Wii

Internet Channel is a version of the Opera web browser for use on the Wii by Opera Software and Nintendo.On December 22, 2006 a free beta version (promoted as a “trial version”) of the browser was released.The final version of the browser was released on April 11, 2007 and was free to download until the end of June 2007. Since this deadline has passed, Internet Channel now costs 500 Wii Points to download.Users who downloaded the browser before June 30, 2007, can continue to use it at no cost for the lifetime of the Wii system.An update was recently added to this which allows the use of a USB keyboard.Features and fixes found in the final version include: improved zooming and scrolling with an improved font, reduced startup time, the ability to hide the toolbar, and preset buttons for typing phrases such as ‘www.’ and ‘.com’.Opera Software was previously responsible for the Nintendo DS Browser for Nintendo’s handheld system.Internet Channel uses whichever connection is chosen in the Wii Settings, and utilizes the user’s internet connection directly; There is no third party network that traffic is being routed through. It receives a connection from a router/modem and uses a web browser to pull up HTTP and HTTPS (secure and encrypted) web pages. Opera, the Wii’s web browser, is capable of rendering most web sites in the same manner as its desktop counterpart by using Opera’s Medium Screen Rendering technology. For most internet users, the Wii offers all of the functionality they need to perform the most common web tasks.The software is saved to the Wii’s 512 MB internal flash memory (can be copied to an SD card after downloaded). The temporary Internet files (maximum of 5MB for the trial version) can only be saved to the Wii’s internal Memory. The application launches within a few seconds, after connecting to the Internet through a wireless LAN using the built in interface or a wired LAN by using the USB to Ethernet adapter (sold separately).The Opera-based Wii browser allows users full access to the Web and supports all the same web standards that are included in the desktop versions of Opera, including CSS and JavaScript. It is also possible for the browser to use technologies such as Ajax, SVG, RSS, and Adobe Flash 7. Opera Software has indicated that the functionality will allow for third parties to create web applications specifically designed for the use on the Wii Browser, and it will support Widgets, standalone web-based applications using Opera as an application platform.The company has also stated that some Wii video games may implement the use of the browser.This channel was updated as part of the Wii update on October 10, 2007.

If a user inserts an SD card into the console, or sends photos (JPEG) or videos (MJPEG) via email, they can be viewed by means of the Photo Channel. The user can create a slideshow by simply inserting an SD card with photos and, if they want to add music, MP3 or AAC files (see note regarding December 10, 2007 update to version 1.1). The Wii will automatically add Ken Burns Effect transitions between the photos and play the music in the background. A built-in editor allows users to add markings and effects to their photos. Mosaics and puzzles can also be created with this feature. Edited photos can be saved to the Wii (the Wii will not overwrite data on the SD card) and sent to other Wiis via the message board. According to the system’s manual, the following file extensions (i.e. formats) are supported: Photos (jpeg/jpg), Movies (mov/avi), and Music (mp3/aac).JPEG files can be up to 8192×8192 resolution and in baseline format. Video data contained within the .mov or .avi files must be in an OpenDML compliant MotionJPEG use some variant of this format for their videos).Photos, even high resolution ones, are compressed and decreased in resolution.An optional update to the Photo Channel became available on December 10, 2007. It allows customization of the Wii Menu by letting users replace the Photo Channel icon with a picture taken from an SD card or a picture from the Wii Message Board. It also allows playback of songs in random order. MP3 support is replaced with AAC.Wii games that feature playback of MP3 files will continue to support the MP3 format, but will not be able to play AAC files. The update also added support for MPEG-4 encoded files in the .m4a extension. The new update also allows a person to assign his or her favorite picture as the main screen for the Photo Channel.Wii owners who updated to version 1.1 can revert to version 1.0 by deleting it from the Channels menu in the Data Management setup. Consoles released after December 10 will come with the version 1.1 update preinstalled, and cannot be “downgraded” to version 1.0.

The Mii (pronounced “me”) Channel is an avatar creator, where users can design 3D caricatures of people (Miis) by selecting from a group of facial and bodily features. At the Game Developers Conference 2007, Shigeru Miyamoto explained that the look and design of the Mii characters are based on Kokeshi, a form of Japanese doll used as souvenir gifts in Japan.A Wired News interview of Katsuya Eguchi (producer of Animal Crossing and Wii Sports) held in 2006 confirmed that the custom player avatar feature shown at Nintendo’s E3 Media Briefing would be included in the hardware. The feature was described as part of a “Profile” system that contains the caricature and other pertinent player information.This application was officially unveiled by Nintendo in September 2006. It is incorporated into Wii’s operating system interface as the “Mii Channel”. Users can select from pre-made caricatures or create their own by choosing custom facial shapes, colors, and positioning. In certain games (including Wii Sports, Wii Play, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, WarioWare: Smooth Moves, Mario Party 8, and Mario Strikers Charged) each player’s caricature will serve as the character he/she controls in some/all forms of gameplay. Miis can interact with other Wii users by showing up on their Wii consoles through the WiiConnect24 feature or by talking with other Miis created by Wii owners all over the world. This feature is called Mii Parade. Early-created Miis as well as those encountered in Mii Parades may show up as spectators in some games.Miis can be stored on Wii Remotes and taken to other Wii consoles. The remote can hold up to a maximum amount of 10 Miis. The Wii itself can hold 100 Miis.

The Disc Channel allows users to play Wii and GameCube titles. The Disc Channel displays the name of the Wii title that is present in the drive and plays a sound clip along with a short video clip. If a GameCube title is in the drive it displays the GameCube logo and plays the GameCube’s default startup sound. However, the channel does not display the game logo and identifying information that the GameCube does.It also treats discs from another region as unreadable. If no disc is inserted in the drive, the channel displays the image at the right. When a GameCube or Wii disc is inserted into the drive, the pictures of both discs spin until the type of disk is recognized. Once the disc type is recognized, the extra disc fades out and the recognized disc descends into a blue slot. When on the Wii Menu, when a disc is inserted, a disc will slide into the channel icon.This is the only immobile channel. It is always positioned in the upper left corner of the far left page.