The "day one" Nintendo Switch update is now live for any of you lucky enough to have had your consoles shipped early, and one of the first things you'll want to do is link your Switch with your Twitter account so you can spam loads of lovely Zelda screenshots to your timeline.
The process of linking your account to the console will be familiar to anyone who has used Twitter before; a security email is fired to inform you that the connection has been made, just in case you're not the person who did it. However, what's interesting is that the Switch's browser is listed as "Safari", which, as we all know, is Apple's own browser.
Before you get too excited, your Switch isn't an iPad in disguise. Now, there are only a few different browser engines available, the most common being WebKit, and it's more than likely that the Switch is reporting a new user agent identification string that contains "AppleWebKit" that Twitter doesn't yet understand.
As the WebKit engine started out Apple the default response is to assume it is therefore "Safari", unless it contains another known identifier string like "Android" or "Chrome" which also use a variant of WebKit.
We don't have access to the full user agent string from Nintendo Switch just yet, but it's quite likely it'll be a newer version of the browser found on Wii U called NetFront. Alternatively, if rumours are to be believed, it could be based on an Android version of Chrome.
It does mean that it would be easy for Nintendo to provide a web browser for Switch if they wanted to.
Comments 16
Switch Pro Controller delivered 45 minutes ago.
Now just need BotW.
Oh, and a Switch console!
I set up a Tumblr (yeah, I know...) to share pictures as I feel that's the better social media platform. Is that on Switch? Does it let you set Hashtags and post to secondary blogs?
@DamianMcFerran
@Julien Same here. Looks like they were in a rush to get those Pro Controllers out.
it could also be because nintendo has a thing for apple. maybe some enterprising dev will make a paid browser for the switch. btw according to that wikipedia page, the version of netfront for 'other devices' is called NX.
Come onnnn web browser!
Everyone with a 3DS already knows that. My new3DS triggers emails warning telling me a Safari browser logged into my Twitter account.
Thank goodness! I don't need any Apple software sullying my new Switch!
Will be happy if they put out a web browser, but for now all I need is the system and BotW.
Are these screenshots in the game's resolution or are they more like the heavily compressed JPEG thumbnails you could post on Miiverse? I didn't read anything about this.
I have the Switch case and screen protector. Just need zelda and the console
If this really is evidence that the Switch is running a form of webkit, that doesn't bode well for it's security.
@Damo: Wait, what Browser?! I thought the Switch had no browser at launch?
I just got my BotW, but no Switch. Hmmm. I don't think I'll get it today.
@aesc Ah okay, I was just confused (and a bit hopeful) because Damo wrote "that the Switch's browser is listed as Safari".
I'm one of those people who deem the inclusion of a browser on the Switch as incredibly important, so that line sparked a tiny bit of hope in me.
Oh the fun of browser sniffing. Well it was either going to guess it was Safari or Chrome. Since its using the most common engine out there, that should bode well for when they launch a full browser.
@RupeeClock Indeed; WebKit let homebrew devs crack 3DS and Wii U open, haha. (Although the 3DS did have that architectural flaw of sorts allowing the GPU to write to parts of main RAM)
I suppose this is why Nintendo are reluctant to release a full browser right now.
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