Nintendo DS Browser

Infobox VG
title = Nintendo DS Browser


developer = Opera Software Nintendo
publisher = Nintendo
distributor =
designer =
engine = Presto
version = 8.50 [cite web
url=http://www.zytrax.com/tech/web/mobile_ids.html
title=Mobile Browser ID (User-Agent) Strings
publisher=ZyTrax
date=2007-08-10
accessdate=2007-11-28]
released = cite web |title=US Browser info |publisher=Nintendo of America|url=http://www.nintendo.com/gamemini?gameid=ZRIHM-K7C6pLPkN--ZjWFInT-vIEngbV |accessdate=2007-06-04] flagicon|Singapore June 2007
genre = Web browser
modes = Single user
ratings =
platforms = Nintendo DS & Nintendo DS Lite
media = |requirements = Nintendo DS Memory Expansion Pak (included)
input =
preceded by = Opera
followed by =

The Nintendo DS Browser is a version of the Opera web browser for use on the Nintendo DS, developed by Opera Software and Nintendo. The Nintendo DS Browser comes in a version for both the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo DS Lite; [cite web|url=http://shop.nintendo.co.jp/GoodsList.do?CATEGORY_ID=browser|title=nihongo|Nintendo Online Sales|任天堂オンライン販売|language=Japanese|date=July 27,2006|publisher=1UP.com] this is due to the physical size differences in the memory expansion cartridges used by the browser, which both have a capacity of 10 MB. The browser will be built into the Nintendo DSi, the third iteration of the handheld.

Launch

On February 15, 2006, the Opera Software company announced plans to develop a web browser for the Nintendo DS. [cite press release
url=http://www.opera.com/pressreleases/en/2006/02/15/
title=Giving gamers two windows to the Web: The Opera Browser for Nintendo DS
publisher=Opera Software
date=2006-02-15
accessdate=2008-02-19]

The Nintendo DS Browser was released first in Japan on July 24, 2006 and it was released later in Europe on October 6 2006 for £30 (the same as an ordinary DS game). The Australian release date was on January 18, 2007 and retailed for AU$69.95. (~US$60) [cite web|url=http://games.nintendo.com.au/title.php?id=1227|title=AU date for DS Browser| publisher=nintendo.com.au] However, in Australia, only the DS Lite version was released in stores; a limited stock of the DS Original version was only available directly through Nintendo Australia.

The North American release date was on June 4, 2007 for $29.99. Like the Australian release, only the Lite version was available in stores, and the DS Original version was only available online in US. [cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/pages/news/story.php?sid=6170135&part=rss&tag=gs_news&subj=6170135|title=Original DS browser available online only| publisher=Gamespot.com]

Features

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

The browser can render pages in two modes, Small Screen Rendering (SSR) or Overview. In Small Screen Rendering mode, the contents of the page are displayed in a single column fitting the width of the screen - for example, a page featuring two columns of text side-by-side would be displayed as a single column, one after the other. In Overview mode, a scaled-down version of the page is displayed on the touchscreen with a small selection box which can be moved around using the stylus. The contents of the selection box are displayed on the top screen at their full size. This selection can be brought into the touchscreen to perform such actions as click on links or entering text in boxes.

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

Nintendo has partnered with Internet security company Astaro to integrate web filtering technology into the Nintendo DS Browser. Called Astaro Parental Control, the technology acts as a proxy filter, providing the option of blocking inappropriate content. [cite web|url=http://www.astaro.com/company/news/a_nanny_for_your_nintendo_ds|title=A Nanny for your Nintendo DS|date=August 8,2006|publisher=Astaro Corporation] This is provided free of charge and can be activated through a simple menu option.

The Nintendo DS browser supports JavaScript and SSL in web pages, but does not support plugins like Adobe Flash. [ [http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/dslite/browser.jsp | Nintendo - Customer Service | Nintendo DS Lite - Nintendo DS Browser ] ] Due to the limited storage space, most other dynamic media, such as videos or sound, will not work in the browser.

DS memory expansion pak

The Memory Expansion Pak, much like the Rumble Pak for the Nintendo DS is a DS Option Pak. When inserted into a DS's GBA slot, the Memory Pak adds 10MB of RAM to the DS.Fact|date=February 2008

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

It has slight similarities to the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak. The Nintendo DS Browser is the only official Nintendo DS software that requires this hardware, but it has been suggested that the expansion could be used for other software, [cite web |url=http://rlk89.com/gameinfluence/2007/06/13/100th-blog-entry/ |title=DS Expansion Pak |accessdate=2007-11-19] including optional graphical updates that would allow a better experience if the card is inserted, in addition to other games that could require the expansion. However, it has been utilised in a number of pieces of homebrew software such as DSLinux, albeit unofficially. It has also been cloned as part of the EZ Flash 3-in-1 SLOT-2 device.

The Nintendo DSi no longer includes the GameBoy Advance slot, rendering this device unusable on the new DSi. It is rumored that the browser will be included in the DSi, which includes SD memory which should serve the same purpose.

Critical reception

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

In August 2007, the Nintendo DS Browser was quietly discontinued in North America, [cite news
url=http://www.thetanooki.com/2007/08/27/nintendo-ds-browser-being-discontinued-in-north-america/
title=Nintendo DS Browser being discontinued in North America
last=Ponte
first=Christian
publisher=The Tanooki
date=2007-08-27
accessdate=2008-03-10] [cite web
url=http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-DS-Lite-Browser/dp/B000OAO494/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-7569560-8340930?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1192679747&sr=8-1
title=Nintendo DS Lite Browser
publisher=Amazon.com
accessdate=2007-10-18] although the Original DS version is still available from Nintendo's online store. [cite web
url=http://store.nintendo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=129204&currency=USD&catalogId=10001&tranId=0&lastAction=setCurr&storeId=10001&languageId=-1&categoryId=58694&ddkey=http:SetCurrencyPreference
title=Nintendo DS Browser (Original Style Nintendo DS)
publisher=Nintendo
accessdate=2008-05-04]

References

.

External links

* [http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/dslite/browser.jsp Official site for American version]
* [http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/games/nds/nintendo_ds_browser_3151.html Official Nintendo of Europe site]
* [http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/browser/index.html ニンテンドーＤＳブラウザー] Official Japanese site ja icon
* [http://www.opera.com/products/devices/nintendo/ds/features/index.dml Official "Opera for Nintendo" website]
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/ds/file/934401/44353] A walk-through, how to operate the Nintendo DS Browser.