Doesn’t it run Java? That’d be enough to run really any online version of an instant messenger.

The other thing is that a lot of these impressions that I’ve noticed seem to be from people accessing normal pages. There’s a reason a lot of sites have a mobile/PDA page and that’s because all of these portable devices have major limitations in terms of loading a normal website.

I would like to see a comparison of those type of mobile-minded pages, personally.

Maybe that’s in this particular video, though. I cannot watch it now, unfortunately.

@ Tony,

It does NOT support Java. Major loss in my opinion.

It supports javaSCRIPT, not Java. too bad.

as long as it runs google maps or mapquest, I’ll get it.

what about import impressions? how import friendly is the software? that´s what i´d like to know. does handwriting only recognize japanese characters? english on-screen keyboard?

where´s the beef?

Gmail isn’t out of the question. There’s even some instant messaging web clients that works without requiring poppups.

@ Krevin,
They go to Gmail in the video. E-mail is fine, but the chat didn’t appear to work. The lack of Java is what I think has hurt IM stuff so far (as well as certain sites that just don’t work with Opera). Still possible for other clients, we need more impressions!

@ Bgudna,
I’m pretty sure that the handwriting recognition does include English support.

Doesn’t meebo just require javascript?

Meebo doesn’t support Opera.

Meebo doesn’t support Opera? How sad. That’s what I figured I’d be using for IM on the DS.

someone could easily cook up a PHP based chatter that could work on DS…

even i could probably do it, and i’ve only messed with PHP a few days…

someone with more skills than i could deffinatly make a worthy AIM, IRC, GTALK, YAHOO, etc etc client that would be super swell…

IM’s are for newbs.

^

I’m heading to Japan tomorrow, is this worth picking up, will compatability and language be fine. Are all the menus useable without speaking japanese?

a lack of easy instant messaging in a device where one of it’s big goals is to create community with WiFi and soon to be WiiConnect24, the absence of being able to use even a DS specific Opera chat client is a glaring ommission, one that has completely swayed my decision. There better be a vastly improved product by the time it hits North American shores.

@ James:
Do menus speak to you? No. You need to READ Japanese, not speak it.

It supporting Gmail may just get me to buy it. It might be good for emergencies if I ever have to access email and there isn’t a computer around.

Im assuming that if someone makes a Opera compatable chat script, then it should work on the DS too.

I wonder if the option to “mask as firefox” is available on the DS. http://tech.cybernetnews.com/?p=439

If it sells well, I bet websites (especially gaming sites) will customise a mini-layout for it like PDA. As for IM, there will be lots of homebrew people out there making one for it sooner or later.

Too bad no Java or Flash, or I can make a Flash version of NSMB and let you guys have a go at it hehehehe. Seriously, if Flash is supported (maybe the homebrew guys can do it) people will make flash games customised for the DS small screen - it will be really cool!

Does support any form of video?

MPG or whatever?

@ Babble:

Nope, no video or sound.

@ Nintendonut:

I’m pretty sure that it isn’t available.

Looks pretty slow. But it’s the same with any sort of PDA type browser - poor support for cool stuff and way to slow. I can’t imagine ever needing the internet so badly that I’d need it on my DS…not when I’ve got a cell phone handy (which doubles as a PDA…so it too has a web browser on it that I hardly ever use because it’s so slow.)

Still, I’d like to try this out. Maybe DS is what I need to wash away the sour taste handheld browsers have left me with. It is, afterall, from Opera.

I’ve been working on a PictoChat type system, ideally for the DS Browser:

http://www.dualstart.com/picto/

It works in Opera (8.5, maybe 9) and Firefox 1.5. I think it is very possible to get something like this working on the DS, it just may take a few tricks. Go easy on me, it’s a rough prototype.

CNN taking three minutes to load? That’s a bummer, and almost a deal killer.

I really am glad they they have put a browser on the DS and I’m glad it seems to run so smooth, but I dont think I will ever get one. I really need some RSS, video, audio, and VPN support. My college requires VPN to get onto the wireless network. Ohh well, I do feel good knowing that the PSP (evil) doesn’t handle VPN either. To all who buy, Happy Browsing!

wifi isn’t free enough to warrant this IMHO

damnit, i was in akiba just a few hours ago and i didn’t pop in any new game stores so i didn’t know it was out. i won’t get it, though, because even if you can change the language, it seems horribly crippled. hopefully the us release will have improvements.

No way am I getting it if a site takes three minutes to load

“if Flash is supported (maybe the homebrew guys can do it) people will make flash games customised for the DS small screen - it will be really cool!”

Its not going to happen, Flash requires a hell of a lot of processor power (and memory) and is owned by Adobe who don’t provide the source code.

Flash runs well on my old HP pda which comes with a cpu slower than DS. Alhought it does have 64mb memory, its eaten up by WindowsCE and other apps but still runs smooth in pocket explorer.

I think DS and PDA’s cpu are of the same type, its easy to port a version for DS. Its up to Adobe, if this Opera Browser sold over a million copies, perhaps they will considered making one for DS.

I wouldn’t hold my breath for Flash. The PSP version of Flash in the last firmware is a pretty-gimped version of Flash 8, and even then, it’s barely usable even when the PSP is cranked up to 333mhz. I’d shudder to think what it would be like on the DS.

Flash runs on the freaking LeapPad, never mind PDA’s. I’m sure if people buy Opera for the DS, there’ll be a version 2 next year with Flash, though it still won’t have the oomph to play streaming videos.

Java, on the other hand…. sure, you might get J2ME (mobile edition) working, but that is so completely different than the java applets you find on normal web sites that there really isn’t much sense including it except as a platform for delivering more applications besides Opera. I can’t really see Nintendo allowing that unless they got a cut like the cell phone carriers do.

Fullblown Java is way, way, WAY too big for the DS, no matter what kind of RAM expansion pack you’re talking about. The main RAM in the DS is 4MB, and all the rest on the Opera RAM expansion cartridge is going to be some kind of swap space at best.

look i do not havet his (do not read japanese) but wouldn’t aim express work?maybe?

is it possable to change the menus to english?????

Guys…i was excited for the Opera…but it seems to fail miserably. I use my psp online ALL THE TIME. It consumes most of my time…well, that and my girlfriend. haha…neway, the psp can get on ANY instant messenger. www.aimonpsp.com works AMAZINGLY! And, since sony is freakin’ awesome at this, the psp doesn’t take that long to load a page. That, and you can use up to three pages at a time. It’s so great. I love the DS, but it’s not for internet

Jake is a tool. You can use AIM, Yahoo, and MSN on the DS, using ebuddy modile. Yahoo mobile also works, which allows you to IM both Yahoo and MSN buddies, as well as check out lots of other Yahoo features. MSN mobile works as well. Even better, it’s a lot easier to browse and text using a touch screen than it is using an analog, d-pad, or buttons. Only a full-size keyboard and mouse combo can beat it.

BTW, you’ll be blown away at how quickly sites load. If something loads slowly on your PC, expect it to be worse on DS, and just turn the pictures off to turn minutes into seconds.

@ infamousX

So it is confirmed that ebuddy mobile works? It only seems to make sense that it would. Its what I planed on using in the first place to IM.

The PSP browser is just about the best you can hope for for a portable. The DS in my opinion is a terrible failure on nintendo’s part. And just so you know INFAMOUSX, it will not run Ebuddy, have you tried it to know for sure, because all those things rquire java, which the DS’ puny kiddie processor cannot handle. If you have a DS you probbably dont have any friends to chat with anyway. nintenDONT

looks kool. Fammy site picto online looks cool, now if you can only make it more like picto chat… chat channels… more picto chat less page…

I have heard speculation that you can use the memory card for the sp with the opera browser on the ds

well your speculation is wrong, you cant do anything cool with this crap