Azure Dream
Member
I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and it just seems odd that the potential is so great, yet there's been very little outside of a few dictionaries in Japan, and absolutely zilch outside of that region.
There is a lot of danger with releasing potentially niche functionality titles, given development and distribution costs, I understand that. But at the same time, it'd be an appealing market for those wanting Palm-style applications without buying a different unit.
Running down the line of just a few potentials...
Scientific Calculator: I can't believe the TI series still cost so much, given what they offer. I realize that the DS probably has a much less precise processor chip than the specialized TI's, but I bet it has one precise enough for the needs of most students. Touch screen input is as simple as a normal calculator, but it can adapt the menus and options to the current process, and display the results with a lot more clarity and vibrancy than the TI screens could ever hope for. The touch screen could also be used to sketch rough curves or polygons, and get a general idea of the equations necessary to create them. The trickiest thing would be to get something like this accepted for classroom use, which would mean sneaking in no playable distractions or anything like that. Getting it approved by a teacher's association (and possibly for the SATs?) would give it the nod it needs, and at $30, versus paying $80-120 for a decent TI calculator, that student or the parent might be quite inclined to opt for the DS solution.
Foreign Dictionary: Don't worry, I'm not having fantasies of mic input or physically recorded pronunciations (but automated pronunciations would be nice), but this just seems like a great fit. (As it is, I think there's been at least two of these based on J->E in Japan.) Hunting and pecking letters on the DS's touch screen would go quickly, much faster than any D-Pad or analog stick input, and because the keyboard is virtual, it'd easily adapt to the language you're currently working with. Not only that, but for something like Kanji, being able to sketch out a close approximation of the character, then being presented with a list of possibilities that come the closest to matching it, maybe even (I doubt this) a quick animation sequence showing you the stroke order for drawing these characters? For tourists, students, and importers, the potential seems great. Bonus points if it can sync current currency exchange rates via WiFi.
Organizer: Practically a given (many expected this to be a function of the DS built-in), but I don't know if it could hold its own as a stand-alone application, it might have to be bundled with something else. Saving a lot of handwritten notes might be too much for the smaller save capacity, but DS Keyboard text notes wouldn't be as costly. The more this can do, the better.
Web Browser: Why doesn't this exist. Firefox, you want to take a decent chunk of the net? Cram it into DS capabilities and either sell it for cheap, or get it bundled with something else. Maybe even convince other DS developers to use your particular browser within their game. No, you're not going to be able to download and watch 50 Meg QuickTime files (unless it gets tied in to work with Play-Yan, which Nintendo isn't even selling in the US yet), but for basic browsing and checking up on news, reviews or deals sites (checking CheapAssGamer on a cellphone when you don't have the Mobile skin set is HELL) wherever you have WiFi access... why doesn't this exist yet? (PSP-owner sarcasm need not apply.) Again, the touch screen would allow for smoother progress through the pages, naturally clicking on links or typing in text.
Driving Navigator: This one might possibly be too tough for the DS, but man would it be nice. A map program, that can give voice instructions and show on the top screen a basic 3D (or 2D?) display of your path, with the bottom screen showing a detailed listing of the directions, and accepting simple "next" instructions either by touch, or by voice recognition (wouldn't be too picky about you saying it "exactly" right). Let it figure out a route for you, or plot your own route beforehand, drawing paths like you do when you take your dog for a walk in Nintendogs. It'd be nice if it could go online via WiFi and download the latest construction warnings or closures, marking roads as such.
Again, we're not talking about hot new titles, but the ability to realistically give a portable added useful functionality at just $30 a pop seems like something difficult to pass up.
There is a lot of danger with releasing potentially niche functionality titles, given development and distribution costs, I understand that. But at the same time, it'd be an appealing market for those wanting Palm-style applications without buying a different unit.
Running down the line of just a few potentials...
Scientific Calculator: I can't believe the TI series still cost so much, given what they offer. I realize that the DS probably has a much less precise processor chip than the specialized TI's, but I bet it has one precise enough for the needs of most students. Touch screen input is as simple as a normal calculator, but it can adapt the menus and options to the current process, and display the results with a lot more clarity and vibrancy than the TI screens could ever hope for. The touch screen could also be used to sketch rough curves or polygons, and get a general idea of the equations necessary to create them. The trickiest thing would be to get something like this accepted for classroom use, which would mean sneaking in no playable distractions or anything like that. Getting it approved by a teacher's association (and possibly for the SATs?) would give it the nod it needs, and at $30, versus paying $80-120 for a decent TI calculator, that student or the parent might be quite inclined to opt for the DS solution.
Foreign Dictionary: Don't worry, I'm not having fantasies of mic input or physically recorded pronunciations (but automated pronunciations would be nice), but this just seems like a great fit. (As it is, I think there's been at least two of these based on J->E in Japan.) Hunting and pecking letters on the DS's touch screen would go quickly, much faster than any D-Pad or analog stick input, and because the keyboard is virtual, it'd easily adapt to the language you're currently working with. Not only that, but for something like Kanji, being able to sketch out a close approximation of the character, then being presented with a list of possibilities that come the closest to matching it, maybe even (I doubt this) a quick animation sequence showing you the stroke order for drawing these characters? For tourists, students, and importers, the potential seems great. Bonus points if it can sync current currency exchange rates via WiFi.
Organizer: Practically a given (many expected this to be a function of the DS built-in), but I don't know if it could hold its own as a stand-alone application, it might have to be bundled with something else. Saving a lot of handwritten notes might be too much for the smaller save capacity, but DS Keyboard text notes wouldn't be as costly. The more this can do, the better.
Web Browser: Why doesn't this exist. Firefox, you want to take a decent chunk of the net? Cram it into DS capabilities and either sell it for cheap, or get it bundled with something else. Maybe even convince other DS developers to use your particular browser within their game. No, you're not going to be able to download and watch 50 Meg QuickTime files (unless it gets tied in to work with Play-Yan, which Nintendo isn't even selling in the US yet), but for basic browsing and checking up on news, reviews or deals sites (checking CheapAssGamer on a cellphone when you don't have the Mobile skin set is HELL) wherever you have WiFi access... why doesn't this exist yet? (PSP-owner sarcasm need not apply.) Again, the touch screen would allow for smoother progress through the pages, naturally clicking on links or typing in text.
Driving Navigator: This one might possibly be too tough for the DS, but man would it be nice. A map program, that can give voice instructions and show on the top screen a basic 3D (or 2D?) display of your path, with the bottom screen showing a detailed listing of the directions, and accepting simple "next" instructions either by touch, or by voice recognition (wouldn't be too picky about you saying it "exactly" right). Let it figure out a route for you, or plot your own route beforehand, drawing paths like you do when you take your dog for a walk in Nintendogs. It'd be nice if it could go online via WiFi and download the latest construction warnings or closures, marking roads as such.
Again, we're not talking about hot new titles, but the ability to realistically give a portable added useful functionality at just $30 a pop seems like something difficult to pass up.
