Earlier this week, news app Watchup appeared on the Wii U eShop without warning or fanfare, and has strangely been missed off this week's download update. Even so, Watchup CEO and Founder Adriano Farano is keen to make some noise about the Nintendo version of the download, which - in its Android incarnation - was named one of Google's Best Apps of 2014.
Watchup is a newscasting app which has partnered with Bloomberg News, Fusion, Financial Times, The Verge, Vox, and AJ+, and offers a unique dual video-reading experience. On Wii U, the videos play on the main TV while you can browse through associated text and locate other clips using the GamePad.
According to Farano, the Wii U's GamePad offers the perfect platform for Watchup:
Philosophically, the partnership was a natural fit because Watchup's core mission is to bring the consumption of broadcast news into the modern digital age. Younger audiences, particularly the cord-cutting set, are demanding that their news is personalized and available to them when they want, where they want it. This is exactly what Watchup provides.
The ability to leverage a second screen led Watchup to come up with the idea of a "watch and read" interface that takes advantage of both screens in a fully functional way. As it turns out, the Wii U platform is probably the best realization of the "second screen" experience because it doesn't require downloading a second app on your phone or using a separate device. Because it's the same integrated hardware, it is completely synchronized and seamless. News articles related to the video being watched are automatically populated on the handheld device and can be browsed for added context with the swipe of a finger.
Have you downloaded Watchup yet? What are your thoughts? Would you like to see more apps of this kind on Wii U, turning the GamePad controller into something more akin to a traditional tablet device? Let us know by posting a comment.
[source thedrum.com]
Comments 33
I've downloaded it. It's actually a really cool news app! A far cry from the News Channel on Wii.
I tweeted Watchup the other day and praised their Wii U app. It's a treat to use and really nails the 2 screen experience.
The problem lies in that the market has clearly spoken and the market doesn't really care for a dual screen screen experience, or at least the Wii U implementation of it.
I will be getting this. Sounds like a great use of the gamepad. I really hope Nintendo further tweaks and expands on the gamepad's ideas in the future. I would miss it if it is completely gone on the NX.
@DiscoGentleman thanks to the quick start menu the app is worth it to boot up and quickly watch/read the latest. Video quality is high too.
The gamepad is awesome. Many games try to implement a second screen via mobile apps and they just don't work as well as the pad.
Is this only available in the US? I wanted to try it out, but I can't seem to find it in the European eShop...
In which regions is this app available?
yes would be great for Europe, I hope soon!
It's not in Canada either.
I'm a grown up now, so I have to get this. When my wife asks me why I'm always in my wiiu I could respond that I'm reading the news and not playing.
A good replacement to the wiis news channel and the weather? Channel?? I don't know half of these news channels.
It's the Wii News Channel...except with the Gamepad. And video. And an actual news network service. This could be pretty cool.
actually why is there not more stuff like this? The Wii U is so under developed it has a more potential I think (stating the obvious I know lol)
I've always wanted a StumbleUpon app for the system.
Definitely keeping an eye out for this when I get a Wii u,
I'd like to try this - i remember booting up the old Wii news channel every now and they to see what was new in the world of medicine/health.
It downloaded it for the novelty of it, but it doesn't do anything that 60 other news aggregation services already do. I probably will stick with the ones I already use and leave the Wii U to being for entertainment.
@Skywalker "I'm a grown up now" - your awesome profile gif says otherwise. Keep it real
Great. The article brought my hopes up and I look in the eshop and find... nothing.
@Damo: Would've been nice if you'd mentioned that this app is only for US users.
Anyway, that app isn't really necessary since everyone can just read the news via the Wii U's awesome browser. That app works really well, love the idea with the curtain on the main screen.
I'm interested, how much does it cost though?
If it's free that's probably why Nintendo didn't advertise it in the press release for downloads this week.
Is it biased?
Im from America and it isn´t available yet, maybe in the US is available, i´m from Mexico and it doesn´t appear. Maybe it is en Europe.
I'll check it out. Spotify app next? Please Nintendo??
I'm glad to hear that there's media companies such as Watchup who believe in Wii U even after so long
I will definitely be giving this a download since I actually liked the new app that was released for the Wii and this looks far better than that.
is this in NA?
Too bad most people want to use thier tv, cause the gamepad screen looks bad by comparison.
I watched it this morning for about an hour and a half. I wish it would do more local news to your area. Most of it is a mix and mosh of YouTube videos depending on how you setup the app. It has an option for local news but it had one story that was old. Really so far it seems fairly useless. It does have potential though. It also has an option for ESPN I clicked on it and the only story was fan reaction to Tom Brady and Deflate gate.
Really disappointed to find out this isn't in Canada - sounded awesome.
Downloaded it. It's neat, works smoothly, navigates intuitively. Nice job. So far the content is snack-sized from what I viewed. Finding content you may like is easy.
@goonow no, I don't want to use my damn tv nice try though.
@Captain_Gonru I remember thinking that way, too. Seemed so obvious to have dynamic manuals for games and Nintendo related news and a magazine format. It was hinted at even in the original reveal videos all that they wanted to do with viewing the web. It's sad really, but the reality of supporting the platform completely alone probably killed many pie-in-the-sky ideas at Nintendo.
Neat. I guess I'll get this. Can't imagine it takes up much space.
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