Nintendo DSi Fully Detailed, Release Date Given
October 1, 2008 | 9:55 PM PST
by: Matt Furtado
Update:
We previously stated that DSi will come with one 0.3 megapixel camera, but judging from various reports and pictures of the new handheld, there may actually be two cameras, one on the outside and one on the inside, located right about where the microphone is on the DS Lite. We'll report back to you when we have more information.
Update:
We can now confirm that the DSi will only have one touch-screen.
Update:
Apparently, there might have been a translation error and the DSi has just one touch-screen. We're looking into the matter and will update with a confirmation one way or the other.
Original Story:
The rumors were true. As soon as Nintendo started their conference in Japan, they confirmed that there will be a new DS model coming out. The official title of the device is the Nintendo DSi.
Iwata stated: "At the pace the Nintendo DS has been selling, you might think that the market has been saturated. But we believe we can still expand it."
On the cosmetic side of things, this version will be 12%, 2.6 millimeters lighter, and the GBA slot present on DS Lite handhelds will be excluded. The system will gain a camera and MP3 playback in place of the GBA compatibility. The Nintendo DSi camera will contain 300,000 pixels. Both screens will be touch panels, and photographs should be able to be manipulated through the touch screen. The pitch and playback speed of sound on the Nintendo DSi can be adjusted at will.
Both screens will be increased to 3.25 inches. Also included is SD card support. The system will have on board storage, built-in applications, you can download new apps, you can take titles you've downloaded to the DSi with you. The system will also have a built-in internet browser.
Nintendo will offer DSi Ware titles. They will range from free/200/500/800 Nintendo Points-- formally known as Wii Points. Systems that connect by March 2010 will receive 1,000 free Nintendo Points.
The DSi will launch on November 1 in Japan for 18900 yen. The new handheld will debut in two colors, black and white. We'll see a 2009 release.
