When I first saw the DS, I thought, “Big deal .. a Game Boy that works like a PDA.” Of course, now that it has caught on and I can’t wait to finally get my hands on one, I’m left thinking about something. Should the DS have a PDA application?
First off, it would be pretty simple to add a calendar with appointments, a full address book, and some sort of to-do checklist. Even voice memos could be added to the mix.
The trick is to get the thing synced up with something like Outlook or an online calendar. This could potentially be done wirelessly.
As for where to keep all of the data, if a DS gamecard wouldn’t hold enough information, an additional GBA cartridge for memory could be included. Better still, if Nintendo could put the software on a cartridge for the GBA slot that could still take advantage of the DS’s special features (touch screen, etc), you could easily leave the cartridge in your DS all the time.
Maybe this is an outdated idea now, with smart phones coming along and killing the PDA market. Then again, if it had the right features it could be a pretty cool way to mix business with pleasure.
What do you think, Infendo Nation?
Two words for you: Nokia N-Gage.
Well, I can't play Pokémon on a Nokia N-Gage, Spencer, so, no, I don't think that will work for me!
I second the motion, David! (I actually thought there was something like that out there already for DS!)
And yes, I would love the idea of having the PDA software AND the memory in a catridge format, but not a GBA-sized catridge, rather a smaller one that can sit flushed with the DS Lite's smaller body.
Yep, I would easily drop $35 on an application like that… more so than on the useless DS Opera browser!
And make it so it only synchs with Macs.
I've often wondered this myself. Right now your only option is to use homebrew apps. Good post. I would love to see this bundled with the Web browser on one cartridge.
Of course another option you could do, is create a website specifically made for viewing on the DS that has all of this. Like Google Calender made for the DS. Get on it Google! You did the reader for the Wii.
I'd rather go with the stand-alone that David is describing… Adding the browser to it could double the price of the application!
Also, although making a Google Calendar compatible with the Opera Browser on DS is a good idea, that one would be dependent on you finding a connection! I want something more portable and easy to update anywhere…
First of all the term "infendo nation" really seems like it was totally stolen from the phrase "digg nation", but whatever.
I think instead of putting any of this on a cartridge, they should just include a PDA and the opera browser in the next version of the DS. I was hoping that the DS Lite was going to have these features, but alas….
Actually there are a few good homebrew PDA applications for the DS right now.
@ Sloppy John – No way! It's actually a loving homage to Red Sox Nation.
I've been asking for something like this since the DS was first announced. With all these "non-games" coming out, like the eye trainer, you'd think someone would have made a generic PDA title by now.
There is a really good homebrew app, look up DSorganize, that has basic PDA functionality.
What about the V-pocket?
Nintendo still is coming to grips with the idea of multifuctional hardware and not just games. That is why this thing probably is still in development and far from release, not to mention they might hold it for DS2 system, since it would sell amazingly well.
I am buying an iPhone, so I will not need something like that, but it's a good idea.
DSOrganize is still a bit rough at the moment, but it's promising.
And why don't you already have a DS David?
@ Brian – I was always more of a "sit on the couch and play" kind of guy. Never owned a GBA either, although I did buy the original Game Boy when it came out. Regardless, I should have one by the end of this month.
Finally! Someone else agrees with me! I've been wanting something like this ever since the DS was released. I think it could do well if it was sold at a $19.99 price point.
Well, it's not 20 bucks, but a DS flash card and a gig of MicroSD will run you around $40, and DSOrganize is free. Someone should sell that as a bundle with everything preinstalled (can't remember if DSOrganize has a license that would allow that, though.)
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