Good news for Nintendo DS owners in Japan: you'll soon be able to pick up two new accessories to enhance your DS. The company has partnered with Opera to provide a browser for the system, and they're also planning o­n introducing a TV tuner capable of receiving o­ne-Seg terrestrial digital broadcasts.

Nintendo has announced that they will release a web browser intended for the "Nintendo DS" portable game device called the "Nintendo DS Browser (temporary name)" in June. Its price should be around 3,800 yen. Also, JustSystem announced that they would be offering ATOK for the Nintendo DS Browser.

The Nintendo DS Browser is a web browser jointly developed by Nintendo and Opera Software. By inserting a card with the Web Browser stored o­n it into the Nintendo DS card slot and a memory expansion module in the Gameboy Advance cartridge slot, users can browse the web using wireless LAN communication. o­nline sales are scheduled to begin in June, and the price should be around 3,800 yen.

Also, it was revealed that JustSystems' "ATOK" Japanese input system will be included in the Nintendo DS Browser. The ATOK that will be included has been newly developed and specialized for predictive input o­n the Nintendo DS, and allows for hand-written character input by using the touchscreen.

Inspired by:
http://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/12835.html

Press Release (Opera Software):
http://www.jp.opera.com/pressreleases/ja/2006/02/15/

Press Release (JustSystem):
http://www.justsystem.co.jp/news/2006f/news/j02151.html?w=hmidx

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Nintendo Corporation held an announcement event o­n the 15th called "Nintendo DS Conference! 2006: Spring," related to the "Nintendo DS" portable game device. During the conference, it was announced that they will release a reception card capable of receiving o­ne-Seg broadcasts. Release is planned for this year, and the price is not yet decided.

Although they have not decided o­n a name either, it was introduced at the conference as the "DS Terrestrial Wave Digital Broadcast Reception Card (temporary name)." It is furnished with a rod antenna, and by connecting it to the Nintendo DS, o­ne-Seg broadcasts can be received.

At the event, a demonstration was held using experimental units. The demonstration models connected to the Gameboy Advance slot o­n the underside of the unit, but it was stated that the final product will instead be a card-type and connect to the DS slot.

As far as shapes are concerned, the card and rod jut out of the reverse of the LCD, but the company's President Satoru Iwata, who was conducting the presentation, said that "when viewing o­ne-Seg TV, rather than holding it in your hand the entire time, we think it's probably more common to put it o­n some kind of table and watch it. For this reason, the shape makes it so that the antenna isn't in the way, and is a reasonable form."

Detailed specifications such as whether or not there will be a recording function were not announced, but channels are selected using the bottom display. Also, in the images that were made available, buttons that are thought to be for reception area settings, program information display, and broadcast still image memo record function can be seen.

Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20060215/ninten.htm

Conference Materials:
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/dsconference2006s/index.html?link=dstopics