Nintendo has been preaching since the beginning that they are all about the games, making sure that their handhelds and consoles echo this statement. But looking at the Nintendo DS, its Wi-Fi capabilities, and its touch screen, you have to wonder why Nintendo would let all that potential go to waste. Well, Nintendo\'s recent press conference has laid those wonders to rest with the announcement of software that will turn the DS into both a web browser and a TV.
The browser, a collaborative effort between Nintendo and Opera, will operate based on Opera\'s mobile browser software, which has been recognized for its excellent quality. Users will have the option of using the top screen to surf the net and the bottom for input, or both screens can be used together as one extra tall screen. The bad news is that there has been no word of whether or not the browser software will be released outside of Japan, but here\'s hoping.
Nintendo will also release software that allows the DS to receive digital broadcasts, effectively turning it into a TV. The top screen will function as the TV itself whereas the touch screen will let the user change channels. Again, sadly, Nintendo hasn\'t said anything about this cool new software landing stateside.
It is a well-known fact that Nintendo doesn\'t want to become every element of a person\'s entertainment center, but it would be stupid for them to simply shun features that are such a natural fit for their products. But even though it looks like they are finally getting the idea, I am still waiting on an announcement of the DS\'s inevitable personal organizer software. And while it\'s too bad there are no announcements for these new toys stateside, we may get lucky and get a chance to test drive them at E3 later this year. Stay tuned for more.