Rumors of a new version of the popular Nintendo DS system have been confirmed. Nintendo's newest addition to the DS family, the DSi, is slated to hit Japanese markets in November and American markets in 2009.
The DS was originally released in 2004, then repackaged as the sleeker DS Lite in 2006. The widely popular handheld game system introduced a touchscreen, built-in microphone and a slew of games that appeal to almost every player.
So will the DSi be just another repackaging of the same system?
Thankfully, the answer is no. When the DS Lite was released, there was little in the way of component changes; most of the modifications were made to the physical casing. It was thinner and sleeker in design, but it was not that much different, component-wise, from the original DS. The DSi does offer a whole new set of features and gadgets that will truly legitimize it as a separate system.
Cosmetically, there will be some changes to the DSi. Nintendo has announced that the new system will be available in matte colors and the sizes of both screens have been increased to 3.25 inches.
The DSi will also be slimmer than the DS Lite (2.6mm thinner to be exact), but that reduction in size comes at a cost- no backwards compatibility. Unlike the DS and DS Lite, the DSi will not be able to play Game Boy Advance games.
Perhaps the biggest cosmetic addition to the system are the two built-in cameras. There will be an external camera and a VGA camera, which will be located in the hinge. Users will be able to edit the 640x480 pictures using the touchscreen capability.
The DSi will also include an SD-card slot, as well as on-board memory. Nintendo is hoping to expand the role of the DSi into the realm of multimedia devices, allowing owners to utilize their DSi as a media player. Unfortunately, the device will not support the MP3 format, but only AAC files.
The DSi will also come with a built-in DS web browser, and DSi owners will be able to download games. Nintendo will utilize the same point system that was adopted for Wii. With these so-called Nintendo Points, games and demos can be purchased and downloaded.
The Nintendo DSi is being eagerly awaited by both gamers and technophiles. The additional features and gadgets offer a new twist on the already proven DS foundation. But will the DSi meet those expectations? For now we can only wait until the launch date to find out.
The DS was originally released in 2004, then repackaged as the sleeker DS Lite in 2006. The widely popular handheld game system introduced a touchscreen, built-in microphone and a slew of games that appeal to almost every player.
So will the DSi be just another repackaging of the same system?
Thankfully, the answer is no. When the DS Lite was released, there was little in the way of component changes; most of the modifications were made to the physical casing. It was thinner and sleeker in design, but it was not that much different, component-wise, from the original DS. The DSi does offer a whole new set of features and gadgets that will truly legitimize it as a separate system.
Cosmetically, there will be some changes to the DSi. Nintendo has announced that the new system will be available in matte colors and the sizes of both screens have been increased to 3.25 inches.
The DSi will also be slimmer than the DS Lite (2.6mm thinner to be exact), but that reduction in size comes at a cost- no backwards compatibility. Unlike the DS and DS Lite, the DSi will not be able to play Game Boy Advance games.
Perhaps the biggest cosmetic addition to the system are the two built-in cameras. There will be an external camera and a VGA camera, which will be located in the hinge. Users will be able to edit the 640x480 pictures using the touchscreen capability.
The DSi will also include an SD-card slot, as well as on-board memory. Nintendo is hoping to expand the role of the DSi into the realm of multimedia devices, allowing owners to utilize their DSi as a media player. Unfortunately, the device will not support the MP3 format, but only AAC files.
The DSi will also come with a built-in DS web browser, and DSi owners will be able to download games. Nintendo will utilize the same point system that was adopted for Wii. With these so-called Nintendo Points, games and demos can be purchased and downloaded.
The Nintendo DSi is being eagerly awaited by both gamers and technophiles. The additional features and gadgets offer a new twist on the already proven DS foundation. But will the DSi meet those expectations? For now we can only wait until the launch date to find out.
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