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Hacking The DS's Wireless

Posted by timothy on from the limited-but-so-what dept.

xNoLaNx writes "Darkain, maker of the remote control program for Winamp, RM-X, has been working day and night hacking the Nintendo DS and its wireless, and making a custom USB power connection for it. He has been able to monitor packets over 802.11b coming from PictoChat and more."

173 comments

  1. Clue for the clueless? by fembots · · Score: 5, Informative

    I remember when I was playing King Quest in 80's, when the king has to go to this wizard place to learn some magic. I had to resort to opening up the binary files and read some command lines to know what to do and what to pick up. I didn't have too much luck with Police Quest though, since it's more of an action-based game :)

    So now with these decoded Mario64 packets, we know to wait for yoshi in the middle of kira spa, room 1?

    Other than that, I don't know what is the use of these decoded packets.

    The USB power cable is cool, if not for the fact that we already can buy USB-powered XMas tree, desk fan and whatnot.

    --
    Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
    1. Re:Clue for the clueless? by FLAGGR · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I'm just glad someone is working on the DS wireless, I want some damn documentation on how it works so I can code for the thing without an expensive devkit (I know sniffing packets isnt gonna do much, but its a start)

    2. Re:Clue for the clueless? by mrseigen · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well, once we get the Pictochat protocol down we can sniff people's vapid IM conversations. Plus, the DS supports multi-boot so eventually we might be able to force game code onto it.

    3. Re:Clue for the clueless? by zallus · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Picture someone with Mario64DS playing with someone on a laptop with Mario64DS in an emulator, or with a specially written bot. Really, as a rule, once protocols in use in PCs get involved in gaming, interesting things become possible.

      --
      I mod down pathetic posts.
    4. Re:Clue for the clueless? by Skrekkur · · Score: 1

      Well it would be nice to net boot to Linux through the wireless ;) No computer,console or car is safe from *nix oss

    5. Re:Clue for the clueless? by double-oh+three · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Why just game code? Someone should trick the thing into using it's wifi to connect to the internet. IIRC the thing has a small mic and speakers, so someone could add Skype or some other VoIP program on it

      --
      "For years, I struggled with reality... but I'm happy to say I finally won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd
    6. Re:Clue for the clueless? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Samba was created by only "sniffing packets."

    7. Re:Clue for the clueless? by Traa · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Cool! It would be just like a cellphone! Except it would be really expensive, not have a good form factor for this type of use. And now you can't even play games on it. ;-)

    8. Re:Clue for the clueless? by double-oh+three · · Score: 1

      No, you would still be able to play games on it, just put the program on one of the game-cards and stick it in when you want to use it. (I never said it would be easy, but figure a few thousand people paying 30-40 bucks each might make it profitable.)

      --
      "For years, I struggled with reality... but I'm happy to say I finally won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd
    9. Re:Clue for the clueless? by unixbob · · Score: 5, Funny

      That would make it an N-Gage then?

      --
      The Romans didn't find algebra very challenging, because X was always 10
    10. Re:Clue for the clueless? by Mechanik · · Score: 3, Funny

      Cool! It would be just like a cellphone! Except it would be really expensive, not have a good form factor for this type of use. And now you can't even play games on it. ;-)

      You mean like the N-Gage?

    11. Re:Clue for the clueless? by damiam · · Score: 1

      It's kinda hard to emulate a touch screen.

      --
      It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.
    12. Re:Clue for the clueless? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Luckily, I have this sophisticated peripheral called a 'mouse'.

    13. Re:Clue for the clueless? by tuffy · · Score: 2, Insightful
      It's kinda hard to emulate a touch screen.

      A mouse would suffice for that. That'll require the rest of the DS' controls to be shifted to the keyboard, which isn't ideal but should be enough to make it playable.

      --

      Ita erat quando hic adveni.

    14. Re:Clue for the clueless? by xsupergr0verx · · Score: 1

      Not a chance, there are games worth playing on the DS!

      --

      Click here for a free picture of an iPod!
    15. Re:Clue for the clueless? by TheLittleJetson · · Score: 1

      well, im sure someone will figure out how to tunnel a game through the 'net. that would make a pretty nifty service, sit at home with your DS and play someone on the 'net who's doin the same thing...

    16. Re:Clue for the clueless? by soimless · · Score: 1

      the ds has the cababilty for a headset, so it might work after all (if they get VoIP working anyway). I don't have a cell phone my self but my brother dose and i was jokeing to him saying if they can get voice over ip on this thing it would kick the ass out of your crapy cellphone

    17. Re:Clue for the clueless? by MilenCent · · Score: 1

      Why decode DS packets?

      Because you could possibly use your DS' touch screen to sketch, then save the drawings on your PC. Maybe someone could even hack together a full tablet driver for it.

    18. Re:Clue for the clueless? by SetupWeasel · · Score: 1

      You have the Warp Pipe people working on something official sounding. DeMasked they call it. Something about logos on boxes, networking, and deer.

      I don't know. Right now it is high on crazy pictures, but low on information.

    19. Re:Clue for the clueless? by Queer+Boy · · Score: 1

      $150 is really expensive for a cell phone? Are you buying the creme de la merd when you buy your phone? The $50 five-year-old piece of junk they throw in? Really, I'm interested to know why a $150 phone is "really expensive". I got my T616 last year at $150 when I signed up for a plan and that was $150 off. I thought it was a good price.

      --
      Not since Marie-Antoinette played milkmaid has looking simple and honest been so fake and complicated.
    20. Re:Clue for the clueless? by Lumpy · · Score: 1

      the usb power cable is OLD. I have one for my advance sp. paid 4.95 for it with a cigarette lighter adapter. and it fit's in the DS just fine.

      What is next, someone going to invent the screen protector for it?

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    21. Re:Clue for the clueless? by harrkev · · Score: 1
      No computer,console or car is safe from *nix oss

      I am not so sure about this...
      Running Linux (or ANY modern OS) means that you need a memory manager built into the CPU. This is the magic little device which allows such things as virtual memory and keeping one program from trashing the kernel and every other process around. It also allows for the entire security system, as the kernel can access memory that user programs cannot.

      I certainly do not know much about the processor in the DS, but I do know that the processor in a game system like the DS does not need a memory manager, since the only code that is execucted comes from a one vendor, and there is no secondary storage (hard drive). A memory manager would not help games and would only increase the price of the hardware.

      I am certain that SOMEBODY could put Linux on a system without a memory manager (in fact, I think that it may have been done), but the results would likely not be worth it, as you would have to strip so much stuff out, you would loose all of the things that make Linux Linux.
      --
      "-1 Troll" is the apparently the same as "-1 I disagree with you."
    22. Re:Clue for the clueless? by harrkev · · Score: 1

      Never mind. Apparently the DS has an ARM processor. Rather a full-featured processor too. I doubt that most games will the memory manager though, but it seems to be there.

      --
      "-1 Troll" is the apparently the same as "-1 I disagree with you."
    23. Re:Clue for the clueless? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Agreed. Hell, I can't be the only person salivating over the convenience of a DS-based web browser...

    24. Re:Clue for the clueless? by wolrahnaes · · Score: 1

      I got my T616 last year at $150 when I signed up for a plan and that was $150 off. I thought it was a good price.

      I got my T610 (same as T616, but with the European GSM frequencies...for some reason T-Mo uses this in the US as well) for $99.99, and I had $250 in rebates on it, so I basically got paid $150.01 to take this phone. This was with a 1 year $39.99 service plan, but still.

      Right now, Amazon has the T610 for -$175 with T-Mo, and the next model up, the T637 for -$200 with AT&T

      IMO if someone actually pays up front for a phone, and it's not bleeding-edge tech, they got ripped off.

      --
      I used to get high on life, but I developed a tolerance. Now I need something stronger.
  2. Future Possibilities by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Imagine sooner or later, with the right development one could load up ethereal on their DS and start monitoring the local wifi connection.
    This game system could turn into a neat little surveilance device.

    1. Re:Future Possibilities by topgun601 · · Score: 1

      what we need is a nice little app that dose wep craking for it.

      --
      This post brought to you by: the marketing division of The Sirus Cybernetics Corporation
    2. Re:Future Possibilities by lowe0 · · Score: 1

      How big's the dataset for WEP cracking? I mean, I'm not sure how much RAM is in those things (I hear it's 4 megs) but you'd need quite a few packets to break WEP.

    3. Re:Future Possibilities by M51DPS · · Score: 1

      When will I get nmap running on the DS?

    4. Re:Future Possibilities by ForestGrump · · Score: 1

      Or the game system would be banned alltogehter.

      Think of it this way. If you can get the DS to load a packet sniffer to working in the background. Have a kid playing games in a public place. nobody would suspect anything.

      --
      Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
    5. Re:Future Possibilities by phaln · · Score: 1

      More or less, I see this happening sooner rather than later. It's a tight piece of machinery -- I was lucky enough to find one unattended at a local Target to mess around with.

      --
      SNACKS ARE AWESOME
    6. Re:Future Possibilities by Aliencow · · Score: 1

      Wep cracking on modern firmwares takes some time (and/or CPU) - I wouldn't do it on a DS..Running Kismet on it WOULD be nice though.

  3. Feel the Magic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I gotta say that the DS is way more fun than I expected, and Feel the Magic puts a grin on my face like few others have in the past few years. This system seems like it has a great future ahead of it, and online capabilities (true online, not just wireless multiplayer) are going to put it over the edge!

    1. Re:Feel the Magic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      OMFG, do what get anything else than advertisements on slashdot these days?!!

    2. Re:Feel the Magic by timts · · Score: 0

      I only tried it in the store, it has the metro prime DS demo. I found it very hard to control.
      direction pad and 4 buttons on the right are all for Forward/Backward/Left Strafe/Right Strafe, what ever hand/finger I decide to use for aiming, I can hardly hold the unit, not to mention using the left/right side button for fire.
      it looks decent, guess it's not for FPS yet, I think it needs a little tweaking on the control part, I'd rather use direction pad as movement and buttons on right as aiming. but that's just me.

    3. Re:Feel the Magic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Almost no store kiosks have the thumbstrap w/thumbpad attached to it, so people get the idea that stylus/fingertip control is the only way to use the touchscreen. Basically, the way you were using that demo unit is completely different from the way anyone who owns a DS uses it.

      I own a DS, and the thumbstrap changes the story completely. Best way to use it in my opinion (you can configure it in many ways, but this is the default mode without using the stylus or your fingertip): Use the default controls, with left thumb on d-pad (for wasd movement), right _thumb_ on the touchscreen using the thumbpad, and either/both index fingers on the L/R buttons for firing. This way, the DS is held naturally, just like a console controller. You don't use the right face buttons at all in this mode, because you don't have to.

      This setup seriously kicks analog stick's ass as far as FPS aiming is concerned.

    4. Re:Feel the Magic by timts · · Score: 0

      this sounds really sweet, I definitely need to try the thumbpad then. any good NDS game you can recommend?

    5. Re:Feel the Magic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bought both Super Mario 64 DS and Feel the Magic on DS launch day. Mario is different from the N64 version in that there are a lot more collectibles, and the levels have changed to accommodate the different abilities of the four different characters. Oddly enough, I hardly use the touchscreen at all in Mario 64 DS, except for the unlockable mini-games. These mini-games are the same as all those cool demos that people got to play at this year's E3.

      Feel the Magic is like WarioWare with a bikini twist. Here, everything is played on the touchscreen and the mic. You really have to play it to get the right feeling for what it's about, but it's been selling out like crazy. I don't see it in local stores any more, just like the DS systems.

      I plan on getting Asphalt Urban soon, as well as Mr. Driller and Puyo Pop Fever as soon as they're released. I'm getting the former because everybody's been talking about the 60 fps movement while driving, and I'm getting the latter two because I love puzzle games. And when DS Wars is released....I'll be disconnecting my phone for a couple of weeks. :)

      I never played the Urbz or Madden on the DS, so I don't know whether there's anything special about them. I'm not a Sims or football fan.

  4. Re:more free games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Look it up

  5. pictochat/im? by chocolatetrumpet · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So... will I be able to participate in a pictochat with my cousins' DS, while I use my powerbook?

    --
    Spoon not. Fork, or fork not. There is no spoon.
    1. Re:pictochat/im? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      naah, you should really try to control your wrong and pervert urges. perhaps get some help.

    2. Re:pictochat/im? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Will we be able to fly rocket cars to the moon someday?
      Depends on your definition of cars. If you mean space shuttles for the general public it's inevitable but may take a few decades, if you mean a ground road drivable vehicle that can also take you to the moon, that would never pass emissions and gas mileage regulations.

      Are we going to be able to live under the ocean?
      Yes. We already can, but nobody wants to. Go watch Sealab 2021 if you want to find out why. (if you mean as mutant fishmen with gills, you want the character Sharko)

      Is there going to be a spaceship to Mars?
      There already have been unmanned. Manned, you'll see one in the next few decades. For the general public, it'll happen after we have a major industrial center on the moon to launch from.

      In the future, will my cereal glow in the dark when milk hits it???
      Yes. Count Chocula will definitely make this happen.

      Are we there yet?
      No.
      Are we there yet?
      Yes.
      Mommy, I really have to pee!
      You should compare notes with that freak that's always posting "i want to put my pee pee in your poo poo hole"

  6. that's all well and good.. by jx100 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The Nitro project is actually working on tunnelling games over the internet. I believe they're using some of this guy's data as help, but they're also doing other stuff.

    1. Re:that's all well and good.. by ImEric12 · · Score: 1

      I've heard from certain sources that this could be extremely hard to accomplish, due to extreme hardware limitations in the DS. Still looks like a great handheld to me, though, I can't wait to try it.

    2. Re:that's all well and good.. by magnany · · Score: 1

      Hey, that Nitro Project looks pretty cool. Is there any way that I can join it or get some info?

    3. Re:that's all well and good.. by jockm · · Score: 2, Interesting

      What do you mean? It has a 66Mhz ARM9 and a 33MHz ARM7. It has 4 Meg of RAM. That should be more than enough to host a browser.

      --

      What do you know I wrote a novel
    4. Re:that's all well and good.. by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      In support for this comment, I'll add:

      A sub-1MHz 6510 can host a browser. A 33MHz 386DX can run IE (not well, but I've done it). You bet your ass that a 66MHz ARM9 AND a 33MHz ARM7 could do a browser, especially seeing as cell phones have less, and there are browsers for them.

  7. Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Until it has linux on it, it doesn't need to be slashdotted.

  8. Wake-On-LAN by z3021017 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I hope somebody finds a way to hack WoL capability for the DS.

    I thought one of the best things about these new handhelds (PSP included) was that you could play people you didn't know by just 'beeping' them whenever they were in range.

    --
    Bored? Visit my exciting counter page!
    1. Re:Wake-On-LAN by doofsmack · · Score: 2

      That would be one hell of a battery-drainer, though.

    2. Re:Wake-On-LAN by juuri · · Score: 2, Informative

      Wake on Lan isn't in the US version and Nintendo has no current plans to add it to future US units.

      Hopefully this can be rectified with a firmware patch included in some popular games in the future.

      --
      --- I do not moderate.
  9. Ds is gonna have so many hacks by Cracell · · Score: 4, Informative

    I don't have one yet, but from looking at it, it appears very hackable, which will be nice once I get the cash for one I expect this to be the first of many

    --
    Signatures are so 90s
  10. DS as general-purpose internet client by ewg · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I was disappointed to learn that the DS doesn't support networking beyond local links to other DSs.

    With Wi-fi support in every unit, I'd pay $30 for a "game" cartridge with an internet suite based on Opera or maybe the mobile Mozilla technology. Give me a web browser, IMAP client, AIM, and maybe an RSS reader and I'm good.

    Hopefully something like this is on the way, something a little more portable than my laptop.

    --
    org.slashdot.post.SignatureNotFoundException: ewg
    1. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by Siniset · · Score: 1

      I have to say, that would be a really smart move on nintendo's part, because i'm sure they would sell a ton of these devices then.

    2. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by Snowmit · · Score: 4, Funny

      Please, yes! And while you're at it, make some scheduling software for so that I can claim that it's my PDA and I need it at meetings.

      --
      I have a lot of opinions about Cyborgs and Architects
    3. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by MBCook · · Score: 3, Informative

      I wouldn't be suprised if someone sold that, but the screens are under 300x200 each. Great for games, but not much for web surfing.

      --
      Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
    4. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by Predius · · Score: 1

      I surf quite frequently on my Palm, 320x320

    5. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by (H)elix1 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I wouldn't be suprised if someone sold that, but the screens are under 300x200 each. Great for games, but not much for web surfing.

      I'm reading (and posting) /. on a blackberry - usable with even less resolution than that. Course, I'm bored out of my mind hoping the flight makes it home, but I'd kill for a few games other than breakout right now...

      --
      +++ UGUCAUCGUAUUUCU
    6. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by vandoravp · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Actually it seems almost perfect with two screens. One shows a thumbnail of the whole page, the other shows a blow up of a small portion that you can easily move around.

    7. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The DS can completely support Wifi -> internet, it's just that none of the launch titles, nor the included "pictochat" support it. One future title (at least) is going to probably allow internet connecting, though it's only for an online scoreboard. Other companies are supposedly "experimenting" with netcode.

      I would definately pay good money ($50, $60, perhaps) for a gamecard with a browser, email, and the likes on it. The touchscreen would allow for a nice, easy, virtual keyboard too.

    8. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by System.out.println() · · Score: 2, Interesting

      And with a touch screen, you could use the stylus to move the zoomed-in area around....

      You may be on to something here. That would be one kickass browser....

      --
      I've got more mod points and GMail invi
    9. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Jesus FUCK for the love of God there's no A in DEFINITELY!!! How about spending all of 5$ for a DICTIONARY?

    10. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, the DS has 802.11b support (not sure about WEP and WPA though). The thing is, the game needs to have support for it since the hardware doesn't contain any code to really make us of it.

    11. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by iamhassi · · Score: 1
      "I have to say, that would be a really smart move on nintendo's part, because i'm sure they would sell a ton of these devices then."

      Might even sell a few games since that's where the money's at, the game licenses, not selling the hardware.

      --
      my karma will be here long after I'm gone
    12. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      I know it was a joke, but the original gameboy actually does have a PIM "game" that was released in Japan. I don't remember details (name, company), unfortunately, but I do remember firing it up on an emulator and thinking about how useful it would be on a real GB...and how useless it was on my desktop.

    13. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by MBCook · · Score: 1

      OK, I don't know if anyone is strill reading this, but that is a GREAT idea. Then you WOULD be able to read the 'net with such a small resoultion. But if you just tried to render directly to the screen, many sites just wouldn't be viewable.

      --
      Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
    14. Re:DS as general-purpose internet client by Teknikill · · Score: 1

      On the bottom of the DS, it says "RSA Secured" This could well mean it supports WPA.

  11. Re:more free games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    urbandictionary.com hasn't got much credibility with people who don't spend all their time in their parents' basement spanking it to hentai, so I consider the original poster's definition more likely.

  12. Re:Jeez... by NeoGeo64 · · Score: 2, Funny

    You can play Frozen Bubble wirelessly! duh :P

  13. LAN tunnel for the DS by agtorange · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I can already see someone making a LAN tunneler program for the DS that use a good old wireless router and a program on the computer to grant players the power to play online. It might work something like this. You bring up the program and it gives you list of games you pick a game and then pick a "room" depending on the game the "room" might hold more or less players. The room would fool the DS into thinking it near these other player as if they are in the same physical room. Once in the "room" you can simpley turn on the DS load up the game like metroid hunters and its game on!

    1. Re:LAN tunnel for the DS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Xlink is already working on extending their suite of software to support the DS.

      http://www.teamxlink.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=3 5&sid=f3df9e6ef1c5dd1f9a2c163722b0d45b

    2. Re:LAN tunnel for the DS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a great idea in concept. But for many of those games I doubt whether they could handle the larger pings. If you're coding for a nice little wireless setup I doubt you're going to put in any extensive prediction algorithms. Granted, using this over higher speed connections wouldn't be too bad. I'm kinda looking forward to it.

    3. Re:LAN tunnel for the DS by dstyle5 · · Score: 1

      I believe the gents over at Warp Pipe are already working on this and have been for while now. They have done this with the GameCube already and there have been rumors abound in the warpipe forums about a DS version. I noticed yesterday that their logo at the top now has two screens it, like the DS logo does. Coincidence? I think not.

  14. Re:Jeez... by dcstimm · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Umm, its called learning, maybe if you had a fun hobbie you wouldnt be posting such lame posts on slashdot.

    --
    keanmarine.com
  15. Re:Wow, monitoring packets by wheany · · Score: 1

    Are you sure? Because you sound pretty sarcastic to me...

  16. Re:more free games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    Thank you so *very* much. One more of life's mysteries laid to rest. Now if I can just figure out why people think Paris Hilton is attractive...

  17. Re:Nintendo will squash hacks by xtermin8 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Nintendo guards its intellectual property very closely. That's why it took so long for GameCube bsd and linux to come out- and they're still not as functional as xbox linux. I'm sure Nintendo has made it so that it would make more sense to "hack" or even just buy peripherals for a Palm/palmtop than to try to make DS useful.

  18. Oh My Gosh. by i+paxed+the+fridge · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yes! Now I can finally monitor packets with my Nintendo DS!

  19. DS usb power cable by Allison+Geode · · Score: 4, Interesting

    i read that the DS can use the same power cable as the GBA SP. why bother hacking that together (other than the sheer nerdy joy of doing it yourself)? someone already made one: http://www.the-console-corner.com/gba_sp_usb_power _cable.htm
    (sorry for not making that html. lazy tonight.)

    1. Re:DS usb power cable by darkain · · Score: 4, Informative

      yes, they can use the same power cable. yes, you can buy pre-made cables from lik-sang. the one on the site mentioned above is actually a SP cable, not a DS cable, but the mod was done for the purpose of using it on the DS. some people out there have purchased the SP and the DS, and therefor would have two power adapters. instead of having two of the same thing, this could give you a variety of mothods for powering your units, such as gathering friends together in one small location where power outlets become scarce, and because of the akward shape of the power adapter, it will can cover 2 or more outlets on a power strip. using usb instead means you can use any free usb slot available on your desktop computer, laptop, or powered usb hub.

    2. Re:DS usb power cable by Smiffa2001 · · Score: 3

      URL'd URL here:

      http://www.the-console-corner.com/gba_sp_usb_power _cable.htm

      Nifty idea though, as I bet there are some people that won't want to hack stuff to pieces (can't think who though.....)

  20. Re:more free games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    She's attractive for the same reason she's famous: only because people say she is.

  21. Re:Minus Phone Plan by xtermin8 · · Score: 1

    Buying a subscription kinda turned me off from Nokia, especially since its adds significantly to the price.

  22. Devkit for the rest of us please! by shumacher · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nintendo, I know you won't listen to me, but please, do what Sony did with the Aibo and release a consumer-grade development kit!

    1. Re:Devkit for the rest of us please! by Knetzar · · Score: 4, Funny

      Nintendo, I know you won't listen to me, but please, do what Sony did with the PS2 and release Linux for it!

    2. Re:Devkit for the rest of us please! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Nintendo, I know you won't listen to me, but please, do what Sony did with Michael Jackson and pretend you don't know these freaks.

    3. Re:Devkit for the rest of us please! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Michael Jackson, I know you're not listening to me, but please do what Nintendo did and use a proprietary dick format.

      Wait, I screwed that one up.

  23. USB Gameboy/DS power cables by IroygbivU · · Score: 2, Informative

    For those of you without the equipment to make your own, you can buy them quite cheaply from a Hong Kong importer called Lik Sang. http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=278&prod ucts_id=2994&

    1. Re:USB Gameboy/DS power cables by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or you can go to any Gamestop/EB/Best Buy/Circuit City/etc and buy one off the shelf. Jesus Q. Fuck, why would importing a usb cable from Hong Kong be your first instinct when we have these things called "retailers" here in the Western Hemisphere?

    2. Re:USB Gameboy/DS power cables by thryllkill · · Score: 1

      What? And leave my house to purchase accessories for my mobile devices?

      --

      Note to self: No more arguing with the faithful.

    3. Re:USB Gameboy/DS power cables by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WTF Gamestop/EB/Best Buy/Circuit City/etc's are you shopping at that sell USB GBASP/DS power cables?

    4. Re:USB Gameboy/DS power cables by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Every single one in town has about 20 of these on the shelf... http://store.videogamecentral.com/gaadpopaspuc.htm l

    5. Re:USB Gameboy/DS power cables by Queer+Boy · · Score: 1
      Uh, I got one at Gamestop made by Pelican. Also lets me plug it into a cigarette lighter in the car.

      Why do I need to get one from Hong Kong again?

      --
      Not since Marie-Antoinette played milkmaid has looking simple and honest been so fake and complicated.
  24. Re:Nintendo will squash hacks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nintendo guards its intellectual property very closely. That's why it took so long for GameCube bsd and linux to come out- and they're still not as functional as xbox linux. I'm sure Nintendo has made it so that it would make more sense to "hack" or even just buy peripherals for a Palm/palmtop than to try to make DS useful.

    It makes more sense (at least by how easy it is) to program for a PDA, sure, but that doesn't mean that it's as interesting. People hacked the GBA and have developed homebrew apps for it, and it's even less powerful and without the wifi and the likes.

  25. Re:Nintendo will squash hacks by gl4ss · · Score: 1

    *It makes more sense (at least by how easy it is) to program for a PDA, sure, but that doesn't mean that it's as interesting. People hacked the GBA and have developed homebrew apps for it, and it's even less powerful and without the wifi and the likes.*

    it being less powerful in this case though means it's MORE EASIER TO HACK, the more complex it becomes the more locked in it becomes as well(remember, there were emulators for gba too from day 1).. gba is pretty simple to code for as well as you don't have to care about os or other stuff that's probably running on the ds under the hood(unless you're going to just run gba code on it... ). nintendo isn't exactly the kind of vendor that just lets anyone download sdk's either and could for their own reasons have made homebrews no ds a bit harder.

    though, sense never stopped forum-hopers and trolls from feeding rumours about every possible kidn of hack that's 'possible'.

    what the packet analyzer would be probably most good for would be building some program to tunnel the packets through internet.

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  26. AiroPeek NX? by bagofcrap · · Score: 5, Interesting

    from the article:

    List of things you need to get started:
    * TWO (or more) Nintendo DS Units
    * A WiFi card of some kind
    * AiroPeek NX software package

    AiroPeek NX?
    hmm... sounds interesting... *click* *click*

    Its 3.5 grand for a copy w/ a 12 month support contract!?!

    Not to sound cheap (cos I am), but um, thats a bit of an investment for what sounds like etheral w/ tcpdump on windows.
    Anyone with experience w/ Airopeek mind sharing all the cool stuff it can do?

    1. Re:AiroPeek NX? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Airopeek does it all in real time, has an execellent user interface, and it works well if you have the right driver. It has all the cool wireless network hacking tools in a nice neat package. 3,500 isn't bad if you have an organization thats willing to pay for it. If you find a warez copy some where I strongly recommend taking a quick gander.

    2. Re:AiroPeek NX? by pndmnm · · Score: 1

      Lots of filtering, etc, but it's mostly that no good raw wireless packetgrabber (yes, you can use tcpdump, but without putting the wireless card into monitor mode you won't get packets that are just passing by) has been released for windows. You can get the Airopeek demo and use the included drivers and libraries with Airsnort as described here, but I tend to get periodic bluescreens.

    3. Re:AiroPeek NX? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or, go download Kismet for free.

  27. Personal PC? by iVasto · · Score: 1

    If you could hack DS and allow it to connect to a network, than maybe you can install a pocket pc OS on DS. If you could install a Pocket PC OS, than Opera, AIM, Word, and other programs can run off of DS. This would create a super cheap pocket computer, with a touch pad (mouse)!

    1. Re:Personal PC? by futileboy · · Score: 1

      I guess you could, but for a about $50 more you could get this from Dell. Or better yet older pocket PCs sell pretty cheap on ebay. Or if a pocket PC isn't your thing the Palm Zire is a good price too. I agree though that the DS wouldn be the only one with two screens, but I'm not sure that would be worth it.

      --
      ||| technological transcendentalist |||
    2. Re:Personal PC? by tonejava · · Score: 1

      You can already get Opera for Symbian so why use windows?

      Just think all the functionality on your nokia on a DS, hmmmm sounds familiar somehow....

  28. Power consumption by streak · · Score: 1

    What's the power consumption of the DS?
    I believe the USB spec allows for a maximum 500mA from a USB port.

    1. Re:Power consumption by JazzXP · · Score: 1

      I can't imagine it would be that high, it has to run on batteries (and get decent life out of them).

    2. Re:Power consumption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      DS power adapter is 320mA @ 5.2 V DC. At least the picture of the GBA-SP and DS power supplies reads that way. Both the SP and DS look very similar.

    3. Re:Power consumption by Jozer99 · · Score: 1

      I doubt that it exceeds 500mA. Have you seen the battery for the DS or GBA SP? It is not very big, I would say it could hold cells about the size of 2 AAAs at most. That gives it like a 150-250mWH capacity, right?

    4. Re:Power consumption by tepples · · Score: 1

      The Nintendo DS battery is 850mAH at 3.7V. It charges in four hours. Division says it can't easily be more than 250mA current going into the battery.

  29. I see this as a way to pirate games... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    One of the features of the DS is that only one person has to own the game, and you and your friends can play together on that one cartridge.

    How much would it take to make this technology send out downloaded copies of the game that are fully playable on another system?

    1. Re:I see this as a way to pirate games... by Zen+Punk · · Score: 1

      A lot.

      It has been discussed elsewhere how serious Nintendo is about protecting it's investment from pirates. Take a look at the Gamecube...you can't even put a normal-sized disc in it.

      That said, the download play feature you speak of is not an easy way to simply download an entire DS ROM. Where would you put it? The DS only has 4 MB RAM. The only thing that is sent is just enough code for the client systems to run the multiplayer part of the game.

      --
      Sleep is futile.
    2. Re:I see this as a way to pirate games... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But consider how much easier it makes rom-ripping. Beam a little 4MB-or-less program to the DS's wireless download play memory to do nothing but copy the card data back across the link.

      If Nintendo was smart, though, then no program running in download-space can actually touch either cartridge at all.

    3. Re:I see this as a way to pirate games... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      No, what Nintendo should do (and undoubtedly has done) is only allow signed applets to run, and try to keep the signature out of the hands of people like us. That's the most logical way for them to set up the system.

    4. Re:I see this as a way to pirate games... by Darthmalt · · Score: 1

      The ability for several people to play off one cart wirelessly is the best feature of the DS.

      I remember when the GB first came out either nobody had the same games. As such the only game I've EVER played multiplayer on GB was Tetris which came bundled with the system.

    5. Re:I see this as a way to pirate games... by Zen+Punk · · Score: 1

      Sure, let's say you can find a way to upload unsigned code and run it on the DS (which, regardless of piracy concerns, is what a lot of us are hoping to do) and then you can even find a way to dump the data of a DS cartridge and beam it over...then what? The DS is a lot more complicated than the Game Boy, there are no emulators (outside of Nintendo licensed devkits) even in development. The DS uses a new proprietary cartridge format that is accessed in a different way than previous cartridges and may or may not be encrypted.

      In short, we are a long way from piracy of official DS software.

      --
      Sleep is futile.
  30. travel risks... by myowntrueself · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Of course there may arise the potential of travel risks for this guy.

    For example, how will this affect is ability to travel freely to and (perhaps more importantly) from the USA?

    *cough*DMCA*cough*

    --
    In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    1. Re:travel risks... by Stevyn · · Score: 3, Funny

      Now I got to worry about packet sniffing dogs when I cross the border into Mexico? Great!

  31. Slashdot RSS? by ratboot · · Score: 1

    What about sending the Slashdot RSS to Pictochat? That'd be really sharp...

  32. DS Server? by blixel · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I think it would be cool to setup a Nintendo DS server (if such a thing existed) here in my house on my spare Soekris box. I could stick a miniPCI wireless card in it, hook it up to an antenna that I could mount on my roof, and then host a 24/7 Metroid Prime Wireless LAN party to all the people in my area.

    1. Re:DS Server? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      if enough people had it, you wouldn't need to... doesn't each DS act as a repeater?

    2. Re:DS Server? by MilenCent · · Score: 1

      Please, please tell me you live in Statesboro, Georgia?

      (fingers crossed)

  33. Do you realize... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    Do you realize if this was an Apple computer, people would be saying "why must you people spoil it for the rest of us".

    I realize that's not strictly relevant, but funny nontheless.

    1. Re:Do you realize... by ZackSchil · · Score: 1

      Kinda, except the hack would have to do something blatantly illegal, like load pirated ROMs to to play, and it would have to inevitably result in Nintendo cracking down on all Wireless hacking and crippling DS wireless in the future. Then it would be like people breaking Apple's DRM. (I know, I know, no feeding the troll, sorry guys.)

    2. Re:Do you realize... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's only 4MB to download anything. Unless the DS cartridges can be made writeable, there is not much space to store any huge games. More importantly, this will allow people to play online with others, somethign nintendo should have added to begin with. It would not be hard to upload some Homebrew software which connects to a public LAN, and uses it's internet connection to locate and play oter DS owners.

      In the end nobody really gets hurt with this. If someone does manage to crack this thing, more people will go out and buy it to try it out. Nintendo sells more units, Game developers are more willing to develop games because there are more potential customers for them.

      Besides the fact that they are already sold out everwhere, once this thing allows you to connect to the internet and play with 4-8 other people it will be the hottest portable gaming system.

    3. Re:Do you realize... by Boeboe · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Only 4 meg, that is true, but it still gives some interesting options: - homebrew games and software (and maybe even hacked roms, no clue if that is possible) can be programmed in a way that the data is streamed real-time from your pc. Why the need to download the full game in 1 blow? Download the new level/map from your pc the moment you need it :) - watch streaming movies! Use the 4 meg to download a streaming movie player onto your DS, let your computer do the rest. Yes, the memory is limited, but combined with the wi-fi connection the amount of possibilities is larger then you might think ;)

    4. Re:Do you realize... by MyDixieWrecked · · Score: 1

      the DS actually supports up to 16 players. ;)

      --



      ...spike
      Ewwwwww, coconut...
  34. All software on the internet is free by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dude,

    AiroPeek is available on the 'net.

  35. pda by austad · · Score: 1

    If someone came out with a device similar to the DS, where it was clamshell, had 802.11, bluetooth, 2 screens, and possibly GSM, I would buy one immediately.

    I need a PDA that I can toss in my pocket and not have to worry about the screen being hosed. Triple points if I can replace my phone with it also. The Sidekick would be there if it wasn't so crippled and had bluetooth.

    And for christsakes, don't put a damn camera on it. It's going to suck and no one will use it. It just raises the cost and increases the size of it.

    --
    Need Free Juniper/NetScreen Support? JuniperForum
  36. Color hacks in the near future? by xenocide2 · · Score: 1

    Might we see a color hack in the near future? Apparently it uses gba style 16 color tiles. Until you hack up pictochat, I suspect that would be limited to tunnelling and other interference only.

    --
    I Browse at +4 Flamebait

    Open Source Sysadmin

  37. gcc toolchain? by jshriverWVU · · Score: 1
    I dabbled a bit with GBA programming utilizing the gcc toolchain and libs.
    Anyone know if this will be updated to support DS? or if a gcc toolchain is in the works?

    1. Re:gcc toolchain? by MilenCent · · Score: 1

      I don't know if there will be a GCC toolchain, I have absolutely no information in that regard.

      But the fact that there's a GCC toolchain for GBA might be considered instructive. Also, the DS runs GBA software, and such software may be able to take advantage of some of the DS' extra features, so maybe you could take that route?

    2. Re:gcc toolchain? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Actually, DevKitARM has compilers for GBA and GP32 development already. Considering that the GBA uses an ARM7 CPU, and the GP32 uses an ARM9, and both CPUs are present in the DS, it would just take a little reverse engineering and writing libraries compatible with the DS hardware to make an easy-to-use development setup for the DS.

      Unfortunately, this info will probably get overlooked since I'm posting AC. But, I moderated in this story, so I don't have much choice.

  38. I see a lot could be done with the DS by aka_big_wurm · · Score: 1

    Ok the DS has memory to download games from other DS's over the wireless. You could use that to load other code, browser, games, chats, the only limit would be the amout of memory that the DS has.

    Other things that could be done,a program could be coded to use you wifi on your pc to chat with the DS, or multi player games.

  39. Re:more free games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You played Ultima Online, didn't you?

  40. Re:more free games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    paris hilton is amazing.
    she is smart and clever.
    i wish paris as my best friend ever.
    paris the heiress.
    i had a dream about her, we were hanging out in the back of a car.

  41. Someone get on this. by d3ity · · Score: 1

    10 minutes after this is perfected, someone will try to install linux on it.

  42. you don't need AiroPeek NX, free software works by chizu · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've been doing most of the same stuff as Darkain has, but under Linux using all free software. Ethereal/tcpdump doesn't keep the raw 802.11b packets needed to see all of the DS data, but AirSnort does. AirSnort will record to pcap format and then you can mess with the packets in Ethereal. Just a heads up for those who don't want to pay for AiroPeek and still want to mess with low level wireless stuff (like the Nintendo DS).

  43. A mouse'd work, yes.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Also there are Tablet PCs and Wacom Tablets aplenty out there. A Tablet PC would be exactly the same.

  44. Need sell games, not units! by bobobobo · · Score: 1

    I think you just hit the nail on the head as to why Nintendo wouldn't want to immediately do this. Like most other pieces of hardware they probably sell it a razor thin margins, if there is even a margin at all. People would buy the device and not the games. Thrusting them into a market they don't necessarily want to be in.

  45. Upgrading the range? by bobdamonkey · · Score: 1

    So, how long until somebody upgrades the range on this thing to a few hundred metres (a few, uh, three hundred feet for you americans)? Presumably it'd only work if both DSs playing multiplayer had the upgrade or one side would experience extreme packet loss but hell, somebody must be working on it.

    1. Re:Upgrading the range? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      thanks, i was saved the inconveince of taking my slide rule out with complimentry american flag slickers

  46. Re:more free games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    With hot grits involved?

  47. Charged for piracy by Agret · · Score: 1

    You would be charged for piracy. If anyone can play with only 1 cart then people can just download + play Metroid Prime off you any time they want to.

    --
    Have you metaroderated recently?
    1. Re:Charged for piracy by barawn · · Score: 1

      You would be charged for piracy. If anyone can play with only 1 cart then people can just download + play Metroid Prime off you any time they want to.

      They can only download the multiplayer version.

      Besides, people download the multiplayer version from the single player version with normal use. It's hard to claim that downloading it from a different source is piracy, unless the manual specifically mentions it. It'd be hard to say that it was intended to be restricted distribution when there were no restrictions given and the distribution was encouraged.

  48. Re:more free games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    >> that urban dictionary entry is woefully incomplete.

    Actually, it isn't. The urban dictionary has entries for "keke", "kekeke", and "kekekeke". Some of the entries mention its korean origins.

  49. Re:DS usb power cable - Correction! READ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe you didn't bother doing the slightest research....the DS and the SP use the EXACT SAME POWER ADAPTOR. It's even listed as feature for pete's sake.

    So yes, the Lik-sang SPUSB cable will work exactly the same for your DS.

    Sheesh. Thanks for getting modded up and misinforming everyone who won't bother to read this post.....

  50. all we need... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    is a program to scan for DSes and when pictochat packets are seen, join that local network and paste nasty pictures on their screens. that'll teach those kids the importance of secure networking!

  51. TIAJ,S by anthony_dipierro · · Score: 2, Funny

    making a custom USB power connection for it

    Hook it up to a wireless USB adaptor and you'll have wireless power!

  52. the ds does have 802.11b access by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the ds can use 802.11b. just that nintendos games dont use it yet. all somebody has to do is come out with an internet browser on a gba or ds card and we will be set

  53. Hack USB... or spend 9 bucks. by Kredal · · Score: 1
    Instead of hacking together a USB charger, you *could* always go to your favorite large consumer electronics store and pick up a Pelican GBA SP USB charger for $9.00. It's exactly the same as the DS, and it even comes with a spiffy 12V-USB adapter thingy for use in the car.

    Yes, I have verified that it works, and I didn't have to kill a perfectly good spare power cord or USB cord, and hope that I matched the colors right.

    Link for $13.00

    --
    Whoever stated that signature sizes should be limited to one hundred and twenty characters can just go ahead and kiss my
  54. new cell phone? by BIGmog · · Score: 1

    yeah but all your calls are now free! now just everyone you want to talk to needs to have a DS and you'll save a fortune on cell phone charges.

    --
    V O T E F O R M O G
  55. Re:DS usb power cable - Correction! READ! by darkain · · Score: 1

    actually, no, they arent 100% the same. the power ratings are the same, but if you notice the picture of the three power adapters on the site, you will notice they are indeed slightly different adapters. link

    yes, they may be interchangable, but no, they are not the exact same adapter.

  56. Hack it for free by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://www.ds4free.com/default.aspx?r=68137

  57. Re:Wow, monitoring packets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, I'm sure. Me, being sarcastic? No, never.

  58. Re:pda...NINTENDO DS WILL BE A PDA IN 2005 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hello,

    While Summitsoft Corporation has announced Organizer Plus for the Nintendo DS, they have not announced a release date or complete details for it yet. Rest assured that we'll update our web site as information is announced.

    For information on all new or upcoming games for our systems, go to www.nintendo.com and open the "Game List" (located in the upper-right corner of our main page). If you need to narrow your search for a specific type of game (based on release date, publisher, number of players, etc.), try using our Advanced Filtering option. When you bring up your desired listing of game titles, you can click on the name of a game to find out all the information that we currently have available on it. If the information you are looking for is not yet available, please keep checking back. When there is new information to share on announced games or other upcoming products, our web site is the best official source!

    this is from dude at nintendo