Surf in Bed: Nintendo DS Browser hits Japan

Oslo, Norway and Tokyo, Japan - July 24, 2006

Nintendo Co., Ltd. started selling "Nintendo DS Browser" in Japan today via several dedicated Japanese online sales sites. Opera Software's full-featured browser enables Japanese gamers to surf all their favorite Web sites on the Nintendo DS or DS Lite. The browser is sold as a separate DS card, just like Nintendo DS games, and will come with an extra memory expansion cartridge so that users can access full Internet content by utilizing Wi-Fi environments at home, Nintendo's dedicated Wi-Fi Stations and free accessing spots.

The Nintendo DS Browser is available in Japan at a retail price of 3,800 yen (tax included) and can be purchased online at Nintendo-authorized sales sites. The Nintendo DS browser represents Opera Software's first product deployment with Nintendo. Nintendo has also selected Opera to be the browser for its new game console, Wii, expected on the market during the fourth quarter of 2006.

"Opera takes the Nintendo DS to another level with its Web browser by making use of the DS's capabilities as an online interaction tool," says Scott Hedrick, Executive Vice President, Opera Software. "Many of us at Opera are big DS fans, and our engineers worked closely with Nintendo to tailor Opera's rendering modes to suit special DS features, such as the touch screen, resulting in a fantastic user experience. Browsing with Opera on the DS is a totally unique way to surf the Internet."

"With Opera we had the challenge of producing a browser for Nintendo DS that could comfortably surf web pages created to run on a PC's CPU power and memory size," says Masaru Shimomura, deputy general manager of Nintendo's R&D Department. "Thanks to Opera's technologies and endeavors, we were able to realize a very efficient full-web-browser for Nintendo DS with a fast start up time, quick and unique page display and intuitive interface using the touch-pen. We hope that people will enjoy this new style of surfing the net in bed or while watching TV."

Features Overview:

Browsing Modes

Opera for Nintendo DS has two display modes: 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 colored thumbnail can be moved around an area of the page. The area you have selected is magnified and shown on the upper screen. This is a unique way to deliver the Web to take advantage of the DS hardware configuration and Opera Software has worked closely with Nintendo to optimize this experience.

Navigation

The Nintendo DS's touch-pen will be the main tool of navigation, enabling users to click on links, scroll pages and even handwrite URLs and search terms in either Japanese (Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji) or English, currently.

Web Standards

The browser has virtually the same level of standards support as the Opera 8.5 desktop and can access the same sites, pages and Web-based applications.

Plug-ins

Due to device limitations the Nintendo DS browser will not support plug-ins. Though a separate e-mail client is not included on the device, users will be able to access their Web mail accounts.

Images

Standard image formats such as JPG, GIF, and PNG are supported.

Bookmarks

Just like Opera for Desktop, bookmarks can be added to the DS browser.

Security and Parental Control

Opera offers the same secure browsing experience no matter the device. The Nintendo DS browser supports secure sites (SSL), such as banks and shopping sites.

Parents looking for more control of their child's browsing experience can set passwords to enable the use of Nintendo DS Browser and, also, Nintendo has partnered with Digital Arts to offer the option of i-Filter for the Nintendo DS, a proxy filter to block inappropriate content for kids.

Language

Currently the DS browser is offered in Japanese only.

Check out Opera's top surfing tips for your Nintendo DS at http://www.opera.com/products/devices/nintendo/tips/

About Opera Software ASA

Opera Software ASA has redefined Web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices. Opera's cross-platform Web browser technology is renowned for its performance, standards compliance and small size, while giving users a faster, safer and more dynamic online experience. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices around the world. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. Learn more about Opera at http://www.opera.com/.