Nintendo's announcement of the Wii comes with exciting news about how the Wii is going to bring more than just games to the average living room. The Wii Channel Menu will be the starting point when the console first starts, and will allow access to news, weather, and even your friends around the world with WiiConnect24. Let's take a look at each of the channels Nintendo has announced.

Disc Channel
This is the channel you would expect on a game console. It will give you access to the game you have loaded into your Wii. Nintendo has stated that the Wii will not play movie DVDs, so the only use for this channel will be games. But since games will be available through other channels as well, this can't be called the Game Channel.

Mii Channel
Here you can setup your profile, including a picture, that will be used in a variety of games and other software. Each Wii Remote can be associated with a certain "caricature" (as Nintendo calls it), which then will be usable on any Wii. Take your Wii Remote to a friend's house and you will already be setup on that controller.

Click the "Read More" link for the rest of the channels.

Photo Channel
Not long ago, Nintendo announced that Secure Digital (SD) cards would be used for storage, and now we see one purpose behind them. Photos stored on SD cards (which many digital cameras already use) will be able to read off the card and manipulated using the Wii. Drawing on the pictures will be simple using the Wii Remote, and a series of filters will be able to be applied as well. Nintendo has also stated that you'll be able to play an MP3 in the background while a photo slideshow runs. They have not announced any other music channel, but that appears to at least be possible.

Forecast Channel
Lookup weather using your Wii and free information on the internet. Forecasts will be available for locations around the world, and a 3D globe interface will make it easy to see what the weather is like in all the places Sony hasn't launched yet.

News Channel
Top Stories in a variety of channels will be available when the Wii is connected to the WiiConnect24 service. The 3D globe interface will also be available here to show you where the action is taking place.

Wii Shop Channel
Buying games on the Virtual Console will require Wii Points, and to get Wii Points, you will visit the Wii Shop Channel. Once you buy your points, you will be able to purchase classic games for the classic NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis, and TurboGrafix consoles. Other software will be available, but so far Nintendo has only announced the Opera Browser that will be required for use of the next channel...

Internet Channel
Nintendo is claiming this channel will drastically change the way you interact with the television, by allowing you to surf the internet from your couch. The flash-compatible browser is being said to allow you to "research while watching a television program," although whether or not you'll be able to see the television program and the browser at the same time is unclear.

Wii Message Board
Although this sounds like a forum you might find at your favorite website, it will be more like an answering machine or e-mail address for your Wii. You'll be able to leave messages for other family members, and send messages to other Wiis using the WiiConnect24 service. Also, it will be possible to send and receive messages will cell phones, including photos. Nintendo has not announced if the interaction will cell phones will cost anything, but they have stated that messages will be able to contain extras like maps or weapons for games.

Nintendo is obviously taking on the community capabilities of XBox Live, and trying to expand their image of being a "kiddie" console that has plagued them since the GameCube was released. By including adult-oriented channels like News, Weather, and the internet, they are hoping to expand their reach to many non-gamers. Since there is a messaging service included, the Wii may become the computer for the computer-phobic relatives that want to be part of the connected family. Imagine grandma and grandpa being able to get pictures of their grandkids by just turning on their Wii. They'll say "Wii have never been so happy."

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