My reviews of the NDS-apps

[The Compiler]

View: Apps | Games
My reviews of the NDS-apps
First of all, my English isn't that good, because I'm Swiss, so sorry for all mistakes I make.
But let's start with the reviews:
Movie Player by Spinal
It's one more movie player for the DS. But a good one! It displays movies at a quite good framerate, alltought they are quite big, because the audio is uncompressed.

pros and cons
+ Nice UI (even though it's a rip-off of WMP)
+ Good Video quality
+ Ability to skip, and turn off the lower screen if you don't need it to save battery
- Can't store the movies in directories
4/5

graphics
As said before, the player's got a nice UI. Well, It's a movie player, so most of the graphics depend on yourself
3/5

sound
Er... there isn't any excepting the movie's one.
2.5/5

ideas, innovation
There isn't anything there wasn't before in other movie players.
2.5/5

usability
Everything good, beside of the aspect you can't store the movies in directories.
3.5/5

motion support
No (but it won't make any sense)
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
It won't, because I can't see any sense in viewing movies with a such small display (and if I would, I would take Moonshell, because I'm already using it for music playback)

What I would improve/add

• The ability to have the movies stored in folders

overall ranking
17/30





TabBed by wizlon
This is an app designed for guitar players. It contains a tab-reader, a drum-machine, a chord table/lookup, a metronome, and a small music-player

pros and cons
+ Very feature-rich
+ Many chords to lookup (even such as "Ebmaj7", of which I never heard heard before)
- MP3-player plays files only if they're converted to mono.
3.5/5

graphics
Not bad, you can choose a background and a font you like, it has got all it needs.
4/5

sound
The drum-machine sounds good, the metronom does, the audio files too (only mono), so what do we want more? Stereo-playback for the files and it would be perfect.
4/5

ideas, innovation
There wasn't any guitar-tool for the ds before. Ergo, the full mark here.
5/5

usability
Great, with expect of some small bugs.
4/5

motion support
No (but it won't make any sense)
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
It will, alltought I can't play guitar. Maybe reading tabs is just right for me, because my mother has got a guitar. Let's rock!
By the way: I like playing with the drum-machine!

What I would improve/add

• Playback of stereo-mp3s
• playing and reading tabs at the same time

overall ranking
22/30




JabberDS by theli
With this app you can chat via jabber with your ds.

pros and cons
+ Contains nearly all features of Jabber
- Seems like it doesn't work correctly if other people add me
- strange keyboard
- No UI for the settings
2/5

graphics
Looks nice, it doesn't need more then it has currently in my opinion.
3/5

sound
The sound if someone messages you is a litte bit low, and there could be more sounds
3/5

ideas, innovation
There were other messaging clients before, but noone for Jabber.
3/5

usability
Not bad, but could be better, especially the keyboard.
2.5/5

motion support
No (but it won't make any sense)
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
No, because I haven't got any Jabber contacts.

What I would improve/add

• The keyboard

overall ranking
15/30




Reno Studio by willreno
It's a text editor and a drawing pad.

pros and cons
+ Feature-rich text-editor
+ Handwriting recognition
+ Support for Pinyin
+ Very good drawing app
- Very very unintuitive GUI

4/5

graphics
Ouch! Everything looks ugly!
1.5/5

sound
There isn't any. A text-editor doesn't need sounds.
2.5/5

ideas, innovation
There were other text-editors before, but this one comes with some new ideas and features.
3/5

usability
No comment...
1/5

motion support
Yes.
1.5/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Yes, because its a good text editor, although with a ****py UI

What I would improve/add

• The UI (!!!)

overall ranking
15/30




DS-DOS by wolped
A "clone" of MS-DOS for the DS. Or simplyfied a filebrowser with a clock and without a GUI

pros and cons
+ Geek-like
- Doesn't work for me
- Doesn't really make sense

2.5/5

graphics
Graphics? Graphics?? What's this?
2.5/5

sound
On the beginning of DOS there wasn't any sound! So why should there be sound in a "clone" of DOS?
2.5/5

ideas, innovation
It's geek and a good idea, but there are other filebrowsers.
3/5

usability
Well... you give an order, and press enter. Savvy?
3/5

motion support
No (but it won't make any sense)
0/2.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
No, because it doesn't work. If it would, it would probably stay there.

What I would improve/add

• Support of the R4

overall ranking
15/30




Weebasic by marovada
A BASIC editor and interpreter for the ds

pros and cons
+ It's BASIC!
+ Supports dual-screen and other things of the DS.
- No GUI for the file selection
- Example apps don't work

3.5/5

graphics
It supports backgrounds and sprites for the programms!
3.5/5

sound
Sadly, you can't output sound in your programm.
2/5

ideas, innovation
You can use the stylus in the programms, but not the microfon, nor wifi or motion.
2/5

usability
There should be a on-demand help, but apart of this it's quite good.
4/5

motion support
No
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
It would, because I already programmed some things in BASIC and will continue this on the DS.

What I would improve/add

• Supporting more of the DS' hardware

overall ranking
16.5/30




Flashcart OS by TeenDev
A rom-loader for the ds with a nice UI. Not more, not less.

pros and cons
+ Nice UI
+ Supports R4DS/M3 Simply skins with only small modifications.
- I can't see no sense in it, because the Firmware of your Flashcart can do the same, or even more
- Can't control it with the stylus

2.5/5

graphics
It supports R4/M3 skins, and the standard-skin is also nice. Even the small icons look polished.
4/5

sound
There isn't any, but it won't make sense.
2.5/5

ideas, innovation
there isn't anything new.
2/5

usability
Has got some bugs (scrolling upwards is too fast), but except that it's good
3/5

motion support
No
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
No, because the original firmware can do the same, and it doesn't work for me...

What I would improve/add

• Supporting R4DS

overall ranking
15.5/30




Motion Plotter by Sektor
A small drawing app for the DS

pros and cons
+ Supports Motion
- Draws only in 8 directions
- Doesn't make fun without motion
- No saving for the images
- Only 7 colors

0/5

graphics
Hmmm. I only can see some lines in some colors.
1/5

sound
There isn't any, but it won't make sense.
2.5/5

ideas, innovation
I think it's the first drawing app for the ds which supports motion, but there isn't anything other new.
3/5

usability
Couldn't test it with motion, but I think it could be controlled even of small children, especially with motion.
3/5

motion support
Yes (Yay!)
1.5/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
No, because it isn't funny without motion.

What I would improve/add

• Saving files
• More colors (probably use L as "shift" for the colors)
• Drawing in more directions (wouldn't be possible without motion, but with motion, it would!)
• Add dual screen support

overall ranking
12.5/30




Fat player mikmod by Cid2Mizard
A chiptune player for the ds which supports nearly all tracker-formats, and has got a small visualition.

pros and cons
+ Visualition
+ Supports even salami pieces (but only if they come from a tracker)
- Can't turn the sound above 100%

3.5/5

graphics
Nice visualition, the GUI fits to the chiptunes.
4/5

sound
Well, the sounds comes from the chiptunes. The sample files sound good.
3/5

ideas, innovation
Some other programms (like Moonshell) support some of the tracker formats, some do only mikmod support. Also there's a quite nice visualition.
4/5

usability
You couldn't do much more than selecting a file and justify the volume. But that's all you would like to do.
3/5

motion support
No (but it wouldn't make any sense)
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Yes, I'm going to search some good chiptunes and listen to them

What I would improve/add

• Nothing!

overall ranking
19/30




DSBash by leinad
A programm for reading bash.org-quotes on your DS (By the way: There is also a version for german-bash.org, I pm'ned the author, you can get it here.

pros and cons
+ Very very funny
+ Runs fast
+ You can bookmark/save quotes in a textfile
- GUI is a little bit messy
- Can't browse trought your saved quote right in DSBash

3/5

graphics
Not really good.
2/5

sound
There isn't any.
2.5/5

ideas, innovation
You could already surf to bash.org with a browser on the ds, but that's a new confortable way.
4/5

usability
As I said, the UI is a little bit messy, but anyway easy usable.
3.5/5

motion support
No (but it wouldn't make any sense)
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Yes! I LOVE reading chatquotes!

What I would improve/add

• The UI
• Support to vote for quotes
• Support to browse trought the bookmarks

overall ranking
16.5/30




Mediatheque DS by Cid2mizard
With this app you can manage your collection of movies, comics, homebrew apps, games, stamps, whatever...

pros and cons
+ Seems to look very polished and useful
+ Has got many features
+ English and French
- Doesn't run on my R4DS (I can only see a blue screen with two GUI-elements on it)

4/5

graphics
The UI looks polished and you can even display covers for the files.
4/5

sound
Don't know if there is any, as it doesn't run for me.
2.5/5

ideas, innovation
It's a really good way to manage your things!
4/5

usability
Can't say much, as I couldn't try it. But on the screenshot it looks very usable.
3.5/5

motion support
No (but it wouldn't make any sense)
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
If it would work, I would it use for managing my homebrew-games and -apps. Unfortunately it doesn't

What I would improve/add

• Support for the R4
• User-defined fields for the database.

overall ranking
19.5/30




DSF by samel
This is a Brain**** interpreter for the DS. Simply sick! Brain**** is sick at all, a "Hello World" program looks like this:

Code: [Select]

++++++++++[>+++++++>++++++++++>+++>+<<<<-]>++.>+.+++++++..+++.>++.<<+++++++++++++++.>.+++.------.--------.>+.>.
pros and cons
+ Which sick man had the idea to port Brain**** to the DS???
- Displays the hole sourcecode before running the program
- Some programs don't work
- USELESS!

1/5

graphics
The UI looks polished and you can even display covers for the files.
4/5

sound
I'm wondering how a sound driver would look in brain**** So the only sound you hear is the ticking noise of the keyboard to input a filename.
2.5/5

ideas, innovation
All I'm saying is: SICK!
4/5

usability
There isn't any filebrowser to choose programms, you have to type the filename manually.
2/5

motion support
No (but it wouldn't make any sense) (btw: Wonder how a motion driver looks in Brain**** )
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
No, I can't see any sense in it.

What I would improve/add

• Filebrowser to select a file

overall ranking
14/30




DSision by spinal
A homebrew-launcher with a very nice and intuitive GUI

pros and cons
+ Looks awesome!
+ LOOKS AWESOME!
- Can't adjust the settings in the launcher
- Doesn't work on my R4
- Digital clock seems not to work correctly

3/5

graphics
WOW! The only thing I don't like, is that the included icons are pixelated, but you can easily replace them.
4.5/5

sound
There is a start sound at the beginning, nothing more. It doesn't need more in my opinion.
3/5

ideas, innovation
It's not the first homebrew-loader, but sure the only with a such eye-candy like this one.
4/5

usability
Couldn't be better!
5/5

motion support
No (it would be cool to move these icons by tilting the ds )
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
It would actually replace the firmare of my R4, if it would launch things there.

What I would improve/add

• Ability to browse by filnames
• Compatibility to the R4DS

overall ranking
21/30



Ranking list

Place	Name	Author	Points
1st	TabBed	wizlon	22
2nd	DSision	spinal	21
3rd	Mediatheque DS	Cid2mizard	20.5
4th	Fat player mikmod	Cid2Mizard	19
5th	Movie Player	Spinal	17
6th	Weebasic	marovada	16.5
6th	DSBash	leinad	16.5
7th	Flashcart OS	TeenDev	15.5
8th	JabberDS	theli	15
8th	Reno Studio	willreno	15
8th	DS-DOS	wolped	15
9th	DSF	samel	14
10th	Motion Plotter	Sektor	12.5

Well, well, well. Now the same hard work for all the games

Remeber: This isn't the final version, I'm going to double-check all the things, and ask me English teacher if he corrects it for me 
Also I'm going to add only 1.5 points for motion/original entry as mentioned by Dr. Neo. So the ranking list can change again.

By the way: Reno Draw has got a better place now, as Reno Draw is the best drawing-app for the ds I ever saw! 

As the motion/original enter now only gives 1.5 points, all rankings are ... points of 28, not of 30. But I left it like it was, simly think threre are two bonus points, but no app became them 
Florian

[MagNet]

You might want to remove the stars from partial ratings (gfx, sounds, ideas, etc.) or at least make them smaller. Right now the final ratings don't stand out at all and there are just too many stars in general.

[sturmen]

I agree, it's hard to find the final rating in all those stars.

[willreno]

reno studio support motion.
When you are reading after pressing B,you can shake your DS to turn the page.And while you are pressing down,you can shake your DS to draw.
not
motion support
No (but it won't make any sense)
 0/2.5
*******************************************************
usability
No comment... I couldn't even find neo draw.


PRESS SEL BUTTON!

[marovada]

Thanks for the review of Wee Basic.  Let me know what output (eg error message) you are getting for the example apps so that I can see why they are not working for you.  Maybe this will help others as well.

[The Compiler]

Should be much better now. I'll correct the reno-apps (I like reno draw!) and post the errors for Weebasic later when I've got more time.


Florian

EDIT:
If i run tictactoe, it says

Code: [Select]

Error: statement expected in char position 4785 near [28,1 return   ;] It scrolls to the line

Code: [Select]

;5   L then (seems to be the last line).

In the example programm it says

Code: [Select]

Error: statement expected in char position 974 near [next return   i  ] and scrolls to

Code: [Select]

i    (also the last line).

[marovada]

";5   L"
This is "rubbish" code.  There should be no code after "return".  Just delete all code (including spaces) after the "return" and it should work.  If you keep getting the error after you've deleted the rubbish code, it means that there are still rubbish spaces after the return, so move a few spaces ahead of the return and delete all of the spaces so that the "n" of the "return" is the last character.  If you delete the "n" by accident, just reinstate it or you will get the same error.

I think this is the same problem with the "i" after the return in the demo app.

The fact that you're getting this "rubbish" code is very strange.  Are you using an emulator or the DS itself?  I got this problem when using an emulator but not on the real DS.

Also, the rubbish code might be different every time you run the program, so just delete it each time.  If this is happening on the real DS then I will have to look into it.  Strangely it happened on the emulator only after I put in the Neo splash screen.

Let me know if you have any other problems.  It will be good if you can get the sprite demo to work and move and jump the little soldier.

[The Compiler]

Hello,

that happened to me with a real DS and an R4. Sadly I can't test the apps (and all the games) now, because I finally sent my DS back, because my L button doesn't work properly (even if I clean the dust there). I'll take up to 14 days until I'll get it back 

[sumiguchi]

as Reno Draw is the best drawing-app for the ds I ever saw!

Really?  have you seen Tassu's Philidias?

[MagNet]

And let's not forget Jens Andersson's Colors.

[spinal]

ideas, innovation
There isn't anything there wasn't before in other movie players.
2.5/5

How about the bookmarking, I'm fairly sure no other player has this feature, I can't even think of a pc movie player with this feature.