Nintendo Launches Wii Internet Channel

Nintendo has announced that the final version of its Internet Channel for the Wii video game console has been released after months of beta testing.

The full version will have a full version of the Opera web browser. The popular browser has been specifically modified for the Wii and will offer users many innovative tools for surfing the web through the Wii.

Wii gmaers can download the browser for free through June 30, 2007. It will stay free for the life of the system on which it is installed. Users that download the browser after June 30 will have to shell out 500 Wii points, the equivalent of $5.

Scott Hedrick, executive vice president of Devices for Opera Software said in a release that the company has focused on usability when designing the Wii version of the browser.

"The Opera-powered Internet Channel for Wii is about making the Web easy to use for anyone, at any age," he said. "We received a lot of user feedback after the Christmas release of the original version, and based on that feedback we have created a browser that is clean, intuitive and made for viewing on the TV."

Opera modified their browser in several ways. Opera said that the Wii internet channel will now have a better response time as well as improved performance and many added options.

The internet channel will also have two search engines preinstalled, Google and Yahoo Search.

Users will also be able to save favorite web pages as bookmarks which can be selected by using the Wii remote. This will take out a lot of the frustration of entering web addresses one letter at a time.

A big feature that Nintendo and Opera are pushing on the new internet channel is the ability to use a TV to view web material. The Opera browser will be equipped with a zoom feature which will enlarge images and text on the screen.

"Opera on Wii adds a new dimension and functionality to a video game console system. It is a unique Web experience that everyone can use, and the Intelligent Zoom feature allows consumers to read Web content on the TV from the comfort of their couch," said Roger Fils-Aime, the President of Nintendo America.