Wii update adds expanded USB keyboard support
By Donald Melanson 
posted Oct 10th 2007 2:33PM
posted Oct 10th 2007 2:33PM
Nintendo already dipped its toes into USB keyboard support with a previous Wii update, but it now looks to have busted that functionality wide open with the just-released 3.1 system update, which also brings with it an enhanced "Everybody Votes" channel. Among the most welcome additions is keyboard support for the Internet Channel, which will no doubt make your couch-bound web browsing experience a fair bit more enjoyable. A separate update to the Opera-based Internet Channel is also available through the Wii Shop Channel, which includes some new shortcuts to ease your Wiimote-based surfing, along with nine additional favorites slots, an option to send favorite web sites to a friend, and a new "Widget View Mode" that'll let you take advantage of Opera's various community-built widgets. The update is free for existing users, or 500 Wii points for anyone that has yet to take the plunge. Still no word on that rumored Nintendo-made Wii keyboard though.[Thanks, Mike]
Read - Joystiq, "Wii update 3.1 includes USB keyboard support, enhanced Everybody Votes channel"
Read - Huliq.com, "The new "Internet Channel" for Nintendo Wii"
I wonder if the Apple USB keyboard will work with it.
Too bad that my brother hasn't updated the WEP key on my Wii yet.
Why not access the router's settings and update it yourself?
Because I need a the password to do so , and I think the wep key is the password.
Is your brother bigger than you? Will you receive a severe beating for changing settings? If not:
Hold down the reset button on the back of the router till all lights blink...
You can now log into the router using the default user/password.
Will it Blend??? That is the question...
My brother has done that before and it still holds the wep info.
My Apple keybaord works! =)
Make sure you hold down the router button long enough to reset it. I thought my router was broken until I figured out that it would still reset if I held it down for a couple minutes. WEP key disappeared after that.
I will check to see if my Apple USB Keyboard is compatible as soon as I get back to my dorm.
how about mod-chips? any news on if the update has any effect on them?
updated my cyclowiz this morning. chugged along with wii tennis, but havn't tried back-ups yet. so far, no bricking effect.
I predict that they will be sold out of the cheapest wireless USB keyboard at Microcenter...
Good to know that I have a wireless bluetooth one already!
Whats the actual price of Wii?
any hints of getting a price-drop before Christmas?
Oh my that is funny. The Wii has sold more units than any other Next Gen game system, even with the X-Box 360 having a year head start. They are still hard to find at retail, and Nintendo has said they don't expect that to change this holiday season.
Now why would Nintendo drop the price of a product that is selling as fast as they can deliver them to store shelves?
I'll pay full price right now.
Anyone know where I can buy a Wii? Seriously.
@foneguy2: yeah pretty easy, over here in Germany, no worries picking up a Wii!
To Hitchcock:
<
Now why would Nintendo drop the price of a product that is selling as fast as they can deliver them to store shelves?
>
Or *want* to deliver them to store shelves...
Here is quite easy to find a Wii in retail stores, and i live in a "banana country" so if it's hard to find one in USA then the problem can be related with the stores and not with Nintendo (boycott?)
I didn't have trouble getting one.
They have huge stockpiles at the Nintendo store. Also, I usually see 1 or 2 at the local Game Crazy. Last time I was at Wal-Mart, I counted at least 5 Wiis. Just check around, you should be able to find one somewhere. Or if you have a Nintendo store nearby just go there.
took me two attempts to get a wii, first was a weekend in game, none in, was off work sick the next week, rang game up on a wednesday morning, bingo, managed to struggle into town to get it, and that was about april
Yaaarrrrggghhh!!!!
How about a Bluetooth keyboard????? Anyone here have a 20 foot USB cable handy? How many cables between the Wiimotes and the console? Heloooooo Nintendo.....
so buy a Bluetooth keyboard. Plug the USB adapter into the wii and sync. What is the big deal here?
Just buy a wireless keyboard. Bluetooth modules would likely not work.
The Wii already has bluetooth built in. The Wiimote is a bluetooth device. Most likely a future sofware update *could* add bluetooth keyboard support.
I have a Gyration wireless USB based keyboard. It works PERFECTLY! I just plug the transciever into the back of my Wii, and I can sit anywhere I want and type. In fact I can type from ferther away than I can use my Wiimote...
If they would add an update for my Gyration mouse... I would be all set on the Internet Channel! lol
i plugged in my logitech wireless keyboard and it worked.
couldn't press the "OK" key using the keyboard though.
A wired keyboard to the Wii is USELESS to me and probably 90% of all Wii users. I'm not going to be stringing 12 feet of keyboard cable across my living room with 2 little kids and 2 dogs running around.
"so buy a Bluetooth keyboard. Plug the USB adapter into the wii and sync. What is the big deal here?"
Because who knows if it's compatible with just any bluetooth keyboard and I'm not willing to spend $50 to find out.
Logitech makes some nice RF wireless keyboards, I use one full time on my home desktop, works perfectly.
I can move the keyboard next to my bed (about 12 feet away from my computer) and control the sound volume and skip music.
RF wireless keyboards have a USB dongle you can plug into a USB port and it just sees it like a regular keyboard, they also make some pretty small dongles, like 1/2 inch long, here is an example picture: http://www.acorncomputers.com/images/items/100541.jpg
/ note this is not store spam, just an example picture for a wireless dongle
I thought Bluetooth used unique identifying keys. I can have my Bluetooth phone next to my wii and there is no problem. So - if you are syncing a Bluetooth adapter to the keyboard, it should find the device apart from the wii with no interference.... in theory.
Also - you found a Bluetooth keyboard for $50? that's a good deal!
Oh, I meant just any wireless (with a USB adapter) may not work. I'm sure no bluetooth keyboard would work at this point.
I just tried a Logitech diNovo keyboard (bluetooth) and it did not work. It syncs for 2 seconds and then loses the connection. Oh well
For what it's worth, I use a Bluetooth keyboard and its dongle with my Xbox 360, and it works beautifully.
I'll test the same config on the Wii after work (in about seven hours) if nobody has done so yet.
Well you never know until you try one out.
I have a basic Logitech wireless USB keyboard working just fine with my Wii. I believe it was the LX300?
They all should be pretty standardized.
Worst case, return the product within the return window and say it doesn't work with your system (if they even ask). Just make sure they don't charge a restocking fee and you're good to go.
two USB keyboards not working - one Dell, one generic. Lights come on, but no inputs.
generic wireless keyboard working, but only for memos (not on internet channel).
Did you update your Internet Channel? You've got to do that before the keyboard will work in it. Updating the Wii system software alone isn't enough.
@Alex, thanks. Thought system update was enough. Went to the shop and grabbed the updated Opera browser. Keyboard now works a charm.
I would hope bluetooth keyboards are supported soon enough. I'm not going to touch the ones with proprietary dongles.
I have the Logitech MX5000 bluetooth keyboard and it does work, but the system update seems to only add keyboard functionality to the message board not to everything.
Update: After realising there might also be an update to the web browser, I did download the update and it does work with that now also.
Did you need to connect a bluetooth dongle or did it just find it?
There's no way to search for bluetooth devices other than the remotes, so you do have to use the dongle. I did try to use the connection button next to the SD card slot, too.
Wii keyboard...or Wiiboard? ;-D
so, do you have to buy opera with wii points if you just bought a wii?
Yes, you will need to buy Opera if you did not already download it, including new systems. It is only 5 dollars if I am not mistaken (500 Wii Points) which seems pretty reasonable, though I'm glad I got DL in early and free. You can pay with Credit Card right through your console, or pick up a Wii points card at a game store.
PS: I typed the above post on my Logitech wireless RF keyboard with no problems. No functionality for mouse which connects thru same dongle, as expected, though at least it did not prevent keyboard from working. As already mentioned above you need to update Internet channel for keyboard to work within Opera.
Has anyone figured out a way to get "Enter" on keyboard to work as a "Enter" instead of just a "Return"? It would speed up logging into sites. Now off to figure out this new widget feature.
To execute the Enter command from the keyboard instead of going back to the Wiimote just key in ALT+Enter
Thanks!
"everybody votes" is the stupidest thing ever. When i first got the wii, i thought how great it was going to be to play 007 goldeneye N64, and mario cart 64, with online multiplayer. None of this came to pass, so i thought, the everybody votes channel will let us vote on what games to get for the VC console, wrong! its really a bunch of people asking stupid questions like " which color is better, red of blue" how fscking stupid is that?
The voting channel is FREE and is just for a bit of fun! If you do not like it than do not install it, or remove it if you already put it in.
A Nintendo Wiireless-Keyboard ? One that you can wave. Wait, you can even use that can bang your kid brother on the head with it when role-playing Phoenix-Wright-Goes-Mental
Finally the Wii Internet Channel has some merit to it. The fact of having USB Keyboards make it a total web browser and I can actually make my useless posts on Engadget.
So yeah, I'm typing this from my Wii right now with a wire running across my floor and I love it. Sure different than staring at a computer monitor
I use a wireless Logitech S510 with no problems. Found some keyboard shortcuts through trial and error: http://www.elsonandlarissa.com.nyud.net/wiikeyboard
What nintendo should really do is make a thumb keyboard that connects to the bottom of the wiimote. That would be perfect for this system.
Using the Gyration wireless keyboard here too....works perfectly (I'm using it to post this).
Model number is GP9110.