The Nintendo Wii has become the world’s most popular modern games console. Although it’s not as technically advanced as Sony’s Playstation 3 or Microsoft’s Xbox 360, the innovative Wii Remote and family-friendly games has led to massive adoption outside the typical gamer market. Over 50 million units have been shipped worldwide.
The Wii has built-in wi-fi and ethernet adapters can also be purchased. Internet connectivity has typically been used for updates, multi-player gaming, downloads, and Nintendo’s specialized content “channels”.
General internet surfing is possible, but you need to download the Internet Channel. Until now, this cost $5 for 500 Wii Points (although it’s only possible to purchase blocks of 1,000 points from the Wii shop). However, starting this month, Nintendo has released the Internet Channel for free — anyone with a Wii and a net connection can download the browser and access the web. People who purchased the software recently will receive a game credit later this year.
The browser was created by Opera and is specifically designed for the console. It has a similar feature set to a modern mobile phone browser and offers HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Flash 3.1 Lite support. The Wii screen resolution is significantly smaller than a PC monitor, but Opera provides several manual and automatic zooming functions. Even complex sites remain readable.
The browser is controlled by pointing at the screen with the Wii Remote. Typing long web addresses is cumbersome but it provides good auto-suggestions. An external keyboard is available for keen Wii surfers.
Overall, the Wii browser is simple, reasonably fast, and works well. Many people will use it to quickly check their email, catch up on news, or play simple Flash-based games.
However, we now have a situation where the Wii, DSi, Playstation 3 and PSP offer viable web browsing software (and I’m sure Microsoft could port IE6 to the Xbox!) People are using them to visit SitePoint, so could console users become an important sector within your website’s demographic? Perhaps it’s time to ask your boss to buy a selection of consoles … for testing purposes obviously!
Frequently Asked Questions about Nintendo Wii Opera Browser
What is the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser?
The Nintendo Wii Opera Browser is a web browser specifically designed for the Nintendo Wii gaming console. It allows users to browse the internet on their television using the Wii Remote. The browser is based on the Opera 9 browser and uses the same core rendering engine, but it has a unique interface designed for the Wii.
How can I download the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser?
The Nintendo Wii Opera Browser can be downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel. You will need to have your Wii connected to the internet to access the Wii Shop Channel. Once you’re in the Wii Shop Channel, you can find the Opera Browser in the Wii Channels section.
Is the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser free?
Yes, the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser is free to download and use. However, please note that internet connection charges may apply depending on your internet service provider.
Can I use the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser to play online games?
While the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser allows you to browse the internet, it does not support all web technologies. This means that some online games may not work properly or at all on the browser.
Why does my Nintendo Wii Opera Browser display websites differently than my computer’s browser?
The Nintendo Wii Opera Browser is designed to be used on a television screen, so it may display websites differently than a computer browser. It also does not support all web technologies, so some website features may not work.
Can I use the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser to watch videos online?
Yes, the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser supports Flash, so you can watch videos on websites that use Flash. However, please note that not all video websites may be compatible with the browser.
How can I navigate websites using the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser?
You can navigate websites using the Wii Remote. You can point the Wii Remote at the screen to move the cursor, and use the buttons on the remote to click links and scroll through pages.
Can I use the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser to access social media websites?
Yes, you can use the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser to access social media websites. However, please note that some features of these websites may not work properly or at all on the browser.
Can I save my favorite websites on the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser?
Yes, the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser allows you to save your favorite websites for easy access. You can do this by adding the websites to your bookmarks.
Can I adjust the settings of the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser?
Yes, you can adjust various settings of the Nintendo Wii Opera Browser, such as the display size and the search engine. You can do this by accessing the browser’s settings menu.
Craig is a freelance UK web consultant who built his first page for IE2.0 in 1995. Since that time he's been advocating standards, accessibility, and best-practice HTML5 techniques. He's created enterprise specifications, websites and online applications for companies and organisations including the UK Parliament, the European Parliament, the Department of Energy & Climate Change, Microsoft, and more. He's written more than 1,000 articles for SitePoint and you can find him @craigbuckler.
