DS to get TV tuner, Opera-based browser
By Evan Blass 
posted February 15th 2006 3:50AM
posted February 15th 2006 3:50AM
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]
Erik:
"Plain and simple, DS was out first, played games. PSP came much later and played games, movies, and music."
The PSP came out around 10 days after the Nintendo DS. It was only in other countries that it was released "much later". Guess what, that's Sony's problem.
"The topic at hand is TV and Web...both of which were available to PSP first and DS second."
While Web browsing IS available for the PSP, the text-input method is the worst implementation of an on-screen keyboard ever developed. It takes the worst parts of T9 and integrates them with an on-screen keyboard. The nice part about T9 is that you can click on any of the buttons instantly. Not so with the PSP, you have to move the cursor around, effectively nulifying any of T9's advantages. Surfing and emailing on the DS will be vastly superior.
Also, PSP does not get over-the-air TV broadcasts. It supports the LocationFree system, which costs an extra $300. The DS TV utilizes a brand-new all-digital signal released in Japan. It is tr?cool.
I assume this is the same embedded OEM Opera browser that the Nokia 770 uses. If so, then it will need a lot of RAM, and that likely requires the additional hardware for the $32 price. The 770 has 64 Meg and that's not enough for comfortable usage--it frequently runs out of memory on complex pages.
Btw, one of you mentioned that OperaDS will come with a GBA style cart that contains extra ram... Where did you see that at? I'm really interested to know how this software will work.
#47...
do you have a source on all that info, alot of sites say no flash or java on this browser...
i almost typed bowser, but that would be too lame..
http://ds-x2.com/index.php?id=4857
i think the two versions would make us believe that GBA games will stick out of the ds lite...true?
I doubt this would cost $32 if it came out in the US. The brain training games will be $20 here and they are also $32 in Japan. $32 for them is budget price. The only budget priced software I expect to be full price here is Tetris.
The cartidge is obviously gonna contain some memory probabily 8mb or more to store and update firmaware and cache webpages. The ds cartridges have enough memory to store a whole games so i don't see why it can't have large memory.
The DS has handwriting recognition so there will be no problem with typing, the stylus used to play metroid prime hunters is exactly like a mouse, By the way the DS lite has greater battery life, brighter screen and is much smaller than the PSP so stop complaining, that is why more people have the DS than the PSP
Well, I'm glad the DS is finally getting a web browser. I did try the Internet Browser for the PSP, and I really didn't like it. The only thing I didn't like about it is that it takes FOREVER to input a web URL. Hopefully, the cart will be able to hold favorites, cookies, and a decient-sized cache. Anything more than that will be heaven for the DS.
And yes, I am a DS fanboy, but I still will play the PSP... intill Capcom releases Megaman X: Maveric Hunter for the DS... :)
anyway, i don't like this "PSP rulez" and "DS OWNZ" bullcrap. I like both handhelds, but I like the DS more. The PSP is for the media group, and the DS is for the gaming group. the PSP is starting to finally make good games, while the DS is finally starting to add media-type things to their consoles...
Now I just have to wait for the DS Lite...
wow porn in my pocket.. jk
this seems really cool i want it now
I personally think it will be a neat feature for me cause I am a kid that cannot afford a computer for my room cause i bought my DS... for me it will be like having a computer in my room but my big question is about like Java Apps and Macromedia will they run on it because that would keep me amused for years to come. Should it be capable of downloading files too?? (that would make me drool!)
Well, here is my take on the whole PSP vs DS issue...
What is good for some may not be good for others, just because you prefer one system over the other does not mean it is the best. Both systems have their own content to offer. So stop arguing already.
lol look at this message I sent to Nintendo customer service on February 12, just 3 days before the press release (the original message I sent is at the bottom):
Message(#6851-000486-86784868678)
Hi!
We appreciate hearing about the types of products that you would like to see from us in the future. While there hasn't been an announcement concerning software to use your Nintendo DS to browse the internet, you never know what the future holds! As the worldwide leader and innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, and because of our history of pushing the limits of gameplay and design, you can always count on Nintendo offering the most imaginative products.
In the meantime, keep checking our website's news section (www.nintendo.com/newsmain) for the latest information and announcements.
Nintendo of America Inc.
R.M. Rickets
Nintendo's home page: http://www.nintendo.com/
Power Line (Automated Product Info): (425) 885-7529
-----
Take our Survey! You have been chosen to participate in an e-mail quality survey. This should take less than 5 minutes. Please click here: None Selected
Since the PSP can browse the web using Wi-Fi Connection, I think the Nintendo DS should be able to too. The web browser should be on a DS game pak, while the cookies, history, and temporary internet files should be stored on a Gameboy Advance game pak - shaped memory card that has a slot to insert a flash card or an SD card to store any downloaded program files.
i have both ds and psp, and can say sonys has nothing on nintendo for there handheld.
shame the tv tuner is seg 1, that would have been nice.
and psp fanboy, grow up, the only reason that anyone in this country would be selling psp's for only £40 more than a ds, is either because they can't sell the psp for anything more, or there making a quick buck upping the price of the ds.
grow up buy a wii :D
after looking at all the retarded commments out there, i think that its time to object my expert opinion. In case you haven't noticed, in the first half of 2006, the Nintendo DS Lite and the regular NDS hold the top two spots in overall sales combining to sell 3.0 million units. The Sony PSP comes in third with a whopping 1 million. Now you may think that this information is irrelevant, but you'd be wrong. See because the DS sell so well, they've been able to lower the price several times. So now you can buy a regular DS, the web browser, most likely the tv tuner, and a couple of GOOD games for less than a Sony PSP with no games and a lot less quality. Now you understand why Opera is putting out their browser for the DS, one because many people who already own one are looking for a way to browse the internet, and two because it will make both Opera and Nintendo money in the long run (the DS being a cheaper alternative to a PDA or a PSP). And by the way, the browser will come with a memory card that fits flush in the GBA slot on the DS or the DS Lite.
Lets do some math:
DS Lite = 130 +
Web Browser = 30 +
Games(usual) = 30
-----
$190
+ R4
DS is da winner!
R4 is a flash cart which u can watch movies, listen 2 music
and GET FREE GAMES with
guess how much
$50 with a $6 1gb microsd
190 + 50 = 240
psp with all its crap = 250 + games
DS lite wins