Here we have a video of a guy passing his DS through an external circuit board and adjusting the system's internal clock speed. Assuming that this isn't an elaborate fake, it's interesting to see how Mario Kart DS behaves at different clock speeds. At the overclocked rate, it practically transforms into F-Zero. Anyone that's tried to run old DOS games on a newer PC may have encountered similar speedy results. All this begs the question:
Remember those guys that managed to get the penguin-powered Linux operating system working on the DS, complete with Wi-Fi support? Well, they've lifted the curtain on a fully functioning web browser, months before Nintendo releases their own Opera browser.
This one's actually a specially compiled version of retawq, a text-based browser intended for Unix environments. Despite the fact that the lack of image support puts it a few steps behind Nintendo's own effort, getting it to work on the DS is an excellent achievement all on its own. Besides, there's plenty of ASCII porn out there...uh, not that we'd know anything about that sort of thing.
Fresh on the heels of a partial launch delay comes word of a brand new version of the DS Lite. Accompanying the previously announced Enamel Navy, Crystal White and Ice Blue models but aiming for the financially constrained gamer, the Destitute Cardboard DS Lite is expected to retail for under $5. Speaking candidly about the announcement, Nintendo bigwig Satoru Iwata stated that it was a natural progression in innovation for the company and stuff.
"It's a natural progression in innovation for the company and stuff. Obviously, to keep the costs low we had to remove some of the system's more extravagant features like buttons and the ability to play games, but we feel that we made a choice that accurately reflects today's industry."
When questioned on whether the Destitute Cardboard model would retain the DS' trademark touch screen, Mr. Iwata noted that "You can definitely touch the screen to your heart's content." That's certainly very reassuring and not sinister at all. Check out the link for more stunning images.
A new DS desktop OS is in the works using the current DSLinux project as a basis. The system will include some of the following features:
A touchable on-screen keyboard.
A standard 80x25 console on the top screen that communicates with on-screen keyboard
Will use Busybox for standard commands to keep use of CPU low.
An upside-down web-browser with controls that dock on the top of the bottom screen, while the content of the browser is displayed at the top. (Dillo port)
Be sure to contact deantheappleguy[AT]gmail.com to help make the desktop a reality.
Flashback for the PC and 16-bit Sega Genesis was one of the greatest platformers of that generation. The character fluidity alone was way ahead of its time and made for a unique gaming experience. The good news? You can now play the classic on your Nintendo DS using a new port engine that replicates the game in its entirety. From the article: "REminiscence is a rewrite of the engine used in the game Flashback from Delphine Software. This program is designed as a cross-platform replacement for the original executable and uses the SDL library."
As if those vile tulips weren't content with terrorizing the innocent population of Amsterdam, they've now spread to the wild world of Animal Crossing on the DS. Some unfortunate virtual villagers mistakenly thought they were receiving a wonderful new gift from Nintendo today, only to be pricked by the thorn amongst the "Red Tulips". If you receive a gift marked as such, pawn it off on Tom Nook right away.
That way, he'll be the one forced to deal with the weird glitch that comes attached with the gift. Placing it inside your humble abode will actually cause it to create an invisible and immobile piece of furniture and prevent you from using that space for anything else. Don't drop the item inside your house or even outside (it'll plant itself as a tree sprout) and be wary of visitors of your town that come bearing suspicious gifts. You don't want them dropping these evil, invisible tulips all over the place, now do you?
According to 4 Color Rebellion, the glitch comes from an unfinished letter that was accidentally sent out by Nintendo. Apparently, they've already stopped the letter from going out anymore and are looking at a fix for those that were affected. Check out some video proof of the glitch over here. Get revenge by going outside and stomping on your mom's flowers.
Wow, the homebrew community is steamrolling their way through DS features this month. In fact, they've already examined said steamroller, disassembled it and converted into a much a more useful helicopter that drops Wi-Fi enabled cinder blocks on targets selected from your DS screen. Probably.
So, we've seen the wardriving and the wireless games controllers, but how about the remote desktop viewers? Using the PointyRemote homebrew application, you can view your computer's desktop on your DS screen and, of course, operate your programs with the touch screen and the stylus. Essentially, your DS will display whatever's on your computer monitor at the time and it will allow you to click on icons, enter text and even zoom in on parts of the screen. We rather like the idea of playing some music on your PC, sitting back on the couch and adjusting the volume or skipping through tracks using our trusty portable. Note that the link takes you to some jargon-heavy pages, so if you're unfamiliar with homebrew in general, we've got just the place to get you started.
Next, could somebody from the homebrew community get started on a DS that controls minds? That would be great, thanks.
Yes, the DS Fanboys of the world continue to innovate. Hot on the heels of transforming the DS into a wireless PC game controller, the community is using the chameleon-like DS as a Wifi scanner (and using the exact same application they did for turning it into a PC gamepad).
TheYak comes through again with the details via the 3DGPU community forums: "I've idly used my Nintendo DS to look for hotspots with its limited WFC applications, but have wanted a more dedicated scanning application for awhile. Enter DS2Key - It's actually more of a wireless gamepad emulator so you can remotely control games and applications on your PC with your DS. Having some glitches in getting it set up, I checked out its 'Wardriving' section... it quite adeptly displayed signal strengths, WEP status, MAC addresses and SSID's for 6 networks around me. My wi-fi adapters only ever came up with 3. Usefulness? Checking signal strengths (it auto-refreshes) for your networks, looking for DS hotspots for on-line play. Homebrew stuff just keeps getting cooler."
Here's the how-to in getting your eReader to fit into your Nintendo DS. The standard GBA eReader will not fit into the Nintendo DS due to how the linkport connector is arranged. So if you dare, proceed for our compiled instructions and head over to the how-to site for additional pictures. And remember, doing this will void your DS warranty.
A reader writes: "While swimming through your undoubted sea of DS information, have you ever come across any official or homebrew information relating to outputting the video of the two DS screens to, say, a TV or two?"
Rumor has it that Nintendo did make a few DSs capable of outputting to TV, "around 10" says one internet commenter. Any readers know of a workable solution?
There are plenty of gamers out there who have taken an interest in the homebrew scene but, due to the high level of technical knowledge required, have found that diving into the world of custom games and DS modifications is often impeded by a fibreglass sheet covering the pool. Thankfully, there are altruistic people out there that are quite willing to shun social interaction in favor of creating epic tutorials aimed at assisting complete and generally unappreciative strangers.
While this set of tutorials is far from encompassing everything homebrew has to offer, it does provide a fairly good jump-off point (see how I got back to the diving metaphor there?) and provides plenty of links to other helpful sites. You'll learn all about tricking your DS into downloading your custom code (via the DS Download Play option) and may eventually reach the point where you can emulate a version of Space Invaders, that epic saga of aliens being undone by their predictable patterns.
Okay, here's one for the techies among us. Wait, is that an acceptable and entirely politically correct term to use? Techies? I hope I'm not offending anybody, since I'm honestly not implying that your skull is filled with microchips and compressed binary libraries. Not that there's anything wrong with having your head filled with that kind of stuff. Please don't haxx0r me.
So, here's one for the technologically enthused among us: Python, that programming language of yore, can now be executed on the DS, thanks to some pioneering folks in the homebrew scene. What does that mean to you? Well, if you're an expert code wrangler, it means you can create some interesting new applications for the DS. If not, it means you can wait for someone to create interesting new applications, download them and show no appreciation whatsoever as you repeatedly complain about some new application you downloaded for your DS. It's a win-win situation!
Warning: The link leads to a page rife with technical jargon, hooplah, buzzwords, microcosms and several lines of code. Proceed at your own risk.
For those tiring of their traditional silver DS, there's a work around; a custom DS paint job. DS Fanboy reader sent in some useful links and resources for DS owners wanting to take the plunge. He writes: "I don't think it would be wise taking apart the DS just to spray paint buttons, especially with the LCDs and speakers being such an issue. What I planned was to spray the bottom in the same silver, then leave the black accents from the screen rim and buttons, then get some crazy ass black stencils going all over it."
Recommended paint
How to dismantle a DS (Lik-sang)
Quick and dirty way decals
Note: Take into consideration the fact that opening a DS voids the warranty and it shouldn't be done by just anyone as it could break.
In addition to the online track hacks and other unlockables for Mario Kart DS that we've previously reported on, you can know uncover beta courses that were never released by Nintendo. A forum member writes: "There are several courses in Mario Kart DS that are unfinished and completely unavailable (beta). They can be played with a little bit of hacking, but not at all perfectly. The textures are missing, so the courses are displayed almost pure white."
Could lack of time be the reason for not including these tracks? Only Nintendo has the real answer, but it would have been nice to get some extra tracks on the game. Maybe some future solution will allow DS owners to do so though.
A Nintendo forum reader writes: "Last night I was looking at a few temp tattoos that I got at IGN live a few weeks ago and I got the idea to put one on my DS. I got a damp (DAMP not soaked) cloth and transferred it to the top of my DS then put it under a lamp to heat it up and melt it on a little... It doesn't come off when I put it in my pocket but I am sure it will rub off one day."
If you've grown tired of the plain ole silver DS, just add a tattoo (at your own discretion of course).
Remember those guys that managed to get the penguin-powered Linux operating system working on the DS, complete with Wi-Fi support? Well, they've lifted the curtain on a fully functioning web browser, months before Nintendo releases their own Opera browser.
A new DS desktop OS is in the works using the current DSLinux project as a basis. The system will include some of the following features:
Flashback for the PC and 16-bit Sega Genesis was one of the greatest platformers of that generation. The character fluidity alone was way ahead of its time and made for a unique gaming experience. The good news? You can now play the classic on your Nintendo DS using a new port engine that replicates the game in its entirety. From the article: "REminiscence is a rewrite of the engine used in the game Flashback from Delphine Software. This program is designed as a cross-platform replacement for the original executable and uses the SDL library."
As if those vile tulips weren't content with terrorizing the innocent population of Amsterdam, they've now spread to the wild world of Animal Crossing on the DS. Some unfortunate virtual villagers mistakenly thought they were receiving a wonderful new gift from Nintendo today, only to be pricked by the thorn amongst the "Red Tulips". If you receive a gift marked as such, pawn it off on Tom Nook right away.
Wow, the homebrew community is steamrolling their way through DS features this month. In fact, they've already examined said steamroller, disassembled it and converted into a much a more useful helicopter that drops Wi-Fi enabled cinder blocks on targets selected from your DS screen. Probably.
Yes, the DS Fanboys of the world continue to innovate. Hot on the heels of transforming the DS into a wireless PC game controller, the community is using the chameleon-like DS as a Wifi scanner (and using the exact same application they did for turning it into a PC gamepad).
Here's the how-to in getting your eReader to fit into your Nintendo DS. The standard GBA eReader will not fit into the Nintendo DS due to how the linkport connector is arranged. So if you dare, proceed for our compiled instructions and head over to the how-to site for additional pictures. And remember, doing this will void your DS warranty.
There are plenty of gamers out there who have taken an interest in the homebrew scene but, due to the high level of technical knowledge required, have found that diving into the world of custom games and DS modifications is often impeded by a fibreglass sheet covering the pool. Thankfully, there are altruistic people out there that are quite willing to shun social interaction in favor of creating epic tutorials aimed at assisting complete and generally unappreciative strangers.
Okay, here's one for the techies among us. Wait, is that an acceptable and entirely politically correct term to use? Techies? I hope I'm not offending anybody, since I'm honestly not implying that your skull is filled with microchips and compressed binary libraries. Not that there's anything wrong with having your head filled with that kind of stuff. Please don't haxx0r me.
For those tiring of their traditional silver DS, there's a work around; a custom DS paint job. DS Fanboy reader sent in some useful links and resources for DS owners wanting to take the plunge. He writes: "I don't think it would be wise taking apart the DS just to spray paint buttons, especially with the LCDs and speakers being such an issue. What I planned was to spray the bottom in the same silver, then leave the black accents from the screen rim and buttons, then get some crazy ass black stencils going all over it."
In addition to the online track hacks and other unlockables for Mario Kart DS that we've previously reported on, you can know uncover beta courses that were never released by Nintendo. A forum member writes: "There are several courses in Mario Kart DS that are unfinished and completely unavailable (beta). They can be played with a little bit of hacking, but not at all perfectly. The textures are missing, so the courses are displayed almost pure white."
A Nintendo forum reader writes: "Last night I was looking at a few temp tattoos that I got at IGN live a few weeks ago and I got the idea to put one on my DS. I got a damp (DAMP not soaked) cloth and transferred it to the top of my DS then put it under a lamp to heat it up and melt it on a little... It doesn't come off when I put it in my pocket but I am sure it will rub off one day."
_thumbnail.jpg "Korg DS-10")
