Japan to get Nintendo DS web browser in June

Nintendo has confirmed that the new Opera browser which allows DS owners to surf the web on their handhelds will launch in Japan this June, according to Nintendo Power magazine.

It'll come on a regular DS game cartridge and will be priced at YEN 3800 (EURO 27 / GBP 18), and users will be able to input information using the touch screen and stylus.

In a recent interview with cubed3.com, Opera's Berit Hanson said the DS's two screens "allow for two different modes of browsing: fit-to-width and DS mode.

"In fit-to-width mode, Opera uses both screens for scrolling up or down a page with both screens completing the view. In DS mode, an overview of the Web page is displayed on the lower screen and a pink square can be moved around an area of the page. The area you have selected is shown on the upper screen."

Hanson said you can expect the same standards of support, surfing speed and rendering capabilities as with Opera's desktop browsers. "A new feature for the DS is the ability to hand write the URL into the address field. You can currently write in English or Japanese."

Rumour has it that Opera DS will launch in the DS this December - but there's no word of a European release, with a Nintendo spokesperson simply stating: "We have not announced our plans for bringing Opera to the UK at this time."