Seems like we've known all about the Wii's release date, price and many cool, user-friendly/idiot-proof features for an age already, so SPOnG just had to pinch its collective self when we were reminded that it was only this time last week we were sitting in the cavernous halls of London's ExCel, listening to Mr Iwata tell us all about Wii Channels.
We told you all about Wii Channels last week, and it's just come to our attention that Nintendo has updated the Wii.com website with a few more details and a handy little video outlining all the features of the Wii's Photo Channel.
Nintendo describe the Photo Channel as follows: "By using the SD Card Slot on the front of Wii, you can view the pictures and movies you have taken with your digital camera or mobile phone on your TV screen. With the easy-to-use software, you can easily select, enlarge, and reduce the size of your photos. In addition, there is a full array of other ways to enjoy your photos, such as scribbling messages on them and turning them into puzzles. The Photo Channel can also be used to communicate with family members or to exchange photos with friends and family via WiiConnect24."
Just as the Wii's Internet browser could be seen as a 'Tellynet for Tech-tards', something similar could be said of the Photo Channel, which is an incredibly easy to use photo and video editing suite for your TV, controlled via the Wii-mote. Just check the video out to see what we mean.
Opinion is currently divided in the SPOnG office. There is the populist camp, which declares the Wii's Photo Channel a significant USP for the console, claiming that it will be lapped up by the many casual users who might not be au fait with even the most basic PC- or Mac-based photo or video editing packages. Then we have the technical elite camp, who fail to see any long-term success for the Photo Channel, claiming that it is little more than a gimmick.
Let us know what you think? Do you think your non-gaming friends and family could be sold on Wii purely by demonstrating the Photo Channel's features to them?
We told you all about Wii Channels last week, and it's just come to our attention that Nintendo has updated the Wii.com website with a few more details and a handy little video outlining all the features of the Wii's Photo Channel.
Nintendo describe the Photo Channel as follows: "By using the SD Card Slot on the front of Wii, you can view the pictures and movies you have taken with your digital camera or mobile phone on your TV screen. With the easy-to-use software, you can easily select, enlarge, and reduce the size of your photos. In addition, there is a full array of other ways to enjoy your photos, such as scribbling messages on them and turning them into puzzles. The Photo Channel can also be used to communicate with family members or to exchange photos with friends and family via WiiConnect24."
Just as the Wii's Internet browser could be seen as a 'Tellynet for Tech-tards', something similar could be said of the Photo Channel, which is an incredibly easy to use photo and video editing suite for your TV, controlled via the Wii-mote. Just check the video out to see what we mean.
Opinion is currently divided in the SPOnG office. There is the populist camp, which declares the Wii's Photo Channel a significant USP for the console, claiming that it will be lapped up by the many casual users who might not be au fait with even the most basic PC- or Mac-based photo or video editing packages. Then we have the technical elite camp, who fail to see any long-term success for the Photo Channel, claiming that it is little more than a gimmick.
Let us know what you think? Do you think your non-gaming friends and family could be sold on Wii purely by demonstrating the Photo Channel's features to them?
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
I'll Eat Your Soul 22 Sep 2006 13:34
1/9
As a fast way to share photos taken on my phone, I'd use it. I dare say it's faster to power up a Wii than my computer every time I have a silly snap to send someone.
Not a killer USP, but a nice to have.
Not a killer USP, but a nice to have.
dr_faulk 22 Sep 2006 14:09
2/9
As my Dad says, provide a service, and people will use it.
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I'll Eat Your Soul 22 Sep 2006 14:26
3/9
That bodes well for my freelance vasectomy clinic.
ajmetz 22 Sep 2006 16:29
4/9
Xbox360 and PS3 both allow photo browsing, so why not Wii?
crs117 22 Sep 2006 18:01
5/9
ajmetz wrote:
Xbox360 and PS3 both allow photo browsing, so why not Wii?
As of yet neither ps3 or X360 allow for easy access to mail or share photos with other console owners.
warbaby 22 Sep 2006 21:51
6/9
Just because the technofile elitist aren't going to use the feature, doesn't grant it immediate gimmick status.
Honestly, if I want to share pictures I'd choose Wii over Windows any day. I feel violated everytime I use a Microsoft product.
You guys run a video game site, I'm sure there are plenty that figure you to be a gimmick.
Honestly, if I want to share pictures I'd choose Wii over Windows any day. I feel violated everytime I use a Microsoft product.
You guys run a video game site, I'm sure there are plenty that figure you to be a gimmick.
zoydwheeler 22 Sep 2006 22:08
7/9
Dude, sorry to be anal but it's spelt technophile, not technofile...
Personally I love iPhoto on Mac and Wii Photo just strikes me as a similar package, with the benefit of being just a little bit easier to use and being on your telly.
I can't wait to try it out.
Personally I love iPhoto on Mac and Wii Photo just strikes me as a similar package, with the benefit of being just a little bit easier to use and being on your telly.
I can't wait to try it out.
soanso 23 Sep 2006 08:10
8/9
I'd like to pick you up on something here.
It can play movies from your camera?
Ok so it can play movies then!
Means you could download stuff to a sd card and it'd play it if you got the format right which I'd imagine would be .mpg .mov or .avi
so it doesn't have dvd playback but could play movies.
am I correct?
It can play movies from your camera?
Ok so it can play movies then!
Means you could download stuff to a sd card and it'd play it if you got the format right which I'd imagine would be .mpg .mov or .avi
so it doesn't have dvd playback but could play movies.
am I correct?
Happydwarf 23 Sep 2006 11:42
9/9
soanso wrote:
Means you could download stuff to a sd card and it'd play it if you got the format right which I'd imagine would be .mpg .mov or .avi
so it doesn't have dvd playback but could play movies.
am I correct?
Depends on the codecs that nintendo load on to the wii, I'd imagine probably mpeg 4 and that'll be your lot.
Cool feature tho means my technophile dad can actually use his camera and download photos. No matter how many times i show him on windows he just refuses pick it up.