One of the Nintendo Wii's most unappreciated and useful features is looking to become just a bit more appreciated and a whole lot more useful, as Nintendo has decided to make the Opera browser free-of-charge to all users from now on. The browser had previously cost users 500 Wii Points ($5), and previously before that had been offered free to all users until June 2007. The console's Internet Channel (which houses the browser) has also updates the browser's relatively older Flash software to Adobe Flash Lite 3.1, which is basically the equivalent to Flash 8 with sprinkles of Flash 9 for good measure. No doubt the update will significantly impact how some will use their Wii online, and given Nintendo's increasingly proactive look at social-networking features, this is definitely good news.
But if you're one of the internet-loving fans who did plunk down the 500 Wii Points for the browser, it looks like Nintendo isn't letting your investment go to waste. Says the company:
"Starting at the end of October, consumers who have previously exchanged 500 Wii Points to download the Internet Channel will be able to download, at no cost, one NES game of their choice valued at 500 Wii Points from Virtual Console. Details of this download offer will be provided via the Wii Message Board and on Nintendo.com."
Some are reporting that Nintendo plans to offer a small selection of specific NES games for those early buyers, but no specific titles have been made available. Regardless of which they choose, giving the Opera browser to all Wii users is a spectacularly smart move, especially as all three console makers move further into the worlds of social-networking via their living room televisions. Free web access means free access to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and a host of other services that should help make browsing the web on your television a lot more interesting than sitting plopped in front of a monitor.
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