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The Nintendo DS Browser Hits Europe

By seaempty. Friday, 6. October 2006, 06:42:25

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Today is a good day. It is the day the excellent Opera DS Browser is released in Europe. Although the Japanese version was released earlier this year, this marks the first English version of the DS Browser. The Opera software utilises the DS's unique dual and touch screens to make the browsing experience smooth and very simple. I will gladly hold my hands up and state that I have been very impressed with the browser ever since I got a copy.

I imported the Japanese version when it was released, and I've used it constantly since. Due to the DS's fast start-up time, it's great for quickly checking emails, the weather, football scores, blog posts etc. I have well and truly become an advocate of this product! I have to say I don't use it for lengthy spells on the Net, but I don't believe that it's been designed with that in mind. Due to the DS's ability to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots, it's been great to know that I can take my DS out and about with me, and still be able to jump on the Web when I need to.

There are several things that can be done to improve your browsing experience, and luckily the nice people at Opera have compiled a page full of hints and tips. I personally find number 5 the most useful:

To make your browsing experience even faster, disable the images (third button from the right on the toolbar) while surfing in SSR mode to avoid a long loading time.


They have also a nice page that illustrates some of the various features of the browser. As an added bonus there is also a specific DS Browser forum which has been very busy with people discussing the browser, and sharing tips on how to make the best use of it (including and handy set-up guide).

If you haven't already got the browser, and are still undecided you may want to have a look at .ed's extremely popular hands on report, organicchunkysalsa's equally popular review, or my own first impressions account I posted when I first got the browser.

The DS Browser should be available in all good game shops as you read this, and is released in two variations - one for the original DS, and one for the DS Lite. The only difference in the two versions is the size of the RAM expansion pack that fits into the GBA slot of the DS. The DS Browser is priced at about £30 (40 Euros), which I personally think is a bargain for a mobile internet device of this calibre.

Japanese Wii Release Titles ConfirmedWin a Nintendo DS Lite with a Nintendo DS Browser.

Comments

Ramūnas 6. October 2006, 10:32

Yay! P:

Michael 7. October 2006, 04:09

too bad it only works in WiFi Hotspots. My house is WiFi'd and so are my school and plenty of resturants I go to, so might get it.

Ryan 8. October 2006, 03:04

I don't like the price of this at all.

For me it should be £15 maximum. As someone said on another site why is there no mouse gestures or voice commands when surely it could have been implemented?

MagiMika 9. October 2006, 21:32

Because the DS struggles as it is, even with an expasion pack to cope with the net. It works well, but would struggle with large sites. Voice commands? Geez, this is a DS. With all the software of opera 8.something in there already, why do you need voice commands or mouse gestures when you have a touch screen?

Ryan 10. October 2006, 21:38

The reason is mouse gestures and voice commands would have fitted in well with what the DS has to offer. It would have used it's features to the full and I don't think it would struggle with simple voice commands or recognising simple mouse gestures either.

MagiMika 11. October 2006, 21:30

Mouse gestures are uneeded becuase you can just tap buttons below, and voice is over 10megs on a PC with all the relevant processing software for voice built in. Mouse gestures are hard because clicking and dragging on a non link area of the page moves the page sideways or down, and is essencial. I have the DS browser, and to me, mouse gestures would be cumbersome and voice unneccecary.

This is just my opinion though.

Ryan 12. October 2006, 19:13

I really do like mouse gestures though but fair enough if it wouldn't be a relevant feature for the DS browser.

Anonymous 22. April 2007, 05:07

michael writes:

how much does this internet cost, for the ds

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