Well… the Opera browser for the Nintendo Wii is just days away. It’s scheduled to be released this Friday, December 22nd. Opera will be released free of charge.
Click on the picture below to enlarge the comic strip. (If you’d like to link to the Wii comic strip on your blog, please don’t link to the image directly, but rather to this post. Thanks)
Opera Watch, an Opera browser blog, is run by Daniel Goldman, who used to work for Opera Software as a Technical Evangelist.
Subscribe to Opera Watch, and stay in touch with the latest Opera browser buzz.
Daniel Goldman: daniel@operawatch.com.
Note: I encourage you to copy and translate my blog posts to your non-English blog. Do you have an Opera blog (with more than 90% of the content Opera-related)? Let me know and I'll add it to the list above.
Q: What is Opera?
A: Opera is one of the most powerful Web browsers around. A Web browser is the program that allows you to view Web pages. Opera is well known for innovation for PC browsers and bringing the full web to mobile phones and devices.
Q: Is Opera free?
A: Absolutely free.
Q: Why should I download a browser? Doesn't my computer already come with one for free?
A: It's about getting more out of the time you spend on the internet. Opera is designed to be much faster than these browsers and gives you powerful features that the default browser lacks. Default browsers like Internet Explorer are also more likely to be subjected to dangerous software such as viruses and spyware.
Q: Will Opera keep me safe from fraudulent websites and malicious hackers?
A: According to Secunia, a respected firm that tracks security in browsers, Opera has the best reputation and track record when it comes to browser security. Keeping our users safe from security vulnerabilities, fraudulent websites, and malicious hackers is a top priority for Opera. Opera is maintained by hundreds of engineers, developers and security experts who are constantly looking to make the browser even safer.
Q: Doesn't Opera copy all of their features from other browsers?
A: Absolutely not. In fact, many of the features that are popular in other browsers today were invented and pioneered by Opera a long time ago. Opera invented the precursor to tabs (in 1994), Page Zoom (1994), was the first browser to block pop-up ads (2000), first to add a Search field in the browser toolbar (2000), Sessions (1996), deleting private data (2000), Mouse Gestures (2000), User JavaScript (2005), BitTorrent support (2005), Widgets (2006), Speed Dial (2007), and much more.
Q: Does Opera support extensions, such as those found in Firefox?
A: Much of the functionality provided through Firefox extensions is already built directly into Opera, so you don't have to download additional extensions in Opera. In addition, Opera is highly customizable and supports all standard plug-ins.
Q: Can I also use Opera on my mobile phone?
A: Yes. And your Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS or almost any connected device and mobile phones. Opera Mobile oftens comes preinstalled from the manufacturers, but if it doesn't you can install Opera Mini which runs on nearly all phones.
Q: This all sounds great, so how do I download Opera?
A: -- Opera on your computer
-- Opera Mini on your phone
-- Opera Mobile on your phone
-- or learn more about Opera at www.opera.com
using
Sooo… is the final version that’s released in the spring going to be free?
using
Nintendo will give out the Opera browser free until June of 2007. The decision to charge for the browser is entirely up to Nintendo, not Opera Software.
using
Funny thing, Nintendo’s Press Release bugs in Opera.
I’m hoping to get myself a Wii tomorrow, and running Opera on it wouldn’t be a bad thing
using
PT, big oops
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The American press release seems to have the most info: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061219/latu070.html?.v=82
using
I’ll assume that means Spring in the northern hemisphere
On the differences between the trial and the final version – is it just a lack of testing?
using
I love the comic.
BTW: What’s with all of the GIF images? Look at the size of your comic when The GIMP 2.2 converted it to PNG. Much better for page loading time, and bandwidth conservation…
using
GT500, your size is definitely smaller. The GIF, however, is what I got from Opera. (I don’t have GIMP)
using
If you want to try The GIMP 2.x for Windows, you can download it here. It’s open source, so it’s all free.