Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Going outside? Let the common man do that, as tech-savvy folks can just navigate the outside world within the comfort of their own home, with little more than a Balance Board and Google Street View. It's kind of similar to the Google Earth thing we presented back in May. In the least, it's got to be a cheap and easy way to travel to those cities you always wanted to visit, but couldn't afford to go to.

[Via Balance Board Blog]

Google has invented a system for monitoring the habits of online gamers. The technology is intended to track gaming habits in order to make in-game advertising more relevant to users. It's targeted at all online platforms, including Wii.

Apparently our playing habits can reveal all sorts of information about us. The way we behave in a game can be used to draw up a profile of our psychological characteristics, and this data can then be used to sell us stuff.

The system was patented in the US and Europe last month, although Google say they have no plans to roll it out in the near future. Privacy campaigners have deep concerns about the system, pointing out that while Google's ideas may be relatively benign, the information may not stay in their hands. The US federal government has already taken Google to court in order to gain access to their data.

So what do your gaming habits say about you? Does your in-game behaviour reflect your real life personality? Any dirty little secrets hiding on your memory cards? They might not be secrets for much longer.

[Via Wiiha!]

Google has retooled their Google Reader for Wii users, adding a special section for users of Nintendo's console to easier navigate their feeds. Of course, Google isn't the first to cater specifically to Nintendo's Opera browser, but they are certainly the most influential and popular company to do so. We're not ones who use Google's Reader on a daily basis, but we're sure some of you are going to find this news especially useful.

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

Using a homebrew app called GlovePie, which allows the Wiimote to synch with a PC for all kinds of nifty stuff, a blogger by the name of coulston used it to make Google Earth that much cooler. Adding tilt functionality, as well as zooming capabilities, from the look of it in action, available via the embedded video after the jump, the Wiimote is suited perfectly.

[Via QJ]

While the information and teasers are old news, the video still gives a good idea of what to expect in the way of presentation style and length of time from the Nintendo keynote at the Leipzig Gaming Convention later this month. We like watching dancing girls Nintendo, but maybe you don't need to go through all that effort this year, eh? Just tell us a price and launch date.

[Via Codename Revolution]