New Wii U dev kit has video chat, multitasking, and more

According to tipsters over at the NeoGAF forums, the current Wii U dev kits have received a few more features, including video chat via the Wii U controller?s camera, voice commands, and multitasking. The source cites the following additions to the Wii U dev kit:

• Video chat via the built in camera in the controller
• Facial recognition software via the same camera
• Multitasking and the ability to run multiple Wii U apps at the same time, e.g. switch between playing the game and browsing the web.
• Voice commands (via the microphone in the controller)
• An achievements system plus the ability to send screenshots and game videos to friends on the Nintendo Network.
• Ability to watch a friend play online (live streaming)

http://wiiudaily.com/2012/05/new-wii-u-dev-kit-has-video-chat-multitasking-and-more/

• Video chat via the built in camera in the controller
• Multitasking and the ability to run multiple Wii U apps at the same time, e.g. switch between playing the game and browsing the web
• An achievements system plus the ability to send screenshots and game videos to friends on the Nintendo Network

GameboyTroy

Theses 3 could be true and I wouldn't be surprised if they are.

The others, not so much.

Didn't Nintendo hint at video chat already on the Wii U release video? I could have sworn that they did, so this honestly isn't new IMO, but it is nice to hear it is in the newndev kits, which means we can video chat soon! :Dyoshi_64

I really hope this is true. I've been hoping for an achievements system for Nintendo Network ever since the Wii U was announced.

I hope so, if this is true then Nintendo are only a few steps away from having my money for another gen.

• Video chat via the built in camera in the controller
• Facial recognition software via the same camera
• Multitasking and the ability to run multiple Wii U apps at the same time, e.g. switch between playing the game and browsing the web.
• Voice commands (via the microphone in the controller)
• An achievements system plus the ability to send screenshots and game videos to friends on the Nintendo Network.
• Ability to watch a friend play online (live streaming)

I think most of this list is plausible.

Video chat was shown in the Wii U trailer ages ago, so no suprises here

Facial recognition is simply software and could be implemented on basically anything with a camera

Multitasking doesn't suprise me hugely, because the 3DS does this kind of thing already (Right? I don't own one, but I can remember seeing switching between web browser and game)

Voice commands is also software so no problems there

Achievements I think is plausible because I saw a rumor about them appearing with Nintendo Network, so very possible. The screenshot thing is a cool idea and taking game videos would be pretty cool, but I'll take those two with a grain of salt.

Live streaming however, is the one rumor I'm not sure about. It just doesn't sound like it'd be worth all the effort. It would be awesome if the Wii U had the tech to enable us to take a video of our successes, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Assuming this is true, my mind has been blown.

The ability to stream someone's game and watch it, I think that's awesome.

It all lines up with that 512MB RAM for OS rumorbonesawisready5

512mb will not be reserved for the OS. Not even windows uses that much at its base. at most 256mb. around that of an android device which does all the same things.

The streaming stuff was rumored before, i can see the facial recognition, video chat, and voice commands, why else would they bother with a camera and microphone, but the achievements would be more of a surprise because they kinda said they don't like the idea before, but it would be a sign that they are really trying to support 3rd party devs if it was included. and multitasking is on 3ds so that will probably be there