(Japanese) Blue Liight Special: TV Friend Channel
By lutherjw. Wednesday, 5. March 2008, 20:09:05
Announced in 2007 at the Nintendo Conference in Japan, the TV Guide channel for the Wii has now been released in Japan. The channel, whose title is roughly translated as "TV Friend", allows you to connect to the Internet and download television programming information. You can view the listings, highlight or rate interesting programs, send a message to friends with TV information, have alerts sent to you via mobile device or e-mail when your favorite shows are on, and even use you Wii Remote as a universal televison remote.
The most interesting part of the new channel for me is the television remote feature. This allows you change channels, adjust the volume, and switch between live broadcasting and the TV Friend Channel. The technology used to achieve this is very interesting. Apparently, the Wii sensor bar emits IR light which reflects off a wall and then hits the IR port on your TV. Nice.
Unfortunately, there are currently no plans to bring this channel to American or European Wii consoles. Maybe if it's successful in Japan...
Thanks to Yeeliberto for the heads up.
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(100%)
WIDGETIZE
By kawaiipikachu, # 5. March 2008, 23:21:00
By Spook81, # 6. March 2008, 03:02:43
The sensor bar emits two dots of IR, it has not yet shown any ability to send more complex data. I'm not an expert on the subject, but I'd assume TV remote signals are sent by what speed they flash at, rather than different shapes or something like that.
By The Last Sheikah, # 6. March 2008, 16:31:26
& the 2 lights are what the Wii Remote picks up .
If you put the sensor bar at the back of the room you would have to aim behind you to aim on screen which would ba arkward .
By kawaiipikachu, # 6. March 2008, 23:04:01