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North American users are now the only ones left out of the DS Opera loop

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.


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.



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SOMEONE, PLEASE!
By gersson on 10/8/2006 11:01:55 PM , Rating: 3
Hax this...I need it to live!




RE: SOMEONE, PLEASE!
By fliguy84 on 10/9/2006 4:15:13 AM , Rating: 1
Contrary to the US, Japanese and European audience seem to get all the good stuffs for DS first. DS Lite, colored DS Lites and now this browser :(


RE: SOMEONE, PLEASE!
By KristopherKubicki on 10/9/2006 4:20:17 AM , Rating: 2
Except the Wii of course :)


RE: SOMEONE, PLEASE!
By Xavian on 10/9/2006 5:40:08 AM , Rating: 3
No offense, but us Europeans have been experiencing the same thing for a decade. I'd say its about time we got some things first or at the same time as the the Japanese and Americans.

For example, every console launch has always been 5-6 months later than the US, every game is always a long time delayed and somethings we dont even get! (Chrono series, Valkyre Profile etc)


RE: SOMEONE, PLEASE!
By Lonyo on 10/9/2006 7:28:09 AM , Rating: 2
Except the Xbox 360, and possibly the Wii.


RE: SOMEONE, PLEASE!
By UserDoesNotExist on 10/9/2006 9:00:34 AM , Rating: 2
And up until recently, we Americans were getting everything 6 months behind the Japanese. I'm still surprised that the Wii is coming out in America before it is in Japan. The recent MGS games have also come out in America before Japan, but that's probably because MGS is *the* Sony game in America.

But, quite frankly, I don't care that the US doesn't have the Opera browser, except for patriotic pride. I've never been impressed by Internet browsing on anything other than computers.


this will be
By otispunkmeyer on 10/9/2006 7:22:17 AM , Rating: 1
just as gash as the PSP's attempt at a mobile gaming platform browser.

browsing the net on such small screens, even if there is two, is awkward, you either have to scroll for your life, or the page ends up being 10miles long as its re-arranged to fit the narrow width of the screen. Also attributed to the re-arranging is the time it takes to render the webpage, it takes forever when the little cpu is churning away trying to fit it al on the screen

what makes the DS's attempt all the worse is you have to have a cartridge inserted to use it? at least the PSP's was built into the OS.

still at least someone decent has made the browser, it'll probably be better than the PSP's attmept which comes up with a full cache warning every time you change web pages. i mean whats the point in having a mobile web browser that cant fit a web page in its memory?

and seriously can someone please fix this "Oops theres been a problem" thing its taken me 20 attempts to post this




RE: this will be
By StevoLincolnite on 10/9/2006 7:52:06 AM , Rating: 2
The DS is a COMPLETLY different system than the PSP, FOr 1 it has 2 Processors for each screen, The Graphics card would also be helping out on webpage rendering I would gather, And webpages not fitting into memory? Well think of the Snes where they added an extra processor out INTO the cartridges to help process the Data for the game. (Think StarFox)
And I imagine that the entire webpage is viewed on the bottom screen and then using the stylus you would sorta "circle" part of the webpage and then that portion is showed on the top screen. The point is, you can check your email on the move, OR Do a little research on a topic using google to prove a point to someone, anyhow the ability is there, And Nintendo have allways had an ability to make things comfortable, Even if it does look awkward, This is the way technology is heading, and for a device that can play games, Wireless internet, chat etc - Its a steal. And a good reason for the Browser to be on cart is a moot point, maybe you could buy a connector so you can link it upto the computer sync it with emails? perform updates on the browser? Flash memory in there somewhere perhaps? Maybe theres space for a "Flash" Plugin in the future?


RE: this will be
By otispunkmeyer on 10/9/2006 8:25:08 AM , Rating: 2
ok fair enough, i didnt know that it had 2 processors. the PSP also has two, but i believe one is for media, web browsing etc, then the other for games.

its really not a question of the graphics chip helping to render the page. it can probably do it just fine, its only 2-D. its all on the CPU to re-arrange things.

i guess that set up where u have the whole page on one screen and a zoomed in section on the other is pretty good, helps you get to where you want with ease and with speed.

i still think its gonna be slow to use and despite the two screen set up, a little awkward too but we shall see. Im probably rather biased having used numerous PDA's and a PSP to browse the web.... each of them being infuriatingly slow, awkward to navigate and having problems with compatability (ie like macro media etc)

one thing that would be good .... the PSP never really allowed you to download and play or stream video files, even google video which had PSP formatted files, the PSP wouldnt stream them or download and play them.


RE: this will be
By otispunkmeyer on 10/9/2006 8:25:25 AM , Rating: 2
ok fair enough, i didnt know that it had 2 processors. the PSP also has two, but i believe one is for media, web browsing etc, then the other for games.

its really not a question of the graphics chip helping to render the page. it can probably do it just fine, its only 2-D. its all on the CPU to re-arrange things.

i guess that set up where u have the whole page on one screen and a zoomed in section on the other is pretty good, helps you get to where you want with ease and with speed.

i still think its gonna be slow to use and despite the two screen set up, a little awkward too but we shall see. Im probably rather biased having used numerous PDA's and a PSP to browse the web.... each of them being infuriatingly slow, awkward to navigate and having problems with compatability (ie like macro media etc)

one thing that would be good .... the PSP never really allowed you to download and play or stream video files, even google video which had PSP formatted files, the PSP wouldnt stream them or download and play them.


RE: this will be
By encryptkeeper on 10/9/2006 9:43:40 AM , Rating: 2
haha I have the Oooops problem alot too. I think the real issue is speed. There have been alot of reports about the browser taking up to 5 minutes to load a page on the DS. After broadband, NO ONE will stand for that. If the speed issue is solved, then I think users will overlook the other flaws.


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