Japanese firm launches DS Net filter

  • By Walt Wyman, GameSpot
  • Posted Jul 25, 2006 2:28 pm PT

Digital Arts' i-Filter will harness the DS Web Browser's proxy features to block more than 163 million Web pages in Japan.

Japanese security software developer Digital Arts Inc. is now offering an Internet content-filtering service for the Nintendo DS Web Browser, according to Nikkei BP. Called i-Filter for the Nintendo DS Browser, the service promises to block Web sites that contain pornographic or other undesirable content for a monthly fee of 315 yen (about US $2.70).

The service uses the Nintendo DS browser's proxy feature to restrict access, eliminating the need to install separate software. Digital Arts claims it has blocked around 5.46 million sites, or over 163 million Web pages. Employees at Digital Arts choose which Web sites to blacklist by inspecting them firsthand--a method the company touts because it means that sites are less likely to be blocked indiscriminately.

41 Comments

  • WeeneeDemon

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 8:27 am PT

    dude can you download stuff with the DS browser?

  • curty_flurty

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 1:27 am PT

    lol, ban porn? lol i aint payin 2 bucks so i cant watch porn.. thats stupid! LOL

  • Noodlez016

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 9:20 am PT

    If it blocks myspace, then i will deffinately not want this. and yes i am addicted to myspace, lol.

  • kenstar500

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 5:39 am PT

    do you have to have a nintedo wi-fi coonciton

  • game_guy2500

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 11:47 am PT

    So uhhh, can your DS get viruses from the net?

  • merch

    Posted Aug 4, 2006 12:38 pm PT

    you have a choice for the filter remember the filter costs $2 so if you dont buy it you can serch freely common sence.

  • roan23

    Posted Jul 28, 2006 10:46 am PT

    I thought when they gonna make this i can jacking at anytime. no porn,that is suck

  • ert47

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 6:20 pm PT

    I can see why this is happening... don't forget, with the DS browser, the bottom screen magnifies what you see on the top screen...

  • osirus824

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 10:41 pm PT

    Haha, I can't believe some of the reactions on this page. If you are at all confused by the purpose of this product, or feel the need to point out that you don't require an internet content filter for yourself, then you're probably a child. If that's the case, maybe you're parents should consider making the investment...

  • togo2828

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 8:59 pm PT

    the last message was a joke

  • togo2828

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 8:58 pm PT

    Well i kinda like Porn, so i wont be getting that

  • 3leMenT

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 7:19 pm PT

    what about stupid WOW thats monthly, and use are bi**hing about 2.75 god get over it, its a choice to have and you could probably find that much in a gutter

  • mcm444

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 4:14 pm PT

    Why would anybody (unless they have kids going to use it) waste 2.70$ a month. I think an adult would be able to restrain themselves instead of buying a service that restrains them.

  • redgamer63

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 1:34 pm PT

    whose gonna buy it?

  • mos333

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 11:56 am PT

    Why is everyone complaining about the Fee? It's not like any of you here are going to subscribe to this block thing anyway? And what's up with the second comment? teh fee an teh ds lite equars i not buy? This is a feature you can subscribe to optionally if you dont want users of the browser going on ratemypoo.com, nothing to attract sad fanboys.

  • monkkito

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 11:18 am PT

    It's a good idea for parents, but the monthly fee might discourage some parents. still 2.70 is really not a lot, so whatever. Not like i need to worry about getting one anyway.
    And yes the psp browser sucks, now is they came up with some keyboard peripherals or something...

  • THEDSKING

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 9:56 am PT

    monthly fee+nintendo ds lite = hell no im not buying it

  • Agreb91

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 9:30 am PT

    A monthly fee isn't the best thing in the world But its great that they can do that to block that king of material.

  • stiker71

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 8:16 am PT

    Monthly fee sucks so i wont be getting it

  • feralugia

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 5:35 am PT

    GOOD IDEA

  • pokemogu

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 5:14 am PT

    I'm trying this service now, and it blocks several "inappropriate" sites like MySpace or Kazaa. Fortunately GameSpot doesn't get blocked

  • aus_pride

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 4:14 am PT

    think about it a 10 year old boy jst finished playing mario kart and decides to check out what big jugs.com is

  • garydbzfan

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 3:10 am PT

    will i need my usb connector to on the internet then cos if i do theres no point at all in me getting the web browser

  • WADDLE-DEE

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 12:05 am PT

    I can look at porn in the bathroom now.

  • nomadbob5

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 4:43 pm PT

    Okay why would people go to one of the 5.46 million sites that are labeled as so called "undesirable." For one thing why in the f*** would someone go to these sites on a ds anyway ( low quality imaging, sound problems). Come on, and who says these sites are undesirable, if they were they wouldn't be there; there are always people that like that kind of stuff. At least it is optional.

  • rotnem

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 4:04 pm PT

    I think this is a good idea for parents. But i've gone to websites that have no "undesirable content" in them and i'm blocked off. It bites but thankfully i'm a BIG BOY and they are'nt going to bother buying that.

  • nomadbob5

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 3:38 pm PT

    Okay why would people go to one of the 5.46 million sites that are labeled as so called "undesirable." For one thing why in the f*** would someone go to these sites on a ds anyway ( low quality imaging, sound problems). Come on, and who says these sites are undesirable, if they were they wouldn't be there; there are always people that like that kind of stuff. At least it is optional.

  • nomadbob5

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 3:37 pm PT

    Okay why would people go to one of the 5.46 million sites that are labeled as so called "undesirable." For one thing why in the f*** would someone go to these sites on a ds anyway ( low quality imaging, sound problems). Come on, and who says these sites are undesirable, if they were they wouldn't be there; there are always people that like that kind of stuff. At least it is optional.

  • Vulpis

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 3:33 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • Vulpis

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 3:32 pm PT

    Hmmm. Now that'd be an interesting job--searching the web for porn, solely for the purposes of blocking the sites. ;-) Granted, I'm a bit wary of third-party filters myself--it's all to easy to slip some sort of agenda in there, like the filter program that blocks abortion sites because of the beliefs of the people running it... or, for that matter, since this is for the DS, any 'DS sucks' sites could be blocked..;-)

  • nitkin1

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 3:31 pm PT

    "which Web sites to blacklist by inspecting them first-hand"

    id love that job : )

  • jkr2krz

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 3:22 pm PT

    Bravo, now how about some state side DS web browsing .

  • Diego17

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 3:09 pm PT

    Link1515
    its only for the ds not the psp

    no one really uses the psp browser

    it sucks

  • SpiderFreak

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 3:09 pm PT

    Link1515, I don't really think it's too much...for a monthly fee. I think HAVING a monthly fee is a bit odd and makes it less desirable to have.

    SF

  • Zweihanderhero

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 2:55 pm PT

    One wonders how in the world do they search for undesirable sites?Do they run sweatshops or something to do the inspection for them?

    Personally,i think the checking sites manually claim is a lot of bull,unless they have an army of employees...

  • drack48

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 2:55 pm PT

    ummm...I can think of some reasons

  • Ericvon71

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 2:50 pm PT

    Now that is a old "MEH"

  • Link1515

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 2:48 pm PT

    The monthly fee is only $2.70, you guys think that's too much? Parents would easily pay for it in-order to protect their kids from harmful websites.

  • Jackov

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 2:45 pm PT

    It's great that there's a filter to keep kids off of harmful websites. But for a monthly fee?!

  • SpiderFreak

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 2:45 pm PT

    Nice job, Digital Arts. Although the monthly fee isn't as nice.

    SF

  • Link1515

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 2:44 pm PT

    That's a good idea. There's no use for pornographic material, what purpose do they serve? Why let them be open for anyone to see?

    It's a good idea to make a filter to block out all of those kinds of websites. And since more younger kids own a DS than a PSP, it's all the more reason to do it.

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