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TCNISO has announced their plans to release an open source / open architecture Wii Modchip. The chip, among other things, will allow you to unlock Gamecube Homebrew on your Wii.



The Wiip is going to be available for a mere $20 retail (and that includes shipping!) and will appear in their online shop around 2/27/07.

Also, the schematics, code, and software will be available so you can make one yourself for less than $10!

From their site:
"This mod works by utilizing a cheap and simple microcontroller that communicates with the serial port of the Wii's hybrid DVD drive and overrides certain parts of the media's data stream.

The most important part of this project, is that it is open source! In addition to releasing the Wiip chip, on this page you will soon be able to download the PCB schematics, Wiip firmware and documentation! We hope by creating this project, other users will make modifications to our code for newer updates in the future (if needed)."

Read more about the Wiip here

This is a launcher app for the PC that looks like the Wii interface. It has the ability to launch other PC applications.



Features:
- fully customizable channels
- includes sounds and cursor
- launches all filetypes
- 16 channels and one extra button
- clock^^

Future versions of this software will include support for the wii-mote. I think this is really cool because you can have your wiimote synced to the pc, and at any time, pick it up, press the home button and this interface would load. then you press the game/app you want to play and go at it. I might try to integrate this with my Wii Home Control page as a new way to interface with it from my PC.

Find out more and get the file here

Source: WiiLi

As you may already know there are now 3 modchips out for the Wii. First it was Wiinja, then CycloWiz, and now WiiKey. Something caught my eye while I was looking over the specs for WiiKey this morning on Wii Newz...

# Fully upgradeable via DVD/disc (future proof, expect cool features to come)

Does this mean they've figured out a way to execute arbitrary code on the Wii or does it simply put the DVD drive into a special mode that passes the data on the DVD into the modchip?

UPDATE: The Update disc will likely be formatted for Gamecube and will launch in GC mode. The app will send commands to the chip to flash it with the updated code. Since the chip 'listens' and reacts to these commands, it also means Nintendo can possibly detect if you have a chip like this (WiiKey) installed in your console.

So to recap...Wii Homebrew is still not possible. Gamecube homebrew on the Wii IS possible via a modchip or through Action Replay/Freeloader. None of these chips get us any closer to Wii Linux