DS homebrew gets organized
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Feb 25th 2006 at 4:03PM }
Proving that it can boost productivity as well
as destroying it, the homebrew scene has churned out a DS organizer suite for us to download and arrange our overly
complicated work schedules with. Cleverly entitled DSOrganize, the software boasts a calendar, an address book
with vCard support, a day planner, multiple languages, a file browser and rudimentary handwriting recognition. The
latter part is excellent news, what with my handwriting being so very rudimentary indeed.Now, presented with this homebrew creation, you may recall a rumor about Nintendo filing a patent for something called V-Pocket, supposedly stemming from them licensing the Palm operating system for the DS. However, unless we missed something, it doesn't look like anything ever came of that. Given its stylus-based interface and Wi-Fi capabilities, the DS seems like it could be an ideal (and cheap) alternative to other handheld organizers, with an added benefit of playing some stellar games. With web browsing taken care of, would you be interested in an official organizer package for the DS?
[Thanks mandarin!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
phl0w @ Feb 26th 2006 3:37PM
Of course I would be interested in an organizer application for my DS. But it's got to be something inherent, no cartridge, neither for its slot-1 nor slot-2. Maybe something you can flash your DS with.
As a homebrew user I have to flash my DS's firmware every couple months anyway, I figure why not flash something useful for a change? If someday there was an official one, I wouldn't get it unless it was for free via Wi-Fi.
bard @ Feb 26th 2006 3:38PM
An early title announced for the DS was an organizer by some PC software company (can't recall the name). That hasn't even been mentioned in over a year, so I'm assuming it's been canned.
PSPFanboy @ Feb 26th 2006 4:04PM
Yeah you try to get a SNES on there......
I love Nintendo really!
I have £320 in my bank account, and a DS Lite is ~£150
SHOULD I BUY IT????
tromboneamafone @ Feb 26th 2006 5:28PM
I would like an organizer for the DS. One that works from the DS interface without cartriges would be even better, but I doubt nintendo would ever do that. They have gotten to where they are catering to the casual gamer and leaving anyone else a little bit left out.
If nintendo catered to casual gamers and threw the people, who are hardcore gamers or want extra add-ons like organizer, wi-fi picto chat, etc. a bone every once in a while would be good too.
Nushio @ Feb 26th 2006 5:32PM
Ok, now its official, I'll be submitting Homebrew news be it small or big, demo or not...
DSOrganize is already a great app, I contacted the creator (Shaun Taylor) to help him add a few ideas, but our codes are incompatible :P
designerwhite @ Feb 26th 2006 7:46PM
Go for it. Too many great games to pick from.
If this software's really good, Nintendo should buy it up, put the nintendo touch on it, and publish it. I'd prefer it on a GBA cart, just because I've been playing way more DS games than GBA's lately. The selection's been getting good. I just wish it could grab your mac contact book.
Phil @ Feb 26th 2006 11:51PM
I would love some sort of organizer app for the DS. A DS cart would be fine with an optional GBA memory expander or something like that. Or just put enough space on the DS cart to handle a good deal of records.
I've used various Palms and phones with organizers over the years but never seem to catch on enough for them to be useful. I use my DS all the time though and bring it nearly everywhere already so I've been waiting for something like this since the day I first used my DS.
Andrew Lin @ Feb 26th 2006 11:59PM
Ok, this is probably a great app and something that I think Nintendo should really get a ball on. But here's an idea: with the DS already getting the Opera browser and all, why not simply use a web based organization software? Or perhaps one that syncs with a web based system?
Phil @ Feb 27th 2006 12:12AM
That would be great but here in Fargo, ND about the only time I will be able to use the Web browser is if I'm at home or in the food court of our local mall. Not very useful for a personal organizer app, otherwise I think it's a great idea.
Spamalot @ Feb 27th 2006 6:49AM
To a person who's been using Palm and PocketPC pdas for emulation for so long, this sounds great. It will probably work better the other way around. Use your gaming system as a pda... great idea!
Oh, and there's no chance that Nintendo got their hands on Palm OS since Access Inc. bought it and officially killed it recently. Ironically enough, Access is who created Sony's PSP web browser for them.
Small world, eh?
--
Spamalot
www.squatsquat.com
KanedaX @ Feb 27th 2006 10:42AM
Hell, I've been waiting for an organizer since I bought my GB Pocket. The DS needs nothing less than an organizer/calendar/calculator piece of software.
Agent Bubba @ Feb 27th 2006 11:45AM
I would love to have an organizer for the DS Lite. Word of the Opera Browser coming is only the beginning. Why not add the organizer capability and true IM capability through WiFi. What about a Skype utility or other VoIP capabilities? The only issue is with the overall market depth. I do not see any Fortune 500 (or 1000 for that matter) truly accepting a DS/DSLite as a replacement for their CrackBerry/SmartPhone workforce. As a client, would you really want the salesman working your multi-million dollar project to whip out his DS to grab a phone number? While I believe this is a great idea, there needs to be some thought behind the feasibility of such a project for Nintendo. They are, after all, about the games.
Josh @ Feb 27th 2006 1:27PM
This is really funny. Sometimes when I am laying in bed and trying to fall asleep, my mind is still running through ideas and keeping me awake. I don't usually mind because sometimes great ideas develop and I write them down and then, hopefully, I can get to sleep.
Well, the other night I was almost asleep and for some reason I needed a calculator! I didn't have any paper in on my nightstand so I reached for my DS(it's charger is by my nightstand) and then I realised that it doesn't have a calculator! I don't know why I would have wanted one before but at that moment I needed one but couldn't figure out why the DS didn't have one!
Oh well, I went to sleep and I don't remember WHAT it was I needed to calculate but maybe it was important.
Long story. No real point. Thanks for listening.
Josh
Huge go @ Feb 27th 2006 3:52PM
I don't own a DS. I like Nintendo and am impressed by the DS Lite. If this kind of software was available I would buy one straight away.
John @ Apr 2nd 2006 4:01AM
Cuz I know Nintendo won't spend too much on non-gaming initiatives (its not what they do), I sincerely hope that Nintendo helps foster a strong Homebrew community -- something that I feel the Sony PSP is struggling with cuz it almost feels like Sony doesn't want such a thing. I think that sort of developer community is what makes a product great (aka Linux).