Wii Internet On The Telly This Christmas
Forget Queenies’ speech, surf with Opera instead
Friday December 22nd sees the beta-launch of the Wii’s Opera-powered Internet channel - with the News channel also finally arriving next month on January 27.
The beta version of Opera will be available on the Wii Shop Channel for free, with the final version planned to launch later in March. After next June, users will be charged 500 Wii Points (£2.50) to use the application.
"This newest Wii Menu channel provides yet another feature to draw non-gamers in," said Nintendo of America President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Reggie Fils-Aime.
Nintendo’s press release just in informs us that:
Most gamers won’t really care too much one way or the other about browsing the internet via the Wii (as they are too busy playing Zelda or Wii Sports). Among Nintendo’s most-wanted casual market (the lapsed and non-gamers, the ladies, the slightly bewildered) Opera could well prove to be a killer app’ (and a key selling point), especially when combined with Wii’s incredibly easy-to-use Wi-Fi connectivity and Wii Remote pointer features.
What do you think? Will you be willing to spend a couple of quid next June to access the internet on your telly?
And don’t forget, as SPOnG informed you yesterday, the Wii Weather Channel is open for business.
The beta version of Opera will be available on the Wii Shop Channel for free, with the final version planned to launch later in March. After next June, users will be charged 500 Wii Points (£2.50) to use the application.
"This newest Wii Menu channel provides yet another feature to draw non-gamers in," said Nintendo of America President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Reggie Fils-Aime.
Nintendo’s press release just in informs us that:
“The Adobe Flash-enabled beta version of the Opera browser puts the Internet right onto owners' television screens and lets them browse with ease, enabling them to check sports scores, plot maps or visit their favorite Web sites. Multiple family members can gather around the television to plan a vacation or make online purchases. The pointing abilities of the Wii Remote™ allow users to click on links they want to see or to zoom into any part of the screen through the motion of the controller. In addition, the Wii Remote can be used with an on-screen keyboard to make text entry as easy as point and click.
Most gamers won’t really care too much one way or the other about browsing the internet via the Wii (as they are too busy playing Zelda or Wii Sports). Among Nintendo’s most-wanted casual market (the lapsed and non-gamers, the ladies, the slightly bewildered) Opera could well prove to be a killer app’ (and a key selling point), especially when combined with Wii’s incredibly easy-to-use Wi-Fi connectivity and Wii Remote pointer features.
What do you think? Will you be willing to spend a couple of quid next June to access the internet on your telly?
And don’t forget, as SPOnG informed you yesterday, the Wii Weather Channel is open for business.
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
majin dboy 20 Dec 2006 13:47
1/4
i will be definitely getting this.what will be the difference between beta and final?just means i dont have to start up my computer.
SCiARA 20 Dec 2006 14:14
2/4
is that 500 ponits every time you use it or a one off charge?
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NiktheGreek 20 Dec 2006 22:22
3/4
Man, I remember when Sega's line of thinking was that people would buy the Dreamcast as a cheap way of getting online for casual consumers...
Whatleydude 21 Dec 2006 10:01
4/4
Hmm - I don't understand.
If we download the final version before June - its free.
But after June we'll have to pay.
It's not like a subscription service or anything?
*confoozed*
If we download the final version before June - its free.
But after June we'll have to pay.
It's not like a subscription service or anything?
*confoozed*