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DS Web Browser in June

Eurogamer reports that the Opera DS Browser will be available in June, though so far only in Japan. From the article: "In fit-to-width mode, Opera uses both screens for scrolling up or down a page with both screens completing the view. In DS mode, an overview of the Web page is displayed on the lower screen and a pink square can be moved around an area of the page. The area you have selected is shown on the upper screen."

89 comments

  1. Two Questions by Eightyford · · Score: 1

    1. What the hell took so long?
    2. When are we going to see the first sensationalist news article about rabid child molesters preying on kids with Nintendos?

    1. Re:Two Questions by Zangief · · Score: 2, Funny

      1. What the hell took so long?

      Probably the Opera team started playing Mario Kart DS when the devkits arrived, instead of actually working.


      2. When are we going to see the first sensationalist news article about rabid child molesters preying on kids with Nintendos?


      A couple of months ago there was one. Pedophiles could prey children via...Pictochat. Which has a range around 30 feet IIRC.

    2. Re:Two Questions by HTL2001 · · Score: 1
      If you are referring to the one posted on Slashdot earlier, that was a joke article. For some reason it didn't get the foot (at original post time), but the article was clearly being sarcastic.

      I'm just gonna grab a good paragraph here from the article...
      GameSetWatch co-editor Brandon Sheffield suggests that a potential dangerous chatroom lurer could post an ad on CraigsList asking children to email him or her to exchange Animal Crossing friends codes. Once the friends code exchange is made, the child can visit the stranger's town and chat, awkwardly, one slow and character-limited line at a time. By the time the child has picked all of the stranger's fruit, bought out the shop, trampled a few flowers and left, the stranger might, in theory, be able to say "what are you weari-"



      Slashdot: Nintendo DS Hurts The Children! (I mean, cmon, doesn't the title even look like a joke?)
      --
      By reading this, you have given me brief control of your mind.
    3. Re:Two Questions by Suddenly_Dead · · Score: 1

      There was a "serious" one from ABC news, which is what the grand parent post was likely referring to. It is (as per American media norms) sensationalist as hell, and IIRC did make it to Slashdot as well.

    4. Re:Two Questions by Zangief · · Score: 1

      No no, IIRC it also appeared on TV, and was about Pictochat.

    5. Re:Two Questions by earthbound+kid · · Score: 1

      That was making fun of a sensationalist news broadcast on the Philadelphia ABC affliate. The news people were serious... Well, maybe not completely serious since even they had to know they were full of shit and just making up crap for ratings, but serious enough.

    6. Re:Two Questions by HTL2001 · · Score: 1

      aye I've been pwnt.

      and god damn, I've just watched part of Fahrenheit 911, and this (American paranoia in the media) is exactly what he's talking about. Why does the media need to give us 356233 things to be afraid about every night? I've listened to whats up for "news" tonight and damn.

      --
      By reading this, you have given me brief control of your mind.
  2. DS Lite by DeionXxX · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Anyone know when the DS Lite is coming to the US? I've been holding out, for one and don't want to pay $300 bux for one from Lik Sang.

    1. Re:DS Lite by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 1

      Not sure, but based on the anticipation, I'm expecting there to be shortages of it for the first month or two anyways. I finally succumbed and ordered a regular DS from ToysRUs over the weekend. Good deal, got a free copy of Advance Wars with the order. The free game offer ended April 1, which is why I gave in and jumped on it. On an unrelated note, newegg has Metroid pinball for 18 bucks. To anyone out there who has it, would you recommend it?

      --
      This guy's the limit!
    2. Re:DS Lite by Servo5678 · · Score: 2, Informative
      On an unrelated note, newegg has Metroid pinball for 18 bucks. To anyone out there who has it, would you recommend it?

      I recommend it. It's a fun little pinball game and if nothing else you'll get the Rumble Pak with the game for free which I believe sells for $10-$15 by itself. It took me about 2 weeks to unlock all the secrets and get the high score on each table, but the Rumble Pak has come in handy for other games.
    3. Re:DS Lite by DeionXxX · · Score: 1

      But the old one is so bulky and I've seen the screen... it's pretty dim. I'm planning on getting 2 (one for the wifey), and I know I'll be using them with the Revolution so I want to make sure I have the latest and greatest.

    4. Re:DS Lite by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes. (Posting anonymously because this is offtopic and not because I want to admit that I like Metroid Pinball) :)

      It's got some faults but it is a good game and used to reside in my DS as *default game* until I got Tetris.

      There are several reviews out there that will say the same things that I could say so go check them out. I prefer the free video podcast from X-Play but only because my sarcasm hunger knows no bounds. Go fire up iTunes and check it out.

      Really, I'm not trying to sell you things. I'm only just recommending a review from a media giant accessed through a proprietary software application that is then trying to recommend that you buy something. Hey, you did ask for it though.

    5. Re:DS Lite by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 1

      Don't get me wrong, I intend to either sell or give the regular one to a friend once I can get my hands on a DS Lite. I'm just getting tired of having no idea when it'll even come out. Of course, now that I've ordered one, they'll make the announcement in a few days and say it's coming out at the beginning of May like people are speculating.

      --
      This guy's the limit!
    6. Re:DS Lite by InsaneLampshade · · Score: 1

      They're $199 from Lik-sang.

      Mine was shipped to me a few days back... so much for the "shortage". ^_^

    7. Re:DS Lite by yammosk · · Score: 2, Funny

      Of course, now that I've ordered one, they'll make the announcement in a few days...

      Thank you. You have done us all a great service :)

    8. Re:DS Lite by PeelBoy · · Score: 1

      I second this.

      It's a decent pinball game. Not great, but fun for the most part.

      I don't get around to playing it often because I have too many other great DS games I'd rather play.

    9. Re:DS Lite by PeelBoy · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It's not THAT bad. I mean the screen is better than the GBA SP (pre-back lit version). I've been perfectly happy with mine. It's been pretty rare that brightness is an issue for me.

      It is a little bulky but not any more so than the PSP. It's a lot more durable too.

      My only complaint is that it's a little top heavy so playing games like Mario Kart gets tiresome after a while.

      For $130 I can't think of any reason not to buy one. You could probably get a decent trade in for it when you upgrade to a lite but personally I'd keep it for when a friend comes over. Multiplayer Meteos is bad ass as well as Mario Kart and Metroid.

      I always find my self wishing I had a few extra DS's laying around. (4 or so would be nice)

    10. Re:DS Lite by rev063 · · Score: 2, Informative
      On an unrelated note, newegg has Metroid pinball for 18 bucks. To anyone out there who has it, would you recommend it?
      As a real-work pinball junkie, I heartily recommend it. It's made by the same people that made the awesome Pro Pinball PC pinball simulations "The Web", "Timeshock", and "Big Race USA". (Disclaimer: I was a design consultant on the latter two, but I'd lost touch with the Pro Pinball guys a long time ago and didn't realise they were behind Metroid Pinball until I finished the game and saw the credits!) Metroid Pinball is less of a simulation and more of a pinball-themed game, but it's still very strong on real-world physics and just "feels" like a real pinball game. If you like pinball, go for it.
    11. Re:DS Lite by Swordsmanus · · Score: 2, Informative

      As far as I know the DS Lite hits the US either on May 7th or 21st. They tend to release hardware on sundays, and the new Super Mario Bros. game's release date has been pushed back two weeks to May 21. Normally Nintendo doesn't release games on Sundays unless it's with new hardware, so it seems very likely that the DS Lite and SMB game will release on the same day.

    12. Re:DS Lite by DeionXxX · · Score: 1

      Wow! Good info. Thanks a lot!. I'm looking forward to May now :-D

    13. Re:DS Lite by Lord+of+the+Wazz · · Score: 1

      According to the Lik Sang website it's only $200 at the moment. Incidentally, my DS Lite arrived last week and it's really, really nice. Buy one immediately!

    14. Re:DS Lite by sesshomaru · · Score: 1
      I agree, and I'd also say of the two DS Metroid games, I like it the best. (Sadly, my stubby, malformed fingers can't comfortably do the contortions required by Metroid Prime: Hunters.)

      Also, it comes with the Rumble Pack, and you can't really go wrong by buying it. I play it all the time... it may well be my favorite game for the DS. (In fact, I like it so much I just recently ordered The Pinball of the Dead for Gameboy Advance.) Of course, I've always loved real pinball, and bought two pinball sims for my Genesis (Dragons Fury and Dinoland).

      Just waiting until the day I can afford my own Haunted House pinball machine (oh, and a house to put it in...)

      --
      "MIT betrayed all of its basic principles."
  3. WPA Support by rad_chad · · Score: 1

    This is great, but will we still be forced to use WEP encryption?

    1. Re:WPA Support by BeardsmoreA · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why do you need - actually need - stronger encryption on a portable games console. Obviously when the browser comes out and you absolutely gotta do your banking from the sofa... I guess...?

    2. Re:WPA Support by the_maddman · · Score: 2, Interesting

      How about because I use my wireless network for more than just my DS? It's not that I need my Mario Kart packets secure, it's about my laptops and server being secure.

    3. Re:WPA Support by JonLatane · · Score: 0
      Okay, first, running a server on wireless is just a bad idea. This is not only due to the fact that you just shouldn't send critical data wirelessly regardless of encryption, but also because you're not going to get the bandwidth you need.

      Second, why do you need so much encryption on your laptops? The most you're ever likely to be doing is sending information such as credit card data when you buy stuff online, and any good credit card company has good fraud protection. Besides, who is likely to be able to intercept your data? Unless you live in a very small apartment, no one should be able to come within range of your network enough to get your data.

      And if you do decide to transmit extremely critical data, well, just plug the laptop in. I don't think they're going to start eliminating ethernet ports from laptops any time soon.

    4. Re:WPA Support by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      So set up another insecure wireless network just for your DS. It's not hard. Nintendo chose not to support WPA for good reasons.

    5. Re:WPA Support by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      The hardware can't do WPA. At least not while playing a game at the same time.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    6. Re:WPA Support by Zardus · · Score: 1

      Alright, "You don't need wireless security because anything you'd need security for should be done over the wire" is just dumb. WPA is a decent enough standard to use for transmitting critical data over wireless. Its better than WEP. No matter how good my bank's fraud prevention is, I'd rather hold on to my credit card number. Plus, there's the whole issue of random people hopping on your wireless with no security or even WEP (especially if you're pushing enough packets for someone to guess your key quickly). As for range, I assure you that wireless signals don't stop at the walls of an even moderately-sized house. Drive down your neighborhood sometime. Its pretty easy to pick up a few networks.

      If anything, the flaw with WPA is that it might not be secure enough, but unless my wife starts suddenly letting me string cables across the house at will, WPA will have to do. All the really importants stuff goes through SSL anyways (https, scp, gaim-encryption) cause no matter how well you secure your network, for all you know your ISP might be beaming your packets across the entire town.

      And why can't a server be on wireless? I mean sure, depends on what you're serving. Personally, I stream movies from my MythTV box over wireless just fine. And you don't even need anywhere near that much bandwidth for serving emails or web sites.

      --
      You can mod your friends, you can mod your nose, but you can't mod your friend's nose.
    7. Re:WPA Support by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 1

      While I understand the need and want for better security, I think you're post also states exactly why WEP is "good enough": Drive down your neighborhood sometime. Its pretty easy to pick up a few networks. I guarantee that at least one of those will be open. And this is where someone passing through the neighborhood will connect. They won't bother trying to crack your encryption if there's an open network a few doors down.

      --
      This guy's the limit!
    8. Re:WPA Support by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Ugh...your, not you're.

      --
      This guy's the limit!
    9. Re:WPA Support by Echnin · · Score: 1

      Why should I need to reduce the security of my network just to use the DS? That's the annoying bit.

      --
      Lalala
    10. Re:WPA Support by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good reasons, such as it would cost more money to implement.

    11. Re:WPA Support by typobox43 · · Score: 1

      Maybe more interesting, will it support login authentication systems (e.g. hotel wireless)? That's my biggest problem with the DS wifi support as it is. My campus network here at school requires a login to access... which means no Metroid Prime Hunters for me between classes.

    12. Re:WPA Support by bogie · · Score: 1

      Sorry but WEP isn't "good enough" no matter how many people leave their WAPs wide open. We've been down this road already and nobody with an ounce of sense uses WEP. Face it, it was a mistake not being able to do WPA on the DS no much how much you think it's not a big deal. People will just have to decide if they are willing to live with that security risk.

      --
      If you wanna get rich, you know that payback is a bitch
    13. Re:WPA Support by neumayr · · Score: 2, Interesting

      How about a second base station? They're pretty cheap, especially if you only need 811.2b and WEP. Put it between your router and the modem and your network is pretty much secure - except against people wanting to use your uplink maybe.

      --
      Truth arises more readily from error than from confusion. -Francis Bacon
    14. Re:WPA Support by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 2, Interesting

      will we still be forced to use WEP encryption?

      No one's forcing you -- you're free to use NO encryption instead.

      Anyway, my theory is that the DS's processors aren't powerful enough to do strong WPA encryption AND maintain a smooth multiplayer experience in a game like Mario Kart.

      In a web-browsing title, there will be more CPU cycles free to dedicate to encryption. It's not out of the realm of impossibility that WPA support will be included on selected titles.

      Not very convenient if you want to set-and-forget your wireless router configuration, though.

    15. Re:WPA Support by TheSpoom · · Score: 1

      Had to reply to this: ...nobody with an ounce of sense uses WEP.

      I use WEP but only because I don't really feel the need to upgrade my 802.11b network card to g, and AFAICT nobody has used my network without authorization.

      --
      It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
      - E. Debs
    16. Re:WPA Support by vexx0 · · Score: 1, Informative

      Why dont you just have your Wireless AP let only cards with certain MAC addresses connect. You can view your MAC address on your DS so it not that big of a deal.

    17. Re:WPA Support by dalmiroy2k · · Score: 1

      If everything is tested correctly it shouldn't be a problem. Hotels usually have an open WIFI connection (no wep) that gives you a private IP but doesn't allow you to surf the net until you login via their local web page using a prepaid card or something. NDS should first connect to the hotspot and then open the login web page. The only problems may be login time-outs and pop-ups. Some PDAs have this problem.

    18. Re:WPA Support by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      s/forced to use/limited to/

    19. Re:WPA Support by Elrond,+Duke+of+URL · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Because that's only an illusion of security. Your MAC is not hardcoded on PCs. In fact, you can quite easily change your MAC in Linux when configuring your network device.

      My understanding, though I could be mistaken, is that even when you are using WEP, the MAC address is still sent unencrypted (so you can do things like filtering). Because of this, somebody needs only to sniff a little bit of traffic to find a valid MAC and set their machine to use it.

      That said, I still use WEP on my AP in my apartment. My laptop has a 802.11g card with WPA, but both my DS and my PDA only do 802.11b and only support WEP, unfortunately. But... I really don't do enough of the wireless to worry about it and when I do something important there's always a second layer of encryption (i.e. SSL, etc.). And my desktop PC, where I do most of my work, is connected by a wire.

      --
      Elrond, Duke of URL
      "This is the most fun I've had without being drenched in the blood of my enemies!"-Sam&Max
  4. TTIUWOP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    C'mon, even a potatoshopped mockup would do...

  5. DS Browser In Action (video) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ogWgYF3r4M

    it's in japanese, but it's cool to see. not sure how youtube will handle /. but we'll find out.

    1. Re:DS Browser In Action (video) by heinousjay · · Score: 1
      --
      Slashdot - where whining about luck is the new way to make the world you want.
  6. Gaming implications? by jomas1 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There is a real chance that this browser can be more than a novelty and may open up even more games to the ds. Does no one else see this? If so I can't say that I've seen evidence on any of the video game review websites. Is there something about the ds opera browser that should not make it possible to play games like the ones on websudoku.com and http://dmoz.org/Games/Video_Games/Browser_Based/ ?

    1. Re:Gaming implications? by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Is there something about the ds opera browser that should not make it possible to play games like the ones on websudoku.com and http://dmoz.org/Games/Video_Games/Browser_Based/ ?

      No flash support?

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    2. Re:Gaming implications? by jomas1 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Is there no flash support for the DS version of opera? Even if there isn't, there are quite a few browser based games that don't rely on javascript or flash. I realize that these games may not appeal to the typical console gamer but nintendo has already expressed that they want to draw in non-traditional gamers and there are quite a few people playing games like http://www.urbandead.com/ and http://www.fallofnations.com/ These games already work on browsers for Palms and Windows Mobile so they should work on the ds.

    3. Re:Gaming implications? by Fammy2000 · · Score: 3, Informative

      The browser should have JavaScript support, so some web based games will work (non-Flash). Screen resolution will be the limiting factor.

      I'm hoping that we'll be able to capture D-pad and button presses in JavaScript.

      --
      If I had something intelligent to say, I would have said it.
    4. Re:Gaming implications? by Kelson · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Hmm, if they include Flash support, this could open up sites like PopCap to a whole new audience...

    5. Re:Gaming implications? by MagicM · · Score: 1

      From an Opera forum FAQ thread:

      Q: Are PDF and Flash supported.
      A: No

  7. OMG! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    an overview of the Web page is displayed on the lower screen and a pink square can be moved around an area of the page.

    OMG!! Pink ponies!!1

  8. only one screen clickable.... by kisrael · · Score: 1

    I just got a DS for my birthday.

    It seems like this might be one of those cases where havinly one of the 2 screens being touch sensitive might be a serious pain in the butt.

    --
    SO YOU'RE GOING TO DIE: The Comic for Dealing with Death
    1. Re:only one screen clickable.... by MilenCent · · Score: 0

      It's true that it could be annoying that only one screen is touch-sensitive, but it's still better than the PSP, which has *no* touch screen....

    2. Re:only one screen clickable.... by kisrael · · Score: 1

      True. And I asked for a DS over a PSP because of the interesting stuff going on with it...though I still think it could REALLY use an analog nub type controller ala the PSP...it's funny how the Nintendo handhelds always lag one generation behind the systems games they could otherwise play, GBA could have used SNES' 4 buttons, DS could have used a N64-ish analog stick.

      --
      SO YOU'RE GOING TO DIE: The Comic for Dealing with Death
    3. Re:only one screen clickable.... by MilenCent · · Score: 1

      These things are broadly true, except I'm unsure about an N64-style analog stick. That would have required an entirelly different design for the DS, no matter how useful it'd be for Mario 64.

      I wasn't trying to turn it into yet another DS-vs-PSP thing, I only brought it up because the PSP also has a web browser that a good number of people seem to think is lacking. I don't know if Opera on the DS will be better, but the touch screen could make web browsing much easier. Some of the other obstacles to making a DS web browser are also being remedied by the project (word is that the browser will ship with a RAM expansion that goes into the GBA slot!) so it has the potential to be a really cool little application.

    4. Re:only one screen clickable.... by kisrael · · Score: 1

      Well it doesn have to be a full N64 stick, but I think some kind of nub should fit...

      --
      SO YOU'RE GOING TO DIE: The Comic for Dealing with Death
    5. Re:only one screen clickable.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I like the idea, but I don't think the nub on the PSP is all that great.

      It could be a lot better me thinks.

    6. Re:only one screen clickable.... by Zangief · · Score: 1

      But you are forgetting that the PSP lacks a second analog nub, which Sony itself invented (Dual Shock).

      That has hurted the platform a lot. FPS cannot have the same configuration as in the consoles due to this. At least, the analog should be in the right side instead of the left side, where is redundant.

    7. Re:only one screen clickable.... by kisrael · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I guess you have to credit Sony for the second analog stick, though in most other ways they lead, not follow Nintendo in terms of controllers...the original PSX dogbone was just the SNES pad w/ 2 extra shoulder buttons and extended grips, w/ the dual shock they took the N64's rumble pack and analog stick and made both a bit better.

      You'd think the PSP would have room for a 2nd analog stick. It's like they're purposefully trying to keep things stripped down.

      You know, you could make a decent PDA out of a DS.

      --
      SO YOU'RE GOING TO DIE: The Comic for Dealing with Death
  9. Cool, but its success hinges on two things... by johnny0neal · · Score: 1

    As neat as it would be to browse the web on my DS, an app like this would only be worth a purchase if: 1. It stores pages for offline viewing. 2. It allows you to compose and view e-mails offline. I would totally get this if I could use it to tap out a few e-mails offline or download some RSS feeds and read them on the go. But otherwise, the time I'm most likely to encounter a wi-fi hotspot is when I'm at home with an actual computer. I imagine those two things are technically feasible, but since they haven't been mentioned yet, I'll have to be a pessimist and assume they ain't happening.

    1. Re:Cool, but its success hinges on two things... by mausmalone · · Score: 1

      I'm hoping that Wifi will become a bit more ubiquitous in the near future, with free access available whenever you sit down to eat a meal. Some of my local malls are already set, and the various Starbucks-esque shops in the area are good-to-go. I can also imagine this coming in handy for tons of college students stuck in boring lecture auditoriums.

      --
      -=-=-=-=-=
      I'd rather be flamed than ignored.
    2. Re:Cool, but its success hinges on two things... by hkmwbz · · Score: 1
      "It allows you to compose and view e-mails offline."
      Um, it's a browser. You view web pages with it.
      --
      Clever signature text goes here.
  10. How? by cosmotron · · Score: 1

    Once it is released, how do you aquire it and where does it get saved to?

    --
    Ryan - http://www.thecosmotron.com/
    1. Re:How? by AudioEfex · · Score: 1
      Weird this showing up now...very old news, it was announced months ago. In any case...

      The browser has not been announced for the US yet, but when it is released in Japan this summer it will be sold alongside other DS software. Inside the box will be a standard DS cart with the browser, and a memory cart to go in the GBA slot to cache pages.

      It's going to be a great little device for checking e-mail and such (so long as you have webmail, as the browser will not support POP or other email protocols). I can see myself using it, say, in the living room while watching a movie to briefly look up an actor's name in the IMDB. Or while on a road trip - would make every McDonalds (or other wi-fi hotspot) a place where you can check mail, check the balance on your gas card, or to get travel info from MapQuest.

      The possibilities are endless, really. I don't think it's going to be a long-term browsing solution, but I can definately see it being very useful. Yes, a Sidekick or other smart phone will do the same for you (and more), but they are just too expensive for casual use. This will be FREE once you buy the initial software - no monthly fees, no requirements other than being in a wi-fi area.

      AE

    2. Re:How? by Kelson · · Score: 2, Informative

      You'll buy a DS card and plug it in.

    3. Re:How? by Zangief · · Score: 1

      It is a regular DS cartridge.

    4. Re:How? by 7Prime · · Score: 1
      Inside the box will be a standard DS cart with the browser, and a memory cart to go in the GBA slot to cache pages.

      That is pure rumor. This was talked about previously on /. and is the result of some fairly asinine wishful thinking. There has been no evidence to support this, and furthermore, it would be utterly unneccessary, as the DS cart has a good few magnitudes more memory storage capability than the GBA cart to begin with. Please, next time check your facts and name your sources if you're going to add "old news" that has no bearing on reality. Thank you for your time.

      --
      Multiplayer Gaming (defined): Sitting around, discussing single-player games with my friends, at the bar.
  11. Tracking done through... by JFMulder · · Score: 2, Funny

    a pink square can
    Great, now all we are missing are ponies.

  12. You don't need WPA with MY strategies! by The+MAZZTer · · Score: 1

    Have your router keep logs, and check them regularly.

    If you notice someone's broken in, simply break in to THEIR computer over your wireless network and fill their harddrive with [animal]se and tub[woman]. Problem solved.

  13. DSLinux by Theatetus · · Score: 1

    Anybody used DS Linux yet? I keep meaning to try it on mine. I'd love to make a DS distro that had, say, epiphany, kismet, nmap, and an irc client. That could be really useful...

    --
    All's true that is mistrusted
    1. Re:DSLinux by dcapel · · Score: 1

      Its still CLI-only at this point, but lynx runs at least :)

      Some day X will happen, but there are a few restriction on it that are annoying (no MMU, so no swap, only 4megs RAM on the DS, etc).

      Someone will probably get a /really/ lightweight X running eventually.

      --
      DYWYPI?
    2. Re:DSLinux by assassinator42 · · Score: 1

      I'll start using it when it can write to my SD card. If it will ever be able to write to my SD card. Maybe I'll try it before that sometime for the browser though.

  14. It's only a matter of time... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I give it about 6 months after it's released before somene finds a way to exploit it to cram adware, popups, and the like onto the DS. There'd better be a damn easy hardware-based way to clear that thing's memory and set it back to factory defaults. I wouldn't put it past someone to come up with an adware that would disable you from clearing it from memory.

    1. Re:It's only a matter of time... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Turn the DS off and on, assuming this browser just uses a regular ROM.
      If it uses some sort of flash ROM for updates, then I suppose they could use a reset button that you can access with a needle to clear the flash, and still have a regular ROM for the original browser - in a sense using the flash rom to patch or wrap the update over the original in realtime.
      Or, they could just have a tiny ROM with the basic code needed for the DS to download the browser automatically having done a reset.

  15. Opera Mini cell phone browser by Is0m0rph · · Score: 3, Interesting

    After using the Opera Mini browser on my cell phone I'm sure they'll do a good version for the DS. There's really no comparison between the Opera cell phone browser and built in phone browsers. It's in another class.

    1. Re:Opera Mini cell phone browser by mausmalone · · Score: 1

      Opera for the DS is based on Opera for Devices, not Opera Mini. Basically, it'll be a bit more fully-featured than Opera Mini, but still tailored for the small screen. Opera for Devices Page - With Opera DS Info.

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      I'd rather be flamed than ignored.
  16. Lies by dcapel · · Score: 1

    A DS web browser has been available for a long time now -- DSLinux runs lynx.

    Opera was too slow, so they are second. :)

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    DYWYPI?
  17. Flash support? by VGfort · · Score: 1

    I hope it supports Flash, but I wont hold my breath on that. I'd be kind of neat to make flash games for the DS.

  18. SSL by tepples · · Score: 1

    If anything, the flaw with WPA is that it might not be secure enough, but unless my wife starts suddenly letting me string cables across the house at will, WPA will have to do.

    Then set up your AP to use WEP and a MAC address whitelist. Buy a second AP to use on a different channel if you have to.

    1. Re:SSL by Zardus · · Score: 1

      Just passively listening to traffic of a wireless network, you can get the MAC addresses of the clients participating. Then you can use a utility such as macchanger to change your MAC to their MAC, and if its a simple system like WEP I think you'd easily be able to get onto the network even if they're on the network still. A whitelist doesn't really work as well as people sometimes assume it will, and the costs of your solution involve two networks.

      Of course, if Nintendo only needs access to their own servers, then you could probably just get their dongle thingy and run it. Its probably cheaper than a good WAP.

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      You can mod your friends, you can mod your nose, but you can't mod your friend's nose.
  19. Import Opera? by tepples · · Score: 1

    Hotels usually have an open WIFI connection (no wep) that gives you a private IP but doesn't allow you to surf the net until you login via their local web page using a prepaid card or something. NDS should first connect to the hotspot and then open the login web page.

    But then you'd have to import a copy of Opera DS in order to display the web page.

    1. Re:Import Opera? by hkmwbz · · Score: 1

      No, you'd use Opera to activate the thing, and then you could switch to your favorite game and play away.

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      Clever signature text goes here.
    2. Re:Import Opera? by tepples · · Score: 1

      you'd use Opera to activate the thing

      Provided that Opera is made available for sale in your region at all.

      and then you could switch to your favorite game and play away.

      Unless the AP has some sort of timeout.

  20. Sony innovation by tepples · · Score: 1

    I'm unsure about an N64-style analog stick. That would have required an entirelly different design for the DS, no matter how useful it'd be for Mario 64.

    A pressure sensitive D-pad (as seen on the Dual Shock 2 controller) would probably have worked.

    1. Re:Sony innovation by MilenCent · · Score: 1

      The control pad on the Dual Shock 2 is pressure-sensitive? Wow, I never suspected, I thought it was just the shoulder buttons.

      I learned something new today! Which games support this feature, would you happen to know?

    2. Re:Sony innovation by jrmcferren · · Score: 0

      No, only the Xbox has pressure sensitive triggers (shoulder buttons). "Why can't the make a button that says 'pass?'" -- Larry The Cable Guy

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  21. Nintendo dongle needs Windows XP by tepples · · Score: 1

    Of course, if Nintendo only needs access to their own servers, then you could probably just get their dongle thingy and run it.

    Nintendo's USB Wi-Fi adapter works only with Windows XP, which in practice means it works only with PCs manufactured in January 2002 or later. If your PC is older than that, then it probably came with either Windows 2000 or Windows Millennium Edition, you need to buy an operating system upgrade. Sales of this upgrade subsidize the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game consoles, which compete with Nintendo's other products.