Nintendo Wii as Web Browser for Digital Living Room

Not all people like like to have an all in one media center PC in their living room, but increasingly many have a Nintendo Wii connected to their TV. While some purchase the Wii as a game console for themselves or their kids, they do not necessarily realize that there is much more they can do with their Wii. The Internet Browser application which is powered by Opera is a real hidden gem. I can be downloaded for free from Nintendo’s online store. It is well designed for browsing using the WiiMote controller from a distance. The zoom in and out functionality is excellent and I still have not seen a similar usability on my Mac or Windows browsers.

The WiiMote works perfectly for Internet browsing from your sofa. It feels like pointing with a remote control and is very accurate in it’s movements. In addition, you can even connect your usb keyboard to your Wii so typing web addresses and so on should not be a problem. Both wired and wireless usb keyboards are supported. One interesting tip is that Google Reader has an optimized user interface for the Wii. Just type reader.google.com/wii and give it a try.

The downside is that the image resolution and quality is not that great as a HDMI connection is not supported by Wii. This is a pitty as otherwise Wii would be an excellent Internet browser for your living room. It is already now quite good and I am still using it occasionally, but it does not beat my media center PC. However, I have to admit that the browsing feel is one of the best I have tried in any platform.

So, if you already own a Wii or consider buying one, you should remember that it also has a great Internet browser with good usability with the WiiMote remote control. It is already optimized for a big TV screen so why to bother bringing the computer to living room for an occasional browsing.