It has been revealed that the Nintendo Switch Lite will make use of ACCESS' NetFront Browser NX to handle its online needs, continuing a partnership between Nintendo and ACCESS which has been going strong for almost a decade.
According to a press release announcing the partnership, the browser component will be used for purposes such as linking up your Nintendo Account, using the Nintendo eShop, and posting screenshots to social media. We explored it in a little more detail when the original Switch first arrived on the scene (as it uses the same tech) but here's a quick description of how it all works, taken from an older press release:
"NetFront Browser NX is a WebKit-based browser component that features ultra-low levels of memory usage, enabled by ACCESS' unique technology that improves memory usage efficiency and ensures powerful rendering on a variety of devices and operating systems. The browser supports the latest Web technologies, including HTML5, CSS3, Gamepad API, WebP, WebSocket, HTTP Cache. In addition, using proprietary expansion spatial navigation technology, it enables smooth movement controlled by the arrow keys, maximises the usability of directional keypads on game controllers and more. NetFront Browser NX is deployed in a wide variety of devices including Nintendo game consoles, TVs, and in-vehicle infotainment systems (IVI) that are shipped globally."
ACCESS' NetFront Browser has been used in Nintendo consoles for years now, including the Switch, Wii U, and even the 3DS dating back to 2011. It's also worth noting that the 'NX' part has nothing to do with the Switch's old code name, and is purely a coincidence.
So what does this actually mean for us as consumers? Well, essentially just that everything will be running exactly as you'd expect, with all of the online services mentioned above being handled in the same way as before.
At least we know it's in safe hands.
[source nikkei.com]
Comments 29
Thought it meant Switch Lite would be getting a web-browser, but ah well.
@Bunkerneath what do you think this is? The 21st century?
It’s nice and super smooth, however when scrolling lists of games, the more I scroll down a list the more it slows down, to nearly a crawl
I believe this is used exclusively for the digital manuals that some games feature, as well as the sign-in portal that some internet connection access points may use.
@Lordplops Web browsers never end well for consoles that are trying to stop hacking.
@iN5OMANiAC Fair enough, but it’s times like this when I kick myself for trading in the Wii U
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/03/netfront_browser_nx_by_access_-_powering_the_switch_webkit_online_services
The Phat has the netfront browser built in for the very exact same reason, thous makes this really old news.
@iN5OMANiAC people hacked consoles via saves and browsers in the past, that is true but not the only method used.
Nintendo Switch lacks a browser, and lacks the ability to acces saves without hacking and still it was easy to hack.
People will find their ways anyhow, and the Switch it's Tegra chip makes it easier top.
Still no looking at NintendoLife on your Nintendo Switch. Ohh well...
Netfont Bowser???
In all serious (not really), how nice would it be to have Nintendo apps named after the IPs? I want a Bowser Web Browser
@Bunkerneath I also thought this meant it will have a web browser. Not that I really need one in the switch that much. I like how it plays games and (usually) does it very well. It would be handy if switch had a web browser so you could look up some guides when you play. But it still would need an internet connection when you're outside enjoying the handheld fun. And we all have smartphones after all don't we?
Suggested article title:
Switch Lite to be same as Standard Switch.
"a WebKit-based browser". Good, wouldn't want to miss any of the vulnerabilities that come with the most popular rendering engine... /s
Anyone remember when IE6 was a thing and how bad it was when sites were targetting that rather than the standard?
Apparently not.....
@Rayquaza2510 People will find a way! But that doesn't make it good practice to go out and leave your house unlocked with the doors open.
@Sabroni that's such a strange comparsion...
The only people they punish with stuff like lack of a browser (I don't mind the lack, I would never use it anyhow), not being able to make backups of your saves (and for some games even paying to save in the cloud is not an option) and so on, they only punish the regular users with it.
And by giving people that option doesn't mean "you leave your house unlocked", I mean PS Vita has a browser, gives the option for local backups of games and saves and so on (the list is long) and yet it took people so long to truly hack the Vita (few years, because in first place they only hacked the PSP OS on it, but that does not give you the access to the Vita OS)
Maybe it sounds rude but giving the options or not won't stop the hackers, and giving less functionality to people only punishes the ones that don't want to hack it anyhow.
Lack of certain functionality doesn't solve anything, and no matter if they give you more options hackers will keep hacking it and Nintendo will anyhow have to patch it.
And I mean sure even if the Switch lacks local backup functionality and a browser to prevent hacking, does that mean it also lacks voice chat on the system (and no I don't count Fortnite) or messaging system for sending text messages because of hacking?
In that case maybe they should not give us the option to use regular microsd cards, because that does make hacking easier (the Vita failed because of custom memory cards, but it did prevent people for years to hack it because of that)
I mean I don't expect the Switch being able to do what my phone can do better, I don't need a browser but the Swich lacks more than that, and still hackers have their options anyhow.
Again they only punish the regular users with this.
Would love a useable browser, if only to test how well Browsercade.com works on the thing!!
Wait, the browser component is codenamed NX?.......Like the Switchs original code name?
@Rayquaza2510 tldr.
It's not strange to point out that some attack vectors are more popular than others or that reducing the number of vectors is good practice.
@patbacknitro18 Yeah, funny, isn't it? I also noticed that and wanted to comment on it, but you beat me to it.
Could also be a coincidence, or maybe Nintendo chose this already existing web kit because of their name, who knows?
@Sabroni I remember. This is still happening today, so many people use Chrome that sites are now being developed specifically for it while webkit based browsers (safari mostly at this point) are left out. if you actually care about keeping the browser market competitive you’d uninstall chrome and instead use firefox or safari
@RupeeClock the eshop as well
Uh, i don't know if i'd call this good news. I've always had issues with staying connected when it commes to nintendo. Mario Kart 8 on the WiiU and the same on the Switch, i sometimes have good nights where i stay connected for 1-2 hours and then have games where i fly every 10 minutes.
@tekknik Firefox + NoScript + UBlock Origin ftw!!!
@Lordplops I freaking belly-laughed way too hard at what you wrote there. Good play!
@graysoncharles I don't see why the Switch would need one though, we can already watch YouTube on Switch and all the downloading stuff were already handle by the eShop.
@Sabroni great to hear!!!
Bit of a non-story this. Of course it uses the exact same browser as Switch, it's the same OS.
@graysoncharles You have to use the phone for that. 😁
Who cares? According to Wikipedia (the confirmed source for everything), Switch Lite is a home console without television output ability, meaning it's still a home console. I'm going to sleep. Wake me when there's a new handheld that comes out from Nintendo, will you?
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