All Gadgets Aside...

Thats right folks. All of you that have been waiting and waiting for an English release of the DS Browser(in case you were in a closet it Runs Opera), today is the day. This is the first time that the browser for Nintendo's incredible dual screen handheld will be available in a flavor sporting the english language, so if you have been holding out for something you can understand a little bit better then your wait is no longer. To get you up to speed here are the links to my pervious reviews for the browser: DS Browser Review 1----DS Browser Review 2 And here is a link to .ed's blog where he also has a review: .ed's Blog

And if you are looking for a litte something extra, Opera is running a little contest. What you need to in order to win is Analyze and Identify some thumbnail images of websites, if you are one of the first ten to properly identify the thumbnail images you will receive a brand spanking new Nintendo DS with a copy of the DS Browser, the next 50 that identify the imags correctly will recieve an "Opera Powered" DS/Mobile Phone Strap. Click here to be magically whisked away to the contest!

There has recently been a pile of "interesting" reviews on the DS Browser. What I find interesting about these reviews is that they seem a little less than accurate. I mean to say that I received my DS Browser a couple weeks ago and in order to give it a fair review I have been using it almost exclusively, in fact I am writing this post from my DS Lite. The first time I had a chance to play with the browser I only had a couple hours to use it, so the best way to get a really good feel for it would be to use it all the time.

Contrary to recent reviews I have found that the DS browser is absolutely functional in every day use. I noticed shortly after I started using the browser that it is quite nice not being bombarded by flash based ads that are incredibly unnecessary. Yes, I know, many people would say the lack of flash and java are a bad thing but there is something to be said for quick browsing on a small, simple device that fits in your pocket. I have been bringing my DS with me everywhere including my work where it comes in handy for me to check my work email when I am nowhere near my desk or on lunch break. Obviously the browser also works great when you hit the coffee shop for a little pick me up.

When it comes to useability I have found that the two view options(small screen rendering and DS mode) that the browser offers give you the freedom of choice to put each website's best foot forward. For example, sites based mostly in text(like slashdot) work better in small screen rendering whereas sites with a lot of pictures(like google images or similar sites) work much better in Ds mode since it uses the handy magnifier. In general the browser will load any site faster in small screen rendering so if you are browsing a bloated site like *ahem*ign.com, then you might want go there in small screen rendering mode and switch when you arrive. Switching between view modes is a snap with a simple button for each of the two modes on the bottom of the screen. It only takes a couple seconds to switch from view to view.

Entering text is simple as well, as you can see. The on screen keyboard has proven to be incredibly efficient. Since I seem to be faster overall on the keyboard I have chosen to use it a majority of the time although the time I have spent using the handwriting recognition I have found it works better than I expected. As long as you use the center of the four quadrants as your focal point when using the handwriting recognition then you are as good as golden. I would say that learning to write on the DS is a much quicker process than learning grafitti on a Palm, and even that is a quick process. I plan on using the handwriting recognition the quicker I get at it.

All in all people need to understnd that the DS isn't incredibly zippy to begin with and as long as you learn how to use the DS Browser to it's full extent then you will be right at home. Yes, bloated sites will load a little slow, but play with the viewing modes to optimize your experience. All in all the majority of the internet loads at perfectly acceptable speeds for everyday browsing including checking your email at places like Gmail and Yahoo. I highly recommend that anyone that owns a Nintendo DS pick up one of the DS Browser as it supplies you with an excellent means to access the internet from anywhere that Wifi is available. My opinion on the DS Browser hasn't changed from my original review and I still believe that this is an amazing way to get online at a completely unrivaled price tag($129.99USD for the DS Lite + $29.99USD for the DS Browser).