Opera has nothing to do with it, they just licensed their browser to Nintendo. Nintendo is the one choosing how much to charge for it, how long to offer it free, etc.
  • The new zooming is a welcome feature, previously I had to adapt my games site to be a better size for displaying on the Wii, but now that is much less of an issue.

    Its a real shame that there hasn't been any mention of Java support though, a JVM (and preferably Flash 9.0 too) would have made this far more useful just because of all the content currently out there. If it had featured a fast JVM with an API for the WiiMote this could have sparked off a huge wave of homebrew developments. This is possible with
    • www.wiicade.com They developed a really nice API for use with the Wii-mote. There are quite a few homebrew games up already (some damn good ones in fact), and they play quite nicely on the Wii browser.
  • I'd say overall it's quite an improvement - it really takes it from a useful oddity to a full-scale tool. My takes:
    • The scrolling takes a bit of getting used to, but it definitely works better, and the precise scrolling works very nicely.
    • Resolution seems better.
    • Definitely faster.
    • I saw no hangups this time.
    • More useful layouts and controls.


    Now, if there was just a keyboard for the Wii . . .
  • Gamestation's website (google it, not link whoring) has a "news letter" type sign up for the wii. They will tell you 48 hours in advance of when they put the Wii on their website to order. This is how I got mine the first time I was told they had some in stock.

    It's not hard, just requires a little planning.

  • I was kind of nervous at first that outgoing requests would be sent to Nintendo, who would fetch the page and return a pre-digested version, ala WebTV. I was pleasantly surprised to see from my own server logs, though, that my Wii was directly connecting to remote hosts without going through any proxy. That makes me feel infinitely more comfortable about using it to access my webmail, online banking, etc.

    Just throwing that out there for anyone else who had the same concerns.

  • I have a few dozen gigs of MP3s on my FreeBSD server. I'd like to run a program that compiles a set of HTML files linking to those MP3s, probably in an iPod-esque setup; click the top-level "Artists" link, choose an artist, and get a list of their MP3s. The goal of this, of course, being to have easy access to my music collection even when lounging around in the living room. If my Wii can play Youtube videos perfectly well (and it can), I'm sure it can manage to play an MP3 from another host on the same

  • This post was done with the wiimote. Certain pages however still don't work well. The auto word finisher works great.

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