Search

[onarum]

Just read http://ds.ign.com/articles/725/725813p1.html

Damn.. I actually had high hopes for it, but it seems that the DS just can't do thi kind of thing, and the fact the the browser is unupdatable makes it worse.

Now maybe that'll stop all them peps asking about the browser running on SC, just think if a original product runs like crap, even if they indeed do find a way to hack the damn thing to use the SC's RAM for cache it would be nothing short of unusable.

[darkuni]

We don't have enough information to make this assumption yet.

Even the article linked said that they are probably using japanese servers to connect through.

These reviews of Opera DS also tend to visit sites that are:

1) Filled with ads
2) Not optimized for dialup, let alone portable browsers
3) Without optimizing Opera for fast speeds (i.e. turning off images)

Now, using US servers, no images (I want to check mail, read/post to forums - I don't need images) and utilizing mobile sites (like Google Mobile) will probably make the experience very acceptable.  Time will tell.  They shouldn't have released this in Japan first/alone - as everyone will draw their conclusions from these terrible import reviews.

[bitblt]

The Nintendo DS Broser is not bad IMHO, if not a bit slow.  The Opera interface works better than I expected. There are plenty of viewing options available. You can adjust the screen from 50%-150%. You can switch between split screen and dual screen viewing modes. Split screen mode provides an adjustable zoom window for close up viewing, and a macro view of the whole page on the second screen (you can't read text well in macro view). You can also swap macro and zoom screens with one click. If the macro view is set to the touchscreen you can move the zoom window around with the stylus. If the zoom window is set to the touchcreen then you can grab the page (anywhere) and drag/scroll it around with the stylus. Dual screen viewing mode removes frames and renders the same way on both screens. This mode works better when trying to read long posts. You can just scroll up and down rather than have to move the zoom window back and forth. You can also turn off/on images with a single click. For text input you can use a touch keypad or use handwriting recognition. The handwriting recognition works surprisingly well and I was impressed because I have sloppy handwriting.

The scdev.org forums are rendered quite accurately on Opera DS with nicely rendered HTML, readable fonts, and animated images. Php, Coldfusion, and ASP scripts run fine (server side stuff). Java scripts work. Flash, Java, and other web bloat are not supported. This site seems to be relatively efficient and the progressive download time isn't terribly long. Pages with large or numerous pictures will bog down the browser, but it's usable for a quick post.

The main reason I purchased the Nintendo DS Browser was for the cool little memory extension module.  I guess the next flash card I'm going to purchase is going to be one that fits in slot 1.  I predict homebrew will soon utilize this memory extension.

(Note this 256 color animated gif does not do the Opera browser screen shot justice.)

[NT]

I have a hard time believing that Opera/Nintendo would release the browser if it really took 3-5 minutes to load a website.  It really sounds like something is wrong with their configuration due to the fact that they're using the Japanese version.

[ghaxaq]

I think that the japanese version uses some kind of proxies so that people are monitored on which sites they do visit.Or maybe the RAM cartridge is the problem.If the browser gets to work on flashcarts before the european release maybe we'll be able to tell if it is infact really slow or not.

[Keroro]

I remember japanese WifiConnection games (Bleach, Touch Bomberman) to have big lags when connecting to jap servers from outside of Japan. Many gaming websites still jump to conclusions that the wifi in these games is bad.

Maybe it was also the case for the review.
That, and the fact that IGN sucks (IMO), may explain the bad review.

[Red XIII]

I have a hard time believing that Opera/Nintendo would release the browser if it really took 3-5 minutes to load a website.  It really sounds like something is wrong with their configuration due to the fact that they're using the Japanese version.

Exactly my thoughts.

IGN should have thought it better before posting such an article. Damn.

[zektor]

Pretty darn stupid of IGN to post a review for consumers outside of Japan regarding a product only currently available to Japan. Idiots. Nintendo and Opera will NOT release a product that does not excel in the country they release it in. In other words, when it is released in the USA, rest assured it will work great...as expected. It is moronic reviews like these that give bad light on a product well before it's release. IGN, review it when it is released in YOUR country...fools.

[Vanit]

Oh really? From what I've read people using it within Japan have the same slow load times. Also, in the video's I've seen it seemed to lag when they were scrolling down a page with a tonne of pictures already loaded. It IS a matter of the DS simply not being powerful enough for effective browsing.