NeoGAF

Originally Posted by Darmik

It's a missed opportunity I think. It has a few decent apps but man, if they added more and added DVD/Blu-Ray support this thing could probably be the best media hub you could get. A tablet that basically plays all of your content on your TV would be fantastic. It would also be the only device that I'm aware of that would be able to stream any DVD or Blu-Ray to a tablet instantly. I hope Nintendo reconsider it. It would be a pretty neat advantage.

I'm pretty sure there's an internet site or program you can use that can stream content from your PC to the Wii U as well.

there is. PLEX and ViiDiiU. Though i havent used the later.

Plex web interface, works much better and faster than any DLNA app I have used for my 360 or PS3.

I don't have a TV nor do I use stuff like Netflix, so I can't comment on that, but the Web Browser is pretty good. I like to sit it up beside me on the tablet while I'm playing other games sometimes.

I think in 2013 the lack of 5.1 surround and Bluray playback really hurts the Wii U's chances of being a great "all-in-one" machine. I would have been all over the Wii U if it had Bluray playback at minimum but alas I ended up getting a PS4 as my games console/first Bluray player of choice.

That said, everything is pretty much moving to digital and apps anyway so maybe Nintendo were perhaps a little bit more forward thinking with their streaming-only approach to content.

It's been working well as my entertainment center

The Hulu app is solid, the Amazon app is better with the IMDB stuff although navigation is odd at first since the TV screen and and gamepad screen operate independently.

Neflix works but not as well as the others and doesn't use the Wii u features well at all. It doesn't allow for Wii remote control or seamless switching to the internet browser like the hulu and amazon apps do either.

Internet browser is great for watching youtube videos, although playlist functionality is borked again, and twitch works well with no ads. Still, it is very nice to have a video running on the tv while being able to continue to browse the net on the gamepad

Tvii has improved and works like a tv remote without any excessive amount of setup. You can even set favorite series and channels and it works well as slightly personalized guide. Sports have their own section and you get detailed stats to go with it although it updates kind of slowly. You can also search for movies and such from here and it can bring up results from all your streaming services and TV. Search doesn't work quite as well as it should though.

Originally Posted by tipoo

It's fine for watching stuff on Netflix but the app is stripped of a lot of features other versions have.

Lack of blu ray or even DVD playback is obviously a minus for an entertainment center.

Web browser is very serviceable, perhaps the best on a console, but it still gets crashy on a few websites, plus no multitouch interface, it's all single touch.

besides not auto playing the next episode, what features is it missing? (serious question)

As far as I know it seems every device has a different interface, with a bit different feature set and so on. I can't think of one that has every feature and the best UI personally, besides maybe streamign directly off the netflix website. i amnot sure why there isnt a more focused or uniformed UI across devices.

Some of these posts make the tablet sound really great and convenient. I still feel that there's a lot of potential there. Nintendo really need to demonstrate and sell that potential.

I use it to watch netflix and amazon video. Better than my apple tv for those.

There's like a ton of very small things that really keeps it down. Amazon doesn't do off-TV, Netflix crashes occasionally, TVii is too slow and the remote function doesn't work with receivers. It's really stuff that can be fixed and easily but seems to have gotten back-burner-ed in the shuffle.

That said I'd rate it above any set-top box or last-gen console.

Browser is almost perfect.

Netflix, Hulu etc all work very good.

Youtube is fantastic if using browser, app is meh.

TVii is good... mostly. It finds shows from all your content, but its really only a guide with miiverse integration. Fun though for sport games.

no dvd or bluray sucks. I don't understand why Nintendo doesn't offer a $5 app to unlock playback. :(

Netflix works really well. The web browser is fantastic and can facilitate control of your streaming solutions from PC. The fact that it doesn't play BR or DVD hurts it though.

Originally Posted by superchunk

Browser is almost perfect.

Netflix, Hulu etc all work very good.

Youtube is fantastic if using browser, app is meh.

TVii is good... mostly. It finds shows from all your content, but its really only a guide with miiverse integration. Fun though for sport games.

no dvd or bluray sucks. I don't understand why Nintendo doesn't offer a $5 app to unlock playback. :(

The YouTube app was recently updated. It's good now.

BTW is there an easy way I can get Amazon Prime Video to work outside the US/Canada?

I would get a PS3 instead.

It's annoying that the Wii U can't shut off the tablet screen when using services such as Netflix or Amazon Instant Video. It's distracting and a needless waste of power, IMO.

Is this a joke?

Originally Posted by Somnid

There's like a ton of very small things that really keeps it down. Amazon doesn't do off-TV, Netflix crashes occasionally, TVii is too slow and the remote function doesn't work with receivers. It's really stuff that can be fixed and easily but seems to have gotten back-burner-ed in the shuffle.

That said I'd rate it above any set-top box or last-gen console.

The bolded isn't true, I use it all the time.

I've been using the Wii U as our primary media center since Wind Waker HD came out. We have a 2-channel stereo system, so lack of surround sound isn't a big deal.

Web browser is fantastic. Plays YouTube, Vimeo, Liveleak, etc like a champ. Doesn't stream Google Play videos, so that's a bummer, but it's not Nintendo's fault.

Amazon Instant Video works fairly well. I reliably get a great HD stream. A mite slow at times, but the gamepad makes searching a lot easier. Have never had it crash on me.

Haven't used Netflix or Hulu plus, so I can't speak to those. Also don't have a cable subscription, so I've never tried out TVii.

We're very happy with our experience with the Wii U as a media center. Granted, our media consumption is fairly limited, but it suits our needs just fine.

How to use your Wii U as a HTPC/Streaming device.

I only tried the Wii U as a media center once, with Hulu, and by comparison with the PS3 or AppleTV, the image was crushed to hell and there was something wrong with the sound. Never tried it again.

I wouldn't really consider it a media center but I still think it's awesome that I can use the gamepad to browse the internet and watch netflix/amazon instant video while I am upstairs comfy in bed

The Netflix app is cool because you can swap through the gamepad and TV literally instantly. That's all the appeal though, the UI overall is much better on other consoles.

The Wii U is my main entertainment device and it's also my universal remote. There isn't a day when the console isn't turned on, even if it isn't being used to play video games. Netflix is a good app, but I'm hoping it gets updated to the updated interface that features profiles and such; It so much better looking. Beyond that, it works wonderfully, however navigation stutters here and there, but it's truly no big deal. The touch screen really does make a difference. Hulu performs just as well, but without the occasionally jitters that come with Netflix. I haven't had problems with it since an update some time ago. Amazon Instant Video is nice, too. It's not as smooth as Hulu, but it's still good. Again, the touchscreen helps out a lot. I'm not a fan of the UI, though. It seems overly complicated. That's not a Nintendo thing, though. I use that app for mostly renting movies.

YouTube recently had an update sent out for its app, but I haven't had much time with that. I use the internet browser for that, and it's fantastic. I find myself constantly using the Wii U's internet browser over my laptop or desktop computer. It's just convenient. It would be nice, however, if I could browse the 'net while watching Netflix or something.

We use TVii mostly too keep track of our favorite shows and for its TV guide. We dropped our satellite provider months before the console came out, in favor of a streaming lifestyle, but we do watch the occasional local channel. TVii has an on-screen TV guide that's very handy, and if you have a DVR, it'll interact with that, so you can set your recordings and all that. It'll also switch inputs and open up apps if I need it to. For instance, if I'm using TVii and see that Vampire Diaries is about to start on a local station, I can click the episode icon and it'll show me where I can watch it; TV, Netflix, Amazon or Hulu. Those options change depending on the show. So, this episode of Vampire Diaries is only available through a local station because it's the first airing, so I'll click the button and it'll switch inputs and direct my TV to the proper channel. It's really nice.

That being said, TVii still does need some work. They've tweaked a bit since launch, but it's not the smoothest of interfaces. In fact, it resembles the Amazon Instant UI, which, as I mentioned, I do not like.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that the lack of blu-ray support is a bit off putting, but I can manage switching inputs. Also, I would like if they opened up the USB ports on the console so that movies could be streamed from a hard drive.

Originally Posted by Somnid

There's like a ton of very small things that really keeps it down. Amazon doesn't do off-TV, Netflix crashes occasionally, TVii is too slow and the remote function doesn't work with receivers. It's really stuff that can be fixed and easily but seems to have gotten back-burner-ed in the shuffle.

That said I'd rate it above any set-top box or last-gen console.

If you'd rate the Wii U above the PS3 as an entertainment center your opinion should not be trusted.

PlayOn works great with Wii U...so at least there's that.

I had a couple of MP4's and the Wii U couldn't play them either. It's a pure gaming machine.

Originally Posted by stfuppercut

If you'd rate the Wii U above the PS3 as an entertainment center your opinion should not be trusted.

I get better image quality from Wii U than PS3 with Amazon... Which is odd considering the PS3 is on an ethernet connection. Having to use prologic instead of having Dolby surround isn't a big deal for TV shows so I go with the Wii U.

Originally Posted by VanWinkle

It wouldn't work. Some issues:

- No local media support (photos, videos, music, etc.)
- No DNLA for media streaming from your PC/media server
- No Blu-Ray or DVD playback
- No surround sound support for the most part
- No easy way to control the UI/media with something like a remote
- Most media you use require you to use the Gamepad, which has bad battery life and can sometimes get cumbersome to use due to its size
- Netflix is no good. The biggest issue for me is that it doesn't have auto-play for TV shows. That is one of my favorite features Netflix has brought forth, and Wii U is one of the few to not have it

Those are the biggest issues, all of which make it completely ineligible for being the main media center. I have the PS4, Wii U, X360, and PS3, and PS3 is just by far the best for this stuff, so I have to stick with that until PS4 and/or Wii U get better.

Good things about it are that the TVii feature works pretty decently but is clunky and a little ugly, Off-TV Play is nice to have when you want it, and the web browser is the best of the consoles.

WAT

Originally Posted by Nostremitus

I get better image quality from Wii U than PS3 with Amazon... Which is odd considering the PS3 is on an ethernet connection. Having to use prologic instead of having Dolby surround isn't a big deal for TV shows so I go with the Wii U.

Last I knew Wii U does not support full range RGB so I find this hard to believe unless your calibration settings are way off :x

Netflix works decently but I've definitely had issues with Hulu Plus crashing from time to time.

hmm unlike a lot of people netflix is perfect for me. im also really liking the convenience of the off tv play. the tv remote functionality works great for me as well. the only time i use the TVii app is for live events like sports or even awards shows. you can get some good conversations with people in those events, but on anything else like an actual episode of a tv show its a wasteland. so the TVii app is good at some points (best as a companion app for sports) but not so great at everything else. overall just ok. if i didnt have it i wouldnt miss it. youtube is a good app, the new update makes it far better than what it used to be. the browser is frankly amazing, its fast and easy to use. the one thing i really with it had is a music player, but i know thatll never happen...

I don't like the Wii U's Netflix app. A lot of time I'm going through series of shows, one ep after another, and on the Wii U they don't just run the next episode automatically. I have to manually get the gamepad from its charger and hit buttons. Small thing, but I find it annoying. At least I did when I was bedridden last week.

And the browser used to be great for watching Youtube, but half the time videos don't run on it anymore, so it's basically worthless to me now.

Netflix and Hulu + work flawlessly for me.
Youtube is great, and when I take it places where I'm watching TV, TVii is pretty fun actually. Chatting with other users about whatever's happening on screen :3

WiiU with PS3 here and I feel I have the best of everything, and I only use the PS3 for games and BR. I'm actually grabbing the gamepad first sometimes and I only have to get up or grab another remote with BRs. If the iPad is in another room I'll use the browser and usually find it faster and more comfortable. YouTube on Wii U is by far the best way to watch. Netflix works fine although I wish they did more with the pad. TiiV is lame for it's shitty touch screen controls and lack of participation. But overall, I think the WiiU has you covered if you already have a BR player, and it's got the competition beat from a reliability and ease of use standpoint--you essentially have a large touch screen remote control that does everything.

Wii U gamepad works as an AMAZING web browser, and I use it for pretty much any video streaming via youtube, etc. It's amazing for that. Haven't used any of its other media features though.

The ability to draw on scenes of live TV shows without the fear of being banned has made TVii the greatest console app in existence.

TVii hasn't launched here, and probably won't ever at this point, but the Wii U in our apartment gets a good bit of use as a media device. Mostly for Netflix and YouTube (through the browser, of course - screw the app). We have a dedicated media pc, XBox 360 and soon a PS4, but the Wii U is and will remain the favourite device for watching stuff online.

I like the quality of the netflix and youtube, but having to have the gamepad on at all times instead of justing using a wii mote to control is so clunky and lame. Fix this shit Nintendo!

It's great. The streaming apps were fixed (Netflix used to crash like crazy but is good now). Who the hell uses DVDs and BDs anymore? I suppose if you do for some reason, dock Wii U points. Other then that, keep streaming while you're taking a shit.

Play-On works pretty good for streaming movies from my PC over wifi.

They updated the YouTube app. It has offtv play and actually buffers video now so it's not stop-and-go... That said, Google's app still doesn't hold a candle to the browser.

Want a nice entertainment center that can do most of that for a fraction of the price? Get a Roku.

To the people saying that Wii U's benefit comes from the off-tv play of media apps. If you have a tablet or smartphone, which the vast majority of people do, you can do the same thing, at least with Netflix and Hulu, except it works at longer distances. Then you are again left with all of its setbacks. I'm assuming most of you who like the Wii U's Netflix app aren't big TV show watchers, because the lack of Autoplay is a real dealbreaker IMO.

Originally Posted by VanWinkle

To the people saying that Wii U's benefit comes from the off-tv play of media apps. If you have a tablet or smartphone, which the vast majority of people do, you can do the same thing, at least with Netflix and Hulu, except it works at longer distances. Then you are again left with all of its setbacks. I'm assuming most of you who like the Wii U's Netflix app aren't big TV show watchers, because the lack of Autoplay is a real dealbreaker IMO.

I think it's funny that you believe people who do like it are cavemen who just don't know any better.