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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.''
Awesome.
The DS browser comes with a GBA-looking cart (an expansion module) that will come with extra RAM for the browsing experience. They have DS and DS-Lite version of the browser (the main software is the same, but the physical size of the expansion cart is different, so it will match the physical profile of the DS Lite so thart doesn't "stick out" while in use).
Also it is based on Opera 8, should have full Javascript and CSS capabilities (of course no Java or Flash). Opera devs have confirmed that it should be to run any AJAX-enabled site (like GMail for example). Also, because of limited space, no tabbed browsing.
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The browser comes with a ram expansion pack to allow for this.
Still IMing in the stone age?
A lot of Downtown centres are wireless now (think Toronto and SanFran to name 2), instead of walking around with a laptop in one hand, I can now walk around surfing on my DS
--Valthan
It is indeed 2 carts... see here for pictures of it.
--Valthan
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.
Get a second wireless router and set it to WEP encryption. Place the WEP-encrypted router directly behind your cable modem/DSL/tin can. Place your original router, with a more secure configuration, behind the WEP-encrypted router. Thanks to the magic of NAT, computers behind your original router will be able to see out to the machines connected over the WEP-encrypted router, but the machines connected to the WEP-encrypted router will only be able to see the ports you would have had open to the general Internet anyway.
Network isolation, courtesy of NAT. The kind of security through crapscurity required by Nintendo.
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.
The fact that they are willing to put this kind of effort into a secondary feature is great. Most console/handheld internet browsers aren't that great, mostly because of the resolution and/or screen size. Just imagine what they will be able to do with the Wii. Obviously, with the Wii, the pointer will work to control the cursor on screen. A lapboard could be sold that would plug into the Wiimote as a means to enter text. What I hope they do to get around the resolution limitations is use the tilt functionality of the wiimote to allow easy panning and zooming. Although, on the other hand, imagine some kid seeing porn for the first time on the system, zooming in and out... He'll sit there with a wii in both hands, using the same motion to manipulate one as he does the other.
Or if you have your own server you could write your own online SSH client using javascript and your server side scripting language of choice. (Insert some buzzwords here to make this idea sound more impressive.)
===== will post for karma
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
Pretty please?
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.