Head inside for new tidbits about the upcoming Opera DS web browser!

Gaming site Armchair Empire has conducted an interview with Opera's Executive Vice President of Devices, Scott Hedrick about the web browser Nintendo approached Opera about making for the dual-screened handheld.

Asked if the browser would be secure for viruses, Hendrick replied that Opera is pretty secure even running on Windows, but that on the DS the browser should be even more protected from malicious code. When asked if it will be able to run streaming audio/video or other more demanding devices, Hendrick replied "the DS can surf the full Internet, but the initial version does not include Flash support."

It was explained how the screens would display the Internet content - in two display modes, "Fit-to-width" and "DS" mode. Fit-to-width mode has both screens used for scrolling in full, whereas the DS mode sees an overview of the webpage displayed on the touch screen with a moveable pink square which corresponds to the part of the page displayed on the top screen.

But will the Opera browser see release outside Japan? Nintendo is still deciding on its global launch plans, Hendrick concluded, giving little away. [But] of course Opera would like to see this browser solution for DS available to people everywhere.