50hz games on a 60hz screen is not going to make for a pleasant gaming experience. I hope this is not true for our friends in PAL regions. One thought I had is, why doesn't the Switch support VRR...
50hz games on a 60hz screen is not going to make for a pleasant gaming experience. I hope this is not true for our friends in PAL regions.
One thought I had is, why doesn't the Switch support VRR for it's built in display? This seems like an obvious feature to implement for both user experience reasons and battery life. It would make supporting PAL versions of games trivial.
If you're going to ask that, then you might as well ask why they didn't support bluetooth audio in and out sooner, why the web browser is hidden and only accessible through a back door, why they...
One thought I had is, why doesn't the Switch support VRR for it's built in display? This seems like an obvious feature to implement for both user experience reasons and battery life. It would make supporting PAL versions of games trivial.
If you're going to ask that, then you might as well ask why they didn't support bluetooth audio in and out sooner, why the web browser is hidden and only accessible through a back door, why they don't have a netflix app, and lots more, I'm sure.
I think I actually can explain some of these. For bluetooth, BT audio is a dumpster fire for playing video games. It's almost impossible to control latency unless you make the devices on both ends...
I think I actually can explain some of these.
For bluetooth, BT audio is a dumpster fire for playing video games. It's almost impossible to control latency unless you make the devices on both ends of the connection. I tried pairing my Sony BT headphones with my Switch once the update dropped and found the results to be less than ideal.
For the browser, built-in webkit based browsers have been the primary source of piracy-enabling exploits on a number of prior consoles. They would probably prefer not to include a browser at all, but it's necessary in order to connect to many public WiFi networks.
It's possible to have adjustable latency controls, or to offer bluetooth as an option with the up-front warning of latency issues. "Piracy concerns" be damned. Being scared of consumers is shitty...
I think I actually can explain some of these.
For bluetooth, BT audio is a dumpster fire for playing video games. It's almost impossible to control latency unless you make the devices on both ends of the connection. I tried pairing my Sony BT headphones with my Switch once the update dropped and found the results to be less than ideal.
It's possible to have adjustable latency controls, or to offer bluetooth as an option with the up-front warning of latency issues.
For the browser, built-in webkit based browsers have been the primary source of piracy-enabling exploits on a number of prior consoles. They would probably prefer not to include a browser at all, but it's necessary in order to connect to many public WiFi networks.
"Piracy concerns" be damned. Being scared of consumers is shitty business model. Consumer demand dictates that a browser be included, as have most game console that connect to the internet have done. For security, It is easily possible to sandbox a browser, that is, run a web browser in its own instance with no access to anything outside of itself.
Nope. If an attacker can execute arbitrary code, even in a sandbox, you have already lost. Hardware security isolation has failed (meltdown, rowhammer, ...), and software, despite our best...
It is easily possible to sandbox a browser, that is, run a web browser in its own instance with no access to anything outside of itself
Nope. If an attacker can execute arbitrary code, even in a sandbox, you have already lost. Hardware security isolation has failed (meltdown, rowhammer, ...), and software, despite our best efforts, is buggy. (And our 'best efforts' are going into chrome, not webkit.) A number of high-profile jailbreaks for ps4 and ios have used webkit exploits; both run the browser sandboxed, and the latter especially has spent an impressive amount of effort on security.
Being scared of consumers is shitty business model. Consumer demand dictates that a browser be included, as have most game console that connect to the internet have done.
I am not sure what you are saying here. It's morally wrong for Nintendo not to include a browser with their consoles, and that affronts you? They may not sell a product you like, but that product is not unfairly represented. Or that it is a bad business decision for them not to include a web browser? Sales figures say otherwise.
The possibility that any security can fail is not a good excuse against having a web browser on a consumer-facing device. Seemed perfectly clear to me.
Nope. If an attacker can execute arbitrary code, even in a sandbox, you have already lost. Hardware security isolation has failed (meltdown, rowhammer, ...), and software, despite our best efforts, is buggy. (And our 'best efforts' are going into chrome, not webkit.) A number of high-profile jailbreaks for ps4 and ios have used webkit exploits; both run the browser sandboxed, and the latter especially has spent an impressive amount of effort on security.
The possibility that any security can fail is not a good excuse against having a web browser on a consumer-facing device.
Maybe, but I've never seen a compelling reason why the Switch needs a web browser at all. It would never be as good as the one in my pocket. I've owned a Switch since launch, and not once have I...
The possibility that any security can fail is not a good excuse against having a web browser on a consumer-facing device.
Maybe, but I've never seen a compelling reason why the Switch needs a web browser at all. It would never be as good as the one in my pocket. I've owned a Switch since launch, and not once have I ever felt like this would be something I actually want. The one useful feature I can think of is being able to switch between your game and a walkthrough really quickly, but that would mean reserving more RAM for the OS leaving less for your game.
And this isn't really about security for the end-user, it's about Nintendo making their platform appealing to third party developers.
You don't have to agree with Nintendo's reasons for doing X or Y, but the point is, they have rational, thought out reasons for doing it. They didn't just wake up one morning and say "You know what would be funny? Not putting a web browser on the Switch!"
The Switch doesn't even have Netflix though. A hybrid home/handheld games console... released in 2017... doesn't have support for any streaming apps, whether it be Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime...
The Switch doesn't even have Netflix though.
A hybrid home/handheld games console... released in 2017... doesn't have support for any streaming apps, whether it be Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, etc.
It is a selling point for your games console to double-up as a streaming box, in all fairness. I know it's a pretty big reason why the Xbox 360 did incredibly well.
I don't want to get into having users have to justify why they want or need something. The Switch is capable of running a web browser, and it's pointless to keep that functionality away from...
Maybe, but I've never seen a compelling reason why the Switch needs a web browser at all.
I don't want to get into having users have to justify why they want or need something.
The Switch is capable of running a web browser, and it's pointless to keep that functionality away from users, and further, modern game consoles all have web browser options except for the Switch.
Jon Cartwright from Nintendo Life has done analysis of the Nintendo Direct streams for Europe, North America and Japan, suggesting that regional versions of certain games will only be available on...
Jon Cartwright from Nintendo Life has done analysis of the Nintendo Direct streams for Europe, North America and Japan, suggesting that regional versions of certain games will only be available on Nintendo's upcoming Nintendo 64 Switch Online service.
On Nintendo UK's Twitter account they used PAL box art for a few games like Super Mario 64 and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in their announcement tweets. The footage of Ocarina of Time shown on the European Direct also appears to be slower, due to the game's 50Hz speed (PAL television signals are 50Hz, whereas NTSC and NTSC-J are 60Hz.
Another potentially major difference (not explained in Jon's video but from Twitter/YouTube comment speculation) is in Super Mario 64. The Japanese direct showed the Shindou version of the game, which has Rumble Pak support, a few voice lines replaced to account for the fact that the original NTSC-J version of SM64 had no voice lines and because Bowser is called King Koopa in Japan. Also speedrunning glitches (such as the backwards long jump) are fixed, making that version unsuitable for speedrunning. This is the same version which was packaged with Super Mario 3D All Stars.
50hz games on a 60hz screen is not going to make for a pleasant gaming experience. I hope this is not true for our friends in PAL regions.
One thought I had is, why doesn't the Switch support VRR for it's built in display? This seems like an obvious feature to implement for both user experience reasons and battery life. It would make supporting PAL versions of games trivial.
If you're going to ask that, then you might as well ask why they didn't support bluetooth audio in and out sooner, why the web browser is hidden and only accessible through a back door, why they don't have a netflix app, and lots more, I'm sure.
I think I actually can explain some of these.
For bluetooth, BT audio is a dumpster fire for playing video games. It's almost impossible to control latency unless you make the devices on both ends of the connection. I tried pairing my Sony BT headphones with my Switch once the update dropped and found the results to be less than ideal.
For the browser, built-in webkit based browsers have been the primary source of piracy-enabling exploits on a number of prior consoles. They would probably prefer not to include a browser at all, but it's necessary in order to connect to many public WiFi networks.
It's possible to have adjustable latency controls, or to offer bluetooth as an option with the up-front warning of latency issues.
"Piracy concerns" be damned. Being scared of consumers is shitty business model. Consumer demand dictates that a browser be included, as have most game console that connect to the internet have done. For security, It is easily possible to sandbox a browser, that is, run a web browser in its own instance with no access to anything outside of itself.
Nope. If an attacker can execute arbitrary code, even in a sandbox, you have already lost. Hardware security isolation has failed (meltdown, rowhammer, ...), and software, despite our best efforts, is buggy. (And our 'best efforts' are going into chrome, not webkit.) A number of high-profile jailbreaks for ps4 and ios have used webkit exploits; both run the browser sandboxed, and the latter especially has spent an impressive amount of effort on security.
I am not sure what you are saying here. It's morally wrong for Nintendo not to include a browser with their consoles, and that affronts you? They may not sell a product you like, but that product is not unfairly represented. Or that it is a bad business decision for them not to include a web browser? Sales figures say otherwise.
The possibility that any security can fail is not a good excuse against having a web browser on a consumer-facing device.
Seemed perfectly clear to me.
Maybe, but I've never seen a compelling reason why the Switch needs a web browser at all. It would never be as good as the one in my pocket. I've owned a Switch since launch, and not once have I ever felt like this would be something I actually want. The one useful feature I can think of is being able to switch between your game and a walkthrough really quickly, but that would mean reserving more RAM for the OS leaving less for your game.
And this isn't really about security for the end-user, it's about Nintendo making their platform appealing to third party developers.
You don't have to agree with Nintendo's reasons for doing X or Y, but the point is, they have rational, thought out reasons for doing it. They didn't just wake up one morning and say "You know what would be funny? Not putting a web browser on the Switch!"
The Switch doesn't even have Netflix though.
A hybrid home/handheld games console... released in 2017... doesn't have support for any streaming apps, whether it be Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, etc.
It is a selling point for your games console to double-up as a streaming box, in all fairness. I know it's a pretty big reason why the Xbox 360 did incredibly well.
I don't want to get into having users have to justify why they want or need something.
The Switch is capable of running a web browser, and it's pointless to keep that functionality away from users, and further, modern game consoles all have web browser options except for the Switch.
Sandbox breakout exploits aren't unheard of
The possibility that any security can fail is not a good excuse against having a web browser.
Untrusted code on trusted hardware has demonstrably failed. Web browsers are an awful idea, on any device.
I forgot that VRR wasn't a thing on the Switch console. Wow this is going to be a disaster.
Jon Cartwright from Nintendo Life has done analysis of the Nintendo Direct streams for Europe, North America and Japan, suggesting that regional versions of certain games will only be available on Nintendo's upcoming Nintendo 64 Switch Online service.
On Nintendo UK's Twitter account they used PAL box art for a few games like Super Mario 64 and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in their announcement tweets. The footage of Ocarina of Time shown on the European Direct also appears to be slower, due to the game's 50Hz speed (PAL television signals are 50Hz, whereas NTSC and NTSC-J are 60Hz.
Another potentially major difference (not explained in Jon's video but from Twitter/YouTube comment speculation) is in Super Mario 64. The Japanese direct showed the Shindou version of the game, which has Rumble Pak support, a few voice lines replaced to account for the fact that the original NTSC-J version of SM64 had no voice lines and because Bowser is called King Koopa in Japan. Also speedrunning glitches (such as the backwards long jump) are fixed, making that version unsuitable for speedrunning. This is the same version which was packaged with Super Mario 3D All Stars.