Recently there has been rumors about Nintendo dropping Friend Codes in favor of a unified code system. Now there is a confirmation of Nintendo supporting Netflix in the not too distant future (read Spring 09). Nintendo has also started to institute free demo's on their wiiware service. Further the Nintendo Channel updates have been relatively dry recently.

Could Nintendo be planning a UI overhaul to coincide with the launch of netflix wii. Possibly streamlining the software built in the wii to more dynamically supply information regarding the latest title and such to the average consumer.

I think this is quite possible and maybe more likely than we anticipate. Their Channel Developers haven't released anything new since possibly Wii No Maa, and with all this recent development rumor wise of Nintendo streamlining their online process, I think it bodes well for an upgraded User-Interface in the not too distant future.

Would be nice but let's not get our hopes up.

Please. :'(

Hmmmm....

Just for the unified friend codes I don't see any other major upgrading that would make people go crazy about it.

That would be one heck of a system update.

It is possible, but I doubt it. Not Nintendo's style.

Mike from Morgantown

I wont believe it until I see it, I serioulsy doubt nintendo will drop the friend code system.

Could be a symbol that Nintendo is willing to improve the customer experience and bode well for the future. Spring-boarding their success and fixing their on-line interface before their next console

If first party and support for online games were to accompany the new online interface, then I'd be all for it. I've love it if Wii sports was re-released with support for online versus and multiplayer.
Unfortunately, Nintendo is extremely fiscally conservative and only spends money when absolutely necessary and very lucrative (that's why there aren't any Mii updates or WiiHD's).This means the only way they'd even consider restructuring their interface (like M$ did in NXE) or modernizing their approach to online gaming , would be if they started losing tons of marketshare and spiffy new colored Wii's had proven to be ineffective.

"Recently there has been rumors about Nintendo dropping Friend Codes in favor of a unified code system."

That came from one of IGN's Wii bashing broadcasts. That shoots the credibility of that, since it's the only source of these rumors.

there is no unified FC system coming out. :(

The NDS design won't allow it. Since it's the same network infrastructure it won't happen :(
Maybe it 15 years when the finally let the NDS go.