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New Wii Software Out : Still No Fixes to Previous Problems
A new version of the Nintendo Wii operating software was released this week. I am using it right now to write this article. However despite the good additions they did not fix the biggest outstanding problems that I have with the Wii software, specifically the problems of playing a Neo-Geo game over component cables (It doesn't work at all) and the noted inability to play Wii channels directly off the SD card.
The biggest new features for this version of the Wii OS software is support for USB keyboards in entering all text, a new improved faster version of the Internet Channel Opera Web Browser and a new version of the Everybody Votes Channel polling software. Nintendo also announced a slew of new titles for their upcoming WiiWare line of downloaded software including a new Final Fantasy : Crystal Chronicles game and a new Dr. Mario title.
The WiiWare line of software is expected in Japan March 2008 and there is no announcement about running software directly off the SD card. One would expect that others would have the same problem of filling up the mere 512 Megs of storage memory in the Wii and their online software store would greatly benefit from the arbitrary glass ceiling removed from the amount of software one can purchase and run on a given Wii without having to juggle your programs off the SD card. We can hope but here we are almost a month from the one year anniversary of the launch of the Wii and we are still dogged with this storage issue.
I also would not have believed it if you told me a year ago that the only online game play enabled Wii game was Mario Strikers soccer and a Pokemon game. I would have said ... "nah they are not going to repeat the online mistakes of the Gamecube. They know better than that. But here we are coming up on the Holiday shopping season and Pokemon is the only major online game on the Wii. Sigh... I also would not have believed that despite Microsoft putting all this effort into Web Browsers that their six years of videogame systems would not have a web browser but Nintendo, Sony and even Sega would have beaten them to the punch with a decent videogames web browser. The newer version of the Opera web browser for Wii is noticeably faster and looks great on an Hdtv. The Nintendo Wii is my favorite way to watch YouTube videos and view photos on Flickr.
Checking email, entering passwords and other more complex web tasks are a total breeze with a USB keyboard. I've written this entire post while sitting back on my couch.
I am glad to see that Nintendo is still working on improving the operating system for the Wii and I am still cautiously optimistic about it but they still have a ways to go.
Jake at October 11, 2007 
Games
Comments
Hey Jake,
Thanks for stopping in and giving an update. I fully admit it was wishful thinking :)
I'm not personally experiencing the same problems as you, but it ain't right man!!! I'm tired of buying software that simply does not work (Warhawk (fixed!), Tekken Online) and having no recourse with Sony, or Nintendo or anyone for that matter.
-Zeromous
Posted by: Zeromous at October 11, 2007 10:36 AM
This space issue needs to be fixed asap, especially with that new FF:CC Wii Ware title on the way. That game looks extremely polished and looks like it'll take up a lot of space.
Posted by: Daniel Primed at October 14, 2007 5:55 AM
