Opera web browser for Wii this Friday

The opera web browser will be available on Friday.

Check out the Press Release for more info.

Cool I'bve been waiting for this.

So this is just a trial version? Does that mean you will have to *pay* for the full version?

Or is the whole thing free as long as you download it before June and then paid for thereafter?

As for the keyboard thing or lack thereof, have to say I am sceptical that it could be anything other than inferior to traditional pc. Anyone who has the necessary kit to get a Wii online probably has an internet pc anyway.

Have to admit that the weather forecast channel has a very nice feel to it - spinning the globe with the remote has a very nice 'tactile' feel to it. Apart from this it is nothing more than google earth and bbc weather channel provide, but nicely implemented nevertheless.

Well the way I read it is that:

we get to beta test the browser from this friday until March 07, at which point we can download the final version for free until June 2007 - at which point anyone who has not already downloaded it will have to pay 500points.

As for how useful it is..well you have to remember that lots of (most?) people will have their wii in their living room - where they don't have a PC. So using opera to quickly check your emails (no typing required I would guess..bookmark your inbox :) ) or a few other things could be very useful. Plus i'm getting faster and faster at text input using the remote the more that I use it..with more practice it could easily be a viable web browsing solution, although no-where near the ease of use of a PC.

Well this Wii virtual keyboard isn't the easiest thing to type with...
But just browsing from the sofa is easy enough... I suppose if you don't want to enter any data it's ok...

/me also posts using wii browser :)

not bad, dunno if i'd pay for it though.

double post :s

Wonder if ninty will release a keyboard for browsing?

this post is written on it :)

I don't know if i could get my wii before march.
If it's free that it worths a try, otherwise it's pointless.
Surf the internet with my desktop is much quicker i think.

great application - shame it wont be free for much longer :(

NB apparently it is free for early adopters:

(found here but think it's originally from opera web site:
http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl.../12/22/1527201)

"Nintendo is currently offering a free trial of Opera for Wii which is now available for download. The release of the final version of the Opera browser for Wii is currently scheduled for late March 2007. Opera for Wii will remain a free download until June 30, 2007. After June 30, Opera will be available for download from the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Wii points. Users who download Opera before June 30, 2007, can continue to use the browser at no cost for the lifetime of the Wii system."

Sweet, not that I use it a whole lot, but it can be helpful :)

Great news!