Nintendo DSi adds built-in cameras, SD slot, and online store
(Credit: Nintendo)In another one of those "worst-kept secret" moments, Nintendo on Thursday confirmed the rumors that it would be updating its DS handheld hardware for the second time. Announced in Japan Thursday morning, the Nintendo DSi will boast a slimmer body, bigger screens, two cameras, and new image and music players. It will also lose the Game Boy Advance cart slot, replacing it with an SD memory slot for storing music, images, and downloadable content.
(Credit: Nintendo)The chassis of the new console measures in at 0.1 inch less than the DS Lite--making it 12 percent thinner than its forbear. In turn, the screens have become larger at 3.25 inches--17 percent bigger than the original 3-inch LCDs. As for the new additions to the console, Nintendo has packed a 3-megapixel camera on the exterior of the case, with another lower-resolution camera on the interior hinge. The cameras integrate with new multimedia features not found on the existing DS Lite, with images and music stored to SD card via the new slot, and software on the console to play multimedia content. A new Internet browser will also be installed on the machine, allowing people to browse the Web and the DSi Shop to download games and applications to SD cards.
The DSi will launch in Japan on November 1 for ?18,900 ($179). International releases will follow in 2009. In the meantime, the DS Lite remains available for sale.
Nintendo provided some additional information on the DSi at a San Francisco event that followed some hours after the Japan announcement.
(Credit: Nintendo)Reported by Guy Cocker, GameSpot UK
On Sale Now:
$169.99
View the latest prices for Nintendo DSi (black)
but that means exploits and what about those that have GBA ROM's? will they exploit this? does that mean that there will be legal roms for grabs? there are som many questions to be answered!!!!!!
Keep your old DS
OR
Sell it.
I am just wondering what more would entice buyers to get the upgrade. Otherwise, it seems pointless to waste the money on the upgrade.
At least they did say about the battery life, which is A LOT less then that of the DSLite.
You can run the DSLite for 5~8 hours on the brightest setting, and 15~19 on the lowest, whereas you can only get 3~4 and 9~14 on the DSi respectively.
Still, I can't help but feel that the DSi is overpriced. It's $180 and all it adds is a 0.3mp camera and a SD slot. The system presumably doesn't come with an SD card, games, or any other accessories. With the PSP core pack selling at $170 and the bundles only $20 more than the DSi, this seems of poor value to me. I don't think the DS should be selling for any more than $120 given the price point of past Gameboy models. Seems to me they're just trying to Frankenstein the DS into a PMP because of how well the PSP is doing into Japan. Give us a price cut for the Wii and DS Lite instead.
so it's a DS lite and PSP hybrid
wow, I TOTALLY didn't see that coming...
I think this a warning shot straight over the bow of Apple headquarters in Cupertino. They heard Steve Jobs claims of the iPod Touch being the best gaming device out there and they did not like it.
PSP is going to become obsolete unless it changes soon Sony is running out of money to keep buy itself out of losing battles.
Apple and Nintendo just may be starting an all out brawl and one things for sure - it will end up good for consumers.
Comparing a 360 to a DS is comparing apples to oranges. Think of a better argument please.
I cannot believe someone would consider buying a device which is NOT truly an upgrade. This is the same mistake Sony made with the PS3.
Console developers...KEEP BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY. It needs to stay around. Not everyone wants to own 16 different consoles; I know I don't. I'll be keeping my Lite so I can play GBA games for those oddball occasions that I feel like playing one.
DSi for DS and/or anything older you (choose) to download.
2 =/= 16
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by renzenkuken
October 2, 2008 2:26 PM PDT
- looks pretty cool. They probably want to stop piracy so i guess no more flashcarts
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by sneaksiegarrett
October 3, 2008 12:51 PM PDT
- That's true, no more flashcarts... But think about it. A flashcart uses a mini SD card anyway lol. Like, for example, the R4 for DS Lite is basically just a holder for the mini sd card. So, if you have a mini sd to regular size sd converter, you could just stick that into the sd card slot. Though, I'm curious how this would affect the functionality and whatnot.
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