Surfing the Internet with your Nintendo Wii game console just got better with firmware update 3.1: among other things, you will now be able to hook up a USB keyboard to the game console. Opera Software's Web browser for the Wii has also been updated with some refinements to the way you navigate the Internet, nine additional "Favorites" locations and an option to send your favorite Web sites to buddies, and more. The Nintendo Wii has built-in wireless networking capabilities and the ability to download both firmware updates and "Virtual Console" games online. Now that USB keyboard functionality has been added, do you prefer browsing the Internet on your Wii or on your PC?
News source: PC World
News source: PC World
So basically they are saying they figured out how to add USB keyboard support into the console's OS, wow what an accomplishment, its only been done for how long now? These console makers, they are just crappy operating system devs that didn't make the cut.
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I for one welcome this! Bring on Wii Instant Messenger... I hope, that would be awesome!
The wii remote for using the browser is actually not too bad.
isn't a console a computer?
OS integration of a keyboard isnt something neccesarily next gen, which is what he was trying to say i think
Good news regardless- Opera browsing with the wii-mote anyone?
isn't a console a computer?
OS integration of a keyboard isnt something neccesarily next gen, which is what he was trying to say i think
Good news regardless- Opera browsing with the wii-mote anyone?
Yes, in the same way that a TI graphing calculator and a Gameboy are computers, but they don't have USB keyboard support, do they? Traditionally, a game console is more of an appliance than a personal computer, although this generation of machines is attepting to change that in bits and pieces. At the end of the day, it's still a box that attaches to the TV and lets you play games- not a personal computer.
Remember today is not opposite day.
When you criticize someone with skills far beyond your own it's not being a smartass, it's being a dumbass.
I'm sure they knew how to do this from the beginning, they just hadn't implemented it yet.
God, it's not like they're a bunch of N00bs there at Nintendo or anything. They sorta know what they're doing. Better than 99% of Neowin users.
i don't see any other consoles supporting it, although you can use one on the PSP, so yeah it is a bit new and revolutionary for consoles and i am pretty happy i can use my usb keyboard on my wii.
sort of off subject on the whole PC console thing, the reality of consoles and computers is they are merging more and more, they have been for a while, becoming more and more of a general entertainment device, rather than just a gaming machine. which is why MS got into the whole equation in the first place becasue they knew the closer the two get the more chance microsoft has in the market becasue of their expierience in the multi purpose OS market and why they where willing to loose billions of dollars on the first generation.
I like how they nail the important parts first - quality controls and quality games.
Then later they waste time thinking about how to web browse and add keyboard support.
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