The Wii is Nintendo's seventh-generation video game console. It is the successor to the Nintendo GameCube and competes against Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. A distinguishing feature of the WII console is its wireless controller, the Wii Remote, which may be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect motion and rotation in three dimensions. The console also notably features WiiConnect24, which enables it to receive messages and updates over the Internet while consuming very little electrical power.