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We can't build something quite like that because we demand a whole lot more from our general-purpose computing devices than we demand from our Switches. For in

by wk_end 1y ago

We can't build something quite like that because we demand a whole lot more from our general-purpose computing devices than we demand from our Switches. For instance, the Switch - and I don't know where in the stack this limitation lies - won't even let you run multiple programs that use the network. You can't, say, download a new game while playing another one that happens to have online connectivity - even if you aren't using it! On a computer, we want to be able to run dozens of programs at the same time, freely and seamlessly; we want them to be able to interoperate: share data, resources, libraries, you name it; we want support for a vast array of hardware and peripherals. And on and on. A Switch, fundamentally, is a device that plays games. Simpler requirements leads to simpler software.

gjsman-1000 1y ago
This isn’t actually true, as you can use the Nintendo Switch Online app, or the eShop, while downloading games. You just can’t play games at the same time one is downloading. That’s a deliberate storage speed and network use optimization than a software limitation. You can also tell this by the notifications about online players from the system, even as you are playing an online game. (Edit for posting too fast: The Switch does have a web browser, full WebKit even, which is used for the eShop and for logging in to captive portal Wi-Fi. Exploits are found occasionally, but the sandboxing has so far rendered these exploits mostly useless. Personally, I support this, as then Nintendo doesn’t have to worry about website parental controls.)
- m4rtink 1y ago
  But AFAIK it still does not have a web browser, because they are scared of all the exploits webkit exploits people used to enable custom software on the PlayStation Vita. So rather than that they released Switch without a built-in web browser, even if it would be perfectly usable on the hardware and very useful in many cases.

by wk_end 1y ago

gjsman-1000 1y ago

This isn’t actually true, as you can use the Nintendo Switch Online app, or the eShop, while downloading games. You just can’t play games at the same time one is downloading. That’s a deliberate storage speed and network use optimization than a software limitation. You can also tell this by the notifications about online players from the system, even as you are playing an online game. (Edit for posting too fast: The Switch does have a web browser, full WebKit even, which is used for the eShop and for logging in to captive portal Wi-Fi. Exploits are found occasionally, but the sandboxing has so far rendered these exploits mostly useless. Personally, I support this, as then Nintendo doesn’t have to worry about website parental controls.)

m4rtink 1y ago
But AFAIK it still does not have a web browser, because they are scared of all the exploits webkit exploits people used to enable custom software on the PlayStation Vita. So rather than that they released Switch without a built-in web browser, even if it would be perfectly usable on the hardware and very useful in many cases.