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Portables (Games) Entertainment Games

Gameboy Advance Users to Get Bluetooth Internet 129

Posted by CmdrTaco from the now-thats-what-I'm-talking-about dept.
AEton writes "According to this Extremetech article, X-Tra Fun has developed a Bluetooth module for the Gameboy Advance which is expected to ship by Christmas 2003. The $49 module includes Bluetooth connectivity, although a cellphone or other Bluetooth device with Internet access is required to use the Internet, and it comes with an embedded eCos Linux kernel with a Web browser and 255 pages' worth of cache. A $99 upgrade adds a Secure Digital card slot and a dongle!"
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Gameboy Advance Users to Get Bluetooth Internet More

Gameboy Advance Users to Get Bluetooth Internet

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  • bluetooth compatibility (Score:4, Informative)

    by smeenz ( 652345 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:30PM (#5968025) Homepage
    It will be interesting to see if this works with nokia's bluetooth phones. My experience with them, and a number of google hits suggests that nokia bluetooth only talks reliably to nokia bluetooth
    • Or a 3Com Wireless Bluetooth PC Card. Which is how I got my Win2K laptops connected to T-Mobile's GPRS network over my Nokia 3650.
    • And the Microsoft keyboards only play nicely with the Microsoft dongle and my Ericsson headset that's absolutely guaranteed to be compatible with all future Bluetooth products doesn't appear as a headset to my Fujitsu notebook. I've pretty much given up on the technology.

  • Linux distros? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by bigattichouse ( 527527 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:31PM (#5968028) Homepage
    Is there a linux distro that runs on Gameboy? I'd like to have swarms of little Gameboys in a cluster ;)

  • Another aid... (Score:5, Funny)

    by aeinome ( 672135 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:31PM (#5968032) Journal
    ...for all those n00bs who can't get past the first level... easy GameFAQs access!

  • eCos != Linux (Score:1, Redundant)

    by Burnon ( 19653 )
    eom

  • Finally!!!1 (Score:5, Funny)

    by riotstarter ( 650328 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:31PM (#5968035)
    Finally, porn on the gameboy!
    Thank Jebus.

  • eCos isn't Linux (Score:5, Informative)

    by Rheingold ( 2741 ) <wcooley&nakedape,cc> on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:33PM (#5968045) Homepage

    eCos is an embedded kernel that was developed by Cygnus, now owned by Red Hat. However, it is NOT a Linux kernel (although the userland tools are probably all GNU).

    • I was upset when I saw credit for eCos going to Linux. Linux itself is great for embedded platforms, but eCos is not related to Linux at all, and it deserves it's own identity. Let's see how long it takes the editors to fix this discrepancy, if they do at all.

      • My fault (Score:5, Informative)

        by AEton ( 654737 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:47PM (#5968184)
        I read the article; it said "Embedded in the module is an embedded eCos embedded Linux kernel" -- but it's quite likely that author Mark Hachman [mailto] doesn't understand this discrepancy. Sure fooled me. If you're concerned about the misattribution, he's probably the person to contact about it -- again, that's Mark Hachman, Mark_Hachman@ziffdavis.com [mailto].
        • when I saw that many "embedded"s in one sentence, I should've known he was off his rocker.

          • Or maybe they're running eCOS on a synthetic Linux target system [redhat.com] (itself embedded, of course) ;^}

            i386/Linux Synthetic Target Setup

            When building for the synthetic Linux target, the resulting binaries are native Linux applications with the HAL providing suitable bindings between the eCos kernel and the Linux kernel.

            Note: Please be aware that the current implementation of the Linux synthetic target does not allow thread-aware debugging.

            These Linux applications cannot be run on a Windows syst

    • Thanks--it's been corrected (Score:4, Informative)

      by MarkRH ( 629597 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @05:00PM (#5968285) Homepage
      As the (corrected) story now states, I believe I accurately quoted Kramer that eCos was in fact a Linux kernel. However, either he or I was wrong, and the story has since been corrected to reflect that fact. I appreciate the "open source fact checking", even though the mistake shouldn't have been there in the first place.

      And the embedded information about the embedded embedded eCos kernel embedded in the GameBoy has since been dis-embedded, in an attempt to clarify the embedding wording. (*ahem*)

  • ooooo a dongle. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Neophytus ( 642863 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:34PM (#5968057)
    Just looked at the demo. The interface looks rather... painful. Give me a PDA any day.

  • Why? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by L-Train8 ( 70991 ) <{Matthew_Hawk} {at} {hotmail.com}> on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:34PM (#5968061) Homepage Journal
    Okay, why you would want to browse on your gameboy vs. your PDA or cell phone is beyond me. For the same cost you can get a device designed for wireless web access, with much better UI and button layout. The main advantage I see in this technology would be for wireless multiplayer games, and they have zero developer support for that. According to their website [x-trafun.com], they are taking applications from developers. Without some seriously good game support, no one is going to buy this.

    I don't see this being purchased by more than just a few hobbyists who love to use Linux on weird platforms.
    • Ain't that the truth...

      Why they went with a cartridge instead of a device to plug into the link port is beyond me.

      I've wanted bluetooth on the GBA since the first time I saw it. They just took the perfect idea and ran it into the ground.
    • Totally agree... Although I'd even go farther and suggest that it would be great to have 802.11 capability rather then Bluetooth; this would allow for increased range and the capability to create an adhoc network allowing a large group of people in the same area to play multiplayer games together. Web browsing on a GBA?? pfftrs...
      • Technically speaking it's a good idea, but when one is outdoor and is looking at his pockets, in most cases, he will find only Bluetooth devices ( cell phone, pda, the external BT adaptater for the iBook ;-)

        Since the GBA plays in the same category (pockets), the choice of selling a BT adapter for GBA was more relevant especially if Internet access is desired (the BT GPRS cell phone is the interface of choice for mobile web surfing until WI-FI is widespread)

        And if we have Internet access, we have acces to
    • From that page:
      X-traFun, Inc.(XFI), is looking for software developers for:
      [snip]
      Medical Applications
      [snip]
      Say whaaa? If a doctor came in clutching a GBA..even a silver one..I'd be seriously worried.
      • Say whaaa? If a doctor came in clutching a GBA..even a silver one..I'd be seriously worried.

        Hey, I have a GBA and a PhD! Oh wait -- you were worried about physicians,,,

  • Another Internet OS for the GBA (Score:5, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:35PM (#5968072)
    There is another Internet OS that currently is being ported to the GBA called Contiki [dunkels.com]. It currently features a lot of what it to be expected of a modern OS such as multitasking, TCP/IP support, web browser, screensavers, etc. Still, it only requires no more than 50k and ought to be a lot faster than eCos.

  • MMMORPG (Score:5, Funny)

    by birdman666 ( 144812 ) <[moc.cam] [ta] [diercire]> on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:35PM (#5968074) Homepage
    So now we can have Mobile Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games, and geeks can get a tan!

    • Re:MMMORPG (Score:4, Interesting)

      by bigattichouse ( 527527 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:43PM (#5968145) Homepage
      Wow, too bad we can't put GPS on it, and make a MMPRPG that maps to the real world!... so as you walk around the real world, you have a "window" into the game... so I see you have one, and we can do battle, or some such... put some "god" users to walk around and create the world (like tunnels where there are real subways, etc.) Sort of a geocaching+multiplayer... now all you need is a pair of HUD glasses to make a completely nerd-immersion game! And you could "disoconnect" the map so you can wander around without needing to actually walk anywhere. That could be really cool.

      • Re:MMMORPG (Score:5, Funny)

        by moosesocks ( 264553 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @07:13PM (#5969107) Homepage
        Good God!

        Real life RPG? How the hell are we supposed to do:
        combat?
        spell casting?
        necromancy?

        and all while in an active subway tunnel?

        *moosesocks attacks bigattichouse with battle axe: initial D4 roll: 2 *miss*
        *wait two turns*
        *a subway is approaching
        *D6 roll: 1: *hit* (is a miss even possible without some sort of "fly" spell?)
        *ananymoose has been killed by a subway car
      • a 3d massive multiplayer game that uses the real world as it's map... and you want HUD glasses, so you don't have to use hands?

        You do realize they have that game out already, right? I don't know if Valve made it, but i think it is called REAL LIFE, if you can't google for, step outside, and you will likely find it there.

      • Re:MMMORPG (Score:1, Interesting)

        by Anonymous Coward
        we're working on it:

        http://www.cc.gatech.edu/ccg/publications/imagin a2 000/

    • Multi-player? (Score:5, Funny)

      by CleverNickName ( 129189 ) * <wil@wilwhe[ ]n.net ['ato' in gap]> on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:51PM (#5968209) Homepage Journal
      FINALLY! I can win in an online game.

      I challenge any of those 14 year-old kids who own me in CS to face me in . . . Tetris!

      Muwahahahaha!!!
    • An alternative way is to develop an i-mode browser for the GBA/GBASP.

      Thus, we have access to i-mode services including this MMORPG [wirelessgamingreview.com] (Screenshots included)
  • If you want to do business stuff (such as Internet, in this case), get a Palm Pilot or something.

    (Just my 2 cents)

    • If you want to do business stuff (such as Internet, in this case), get a Palm Pilot or something.

      Apparently Palm Pilot (well, Palm OS) is for games too. See This story [palminfocenter.com] on a forthcoming PalmOS-based gaming device from Tapwave [tapwave.com]. It's also expected to have all of Palm OS' usual PIM applications. But it's not due for at least another six months, and the fact that its specifications are better than most high-end Palm OS devices out now gives a suggestion of vapourware.

      Soon there'll be another way to fake [slashdot.org]

  • but..... (Score:3, Funny)

    by Phosphor3k ( 542747 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:37PM (#5968089)
    A $99 upgrade adds a Secure Digital card slot and a dongle!
    Is it a Hello Kitty Dongle? *grins*
  • I call bullshit on this one. Granted, it may be *more* secure than standard 802.11, but calling it secure as though it's spy-proof is utter nonsense and should be prohibited by law.

    Nothing ticks me off more than intentional marketing tricks and lies to sell products that don't work as advertised (like Kia and Hyundai cars).
    • ummm, you can call all the bullshit you want.

      the Secure in Secure digital I believe refers to the level of extra security in the card over that of an MMC card.

      It has nothing to do with wireless security, Its a Proper name I believe.

      Secure Digital Card also known as SD, you can purchase them at all major electronics stores and they are used mainly in Cameras and PDAs.
    • I think Secure Digital in this instance means the same Secure Digital when referring to storage for digital cameras, PDAs, etc. I don't think it means enhanced "security" features per se (but I am not incredibly well versed in this area), I think it is just a larger storage device. Secure Digital cards come in common sizes like 4MB, 8MB, 16, 32, 64MB, etc...

      I could be totally off-the-wall wrong here, though.
    • its a type of memory card. nothing transmitted just stored. also cald an SD card i belvie panasonic camcorders and digital cameras take them as well as a few other brands...
    • Dude, calm down. I think they mean Sandisk's Secure Digital [sandisk.com] technology. Open blister pack, remove chill pill, swallow.
  • XFI is committed to building the world's largest and safest mobile wireless online community for children. I can just see it now, some developer walked into the executives office with a circle on a piece of paper...

    But anyways, but what about me??? What about support for more advanced applications like gcc and perl. You never know when inspiration hits. Also with the nifty backlight on the GBA SP, this would be rather nice for coding on the shitter.... but then I'd need a bluetooth foldout keyboard fo

  • Silently? (Score:2, Funny)

    by kaamos ( 647337 )
    Yet there is still no option to get a 1/8" earphone plug to enjoy those games / web pages silently? Imagine getting on Hamsterdance by mistake and everyone looking at you?

  • Dongle? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by freeze128 ( 544774 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:42PM (#5968138)
    I'm am very disappointed by the widespread misuse of the term "dongle".

    A dongle is a hardware security device to prevent software piracy. It plugs into your PC's Parallel port. It was named after its creator, Don Gall.
    I mostly blame Xircom for propagating this mistake. They advertise a PCMCIA network card that "eliminates the dongle".

    Just because it DANGLES, it doesn't mean it is a DONGLE.

  • What about typing? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Tafs ( 624899 ) <[andreas] [at] [tragisk.com]> on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:45PM (#5968162)
    How am I supposed to enter URIs and fill out forms on this thing? If the system is the same as for entering names in games, it's going to take a loong time. But you could always make a page with all your favourite links, I guess.

    Then again, maybe you won't be able to access any other sites than theirs anyway : "X-traFun, Inc. (XFI) is committed to building the world's largest and safest mobile wireless online community for children. Through the creation and development of innovative wireless Internet-safe products, we provide children with fun, easy-to-use, and meaningful tools for their education, entertainment, and exploration of the 'Information Superhighway' in a safe and secure environment."
  • Aargh...quoting the article: "Embedded in the module is an embedded eCos embedded Linux kernel..."
  • The interface sucks. It looks like something from the earlie nineties internet. Cyan is sooooooo 1992!

  • What's the range? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by gilesjuk ( 604902 ) <giles DOT jones AT zen DOT co DOT uk> on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:47PM (#5968180)
    I thought Bluetooth had a very limited range? doesn't make sense to use Bluetooth unless there are many access points.
    • You are supposed to own e.g. a Bluetooth-enabled phone and use that as the access point.

      (Bluetooth range [palowireless.com] is typically 10 meters for a class 2 device ).

    • The idea is that you use your Bluetooth enabled cell-phone (which would always be within the short range) to access the net.
    • You could also use this to see if there are any bluetooth enabled phones on the mass transit system you take to and from work or school.

      Though I think it would be completely unethical to actually use a co-rider's cell time to surf the internet.

      -Rusty
    • Yes, you are correct Bluetooth has a very limited range. It is around 10 meters. The title "...Users to get Bluetooth Internet" is misleading and just plain stupid. There is no Bluetooth internet. Bluetooth is for close range wireless communication. Such as wireless mice, keyboards, home phones, remotes, headphones, cellphones connected to cars or earpieces, and various other devices. It creates a network between devices, not the internet. A device can on the other hand (like a cellphone) act as a ga

      • Re:What's the range? (Score:5, Informative)

        by Locutus ( 9039 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @06:24PM (#5968856)
        How come I have a 100 meter Bluetooth WAP here on the desk then? You are wrong rzbx, Bluetooth spec allows for 3 cleasses/ranges:

        Class 1 : 100 meters
        Class 2 : 10 meters
        Class 3 : 2 meters

        I've used Bluetooth to get an internet connection with a Bluetooth WAP( using the LAN Profile ), connected to the my local LAN via a Bluetooth connection to my Linux PC( using the Serial Prifile and ppp ), and finally, connected to a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone for internet connectivity( using the DUN Profile ).

        People really need to understand that Bluetooth is not for just connecting a headset to a phone 1 meter away.

        And I've not even started messing the PAN( Personal Area Network ).

        LoB
        • Oops, guess I was wrong. I knew there was some larger range Bluetooth, but completely unaware of any Bluetooth devices related to directly connecting to the internet. Btw, could you point me to a link for some of this info. It seems to be hard to find good info on Bluetooth.

  • Enough crap already? (Score:4, Funny)

    by No Such Agency ( 136681 ) <abmackay AT gmail DOT com> on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:49PM (#5968189)
    With all the add-ons (attached to cell phone, dongle etc.) I have a mental image of this all looking something like that bug removal device from The Matrix. You can probably even plug it into the car cigarette lighter...

  • Nice (Score:5, Insightful)

    by FrostedWheat ( 172733 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:50PM (#5968197)
    $49, $99,. hmmm how much is a Gameboy Advance these days. $69.99 on amazon.com.

    $217.99 total.

    For a little more, you'd be better of with the Zaurus SL-5500. If you have the Gameboy Advance already tho, it might be worth it. Gonna be a HUGE annoyance browsing without a keyboard and backlight screen.

    Plus Doom look so much better on the Zaurus :)

  • Ooh goody (Score:5, Funny)

    by SomeOtherGuy ( 179082 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @04:57PM (#5968260) Journal
    How cool...I can setup a wireless lan to my Laptop and setup and setup my new $700 dollar blue tooth enabled Ipaq to take forwarded packets from the bluetooth on the Laptop -- and then forward the packets so I can browse the web in real style on my Gameboy. Cool -- Every generation gets you a smaller screen and less disk space.....Now only if I could forward the packets from my gameboy to my cellphone....Hot damn -- I need to get me one of them new fangled blue tooth enabled cellphones...and then the circle of degradation and the quest for the smallest screen and suckiest input method will be complete.

  • wow (Score:1, Redundant)

    by pingflood ( 105369 )
    Now you can surf pr0n on your gaming device. This is a geek's dream come true.

  • It burns it burns! (Score:5, Funny)

    by FrostedWheat ( 172733 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @05:11PM (#5968363)
    Without the backlight screen, I might just be able to read games.slashdot.org without getting a headache!

    This is gonna be great!

  • ah.. 255 pages of cache (Score:5, Funny)

    by ewhenn ( 647989 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @05:16PM (#5968392)
    That equates to roughly 18 pictures of color pron!

  • According to the FAQ: (Score:4, Interesting)

    by lightspawn ( 155347 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @05:28PM (#5968454) Homepage
    Q. When will the X-traFun cartridge be available for purchase by consumers?
    A. Q1, 2003

    By my calculations, Q1 2003 is already over.

    Furthermore, the top of the web site proudly displays both the GBA and the GBC logos, although the FAQ states it's a GBA-only product.

    The 'developers' section contains no useful material of any kind, and the 'click here to upload your software applications' link is broken.

    Are we supposed to take this product/company seriously?
  • They had this device displayed at the Bluetooth SIG booth at WinHEC. I noticed that the implemenation of the browser was very small. It had email, calendar, and even said "you've got mail". It has a class 1 device which gives it a long range, but will chew up the battery. It is a cool idea to make the GBA wireless, but you can't play Nintendo(r) games over the device which means no kid is EVER going to buy it. Face it... Bluetooth := IR ;
  • Now imagine... A beowol * the slashdot gods send a bolt of lightening and -- fizzle*

  • Here I thought I was the only one (Score:3, Funny)

    by donglekey ( 124433 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @06:11PM (#5968779) Homepage
    A $99 upgrade adds a Secure Digital card slot and a dongle!"

    Its not so bad that I am bought and sold, but that I am not even sold alone, I am bundled with something else.

  • Pikachu Popups! (Score:3, Funny)

    by Vampyre_Dark ( 630787 ) on Thursday May 15, 2003 @06:40PM (#5968944)
    Actual quote from an 8 year old GBA player:

    Dammit! I was just about to catch the last pokémon, when all of a sudden the screen started flashing and it said "If this banner is flashing, you've won!" So I pushed A, and it closed, then something that looked like a window popped up and said my computer is broadcasting an IP address! Haha those fools, I'm not even on a computer, and I don't gotta pee! So I pressed A and closed it. Then after that I saw a girl spread her legs, and that's when my Mom took away my gameboy, and now it's illegal to own one in 48 states.
  • Typing URLs on a GBA will be interesting, what with the two buttons. It might almost work if you live in Bosnia [iana.org] or Barbados [iana.org].

  • multiplayer gaming (Score:2, Insightful)

    by mR3p ( 631377 )
    well of course i cant see many people using it for browsing, but this opens up the entire possibility of multiplayer gaming, which would be better than cell phones or PDAs

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