Final Wii Internet Channel ready for update

Your little glowing Wii is trying to tell you something: there's a new system update waiting in the ether packing plenty of Internet Channel goodness. The update brings parental controls to your Wii and an updated version of the Opera browser which can downloaded free from the Shop Channel. So besides giving you control over the kiddies surf habits, Nintendo has tossed in plenty of new/improved features including several navigation enhancements and built-in Yahoo! and Google search. Now, you'd best get on with gettin' on, because the browser will cost you 500 points to download after June 30th.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Tim Brook @ Apr 12th 2007 4:26AM]

Strange. I got this message, and updated, but I still have the trial version.

[gross67 @ Apr 12th 2007 12:55PM]

The instructions are misleading. You have to go download the web browser after doing the system update. Just as if you were going to buy it. Simply going to the Internet channel like it says does not work. So, system update - then "buy" it again.

[QTS @ Apr 12th 2007 4:45AM]

Download the system update then go to the Wii Shop Channel and grab the updated Opera browser.

[MPG @ Apr 12th 2007 4:52AM]

"The update brings parental controls to your Wii"

No, it doesn't. There's a bug in the Wii update system so that it keeps claiming for every update that parental controls are now enabled. However, they were already enabled after the very first update.

[noxmad @ Apr 12th 2007 4:59AM]

Actually you're wrong aswell, it doesn't say that parental controls are enabled, just that they are there.
After each update it reminds you of the parental controls to increase the chances that a parent will actually see the message and thing "hmm there's something I can use to protect my kid".
It's just another way of nintendo being nintendo.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Apr 12th 2007 6:02AM]

> Nintendo has tossed in plenty of new/improved features including several navigation enhancements and built-in Yahoo! and Google search.

I have used Internet channel twice - because only twice I was asked "can that thing connect to internet?". Most of the time people we diving immediately after into Zelda or WiiSports - forgetting completely about internet and the rest.

Internet channel plays more PR role on Wii: users comprehend device connecting to internet more accessible. So to me it is pretty non-feature - and they better keep it free. (To me personally it is useless anyway.)

[kelvingreen @ Apr 12th 2007 7:33AM]

The Flash game chick-chick-boom that Nintendo themselves encouraged us all to play through the Wii broswer doesn't work with the new updated version. Because the new updated version uses an older version of Flash and can't update to a newer edition.

Oops.

[fistpittingnork @ Apr 12th 2007 10:08AM]

I've ignored the glowing for the past 12+ hours. I just figured it was another message requiring me to respond by typing out a long ass message using the wiimote.

[Espiox @ Apr 12th 2007 11:50AM]

I think you guys misunderstand. When it says that there are Parental Controls after updating, it's a reminder for parents, not a feature list.

[KC @ Apr 12th 2007 3:14PM]

Buy a web browser? No thanks.

[Erik @ Apr 12th 2007 3:23PM]

The web browser is free for now, so get it soon :)

Personally, I love the auto hide feature for the navigation bar as well as the auto google search and nifty zoom features

I can now make youtube videos full screen and look like they are a normal tv program (albeit choppy, pixilated tv program)

[James @ Apr 12th 2007 4:33PM]

Actually, if you read the message Nintendo sent you, it clearly says "Click the Update Button", which appears in the lower-right corner of the message you're reading. This does the system update. Then, continuing to follow the instructions in the message, you go to the Shop Channel and download the updated Browser. It's not hard.

Anyway, the new browser does address a lot of previous issues, though unfortunately still no tabbed browsing. If PSP can do it, I'm sure the Wii could manage. Other than that (and Adobe's shite Flash policy), I have no complaints.

[barfowlemoo @ Apr 12th 2007 5:40PM]

So what's the deal here? Will the browser now play flash elements when browsing sites? Does this mean I can now watch ABC's flash-based episodes of Lost on the Wii?

[ryanworrell @ Apr 12th 2007 9:30PM]

Was wondering why my Wii was glowing this morning

[kris @ May 3rd 2007 8:01PM]

other than the 500 wii points will the actual going to websites cost me any real money?