Nintendo DS web browser comes to America

No sooner than we find out that Japan will be getting a sure-to-be-coveted Pikachu DS Lite, we now know that American DS owners can finally enjoy the luxury of browsing the internet on their handheld with the US version of the Nintendo DS Browser. The cartridge sports an Opera-based browser that takes advantage of the DS's dual-screen approach, and there looks to be different versions depending on whether you're buying for the DS Lite or original DS. Of course, we aren't thrilled by the notion of coughing up $29.99 for this convenience, but at least we Americans now have the option, eh?

[Via BrightHand]

[drtekger @ Jun 11th 2007 1:24AM]

Congratulations USA, I am already tired of using this POS software because it's just too damn slow and doesn't support flash etc. I sold my cardridge on eBay months ago.

[enjoi @ Jun 11th 2007 1:31AM]

i wonder this could be kinda useful i suppose
considering i have the wifi dongle
this is a must

[Slvrgun @ Jun 11th 2007 1:32AM]

Is there an official review on this?

[Brian Sexton @ Jun 11th 2007 1:34AM]

I bought this a few days ago and it sucks greatly. If you can, try it before you buy it to be sure you can tolerate how much it sucks.

[Vorx @ Jun 11th 2007 3:29AM]

This is Excellent for ram-hogging websites such as Engadget, Nintendo, Newgrounds, Joystiq, Jappleng IGN, and maybe even Penny-Arcade would be too visual for the DS to handle. If I'm not mistaken, the DS has 4mb of RAM? How in the world does it even support most websites? Websites these days are being built in web2.0 (AJAX) format with an additional combination of Flash 9 so performance must be slow. I'd hate to be caught browsing websites with it, perhaps e-mail would be great or maybe ROM emulation (see: Wii VC emulation using Flash), but yeah... No flash support? Buzzkill. I was hoping perhaps that this software -could- use flash so home-brew "touch" games could be supported but no, it really isn't. Not worth 30 bucks. 5 bucks 'maybe'.

[Kit F @ Jun 11th 2007 5:24AM]

It comes with a RAM upgrade to stick in the GBA slot

[Colin Scroggins @ Jun 11th 2007 3:46AM]

Here's your official review - it sucks. It sucks really bad! Slow, no Flash, bad at AJAX. Even Nintendo's site is unusable on it, much less anything Google.

[Bernhard @ Jun 11th 2007 4:59AM]

Lets not jump to conclusions immediately, people. Sure, it may not support flash (due to obvious hardware limitations) but is capable of rendering webpages properly, coming even in handy with its SSR function, allowing lengthy text to be read without too much eye-strain. Another thing to mention is the fact that it can display pages like engadget using the memory pack supplied with it (which contains around 10 MB of RAM, more than my palm TX is capable of using for its browser). Therefore, it is a good buy for those who are frequently on the move with their DS due to:

1. Its long Battery Life
2. Nintendo's partnered Hotspots which when the browser is used can still be used for free.
3. The fact that it is detected by sites like google to be a browser worthy of displaying full content, rather than mobile one.
4. Its javascript capabilities (not so much Ajax but javascript anyway)
5. High security sites still being accesible

Websites such as Windows Live mail can still be used (due to the fact that the browser is automatically detected and everything is switched to classic mode without the Ajax)

[IsLNdbOi @ Jun 11th 2007 6:11AM]

They should have made put it in a GBA cartridge instead. I never use the GBA slot on my DS so if the browser was in a GBA cartridge, I could just stick in that slot and have the browser all the time.

[Scooter @ Jun 11th 2007 6:55AM]

It has limitations, but is handy. For instance, I use it for ebuddy.com, and thus IM chat, which is a suitably simple but useful application. However since moving from Japan to Germany I have found it tough to find open hotspots as OEMs seem to be switching on security by default and (it seems) nobody here is sharing.

[sgt_easton @ Jun 11th 2007 7:40AM]

I'm getting sick of people overreacting to this. It's not that bad. People need to realize what this is and is not. It's designed to be a convenience item if you need to do something simple online when you are away from home. It's NOT designed to be used in place of Firefox on your dual-core computer. Seriously folks, for what it's designed for, it's fine.

On another note, Engadget, that was an awful article. Really now, the browser has been out for a week, and you didn't even touch on the controversy regarding Nintendo promising it would have Flash, and then removing that promise from the website two days after the browser was released. Stop trying to include as many links to other articles as possible, and actually do some research.

p.s. Bernhard - It will work at any connection that supports B and G. Not just "Nintendo designated hotspots."

[Bernhard @ Jun 11th 2007 7:53AM]

The thing I realy meant was the fact that the commercial Hotspots for which you have to usually pay for but that Nintendo has Partnered with will allow you to access that Hotspot for free, and therefore the internet. Take for example T-mobile in Germany which provides Wireless Internet Access for a fee. Nintendo has negotiated with them to allow Nintendo DS units to automatically connect, bypassing the payment interface, thereby providing them the service for free. The DS browser itself will obviously be able to connect to wireless routers at home and ones that are provided elsewhere.

[Chad @ Jun 11th 2007 10:44AM]

I picked it up this past weekend. Is it super fast? No. It won't replace my laptop or desktop, but sometimes I just want to check my email, and the DS's instant on functionality makes this a breeze. Gmail loads quickly and is easy to use with the device. $30? Well worth it.

[joe d. @ Jun 11th 2007 10:12AM]

Can you still run gmail? replies would be helpful.

[Chad @ Jun 11th 2007 10:49AM]

Yes. I would recommend looking into the mobile version of gmail though. I hear it loads even faster and is more usable. I was able to use the normal gmail interface though with little issue.

[Ironchief @ Jun 11th 2007 11:42AM]

Yes gmail works perfectly fine and loads quickly (about 5 seconds)

[rob @ Jun 11th 2007 4:01PM]

I was able to get into gmail with no trouble. My chief complaint is the lack of copy/paste - I'd like to send myself url's (which i might be able to do, i haven't RTFM) and paste text into my gmail, which I also haven't figured out how to do. Maybe I want to do that more on the DS than I do my phone because of the stylus support, but that was one of my very first impressions - hey, how do I select text here?

[primetime4 @ Jun 11th 2007 10:24AM]

If you have a DS and want to surf the web with it, I guess it is not too bad. But if you have any other mobile means of accessing the web (like a PSP), this thing is terrible. Definitely not worth the $35 compared to the PSP's included browser.

[PeteS @ Jun 11th 2007 12:13PM]

I just got one and they're not bad if you use them appropriately. Stick mainly with mobile oriented sites (which can include google, yahoo, weather underground,and many more) and it can be a handy way to get news, weather, stocks, web mail, and other info. You can even do google mobile web map searches, but the google map application for the treo beats it. It beats a cell phone for most browsing, but will not replace a real computer for heavy browsing.

[JC @ Jun 11th 2007 1:52PM]

I've been running this for about 6 months using the Japanese memory cart, and the European ROM on my M3 DS Simply. It's come in handy once or twice when I need to check something quickly and there's a hotspot. This is not really meant for intensive browsing anyway, so if you can spare the money, it's a nice to have, but for everyone who says it doesn't do Ajax, view graphics intensive websites well, etc., IT'S NOT MEANT TO DO THAT!!

[L @ Jun 11th 2007 3:08PM]

I don't understand. Can you connect at ANY wi-fi spot, or is it like those stupid download station areas you can only use it at. I never understood why they don't let you download demos from your home.

[JC @ Jun 12th 2007 9:44AM]

It's a browser that uses the WiFi to connect to any hotspot, not just the download stations. Nintendo created the download stations because those are ad-hoc access points, and when you download games from them, the games disappear from RAM once you turn off your DS. If they allowed downloads from the Internet, more people would find a way to pirate the downloaded content from the comfort of their own homes.

[Edward @ Jun 11th 2007 4:58PM]

Primetime4 I find the DS browser WAY more useful than the PSP browser since the PSP doesn't have a touchscreen keyboard, entering characters is brutal.

[Tom @ Jun 14th 2007 2:56PM]

Any idea when this is coming to Europe? If it already has - my bad.

[liliz @ Jun 24th 2007 1:16AM]

I cant use it on a web browser interface connection. So its pretty useless for me unless someone manages to hack it XD

[Squall @ Jul 22nd 2007 1:32AM]

I just got mine today this thing SUCKS!!!! i cant even check my mail on writing.com, aol, yahoo, anything!!! can some one pls help me

[hickhamt @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:16PM]

i can help you... follow these steps:
1) sell it on ebay
2) go buy a Nokia N800 or N770 (cheap now, like $130)
3) enjoy surfing the real internet on a larger screen with keyboard, skype, messenger, and streaming media....
4) thank me for making you wake up and realize that surfing the internet on a kids gaming handheld with a tiny screen is NUTS!
5) answer my question, why did you buy this when 85% of the user reviews above were thumbs down for this thing???
6) repeat steps for each unit you bought.