Use your DS to control your PC
by Blake Snow 
{ Mar 6th 2006 at 7:00AM }
Some genius has figured out how to control a PC remotely using a Nintendo DS. Very cool stuff, although we're not sure what real-world application this would help with outside of the "wow" factor. You can never have too many hacks though.
Click here for the how-to [1emulation]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
teddy @ Mar 6th 2006 7:38AM
cool, i used to know the lead singer of trivium. that guy is probably from florida
Doop @ Mar 6th 2006 7:39AM
well if you dont have a graphics tablet, you could use the stylus and the touch pad as one, for photoshop and excessive hours in MsPaint.
Becasue the bottom screen lets you control mouse clicks with the stylus
erich_generic @ Mar 6th 2006 7:57AM
This person took a screenshot of his desktop and is simply viewing the image via a smartcard add-on.
Blue @ Mar 6th 2006 8:15AM
3:
In fact, this person is not doing that!
This is the homebrew program PointyRemote that is one of two applications that allow you to control your PC via ds.
The homebrew community shouldn't be taken so lightly! This has been out for a while but people are still amazed by it. There is actually a working text-based browser for DSLinux nowadays!
Homebrew: not just for the PSP.
MaHe @ Mar 6th 2006 8:40AM
erich_generic:
Not really, I've been using that application for weeks. You should read DS homebrew community news ( www.dsdev.org / www.drunkencoders.com ) more often or don't comment at all.
Josh @ Mar 6th 2006 8:54AM
Can't see the real-world application here? How about a multimedia remote?
in5ane @ Mar 6th 2006 9:22AM
I'm not disputing it can't be done, as it's probably based on VNC, which itself is highly portable and cross-compatible.
However, how come on the screen shot, there is an orange thing on the startbar on the PC monitor, but not on the DS representation?
elmer @ Mar 6th 2006 9:32AM
The screen doesn't have a very high refresh rate last I checked, which may be why there's no orange.
More Uses:
How about going online with a stylus from my bed (or my bathroom).
How about having a nice usable IM remote complete with picture drawing.
When sound is working effectively, how about having a cheap skype phone about the house.
Nushio @ Mar 6th 2006 9:41AM
Theres another called Win2DS which does pretty much the same thing.
As for the Media Remote, there is a program called DSRemote. There's also DS2Key, which can be mapped to be used on, say, Winamp.
Doom3 @ Mar 6th 2006 9:44AM
I wonder if you can use z brush on that thing? Hmmmmm?
Well this is a nice omen for the future of the ds. We just need a bigger screen now. Or ethier an A/V attachment so you can use a bigger display. Really though I would how good this is compared to a wacom cintiq. The next mario paint better have z brush under it's hood! If I could get this running thur a good network you could setup your 3d render farm and perview movies already made. To me this just kills the pda...
Jake @ Mar 6th 2006 10:00AM
The DS screen is 60fps, 60hz, the refresh rate is not an issue at all.
Maybe it just flashed orange and there is a lag in wifi? Makes sense
gnome @ Mar 6th 2006 10:16AM
The real real-world application of such techs, is convincing bosses around the world that the DS is a productivity tool.
Which it is.
SuicideNinja @ Mar 6th 2006 11:16AM
This was actually already covered by dsfanboy.
But it anycase, the Win2DS program is a much cleaner version that runs a bit better.
kilo 113 @ Mar 6th 2006 11:20AM
doom3...zbrush? wouldn't work at all!
duque @ Mar 6th 2006 11:55AM
Of course is very usefull,
I could change the song in Winamp while I am studyng in my desk, or move forward a movie while I am watching it from my bed or sofa.
To Check who is conected to the Mesenger is usefull as well.
, This tool would be nice, so I dont have to buy a remote control for my PC
duque @ Mar 6th 2006 12:13PM
Bye the way
How can I introduce that program into my DS?
I've seen the page from where I can download the program, but I hve no clue of what should I do to put that program into my DS,
Does anyone has an idea?
Osiris @ Mar 6th 2006 1:08PM
It involves using a passme, or a flashme to change the firmware, then you have to boot files from a GBA flash cart.
slow news day @ Mar 6th 2006 1:48PM
Wouldn't surprise me. You can remote control your PC from a PDA quite easily.
And for anyone using GoToMyPC, there's a PDA specific version available that's quite cool.
Jan @ Mar 6th 2006 5:36PM
So what do i need to buy to do that?
Can someone give me a link to the stuff I need?
I've always tried to hack in school. But there's so many files I can't access without the teachers' coms. So I'll use it on theirs...
elmer @ Mar 6th 2006 8:13PM
Not the screen as in screen. Something about the rate at which the server software can send images to the DS or some such other stuff. Lag must be a small issue too (still waiting for the right wirelss card so I can flash my DS and try all the homebrew myself). Don't know where they're at at the moment.
Minimum stuff you'll need:
1) PCMICA/PCI Wireless card using Ralink 2500/2650 chipset
OR
Passme/Passme2 (depending on which revision of the DS you have).
2) Some kind of flash card (either a GBA flash card, or for the more economic alternative, a GBAMP (from Liksang) + Compact Flash card).
3) Something to write to the card with.
4) Computer
You use the Wirless Multiboot program cooked up in the community to speak to the DS in NIFI speak initially (this part only works for Ralink 2500 chipset cards as only these have had their drivers hacked for this purpose). The Passme devices work the same way. They hijack the initial parts of the regular communication and instruct the DS to access data from the GBA slot before any signiture checks are done. You see accessing data from either the DS slot or Downloaded over the DownloadPlay option induce the DS to carry out Signature checks and the DS will normally only access data from the GBA slot in GBA mode. In this way you can play homebrew data off of GBA devices.
Fortunately it gets better. You can download a hombrew firmware update for the DS which you run like any other program. Now the DS's Signature checking is disabled on wireless NIFI data (so unsigned wirless code can be loaded, not just the official demos), and the DS can also automatically boots up stuff in the GBA slot in DS mode.
Now you're set to run homebrew all over the shop.
The recent WIFI developments are to get the DS to communicate in proper 802.11 WIFI protocols, much as Mariokart, AC and Tony Hawk do, so programs that use it should be able to connect to any standard WIFI device.
Bear in mind that not all homebrew code (but most of the new stuff) will run on the GBAMP, and currently even less runs on M3 or supercard, though these format issues should be sorted shortly.
You can learn everything needed on the DS forums at www.GBADEV.org