Got a Wii? You’ve got a web server.

Yeah. I’m just as surprised as you are. I mean, just picture it: a bleeding edge game console—or bleeding edge for 2006, anyways—hosting your dream website! Or blog! Or whatever the fuck. Doesn’t it just sound stellar?

Seriously, though, this is pretty interesting. Yeah, it is just a regular web server. And yeah, you could do the exact same stuff or even more on a computer or dedicated server rack. Capability isn’t really the point. It’s a tall, long brick with 88 megabytes of RAM and a CPU roughly as powerful as a low end Intel Pentium 3.

Really, what is most special about this is availability. Everyone and their grandmother had a Wii, which means everyone and their grandmother could host a web server. Just as simple as it is to Homebrew the Wii itself, you can install the web server. Best comparison is installing an app from the Play Store or APKMirror.

Even better, there isn’t anything limiting what you host. There’s no file that is too big, unless it is larger than the storage available on your SD card. There’s never too many files to host. Nothing. So far, I’ve been able to host my entire personal website and then some, with minimal latency for loading. Practically equivalent to if I had just gone to the actual site that is hosted on GitHub Pages. Of course, some of this may be because I’m not actually connecting over the internet, only the local intranet, so speeds are bound to be quicker.

I think the hard limit here is for stuff like node.JS. That requires the Wii to actually act like a server and run its own code outside of just providing a web page and its linked resources. Unless they randomly make an instance that can run on PowerPC, it isn’t gonna work out too well. For that, you’d need an ACTUAL server, likely one running Windows 7+ or Linux.

Anyways, credits to Cboof and Felix123 for making this app. You can find it here on oscwii.org or go onto the Homebrew Browser to install it. And, oh, yeah, this needs a Homebrewed Wii, not any bog standard Wii. Whoops! This also works on a Homebrewed vWii (the virtual Wii inside of a Wii U). Welp, if you want to see any more homebrewing tips or programming advice, stay tuned to the CheeseBlog for more posts. Cya!

Hacking Switch GameShare

Hi everyone!! This is gonna be very rushed because I just got the idea fresh on my mind and I don't have the time to write a full blog post, but I swear it'll be worth it.

So, the most recent Switch update included a new GameShare feature, intended on connecting the soon-to-be Switch 2 with the Switch 1. I heard that they recently patched a critical system bug caused by GameShare in update 20.0.0. This has me wondering—if that bug was there, what other bugs are there?

GameShare sounds like a jackpot to me. It's literally just wirelessly executing code on a Switch. Very recent update, there's bound to be glitches.

Now, I wouldn't be surprised if this GameShare feature had encryption or some other key. But I bet you that Switch modders will persevere and find a way to get around that, just like how 3DS modders, Wii U modders, and Wii modders got around other blocks. Once the key is found or something, you can basically just execute code.

Doesn't matter the system model you're on, what region you are in, or anything else. Once you've got the key, you can execute code, and now mod your Switch. It sounds pretty simple to me.

Let me know (in these comments) if this is possible, and remember to let yourself know to tune in to the CheeseBlog for more tech related posts. Cya!

A guide for making your phone look like an S4

Hello! In today’s blog post, I will show you how you can turn (almost) every single Android phone you have into looking like a Samsung Galaxy S4, or at least with the software. I’ve done the majority of the work for you, so all you have to do is follow along. All work done here can be reversed and will not have any severe consequences. This entire guide is also free, meaning you won’t have to pay to download any of the files or install the apps.

NOTE: This guide can work on Android 14 and 15 devices, but you may not be able to change app icons and some other things the way this guide shows. This guide also assumes you have a Samsung device with the Play Store on it. If you do not have a Samsung, alternative steps will be provided, but it may not be exactly the same. If you do not have the Play Store installed, I highly suggest you go download it now because many steps in this process require it or an app downloaded from it, including alternative solutions.

Step 1: Downloading

In this step, you will, you guessed it, mainly be downloading apps and ZIPs. They will all be provided as links you can download, even from your phone. (the “clickette.org” links can be trusted. its just a cdn I use, the file names are automatically randomized when uploaded)

S4 Wallpapers: https://clickette.org/u/4jjMHB.zip

S4 Ringtones: https://clickette.org/u/hlfqwG.zip

S4 App Icons: https://clickette.org/u/yUkTy0.apk

Clock/Weather Widget: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.droid27.digitalclockweather

Good Lock Labs: https://galaxystore.samsung.com/detail/com.samsung.android.goodlock

Alternative solution for non-Samsung devices

Nova Launcher: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher

Other links

Amazing, easy to use CDN: https://clickette.org

Step 2: Extracting and Setting

In this step, you will be extracting ZIPs that you downloaded in the step earlier and then using the files. You should be able to extract ZIPs in your file manager, but if you cannot do so, then search up “FV File Explorer” on the Play Store and use that file manager for this guide.

In your file manager, go to the same directory (folder) your downloaded ZIP files are in. Scroll down until you see 4jjMHB.zip and hlfqwG.zip, respectively. Tap and hold your finger (long press) on one of the files, and if that isn’t working, then see if there is a button with 3 dots (it’ll look like this: … but vertical) on the file. A context menu should appear, and go through the available options in the context menu until you find something similar to “Extract” or “Unzip”. If you cannot find an option like this or cannot open the context menu, search up on Google or a search engine of your choice “[File manager name] extract ZIP tutorial” (e.x. “FV File Explorer extract ZIP tutorial”) and follow that. Repeat process for both ZIP files.

Now, you should have two folders. Click the first one you want.

Wallpaper Folder

If you clicked the folder with all the wallpapers, you should just see a bunch of PNG/image files. Choose whichever ones you want as your lock screen and home screen, as the wallpapers and some other things varied between models of the S4, so there isn’t one specific pair of default wallpapers for the S4. Me personally, I chose the one with autumn leaves as the home screen and the one with the child hopping in grass as the lock screen. If you cannot find out how to set these images as your wallpaper, just google it, like this example: “set wallpaper on Samsung Galaxy S20 tutorial”, just with “Samsung Galaxy S20” replaced with your phone’s name, and follow that.

Ringtone Folder

If you clicked the folder with all the ringtones, you should just see a ton of audio files. Choose the one you want as your default ringtone, it really doesn’t matter. Me personally, I chose Over The Horizon because it is the brand theme and sounds great. Similarly, to the wallpapers, just search up how to set a ringtone with audio files on your device if you cannot figure out how to.

Step 3: Applications

With the application links provided earlier, you will install Good Lock Labs and the clock/weather widget. The next bits will guide you through setting them up.

Clock/Weather Widget App

Go to the link and install the app on your phone, and open it (obviously). Go through the setup process. Then, once you reach the main weather page, open the context menu with the button on the top-left side of your screen. Click Settings, then Appearance Settings in the menu that pops up, and finally, click Widget skin. Scroll until you find the option called “blue rectangle clock” that looks like a blue rectangle clock and weather widget (duh). Click it and exit the app. Then, progress to the next app.

Good Lock

Go to the link and install the app. When opened, look for HomeUp. Its icon will have a home on what appears to be a… rainbow geyser? Anyways, you will click the download icon for HomeUp on the right side of the screen. If it didn’t automatically open, then click HomeUp. On arrival, let’s deal with settings:

• Home Screen Settings

1. Home Screen Grid: In the folder/group of settings labeled Home screen, there will be a setting called Home Screen Grid. Set it 4 by 4 (4x4).
2. Apps Screen Grid: Same group as Home Screen Grid. Set this one to 4 by 5 (4x5).
3. Page Loop: In the same folder as HSG and ASG, there will be a toggle called Loop Pages, and it needs to be disabled.

• Folder Settings

1. Popup Folder: A toggle in the Folder section. Enable it.

Now, there is another module that needs to be installed from Good Lock. Go back to the main Good Lock screen, with all of the available options. Scroll until you find Theme Park. Install it. Now, enter the app. Remember that APK I made you download earlier? Install it. You’ll need it. Once that Multi Layout Theme is installed, reenter the Theme Park app. In the menu at the bottom of the screen, you will find a button labeled icon which kinda looks like a wrapped gift present. Click it, and there will be a big rainbow button labeled “CREATE NEW”. You probably already have, but if you haven’t, click it. Now, there will be another icon identical to the icon button you clicked earlier, but now bigger and labeled with “Iconpack”. Click it, and in the third party icon packs section, you will find the very same multi theme iconpack I made you install earlier. Now, what you likely will see, is a big fat nothing, except for the S4 wallpaper you installed earlier. Click the 3 dots in the top right corner, then the only button (“Change icons”). Click it. Now, I hate to do this to you, but because of an issue with how the icons are assigned, you will have to manually assign these icons for every app on your phone. There might be some exact matches in there (e.x. apps like Phone, Minecraft, YouTube, and Spotify), but there’s also a chance that some apps (especially games) won’t have an exact match, so you will have to find a similar match (e.x. apps with this issue include YT Studio, ibisPaint, and Bluesky). Once done, exit the menu and and click the download icon near the same 3 dots icon. Click it, give your iconpack a beautiful name, and then apply it.

Nova Launcher (non-Samsung)

In the Nova Launcher, open the app drawer and then open your Nova Settings (or something similar). Use the search feature to find the settings for grids, and set it to the aforementioned values. Remember that APK I made you download earlier? Install it. You’ll need it. Once that Multi Layout Theme is installed, go back to the app drawer. Unfortunately, to set the app icons, you will need to long press on each app and choose the appropriate icon from the S4 icon pack. Just repeat the process until every app has an S4 icon.

Step 4: Layout

Now, for your actual home screen. This is probably one of the most important parts to make your phone look like an S4. Nova or Samsung, long press on the home screen, and add the clock weather widget, at the very top. Then, under the clock/weather widget, place a Google Search widget that stretches across the screen. Under that, in order (from left to right), place Email, then Calendar, then Camera, and finally, the Play Store. Now, on the quick access bar at the bottom or whatever it is called, in order, place Call, then Contacts, then Messaging, then Internet (app of your choice, but for authenticity, I went with Samsung Internet), and at the end, the App drawer icon.

 

Your transformation should now be done! Congratulations, your phone now looks like an S4! Anyways, for more cool tech and programming stuff, make sure to tune in the the CheeseBlog. Cya!

My experience with homebrewing

If you are a Nintendo fan, the chances are you know what Homebrewing is. If you don't, here's a quick recap: Homebrewing is hacking your game console (or really any device) to do more than it was meant to. This can be anything from modding it to new game servers after the original shut down, to even putting a new operating system on the device.

What consoles I've hacked

I actually haven't hacked too many of my Nintendo consoles. The only ones I've Homebrewed thus far are my Wii and my 3DS. However, by doing so, I've opened a large number of options for both consoles.

Game servers

Something very useful for when you are using a homebrewed console is using custom game servers. This can be from a wide range of hosts, including yourself. However, I recommend using trusted ones. For the 3DS/Wii U, I recommend Pretendo Network. For the Wii, I recommend wiimmfi. (Note: Pretendo Network is still in progress. This includes things such as Miiverse, which have not been finished and sometimes, in my case, can softlock the console. It isn't common for it to softlock, though, and the only bad softlock can be on the 3DS, which all you need to do is hold the power button for 10-15 seconds.) Both are free, and if you feel kind today or any day, you can donate to them. The way you transfer to the new server on the 3DS is by downloading the Pretendo app on Universal Updater, and for wiimmfi, it is simply changing the DNS settings.

Custom Homebrew Games

Something cool is that there is custom games for Homebrewed consoles. You can typically find these on the app/game/tool stores for said console. These can be fun games, like Terrifried. Others can be platformers, like Haxor or Cat Mario ;). It is very nice and isn't like what you used to be able to find on the Wii Shop Channel/old eShop. 

App Stores

I wouldn't normally call these app stores, but I can't think of a different phrase to replace it. On these app stores, you can find games, emulators, tools, etc. For the 3DS, the most common app store would be the Universal Updater. For the Wii, it's the Homebrew Browser. Both have various different features that you may like, and they also have different catalogues.

Piracy

Want to get this out of the way quickly, I do not condone piracy, so Nintendo, don't come after me. The piracy experience depends on which console you are using. For the 3DS, it is fairly simple-just go to hShop. The link is hshop.erista.me, or just go to the app on your 3DS, if already downloaded. This gives you access to most games from all regions, all updates and DLCs, some DSiWare, some Virtual Console, and the occasional bit of Homebrew games/software. On the Wii, however, you must first download the ROM to said game, add it to your USB stick/SD card, and then use some sort of software to add it to your Wii. There is a similar way of doing this on the 3DS via FBI, but why put yourself through that pain when you can just use hShop?

Squeezing in a quick PrizVideo update

I've transitioned from a custom made video system to videoJS. This'll require mostly an entire reprogramming of the video system, which I estimate will take about a couple weeks. I'm also fixing major bugs in the algorithm.

Conclusion

That's all I've got for now. Make sure to tune in to the CheeseBlog tomorrow for another post. Cya!