Nintendo's Wii console offers more than just games. The Wii is home to seven unique "channels" that cover a wide variety of services, with more on the way. Accessible from the main menu, functions range from the five-day forecast to, well, voting. Yes, voting. Rated here for your approval are the seven Wii channels in all their quirky glory.
Mii Channel: Basically your tool for making a cute little avatar of yourself that can be used in select Wii games (especially Wii Sports). Of course, it inevitably becomes a tool to see who can make the best historical figure/celebrity Mii look-alike. Among the most famous Miis are Lil' Hitler, Chuck Norris, The Beatles and Jesus Christ.
Rating: 8/10 - Fun for the whole family.
Wii Shop Channel: In short: a service provided by Nintendo for downloading classic games to play on your Wii. The catch: they cost money. Ranging from about $5 to $10 a pop, a little research will go a long way in ensuring you get the most bang for your gaming buck. A little more description of the games or a demo before you purchase them would be a welcome addition. Some of the classics they have to offer are "Super Mario World," "Sonic the Hedgehog" and "The Legend of Zelda."
Rating: 7/10 - It's-a-Wii, Mario.
Photo Channel: Almost pointless. It allows you to edit your photos with the Wii's motion controls in a very basic interface. For some reason it lets you plaster a picture with sunglasses.
Rating: 2/10 - Well, at least the price is right.
Forecast Channel: Sort of self-explanatory. One cool feature is the "Globe" perspective, which allows you to spin around a virtual Earth and look at weather around the world. Most people already get their weather elsewhere, but its nifty nonetheless.
Rating: 6/10 - Spin the globe! Spin it fast!
Internet Channel: This allows you to surf the world-wide blog-o-tubes. This Opera-based browser could use a little work on its user-friendliness, and the Wii's typing interface makes for a sometimes painfully slow experience. Until an upgrade becomes available, it's really just a way to watch YouTube on your television. Which is no bad thing, really.
Rating: 7/10 - It's YouTube on your TV. Things have come full circle.
News Channel: Great for global news, not so much for local news. Uses the same globe interface as the Weather Channel, but with little stacks of news stories cropping up wherever an Associated Press news story breaks (Nintendo has made a deal with The AP to supply the channel with stories for the foreseeable future). Favorite news area: Venezuela. Nothing warms the heart quite like President Hugo Chávez calling America a bunch of imperialists. He does it almost every day!
Rating: 8/10 - It's ... fun?
Everybody Votes! Channel: Oddly addictive, the newest (and quirkiest) channel allows you to vote in national and global polls about subjects ranging from the most romantic Valentine's Day gift (it was roses) to the ultimate choice of cats vs. dogs (dogs won). The added ability to guess the results of a poll beforehand adds a level of competition to the proceedings.
Rating: 7/10 - It's got potential, and it's the best channel name ever.
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