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DS Web Browsing Looks Refreshingly Good
ElFozzie writes "Browsing the web on a handheld console or mobile phone has never been the most pleasant experience. The new Opera browser for the DS looks like it might change all that. On the eve of the Japanese launch, a story at Pocketgamer outlines the features and links to a video of the new browser in action." From the article: "The video illustrates the browsing technique, which sees the lower touch screen used for scanning zoomed-out pages and interaction via the stylus, whilst the top screen displays the zoomed-in detail. It also shows both text entry and handwriting recognition systems for rapid entry of URLs, as well as a host of standard browser features including bookmarks."
I went on Opera's site last night and was looking at the stuff they have on the DS browser, it seems really interesting, like the handwritting tool and the ability to auto-complete ".com" endings. Whilst these might not seem huge they are far better than I was expecting. I just hope that they will have a speedy UK release and that they will put the price at about £10, I'd definately get one then, if it was £20 (which would make it the same proce as brain training) then I might be a bit more reserved... But here's hoping that they do good with it
*''I can't believe it's not a hyperlink.''
If it works like the handwriting recognition within Brain Age, it should be off to a good start. My sloppy 5's and 9's were easily detected by the system without problems. It was only when I became exceedingly lazy in my number formation that the system had problems correctly interpreting what I had written. While this obviously will be more complex than simply recognizing 0 through 9, the current handwriting recognition that is out there leads me to an optimistic viewpoint.
I'm going to Illinois Tech in exactly one month. Their entire campus is Wi-Fi enabled, but I don't have a laptop. With Opera DS, I can still check my e-mail, check up on forums, read some webcomics, and even post to my website while in class or outside or what have you. It's perfect. I'll will be getting a copy as soon as it comes out.
Now someone just needs to make an SSH client for the DS that doesn't require any modding or hacking, and I'll be happy.
I'll be attempting to use this at college where we are only allowed to register one IP/MAC per user name. Will it have a function to change IP/MAC so I can pick up campus wireless?
I agree, SSH would be incredible on something like this. Its cheaper then buying a PDA(is there ssh for PDA's?) or something like a laptop. Only problem would be slow input, altho with a touch screen, you could tap characters relativly quickly.
Something like this would be good for a System Admin on the run(As opposed to?) who does not want to lug around a laptop. You could keep it connected at all times, and even just run a system monitor, so u can keep an eye on what happening, and if u need to make any changes you could do it from wherever you are.
-EL
Who cares about a browser for the DS? The reason I'll be picking this up is the RAM expansion pack that comes with it. With the new passthroughs that plug in through the DS cart port, that thing will be great for homebrew and emulation. Can't wait to see what I can pull off with that.
just some guy
The DS screen is only 240 pixels wide, not enough to display 80 columns for a full size terminal session.
Most basic command line stuff would work, but just think about the multitude of stuff that would not (imagine trying to run top for instance).
If they made a movie of your life, would anybody buy a ticket?
Considering I've been wanting a really small sub-laptop for quite some time (and even those are too big), and the price at which those sub-laptops go for (1000-2000$US for those Sony), I'd consider a Nintendo DS Lite with Opera "a poor man's sub-laptop".
In fact I'd be really impressed if any company would be able to come out with a sub-200$ micro-laptop with touch screen that can run Opera. At that price you can barely buy anything but a basic Palm which can't even do Wi-Fi.
The fact that Opera DS can't run Flash, Java or even animated GIFs are bonuses for me since those are almost always used for annoying moving ads.