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Wii update 3.1 includes USB keyboard support, enhanced Everybody Votes channel
Your Wii system is flashing blue again, yearning for your attention. A new system update is available, version 3.1, and it now officially includes USB keyboard support. (A previous update featured very limited keyboard functionality.) This should greatly increase the usability of the Internet Channel.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.
Wii update renders Freeloader useless
And don't expect Nintendo to do anything about it. The recently released and pointedly punctual Wii system update 3 added limited USB keyboard support but removed the system's ability to run Datel's Freeloader discs. Originally intended for Nintendo's previous console, the Freeloader would (usually) allow the user to play Gamecube games from other regions, an ideal tool to help pass the time between those lethargic localizations. Nintendo told Eurogamer that due to the Freeloader's status as an unofficial product, there was nothing they could do to "fix" the problem.If you still hope to play your imported Gamecube titles, you can either dig your old system out of the closet or stare at that new Wii clock while you wait for Nintendo to abandon its draconian console region encoding policies. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Nintendo Wii system update 3 is now live
The Wii Shop channel was closed for a few hours this morning and when it opened back up, a new system update was made available. It may not have delivered the announced "Check Mii Out" channel or added any Wii Ware to speak of, but it did give us a big, ugly clock on the main menu.As for technical improvements, users are reporting shorter load times when switching channels as well as faster disc read speeds all around. The news and weather channels got some touch ups as well but most of the work seems to have gone into the shop channel which now supports a new, streamlined interface, search functions and a list of the most popular titles. Spoiler: only games featuring the word "Mario" in the title make up the top five.A full list of patch notes may be viewed after the break.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
