DS to get TV tuner, Opera-based browser

Nintendo announced this morning that a web browser based on Opera for the DS is forthcoming, and also revealed an upcoming TV tuner attachment for pulling in over-the-air broadcasts. Very few details are known about either product at this point, although Nintendo has said that the browser will start shipping in June for around $32. Neither a price nor a release date have been mentioned for the tuner. Follow the "Read" link for more pics...

Update: More info at Joystiq, here.

Update 2: Just to clarify, the TV tuner is only capable of receiving "One-Seg" broadcasts. "One-Seg" is a kind of terrestrial digital broadcast, meaning this TV tuner cannot receive traditional analog TV broadcasts. Unless more countries hop on the One-Seg boat in the near future (Japan is set to launch One-Seg broadcasts on April 1st of this year), it's extremely unlikely this accessory will ever get outside of Japan.

[Thanks, Tom]

[PSP Fanboy @ Feb 15th 2006 3:58AM]

Hmmm, have to PAY for a browser on a SMALLER screen?

All Sony has to do is upgrade firmware. FREE of charge.

[Jassen Payen @ Feb 15th 2006 4:00AM]

Holy Moly!! This is pretty cool stuff...I wonder what kind of support the Web browser would have though...can we expect java/flash and anything advanced? Memory seems like an issue too, unless we could get something expandable that would fit in the GBA slot, such as a GBA Flashcard/Supercard/M3....hmmm, all very interesting...

I'm quite excited about the TV Tuner on the go too! :-) Things are constantly looking up in the Nintendosphere right now!

[randomboy @ Feb 15th 2006 4:06AM]

Nintendo is not only starting to listen to their fans. they are also delivering. Nintendo Forever.

[The ZeroCorpse @ Feb 15th 2006 4:09AM]

But you're missing that the total cost is lower:

DS = $130

Browser = $32

Total = A lot less than $250 for a PSP

[The ZeroCorpse @ Feb 15th 2006 4:11AM]

Oh, yeah... lets not forget that the Sony browser requires surfing with a control cross, while the DS will be infinitely more capable due to the stylus simulating a mouse, like a respectable PDA.

[PSP Fanboy @ Feb 15th 2006 4:13AM]

In the UK, the difference between DS Lite and PSP is only around �40, which doesn't seem that much of a step-up monetary-wise.

[PSP Fanboy @ Feb 15th 2006 4:15AM]

Scrolling is utilised by the analog stick..., will the Ds even have enough system capabilities to have smooth scrolling? Wonder if the cache will even load a few images...

Do we have any specs on that for the DS?

[Ron @ Feb 15th 2006 4:17AM]

I think that having Opera for the DS would be awesome. The DS seems a device that is well suited for casually surfing the Internet while on the go. Personally I, however, think the PSP is more impressive as a media device but the interface is lacking without a touchscreen.

So, the DS gets an Opera browser and still no Opera for the Palm OS? (Oh, and that miniOpera Java app doesn't count. The miniOpera app is better suited for a phone and renders pages rather poorly.)

[Brian @ Feb 15th 2006 4:25AM]

I'm pleased. The touchscreen has always been tailor made for browsing, unlike using a D-pad with PSP.

On the memory issue, I expect that, since DS cards have been made up to 128MB, and Opera's software won't fill a quarter of that, they could fit a decent browser cache onto a larger SRAM on the cart.

[Desides @ Feb 15th 2006 4:29AM]

Further proof that Nintendo's management isn't nearly as aloof about the PSP as they try to project.

As if the GBA Micro, the GBA SP refresh, lowered GBA game prices, a DS price cut, Nintendo Connect, and the movie viewer weren't proof enough.

Nintendo: there is a difference between matching the PSP's bullet points and actually providing those services in a reasonable way. Whatever happened to "we're focused on gaming?"

[Jonathan Fung @ Feb 15th 2006 4:33AM]

That is just soooo cool.
1) The browser will definitly have faster text imput than the PSP
2) The TV tuner without a 250 dollar location free dock is nice...however no price is listed for the tuner either...
3) Only 32 dollars? Thats only the price of a game!
4) But really...how often will you use your DS to surf the net...I used my PSP to go to wikipedia for some last minute research on Intelligent Design for Speech and debate...but that was the extent of its usefullness...
5) Nonetheless, technology pwns.

[PSP Fanboy @ Feb 15th 2006 4:40AM]

Intelligent Design is the PSP ;)

Yeah I'm a PSP Fanboy, what's your problem?

[Erik @ Feb 15th 2006 4:45AM]

"I wanna be, I wanna be, a PSP!"

[Niponse fan. @ Feb 15th 2006 4:56AM]

Ha the PSP will never see Ouendan! the game that makes it all worthwhile.
A browser add on is cool for a games machine, I have a laptop for browsing but there is no doubt that a browser would be a nice bonus.

[Brad Twitty @ Feb 15th 2006 5:07AM]

Desides, what are you talking about?
The browser is an option that you will need to buy if you WANT it, so that is an added feature made by a third party, that Nintendo is willing to stand behind.
Also, the Play-Yan are for people that want add those feature to their device, they are NOT built in. The micro is the GBA Deluxe, how does improving a design pull away from the intent of the original? The DS was a little big and there is nothing wrong with that becoming a nicer piece of hardware, but it is will the same innovative design as the original. All these added features are nice, they have nothing to do with gaming, but they are not pulling away from Nintendo's main focus, games. All Nintendo systems are GAMING machines and sometimes they can do a little extra. PSP, Xbox 360 are multimedia mega machines that happen to play games.

[Brian @ Feb 15th 2006 5:21AM]

"
Nintendo: there is a difference between matching the PSP's bullet points and actually providing those services in a reasonable way. Whatever happened to "we're focused on gaming?""

Nintendo hasn't (I assume, reasonably) had anything to do with the development of this browser. Why wouldn't they accept Opera's license fee?

[soupbun @ Feb 15th 2006 5:31AM]

Erik,

Pfft. Nintendo wants to be a PSP, eh? Also, you might as well say both of these gadgets wants to be PDAs. And checkout the best ripoff announcement yet.

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/09/pspuppies-nintendogs-ripoff-in-the-works/

[Erik @ Feb 15th 2006 5:53AM]

soupbun - psst...Sony isn't creating the game. And Sony had a long history with PDAs so it's only natural for them. Sony released the PSP as a full entertainment device, the DS was designed as a game system, the rest is just to catch up to the PSP.

[Monk @ Feb 15th 2006 6:02AM]

Erik, you forget that the PSP games mostly suck. Sony has light years to travel to "catch up" to the DS in that regard.

As for the browser, give me a quick touch-screen keyboard any day over the sloppy PSP text input. Most people want to interact with the Internet in some way.

[Desides @ Feb 15th 2006 6:11AM]

"13. Desides, what are you talking about?"

Nintendo's attempts to make the PSP irrelevant to as many portable buyers as possible, that's what.

The multitude of portable systems and tiered pricing was done deliberately as a first line of defense against the PSP, namely by constrasting Nintendo's inexpensive offerings versus the $250 PSP. It also helped to dilute the PSP's market share in terms of stastistical reporting: the PSP's share of the market goes down when you include the shares of the SP and Micro.

Well, the PSP has 30% of the market, so that didn't work as Nintendo had hoped. So their new strategy, apparently, is to mimic the features that the PSP offers. I doubt this will work, but hey, I don't run Nintendo. Otherwise we'd have Mother 1+2.

[strider_mt2k @ Feb 15th 2006 6:13AM]

Choosing every story about PSP or DS to drag out these stupid fanboyisms makes us ALL look bad.

Welcome to the planet, please accept this complimentary clue.

[snac @ Feb 15th 2006 6:13AM]

Maybe it costs money because it uses the RAM on the browser card, which you presumably purchase? I suppose it would be annoying to put in a card when you wanna go web surfing, but who knows, maybe it will have some benefits.

I love the execution with the two screens/touch screen! Showing the whole page on the touch screen, and allowing the user to select the zoomed area by touch. That could work. I presume the on screen keyboard will be present - it is surprisingly quick to use, considering.

[Erik @ Feb 15th 2006 6:14AM]

Monk - Did I mention anything about the quality of the games? The article is about a web browser and TV tuner...I suggested that they are playing catch-up to the PSP, or wanting to be like them. Then I get a genius that points out that a third party is making a game on the PSP that the DS had already. Big Woop, Sony doesn't control content. He also stated that both are like PDAs, although I don't see that, I pointed out that at least Sony was in the PDA market, so it would be somewhat natural. Then, out of the clear blue you talk about how sucky PSP games are.

Plain and simple, DS was out first, played games. PSP came much later and played games, movies, and music. PSP released a free update for the Web, LFTV, and RSS. Much, much later, DS announces similar features.

I happen to enjoy my PSP and I love my GB Micro...although I only play old NES Roms on it because the vast majority of GB games now are designed for 5 year olds.

People, if you plan to argue a point, don't bring in outside facts that have nothing to do with the topic. So the next person, don't point out that the DS comes in silver and the PSP doesn't because that's as trivial as the PSP Dog game and the 'sucky' PSP games. The topic at hand is TV and Web...both of which were available to PSP first and DS second. I repeat...I wanna be, I wanna be, like a PSP.

[randomboy @ Feb 15th 2006 6:15AM]

PSP fanboy,

I don't know what UK you're from. But from the UK I come from the difference is over �100, this is when you IMPORT a DS lite, I expect that it should be more.

Plus with DS, those that do not wish to use it for browsing are not forced to pay for it ala PSP.

[Joanne @ Feb 15th 2006 6:16AM]

This is sweet, in the UK and Ireland, BT openzone wireless hotspots are totally FREE for DS users, and soon we'll be able to surf the web through them too!

[ScHIzO @ Oct 27th 2007 9:07PM]

dude, Mcdonalds. thats all I hafta say.(America pwns the free wireless hotspot!)

[fraxyl @ Feb 15th 2006 6:30AM]

Pretty sweet. Though I'll probably never use it for websurfing (though you never know, might be at a wireless spot and have a go), it's nice to have the option.

TV tuner will be cool for those that want it, but I just use it for games. It's like everybody gets the base DS model and can customise it how they see fit. On the other hand, with the PSP, all the stuff is there, if you don't use it, you don't. Simple as that. It all comes to preferences.

Actually, a thought, you could use the browser to find friend codes. I've not tried wi-fi games, but I'm not really sold on the whole friend code thing.

As for PSP Fanboy... your name speaks for yourself, Haven't seen you write anything objectively, it doesn't lend much to your credibility.

[Chuck @ Feb 15th 2006 6:40AM]

I am greatly encouraged that Nintendo is not trying to get in the way of third parties that want to add to the functionality of the DS. Sony should do the same.

[TZK @ Feb 15th 2006 6:52AM]

No matter how you dress it, the PSP is a machine, the DS is a toy.

For lots of people, price wasnt an issue with these systems. I WANT IT, and that was that.

This is Nintendos second DS.. if there is ever a new PSP2, or whatever, you are most likely going to have your face handed to you, since Sony knows how to please. Well, usually :-P

[soupbun @ Feb 15th 2006 6:58AM]

Erik,
LOL, your point just plains suck. The whole computer industry take software from each other. it's point is just to add functionality to the machine. that was my point. That's why Nintendo is taking Opera code and porting it to the DS, just like Yuke's media takes Nintendogs and Tomigochi ideas and create that dumb PSPuppies games. If we see the DS come out with an analog nub and/or a disc reader, then we can accuse NDS of being a PSP. Get your story straight.

Also, Sony has a long history of making PDAs? Well guess what, Palm and Apple were there way before Sony. And you know what? The Clie line failed - and miserably. They couldn't catch up with Palm (a declining PDA company) or Microsoft, and this is after dumping crap after crap of multimedia functionality, trying to target the same market as the PSP - adult gadget users.

And after a year of verbal abuse and beating from dumb fanboys and even dumber industry analysts, who still on top in market share and profits? Nintendo. So who's really catching up with who? Like Nintendo really needed a browser to regain ground. They're doing it because it's probably the right direction for the NDS. This coupled with your stupid PDA argument, are you trying to say that the PSP will fail?

[blankoboy @ Feb 15th 2006 7:17AM]

OperaDS = cool!

[dalton @ Feb 15th 2006 7:23AM]

If nothing else, this is going to make an AWESOME iTunes remote.

[Prateek @ Feb 15th 2006 8:10AM]

Seems like BS that Nintendo can't offer this thing for free or for less. If I want to browse the web on an inadequately small screen I think I'll stick with my PSP.

And no, the cost doesn't matter here, its the frickin' principle.

[daniel @ Feb 15th 2006 8:23AM]

well the ds doesnt have enough memory to run a browser at an acceptable speed so i assume theyll be memory in the cartridge and thats what your paying for

[yjs @ Feb 15th 2006 8:25AM]

TZK, you make me laugh. First of all, the DS Lite looks a lot sleeker than the PSP. Secondly, all these accessories are fully compatible with any DS, 1st model or the Lite; it's not like the browser and TV tuner are built into the DS Lite. Thirdly, Sony has not been pleasing people in terms of consumer electronics since the mid-90s. As someone who always thought they'd get their head out of their ass in terms of portable music, they never did. The new 'Walkman' with a joke, their TVs mediocre. Sony has been losing to the competition and being abandoned by loyal consumers.

[Steve Swiller @ Feb 15th 2006 9:00AM]

I hope the browser has built-in support for pdf files.

[soupbun @ Feb 15th 2006 9:25AM]

I wonder if this browser has anything to do with getting downloadable game content to the DS thru a less expensive strategy than stupid kiosks. Or more specifically, retro games!

[PodMonkeys @ Feb 15th 2006 9:35AM]

Sweet! I just might have to start formatting some of my stuff for DS! of course I still havn't formatted it for PSP yet, either. :P

[dash @ Feb 15th 2006 9:50AM]

And again this link comes in useful :p

http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=142

[Oded Carmi @ Feb 15th 2006 9:54AM]

Ummm wait a sec. Wasn't there an article in engadget that said that in the coming year or so publicly broadcasted radio will cease to exist? Everything will go through cable or sattelite. If this is true, then what the hell is the point of a TV tuner, at least for the US market.

Someone please clarify!

[furtive @ Feb 15th 2006 10:17AM]

Two words. Stylus Gestures. Or at least I hope so.

[zed @ Feb 15th 2006 10:34AM]

Just get both of the systems and quit your crying. They both make your thumbs hurt, so who freakin cares?

TV looks like a cool addition. But do I need another distraction? The brower seems a bit obselete since opera runs on cell phones for "free." So eh on both. Just give me some good games. Oh, and the Lite.

[zed @ Feb 15th 2006 10:41AM]

Oded Carmi, if everyone still have the same portable by the time analog broadcast signals are turned off, the economy would completely come to a standstill.

[nate @ Feb 15th 2006 12:05PM]

I'm using my psp right now to play Gameboy games.

Bite me

[push2flush @ Feb 15th 2006 12:21PM]

it it supports flash, people can emulate NES games in flash, and then you can play them for free on the browser. is april the release date in the US too? or did it not say?

[bradtwitty @ Feb 15th 2006 2:18PM]

"I'm using my psp right now to play Gameboy games."

Wow, see you spent $250 to play games that run on smaller $79.99 system (SP) or an even smaller $99.99 system (micro). That is a very funny post, thanks nate.

Also, I assume that you are using ROMS without owning the real game, this is illegal as I'm sure you know and thanks to you digital rights managment is on its way to the game industry, no more letting your friend borrow your games is just around the corner, thanks.

[Gene @ Feb 15th 2006 2:45PM]

Well i hate the psp and i have this much to say 32 dollars for a browser screw that id rather walk the extra 10 feet to my computer and use that because its not like wifi is everywhere

[stu @ Feb 15th 2006 4:57PM]

If the opera DS browser has support for streaming audio and video it'll be sweet. Sitting at an open wi-fi hot-spot watching the news or playing around with google video would be great.

[bill @ Feb 15th 2006 4:58PM]

the 32 dollar package includes the software on the ds cart and extra ram that goes in the gba slot. this web browser has an option to render a webpage across both screens (great for blogs like engadget) and it supports flash. they have versions for ds and ds lite . the ds lite ram cartige is smaller in size so it doesnt stick out. you could use this in the living room to control itunes or get a touchable tv guide. now is 32 dollars asking too much ?

[Stephen @ Feb 15th 2006 6:15PM]

Ok, I have only a few things to say... First, fanboys please calm yourselves, lol. This isn't about whether the DS is better than the PSP or vice-versa. If you prefer the DS, fine, likewise if you like the PSP. Just because you like the DS or PSP best doesn't mean it IS the best. It's rather nice to have a choice, actually. It keeps each company trying to out do one another, and we benefit by getting competitive products. (steps down from soapbox...sry)

The DS Opera browser sounds like a cool addition to the DS, and while it may have some drawbacks, it's still a nice add-on. If you think 32 dollars is a bit much, then here's a simple solution: don't buy it. They aren't forcing you to buy anything. Personally, I can't wait for Datel's 4 gig HDD and media player for the DS and Metroid Prime: Hunters. Just saw a screenshot of it, and lemme tell ya, it was very nice. Much better than the demo that shipped with the original DS a year ago.