The Opera Browser for Nintendo DS

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dipdude

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Source : Opera

In Opera's agreement with Nintendo, Nintendo DS users will now be able to surf the full Internet from their systems using the Opera browser. The Opera browser for Nintendo DS will be sold as a DS card. Users simply insert the card into the Wi- Fi enabled Nintendo DS, connect to a network, and begin browsing on two screens.

Earlier this year, Nintendo reported that 13 million Nintendo DS systems were sold to consumers around the world within just 13 months of its debut in November 2004. Nintendo DS combines unique dual screens, touch screen, voice recognition and wireless and Wi-Fi communications capabilities. According to an independent market research company in Japan, Nintendo DS has become the fastest selling video games machine to top the six million sales mark in Japan in just over 14 months since its Japanese debut, breaking the old record held by Nintendo's Game Boy Advance.

"The incredibly popular Nintendo DS is already Wi-Fi enabled to support real time gaming, so adding Web browsing capabilities was a natural evolution for this device," says Scott Hedrick, Executive Vice President, Opera Software. "Gaming devices are growing more advanced and a great Web experience is becoming a product differentiator for gaming manufacturers. Opera is excited to work with Nintendo to deliver a unique dual screen, full Internet experience on Nintendo DS."

With an on-screen keypad and stylus, users can easily navigate the Web from their Nintendo DS with PDA-like functionality. Based on the same core as the Opera desktop browser, Opera delivers superior speed and rendering of Web pages on the Nintendo DS.

"Within just five seconds of turning on the system, the Nintendo DS is already fully operational. This makes it the ideal device to enable people to swiftly obtain the latest information from the internet, wherever they are," says Masaru Shimomura, Deputy General Manager of Nintendo's R & D Department. "Opera exceeded our expectations with its user friendly interface, quick access to all your favorite sites, ease of use and, most importantly, in making the best use of the Nintendo DS system's unique double screens and touch screen features. Opera is an important partner for Nintendo in our efforts to further expand the users of the Nintendo DS."

Nintendo Co., Ltd. held a presentation today in Tokyo, Japan, to announce updates for the Nintendo DS. Information on the availability of the Opera browser DS card has not yet been announced.
 
So it becomes the first handheld ever to officialy support Internet Browsing, a very good counter to the PSP's other features.
 
Wifi gaming and now an online browser is really tempting me to get a wireless router. If Nintendo allows downloads of DS game demos from their site with this browser then I'll give in.:P
 
I just hope this browser is better than the PSP's piece of unusable tacked-on crap that they call a browser.And the touch-screen offers the DS a very good input method.I have a feeling this is gonna be good.
 
Nintendo DS Opera Browser Now in Europe

More than several months later than Japanese gamers, European DS owners can now use Opera to browse the Internet through their Nintendo DS handheld game console. Opera is releasing two different versions – one for the regular DS and one for the DS Lite. Two different viewing modes will also be available for users to choose from.

Users can choose from two different viewing modes--the faster is a fit-to-width mode that's similar to Opera's browser for mobile phones. This shows Web pages in a single column across both screens. Alternatively, surfers can choose DS mode, which shows an overview of the page on the lower screen with a magnified image of the selected part of the page displayed on the upper screen.

The browser also makes use of the touch screen by showing a virtual keyboard on the lower screen to make typing in URLs and e-mails faster than text messaging.
The first Opera revision is a fit-to-width kind of browser that closely resembles the Opera software used on mobile phones. The other version shows an entire web site on the bottom screen while showing a selected part of the page on the upper screen. Handwriting recognition and an on-screen keyboard to enter URLs are also available to help making web surfing easier.

The web browser is loaded on a DS cartridge that will allow users to connect to the Internet Nintendo-supported Wi-Fi connections or any public hot spot. Even though many users will appreciate being able to browse the Internet, a downside to the software is that Flash web sites are not yet supported. Berit Framnes, an Opera public relations officer, said that any other type of web site should be viewable.

There is no official word from Nintendo when a US version will be available.

Dailytech Gamespot
 
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