DS to get FREE homebrew browser

by Blake Snow { Oct 3rd 2006 at 6:15PM }

Don't want to import the Japanese or soon-to-be released European version of the Opera DS web browser? Oh, and you don't want to spend any money, right? Well today (or someday in the unforeseeable future) is your lucky day. Pedro J. Estébanez is developing a free web browser dubbed Okiwi that supports PDF files, JavaScript, and file uploads among other things. An expected release date has yet to be announced, and we're not sure if the source code will be opened to speed up development, but hit the read link for the full skinny on the browser's progress.

More DS homebrew here:

[via DS Fanboy]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Concerned @ Oct 3rd 2006 6:19PM

but i like the opera browser..
its smexy...

like sex

but with a "M"

razer @ Oct 3rd 2006 6:32PM

"Oh no!!! But you will get a virus!!" - Says the stupid Xbox 360 owner. "I have a PC for web browsing why do I want it on my console" - Says another stupid Xbox 360 owner. I want one and thats why I will get a Wii or PS3. Maybe MS cant put it into the dashboard effectively or something? Just one more difference in the other guys favor..

Concerned @ Oct 3rd 2006 6:38PM

...what?

ttr @ Oct 3rd 2006 6:54PM

Too bad they can't homebrew up what we really need for handheld browsing; bigger screens! The PSP and DS browsers work well enough, but the screens are so small that you're h-scrolling so much. Websites are usually designed for 800x600 resolution at the least. So trying to browse them on these tiny handheld screens is nowhere near as nice as using a computer.

Scott @ Oct 3rd 2006 7:06PM

I think Razer might be confused on what Nintendo Console this is being developed for.

BlueLotus @ Oct 3rd 2006 7:09PM

uh... razer... what.... are....you....talking....about?
thats the lamest attempt at console bashing ive ever seen. A handheld should support it, for quick updates on lets say a football game while in a hotel lobby. Consoles dont need it, since they usualy are about 30 feet from most peoples computers. kthx try again.

....btw, it is smexy

lorben @ Oct 3rd 2006 7:14PM

Good times. I'm always glad to see more freeware/open source/homebrew being developed. This will probably need a DS hard drive, which I don't have, but I'm still glad to see something being made for those that do.

razer @ Oct 3rd 2006 7:28PM

My comment was meant to be sarcastic. Whenever it is mentioned for the 360 to have a web browser it is always shot down with comments like that. The Wii will have a web browser and so will the PS3 and now the DS supports web browsing further with Kiwi. I don't keep my friggen PC in my living room where my 360 is located and I don't think many people do unless you have a media center. So basically I'm saying I will be purchasing the console with this functionality. I know it's off-topic and not DS related, but figured it was a good place to rant about not having a 360 browser. (BlueLotus - anybody who uses the words kthx and smexy in the same post needs to uhhh "try again"..)

? X ? O @ Oct 3rd 2006 7:29PM

Eh, I'll still get the Opera browser.

I found it funny that Americans imported the Japanese browser only to find that, since the Opera servers were only in Japan (for now), browsing was incredibly slow. What a waste of time. Once they're set up here in the States, it should be a nice tool for when I'm on the go (lots of hotspots here in Seattle).

dan diemer @ Oct 4th 2006 9:46PM

so wait... youre saying that opera browses through a japanese proxy, instead of just accessing the web through your isp?

that's really weird...

007craft @ Oct 3rd 2006 7:47PM

If your that concerned about web browsing that its swaying your mind as to which console to purchase, you need to get your head screwed on strait. obviously a web browser for a console can only be good news, but its completely not needed as a factor at all. WAY WAY WAY less then another small factor like the Wii not having a DVD drive.

You say you dont have a computer in your living room, and thus you need a browser? Well why dont you go pick up a computer for FREE. There are people everyday throwing out old P2 and P3 computers. Even old ps2 mice/keyboards and old monitors. Sure, these computers arnt fit for running todays apps and gaming, but they can certainly get the task of web browsing done for you. I have a p2 266mhz cpu with screen which im planing on throwing in a dumpster real soon. It has a 4gb hard drive. If you want it, come get it... then enjoy web browsing for free. You can even skip out on buying all 3 consoles this way.

lorben @ Oct 3rd 2006 7:48PM

#9

Zuh? How could servers in Japan the speed of your browser getting to local web pages? A web browser doesn't rely on any servers but the one it's looking at.

olhado @ Oct 3rd 2006 7:54PM

Well it's not totally free.. you'll have to have a flash card.. which can be very expensive. So I'll stick with Opera, thanks.

Mank @ Oct 3rd 2006 8:07PM

The reason the 360 doesn't (and won't ever) have a browser is the fact that Microsoft would probably take a loss on Windows and Internet Explorer.

lorben @ Oct 3rd 2006 8:16PM

#13

Huh? Microsoft doesn't sell IE and I've never heard of anyone buying Windows just so they could use Internet Explorer over other the available web browsers.

Zach @ Oct 3rd 2006 8:19PM

how about this....who cares about having a browser in a system?! Who here is using MSNTV.......uh...none of us.....if you are too lazy to get off your couch to go get your codes for your 360 game, then you need to stop playing video games. And if you aren't buying a 360 due to the fact that it doesn't have a browser...you need to check your head....there is something wrong with you. Either way, the browser is cool for portables if your not at home and your in a wi-fi area....that's the only good use I see for it.

taliesin-nine @ Oct 3rd 2006 8:25PM

Haha, I love people who post blatantly wrong statements as facts. That is, as long as they're corrected.

gj lorben

devon @ Oct 5th 2006 4:18PM

Hmm... HOLY SHIT! If we have java, in a webbrowser, that has a touch screen. This can only mean one thing!!!! Runescape on a DS! It would suck, but it would be the first MMORPG for the DS! The handheld probably wouldent be able to do it though without a cart of some sort. I kinda wonder how he's gona do this.

? X ? O @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:41PM

@ lorben

To view a web page on the DS, an Opera server needs to access the site and reformat it and then send it to your DS.

? X ? O @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:43PM

gj me

Matt @ Oct 4th 2006 12:13AM

#13 is right. It has already been said microsoft doesn't want to add internet browsing to the 360 because they would lose money on pc/windows sales. say whatever you want but its true. its even more like a real computer than for only $400. and yeah the Wii can surf the internet but it sure isn't using high-end parts inside of it either.

MaHe @ Oct 4th 2006 1:16AM

Links and retawq both work through DSLinux. Though they still don't support images, you'd be surprised how good can web-browsing on a portable console be. Links can do JavaScript, SSL (though that still has to be implemented) and much more. Furthermore, they use 32MB RAM expansions ...

JCA @ Oct 4th 2006 1:38AM

It may be true that MS said they would lose money by adding IE to the 360 but just cause they said it doesn't mean it its true. There is NO WAY Internet freaking Explorer would cannabilize sales of Windows OSes. Seriously, the number of 360 users for the foreseable future has to be waaay smaller than the number of PC websurfers don't you think? And unless the 360 starts supporting keyboards or speech to text translation, serious websurfing sessions are relegated to the PC.

MS doesn't make PCs so why would they care if they hurt some company's hardware sales....its not like that company could try to bully MS by switching to a different OS. Yea I've heard of linux but its not a viable option for the masses. Not currently anyway.

I am not being sarcastic....how would they lose money? Any development costs could be easily recouped by XBL or hardware sales over the life of the product. Is part of IE's core technology licensed or something? I'm inclined to think that they were lobbied by budget PC manufacturers to not include a browser.

ken seang @ Oct 4th 2006 1:59AM

FYI: Theres a U.K. version of Opera for the DS that coming out October 6!!!!

http://www.opera.com/products/devices/nintendo/

Kreven @ Oct 4th 2006 2:20AM

@ #9, 17, 18 (Δ X ♫ O)

The Nintendo DS Browser does NOT require the website's content to be parsed by Opera's servers. It is a full fledged browser that runs the same core as your desktop browser. The only Opera based browser that its content is parsed before reaching your device is Opera Mini for mobiles.

Get your facts right next time. GJ2U

On another note, there is already a text browser available in DSLinux. Having a nice graphical browser sounds nice and all, but this OKIWI thing won't follow much of the web standards and will display mostly anything complexly structured the wrong way.

computer gamer @ Oct 4th 2006 2:46AM

sure all consolse can "benfit" from a browser but to base your choice on which one to get on it having a browser or not is plain daft.

Surely you should base the decision on price point, availability and most importantly *THE GAMES*.

I have a 360 but I bought it for the GAMES I knew were coming out for it NOT because I could message someone via the friends system. DOH!

Having said that, MS could do with integrating a browser just to keep the haters/fanboys quiet even though it's not a nice experience browsing on a console compared to a keyboard/mouse/monitor setup. Same as they have done with 1080p support, not needed but keeps the ignorant from using it as ammo against a perfectly good console made for PLAYING games.

? X ? O @ Oct 4th 2006 3:14AM

@ Kreven

Where are you getting *your* "facts" from? How do I know you're right? Could you direct me via a link?

The last I heard, the DS browser *does* connect through an Opera server. So until I hear otherwise, I'll believe I'm right :P

Kreven @ Oct 4th 2006 3:46AM

@ Δ X ♫ O

I personally own the Nintendo DS Browser and know for a fact that it doesn't go through Opera's parsing server to get the content.

http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=156530

[quote]
Does the DS browser go through a server before connecting to sites?
No, Opera for Nintendo DS does not connect to a server before connecting to the site you want to visit.

It is a standalone browser, and it will contact each site directly, and not through a server in your country, as rumoured.

This is unlike the free mobile browser Opera Mini, which always goes through a server, because it does not have a Web rendering engine of its own. Opera for Nintendo DS does have a complete rendering engine.

I hope this clears it up once and for all
[/unquote]

? X ? O @ Oct 4th 2006 4:15AM

Thanks for the link. I was wrong...

Now I know, and knowing is half the battle.

I will enjoy my slice of humble pie...à la mode.

Lorben @ Oct 4th 2006 10:58AM

I learned something today too. I didn’t know there was a browser that depended on a server to do it’s processing for it. Neat. Makes sense for very low processor power devices.

Scooby Doo @ Oct 4th 2006 2:00PM

Just to throw out my two cents...

Having a web browser for a console is a viable and attractive feature for some people. I live in a one-bedroom apartment in Chicago with my partner and we have limited space. Having a browser on a console would take up a lot less space than a computer. I'm sure some of my colleagues in NYC and S.F. would probably feel the same way.

Also, there are a lot of Internet Service Providers that increase download speed by caching web pages to their internal web servers. That way, when 100 people try to connect to CNN.COM, it can check if the page has been updated and if it hasn't, it merely resends the cached page rather than having to download the same content for each connection. It can dramatically increase the speed for servers that get a lot of hits and are bottlenecked because of too much activity.

Dom @ Oct 7th 2006 6:03AM

@devon
On his website, the developer says that it doesn't support Java, but Javascript. The DS doesn't have the power to run Java, according to him. You'll need a flashcart of some sort to run this browser in any case.

sun @ Oct 23rd 2006 7:01AM

i hope this will not be the hottest fake of the year...

but i can't see any real work in progress..

Ariel_Engle @ Dec 25th 2006 10:33PM

First of all if we make a webrowser it should be based on modzilla firefox and at least have the Adblock extention to reduce the crapy ads that offten have viruses on them and I also reconmend avg free version anti- virus all which are free to download.

But if you just want it for playing runescape on why not take a runescape cleint and change the resolution and add an on screen keyboard.