Wii update 3.1 includes USB keyboard support, enhanced Everybody Votes channel
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Oct 10th 2007 at 9:30AM }
Also capitalizing on this new addition is an updated Everybody Votes Channel, which can be upgraded through the Wii Shop Channel. The free update doesn't appear to have any cosmetic changes. Rather, it simply adds keyboard support for submitting questions. [Update: An update to the Internet Browser is also available through the Wii Shop Channel.]
In addition, the Wii User Agreement has been updated. It's supposed to be available at support.nintendo.com, but as of this writing, an older document from the system's launch was still in place.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
danny. (fdf.) @ Oct 10th 2007 9:38AM
That's it? Wasn't one of the bullet points earlier about enhancing the voting channel for game rankings etc.?
ruibing @ Oct 10th 2007 9:56AM
I was hoping for DVD playback.
BPM (FDF - Hypno-Toad) @ Oct 10th 2007 10:04AM
That's a future upgrade.
Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Oct 10th 2007 10:11AM
ruibing
Don't desperate... all will come at the right time.
Ska Oreo @ Oct 10th 2007 4:51PM
@ruibing
Why the hell would you want dvd playback for your wii?
danny. (fdf.) @ Oct 10th 2007 5:39PM
I get that it is a future upgrade, but is it too much of a stretch that something as minor as the changes announced today would make it into this update?
Why would you even announce such minutia.
Rob Accomando @ Oct 10th 2007 9:38AM
nice! Come on USB harddrive support.
motang @ Oct 10th 2007 9:49AM
Finally keyboard support! :-D
JodyAnthony (FDF - Hedonism Bot) @ Oct 10th 2007 9:49AM
cool, I'll probably use the internet channel more now
Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Oct 10th 2007 9:55AM
I will wait a little bit, until Bluetooth keyboard support appears...
Or can I use a USB Wireless Keyboard?
Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Oct 10th 2007 10:02AM
This will look very nice with the Wii:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8509759&type=product&id=1186005932539
back2skooldaze @ Oct 13th 2007 9:41AM
Of course you can use a wireless keyboard it's great just need mouse function!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mini-Wireless-Keyboard-Built-in-Touchpad-USB-VAT-INC_W0QQitemZ190159749758QQihZ009QQcategoryZ15389QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
idioteraser @ Oct 10th 2007 10:00AM
Yes it is a usb wireless keyboard support. Sigh. Why do you think there are two usb ports in the wii?
Jerk Face @ Oct 10th 2007 12:08PM
Are you SURE it's wireless support as well?
Like, did you try it?
Or did anyone for that matter?
If so, I am totally hitting up the store on the way home! : )
LessThanMrt @ Oct 10th 2007 10:01AM
I wonder if this is their solution to a lack of voice chat in their games...
Because I know it's better for the childrens to read racism than to hear it...
AlphaMatrix @ Oct 10th 2007 3:34PM
LessThanMrt: Its much easier to apply filters to text than it is voice. :)
Seraphim @ Oct 10th 2007 10:08AM
Any news of this bricking modded consoles?
jby1chaos @ Oct 12th 2007 7:57PM
The message before updating warns people with 3rd party stuff that this update may not work with them. Don't have mods myself, but I'd be cautious if only because of that warning.
Bill @ Oct 12th 2007 1:23PM
They do warn in the updated user agreement that this update "may" cause systems with "unauthorized modifications" to no longer work.
Crono (NDF - French Taunting from Holy Grail Ring) @ Oct 10th 2007 10:46AM
This opens the door for Wii MMO's, you know. I forget which company (either blizzard or NCSoft) said they were talking to nintendo about having an MMO on the console, and they said one of the biggest hurdles to making it happen was keyboard support.
Course, the other hurdle is getting around the wii friend codes, but I don't think that should be too big a deal.
Mr. Picklesworth @ Oct 10th 2007 12:27PM
Get the game an M rating, and the equivalent in other ratings systems. At that point, they should have no problem pulling out friend codes because there should be no children to protect!
James @ Oct 10th 2007 10:58AM
um, Keyboard support was in the previous update? I even sent the tip here and you guys posted it way back when!
Crono (NDF - French Taunting from Holy Grail Ring) @ Oct 11th 2007 9:00AM
That was for system use only. The big update here is that it can replace the on screen keyboard for Internet and Voting channel.
Ron Murphy @ Oct 10th 2007 11:11AM
If you go to the WiiWare channel, and click on the item discussing the new additions, it says that they have updated the Opera browser as well!!! It seems to run faster for me, and also there is a 100% icon that pops up when you are zooming in and out. They also mentioned things like being able to click on URLs within messages that will take you to the browser. Anyone notice anything else new?
JodyAnthony (FDF - Hedonism Bot) @ Oct 10th 2007 12:26PM
Opera also now has widget support
widgets.opera.com
Pcenginefx @ Oct 10th 2007 12:12PM
OH WOW....keyboard support for the Everybody votes channel! OH WOW...that will REALLY help submitting quesetions that never get posted. I mean really...who the hell cares if you "brush your teeth in the morning or evening?" I want questions that have meaning not some lame ass questions like "do you like your name?".
danny. (fdf.) @ Oct 10th 2007 12:28PM
Actually one of the first questions came from my girlfriend's submission... Not that her question being used was exciting or anything.
Kye (NDF - Earth Ring) @ Oct 10th 2007 12:17PM
TYPING OF THE DEAD!
TYPING OF THE DEAD!
TYPING OF THE DEAD!...
... oh, and DVD playback.
Seraphim @ Oct 10th 2007 12:28PM
If you mod your wii you can play DVD as well as Divx Xvid, MPEG, MP3 and more.
Kye (NDF - Earth Ring) @ Oct 10th 2007 1:12PM
I'll start modding in Jan. When the warranty runs out.
GRANTED @ Oct 10th 2007 12:27PM
i cant believe anyone is excited about this
and people make fun of folding@home...
ssuk @ Oct 10th 2007 1:58PM
I can't believe people are finding the addition of features more exciting than the removal of features.
Lemmiwinks @ Oct 10th 2007 12:42PM
It also mentioned that there would be more specific information in the Everybody Votes Channel results, but it doesn't appear to apply to old results when I checked. (Duh, Lemmi.) It said something about more detailed results by state/country. Eeeenteresting.
Meanwhile, keyboard support kicks ass.
Nick @ Oct 10th 2007 2:08PM
Are they serious, no one cares about everybody votes, let's be real here Nintendo.
Chilly Willy @ Oct 10th 2007 2:22PM
...You do not speak for everybody in the world (and how pretentious of you to think so)! I for one still find it enjoyable. If you don't, good for you. I won't be so full of myself (unlike you) as to think that just because I still enjoy it that everybody in the world does also.
Rich @ Oct 10th 2007 2:11PM
ah good, keyboard support. I would be more excited except for the fact that I STILL CAN'T FIND A #$%*!& WII ANYWHERE IN MY TOWN!
Jerk Face @ Oct 10th 2007 2:24PM
Really!? LOL
Clack @ Oct 10th 2007 4:20PM
Yeah, still scarce around here too. I picked mine up a couple of days before Metroid came out, when there seemed to be a big inventory push. I could walk into 2/3 of the stores around town and they'd have a couple. That only lasted a week or two though, now they're out of stock most places.
matt @ Dec 10th 2007 1:08PM
try a small store like gamestop or EBgames
Spiza @ Oct 10th 2007 3:00PM
If the wii could output 1080 or even 720 it would have made for a good TV web browser.
Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Oct 10th 2007 8:10PM
I'm still pissed that Nintendo never used my question:
"Which would you rather launch into space?"
Pizzas?
or
Burritos?
Crono (NDF - French Taunting from Holy Grail Ring) @ Oct 11th 2007 9:24AM
LOL!
Lawrence @ Oct 11th 2007 5:32PM
To answer one the questions above:
Yes, some regular USB wireless keyboards work (according to second-hand reports and personal experience). Don't know about bluetooth keyboards, however.
An unofficial list of Wii-compatible keyboards can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_USB_Keyboard_Compatibility_List
back2skooldaze @ Oct 13th 2007 9:41AM
wireless keyboard no probs!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mini-Wireless-Keyboard-Built-in-Touchpad-USB-VAT-INC_W0QQitemZ190159749758QQihZ009QQcategoryZ15389QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
Elson @ Oct 15th 2007 8:48AM
Keyboard shortcuts available at http://www.elsonandlarissa.com.nyud.net/wiikeyboard
Nourez @ Nov 10th 2007 10:23AM
Seems like a pretty cool update. I'ts sooooooo much better typing with a keyboard instead the onscreen keyboard and the wiiremote. The only thing is that right now I'm using the keyboard from my computer, and I don't think it'll be too long before my parentrs realize that I took it and now they can't type.