OperaWatch has posted a simple explanation as to why the Wii’s Internet Channel (powered by Opera) uses the Flash 7 player instead of an updated player.

The simple answer is that it’s out of both Opera and Nintendo’s hands. If you want to run Flash outside of Windows, Linux, or Mac, you need the Flash SDK (Software Development Kit), which is made by Adobe. As a result, the Flash SDK is needed to run the Wii and Opera’s mobile browser on phones. The problem however is, Adobe hasn’t released Flash 8 or 9 on their SDK, and until they do so, there’s nothing we could do about it.

For this reason many sites that you might hope would work on the Wii, such as official television network sites that let you watch their shows through your PC’s internet browser, may not work. While the Internet Channel has now been “finalized,” that doesn’t close the door to updates, such as when plug-ins need to be updated.

Opera Watch