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Nintendo DS Browser

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Nintendo DS Browser
File:DS Browser NA.jpg
Developer(s)Opera Software
Nintendo
Publisher(s)Nintendo
EnginePresto
Platform(s)Nintendo DS & Nintendo DS Lite
ReleaseJapan July 24,2006
Europe October 6, 2006
Australia January 18, 2007
United States June 4, 2007[1]
Singapore June 2007
Genre(s)Web browser
Mode(s)Single user

The Nintendo DS Browser is a version of the Opera web browser for use on the Nintendo DS, developed by Opera Software and Nintendo. The Nintendo DS Browser comes in a version for both the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo DS Lite;[3] this is due to the physical size differences in the memory expansion cartridges used by the browser, which both have a capacity of 10 MB.[4]

Launch

On February 15, 2006, the Opera Software company announced plans to develop a web browser for the Nintendo DS.[5]

The Nintendo DS Browser was released first in Japan on July 24, 2006 and it was released later in Europe on October 6 2006 for £30 (the same as an ordinary DS game). The Australian release date was on January 18, 2007 and retailed for AU$69.95. (~US$60)[6] However, in Australia, only the DS Lite version was released in stores; a limited stock of the DS Original version was only available directly through Nintendo Australia.

The North American release date was on June 4, 2007 for $29.99, and this version later became available in Singapore in the UK English version's stead.[1] Like the Australian release, only the Lite version was available in stores, and the DS Original version was only available online in US.[7]

Features

File:Nintendo DS Browser (Opera).png
Screenshot of the Nintendo DS browser

Nintendo DS Browser makes use of the Nintendo DS's touchscreen for input, with an on-screen keyboard as well as handwriting recognition and a stock of pre-set text (for example, the .com and .org top-level domains).

The browser can render pages in two modes, Small Screen Rendering (SSR) or Overview. In Small Screen Rendering mode, the contents of the page are displayed in a single column fitting the width of the screen - for example, a page featuring two columns of text side-by-side would be displayed as a single column, one after the other. In Overview mode, a scaled-down version of the page is displayed on the touchscreen with a small selection box which can be moved around using the stylus. The contents of the selection box are displayed on the top screen at their full size. This selection can be brought into the touchscreen to perform such actions as click on links or entering text in boxes.But you have to come preetyy sfjsdfhsdhfsdhf dsjfhdfhdufhdfhdfhdufhdufyhsduhunhn uovyhuygy uiusie uia8iw hfi iyudyu fdiua siehjks duwi9ah udai fdaiufda oehivia ui p appw a[w[ua

The Nintendo DS Browser connects to the Internet through IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi wireless networks or hotspots using the built-in Wi-Fi capability of the Nintendo DS. While WEP is supported, WPA is not.

Nintendo has partnered with Internet security company Astaro to integrate web filtering technology into the Nintendo DS Browser. Called Astaro Parental Control, the technology acts as a proxy filter, providing the option of blocking inappropriate content.[8] This is provided free of charge and can be activated through a simple menu option.

As far as browser capabilities, the Nintendo DS browser does have support for JavaScript in web pages, but not Adobe Flash.[9] Also, due to the limited storage space, most other dynamic media, such as videos or sound, will not work in the browser.

DS Lite memory expansion pak

File:Dsbrowserkit.jpg
European DS Browser cartridge and DS Lite expansion pak

The Memory Expansion Pak, much like the Rumble Pak for the Nintendo DS is a DS Option Pak. When inserted into a DS's GBA slot, the Memory Pak adds 10MB of RAM to the DS.[citation needed] This memory is slower than the internal memory of the DS.[citation needed]

Two versions of the Memory Expansion Pack are available. One is compatible with both the DS and DS Lite, although the cartridge's size causes it to stick out of the latter. A smaller version is available which fits flush with the body of the DS Lite, but it cannot be used in the original DS. Two different Browser packages are available, one containing the large Expansion Pak, and one containing the Lite-only Expansion Pak. Availability varies by region - in Japan and Europe, both were available at launch, while in North America and other regions, the version containing the larger Expansion Pak is only available by mail order.

It has slight similarities to the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak. The Nintendo DS Browser is the only official Nintendo DS software that requires this hardware, but it has been suggested that the expansion could be used for other software,[10] including optional graphical updates that would allow a better experience if the card is inserted, in addition to other games that could require the expansion. However, it has been utilised in a number of pieces of homebrew software such as DSLinux, albeit unofficially. It has also been cloned as part of the EZ Flash 3-in-1 SLOT-2 device.

Critical reception

Review scores
Publication Score
IGN
3.5 out of 10 [11]
Eurogamer
8 out of 10 [12]

Reviews for Nintendo DS Browser were generally mixed. Many people who reviewed this application (fan and critics alike) noticed many shortcomings such as loading times for websites and lack of Flash support for audio and videos.

In August 2007, the Nintendo DS Browser was quietly discontinued in North America,[13][14] although it is still available from Nintendo's online store.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b "US Browser info". Nintendo of America. Retrieved 2007-06-04.
  2. ^ "Mobile Browser ID (User-Agent) Strings". ZyTrax. 2007-08-10. Retrieved 2007-11-28.
  3. ^ "Nintendo Online Sales (任天堂オンライン販売[[Category:Articles containing Japanese-language text]])" (in Japanese). 1UP.com. July 27,2006. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  4. ^ Parish, Jeremy (July 27,2006). "A Night at the Opera". 1UP.com. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Giving gamers two windows to the Web: The Opera Browser for Nintendo DS" (Press release). Opera Software. 2006-02-15. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  6. ^ "AU date for DS Browser". nintendo.com.au.
  7. ^ "Original DS browser available online only". Gamespot.com.
  8. ^ "A Nanny for your Nintendo DS". Astaro Corporation. August 8,2006. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ | Nintendo - Customer Service | Nintendo DS Lite - Nintendo DS Browser
  10. ^ "DS Expansion Pak". Retrieved 2007-11-19.
  11. ^ "IGN's Review". Retrieved 2008-02-15.
  12. ^ "Eurogamer's Review". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessdare= ignored (help)
  13. ^ Ponte, Christian (2007-08-27). "Nintendo DS Browser being discontinued in North America". The Tanooki. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  14. ^ "Nintendo DS Lite Browser". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  15. ^ "Nintendo DS Browser (Original Style Nintendo DS)". Nintendo. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
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