New Wii Channel and DS Browser Dated

Nintendo tests new Wii features, a new Wii channel, and plans for the release of the DS web browser.

A message on Japanese Wiis alerted gamers of a new Wii Channel coming April 29. The Mii Popularity Channel (working title), which was discussed by Shigeru Miyamoto at GDC, asks participants to choose their favorite Mii from other player-created characters, improving the rating for those picked.

Nintendo developer Takeshi Shimada discussed a few Wii upgrades cooking in Nintendo's laboratories, such as text-to-speech tools that could potentially read news headlines, messages and weather updates to users. An additional motion recognition upgrade is in the works, allowing the Wii to learn users' movements and predict their future actions.

Nearly a year after the Opera web browser was released for the Nintendo DS in Japan, the English version will be coming to the U.S. on June 4. A price has yet to be announced, but is expected to be somewhere between the $32 cost in Japan and $52 in Europe.