Topic: New Wii U Firmware Update Live

[Patchkid15]

UPDATE:  Off-TV Play in Wii Mode, along with USB keyboard support added in the update.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/35571

UPDATE: The Wii U Firmware update added new enhancements to the system. Wii Games can now be played on the GamePad, though you still need to control the games with Wii Remotes, etc., and Wii games now can output Dolby Pro Logic II. The console will also now be able to automatically download software from Nintendo. Support for USB keyboards was made available and PDF files can be viewed using the web browser. There were also some minor changes including the use of headsets in Wii U Chat, among other small updates.

The rumored system update for the Wii U is now live and available for download. Estimates on the download size are placing it over the 600 megabyte mark.

The update arrives the night before a Nintendo Direct presentation scheduled for tomorrow morning at 10am ET / 7pm PT. 

We are currently downloading the update ourselves and will keep you posted with additional details as our downloads finish, and we discover what is within the update.

[Razorkid]

I love that it does it automatically when shutdown.

[Shaymin]

You can use the Gamepad for Wii games - can't use the Gamepad controls as it mirrors the TV, but I was playing Blades of Steel and Xenoblade while watching Raw.

[Soren]

You can use the Gamepad for Wii games - can't use the Gamepad controls...

Can't get any more half-assed than that.

[UncleBob]

I could never figure out why it didn't do that from the start.  I mean, I understand not letting you use the GamePad controls... but mirroring the feed to the GamePad seems like such a silly thing.

Tell me that Nintendo Network menu isn't about a unified account system.

I'm frantically reloading the update screen on my 3DS to see if there's an update for it.

*edit* although, that takes away one of the main reasons to pay to upgrade your Wii VC titles...

[Spak-Spang]

But what is in it?

[UncleBob]

Right now, just general settings.  You have to enter your password for your Nintendo Network account, which is stored server-side, then it loads a page with some settings options.  This entire app is on-line based (my internet is being crabby tonight and it wouldn't let me in to anything until I launched my WiFi Hot Spot)...

[azeke]

Wow! Now you can post scrreenshots from the ddirrectly from, withoutt MiiVerse! And in native resolution, too!

[Soren]

Version 4.0.0 U, available via an Internet connection, includes the following improvements:
New Features:A feature to output video and sound to the Wii U GamePad when using Wii ModeĀ¹Users can choose to output to the TV and GamePad, or just the TVA feature to automatically receive recommended software and demo titles from Nintendo using SpotPassSupport for USB keyboardsAn option to disable use of a Nintendo Network ID on non-Nintendo hardware, such as PCs and smartphonesSupport for DolbyĀ® Pro LogicĀ® II Surround Sound when playing Wii softwareChanges to Wii U Menu:Added a friend list icon to the Wii U Menu for easier access to the Friend List
Changes to System Settings:An option to automatically receive recommended software is now available under "Internet"A setting to select which cable outputs sound is available through "TV"Users can choose to output sound through an HDMI cable, non-HDMI cable, or both cables at the same time. Click here for instructionsA setting to adjust the hourly interval in which standby functions are performed is available under "Power Settings" when Standby Functions are enabled
Changes to Wii U Chat:Added the option to view a friend's profile on Miiverse when sending or receiving a chat requestUsers can now chat using a headset connected to the Wii U GamePad
Changes to Internet Browser:Pressing the R or L Buttons on the Wii U GamePad will skip video playback forward/back a small amount of timeHolding the R Button will speed up video playbackAbility to save username and passwords for websites that require loginĀ²Ability to launch the Internet Browser during gameplay and upload screenshotsAdded support for viewing PDF filesĀ³Added features intended for website developers that allow the user to enable developer tools and set user agent
Improvements to system stability and usability:Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience

Ā¹ Wii software displayed on the Wii U GamePad cannot be controlled by the GamePad. This feature only allows Wii software to be displayed on the GamePad. A Wii Remote Plus or Wii Remote is required to play Wii software titles.
Ā² Users can delete saved usernames and passwords from the Internet Browser settings.
Ā³ Sometimes data may not be displayed correctly depending on the size and format of the PDF file. PDF files cannot be saved.

[UncleBob]

Interesting about outputting sound from HDMI and/or RCA.  Neat.

[MetalMario2]

Still no folders, eh? Guess we'll have to wait another year or three.

[Soren]

Testing the screen grab feature.

[IssunZX]

Kinda bummed the ability to use the Wii menu on the Gamepad doesn't allow me to use the controls. While I get the logic behind it, it'd be nice for games like Xenoblade or basically anything that can use the Classic Controller (being that the face buttons are the same and all).

I'd like to try out the screengrab feature too once I figure out how it works...

[ShyGuy]

I tested the screengrab feature with Photobucket. You start the game, hit the home menu, open the browser, goto your desired image host and when you choose "browse for files" it gives you the TV or gamepad screenshots to upload.

[leahsdad]

You can use the Gamepad for Wii games - can't use the Gamepad controls...

Can't get any more half-assed than that.

Well, it's not COMPLETELY unjustified....the gamepad cannot substitute for pointer controls.   At best, it can substitute as a classic controller, but not all Wii games support classic controller (maybe most don't?).

[Seacor]

For those trying to post screen shots to imgur.com, use the mobile URL.  The Wii U browser is not fully compatible with the standard site.  Your upload status will be pended "forever".  After 30 minutes of pended uploads, I visited the mobile site and the image uploaded with no issues.

m.imgur.com > click the cloud icon in top right of screen > click device icon > choose your image > click start upload

[Seacor]

You can also now post screen shots directly to Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr (as you can with 3DS).  From the Wii U browser, visit i.nintendo.net/wiiu

[CaptainK.923]

One fantastic addition I noticed is that the aspect ratio on Wii VC games is automatically corrected now. NES games look perfect in Wii mode (still look awful in Wii U mode) and they're automatically formatted in their original aspect ratios! (Before the update, Wii VC games stretched to fit widescreen TVs.) I have no idea why they went to the trouble to fix this minor issue, but I couldn't be happier that they did. I have a ton of VC stuff that's suddenly much more playable.

[Fatty The Hutt]

Playing wii games on the pad=cool. I'm one step closer to hauling thewiiu into the bedroom.

[broodwars]

I just got home so I haven't done the update yet, but it sounds like an awful lot of nearly-useless features. Yeah, it's good that you can now view Wii games on the GamePad, but without GamePad controller support it seems fairly useless (not to mention cumbersome if you don't have the Wii U stand).  As for the rest of the features, I have no use for them.

Hopefully after this update, my Wii U will actually load screens faster, as some on Twitter have alleged to have seen because the UI is so ****ing slow right now.  It's also somewhat hilarious that the Vita's UI continues to be infinitely superior to the Wii U's while it continues to have folders while the Wii U does not. 

[Oblivion]

Of COURSE you have something to bitch about.

[broodwars]

Of COURSE you have something to bitch about.

I'll never understand why game systems don't just HAVE folders at the system's launch these days. Seriously, I think Nintendo already figured this out on the 3DS by the time the Wii U launched, & Sony figured it out on the Vita not longer afterwards. Why does the Wii U not have them by now?

As for the update, I updated my Wii U and have seen no discernible improvement in access times outside of time to return to the OS from Miiverse, which is now nearly instant. Everything else takes just about as long to load as it did before, and as that's my main issue with the Wii U's sloppy OS this update really didn't do much for me.  In fact, the load times are still so obscene that the eShop now has a little slot machine mini-game that plays on the load screen while you wait. Still, if I want to balance the Gamepad on my knees alongside my Wiimote while I have the classic controller in my hands, I can now play Chrono Trigger in Off-Screen play. Hoo-****ing-ray. 

[Oblivion]

Or you can stop complaining an pay the small fee to get it upgraded so you don't need to do that.


Or you can buy this controller and not have to worry about carrying around two controllers to play.  http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Controller-Wii-Nintendo-U-6304900/dp/B009D4O0FK/ref=pd_sim_vg_3

[Miyamoto]

You can now play Wii games on the Game Pad, YES!!! great job Nintendo, sure this should've been available at the start but thanks for finally getting there... What? you haven't finished? What's that? I can use the Game Pad screen but none on the controls? I still have to use a Wii remote / Classic controller for input? LULZ, Nintendo I take my hat off to  you. Your trollery truly is something to behold.

[StrikerObi]

It makes sense that games with pointer controls would obviously still require you to play with a Wiimote, but not being able to play VC games or other games that use the classic controller really sucks. With any luck (yeah, right) they will eventually patch in support for that. The issue right now is that Wii Mode reboots the system to run the actual Wii OS, which cannot see the GamePad as a controller (or as a display). They must have gone into the Wii OS and actually patched it to be able to see the GamePad as a display. Hopefully they will eventually patch it again to allow GamePad controls. I'm not holding my breath, though. Perhaps we'll hear something about that in today's Nintendo Direct, as I'm sure it will go over the update.