DSvision bringing downloadable content to Nintendo's DS

If you're still teetering on the edge of picking up a DS Lite for yourself, here's yet another reason to go ahead and pull the trigger. Dai Nippon Printing has partnered with AM3 in order to offer up a new way to get content / media onto Nintendo's handheld. The system, dubbed DSvision, will enable DS / DS Lite owners to purchase a variety of material through the web, including books, comics, movies, music, etc., and then transfer the files over to the DS for on-the-go enjoyment. The product package will reportedly include a 512MB microSD card, a DS cartridge adapter and a USB adapter (shown after the jump) for use with one's PC. It looks as though the hardware will hit Japanese shelves in January for ¥3,980 ($37), but the web-based content delivery system won't go live until March.

[Via SlashGear]

[Richard Lai @ Nov 30th 2007 7:35AM]

Sound like an R4 card competitor, but games are not mentioned in the list. Would be cool to have a game backup feature.

[lassi @ Nov 30th 2007 9:48AM]

it really sounds just like a nintendo approved flashcart.


thus no warez games.


thus being inferior and not even cheaper.

[Bobs @ Nov 30th 2007 9:57AM]

Flash cards dont exsist for the sole purpoise of playing illegally aquired games. Try homebrew apps, like a DS FTP server, or MSN/Yahoo! messenger, or a falling sand game. if this played .nds roms (dont care about commercial) id buy it, but ive got a Datel Max media dock, capable of ripping my legally owned NDS games, then playing them back in MCM, some games anyways, still cant play my backed up meteos game.

[Muu @ Nov 30th 2007 1:12PM]

Right, right, we all know that the vast majority of people buying R4 and similar products are doing so for the sole reason of using homebrew apps.

[joe @ Nov 30th 2007 2:38PM]

Add some homebrew to an R4 and you have everything this offers right now. And if you shop at the right places, it's cheaper. You can also load your legal backups on an R4. This offers nothing.

[fischju @ Nov 30th 2007 3:06PM]

The most interesting thing to see would be the video codec used for movies. The current .dpg for DS vidoes is good, but the videos in games look better

[lotzosushi @ Nov 30th 2007 7:37AM]

There's already been something like this I've been using for a while... but either way it's always good to see another alternative rather than spending hundreds of dollars on a bunch of games.

http://www.r4ds.com/index-en.htm

[locke6854 @ Nov 30th 2007 7:45AM]

i got myself an ezflash 5 for this... my wife has one and a couple of our friends do too.

[Jon @ Nov 30th 2007 7:49AM]

No different from R4, SCone or other GBA/DS flash kits. If it is an official Nintendo product then that is news.

[Deez @ Nov 30th 2007 8:47AM]

It is an official approved Nintendo kit

[Shadowise @ Nov 30th 2007 7:56AM]

Not going to replace my CycloDS Evolution, but I guess the lack of game support means it will be cheaper than a backup cart.

[kev @ Nov 30th 2007 8:27AM]

The slot is located in an annoying spot--you'll have to eject the cart in order to replace the microSD card.

[sgt_easton @ Nov 30th 2007 2:02PM]

No, the slot is in the best position on the cartridge. You don't have to worry about it falling out.

Second, I highly doubt the software would be able to handle hot-swappable cards.

[Baluki @ Nov 30th 2007 8:41AM]

Do they really need to make memory cards THAT small? Anything small enough for me to swallow is just unnecessary.

[shanoboy @ Nov 30th 2007 9:23AM]

Actaully, the Micro SD cards are awesome! They're great in mobile devices and other small electronics. Think about it, having 1 or 2 Gig removable storage on that little chip, that in turn just slides into a regualr sized SD card or USB adapter to be plugged right into the computer.

[sgt_easton @ Nov 30th 2007 2:04PM]

Apparently, you don't have a modern cell phone, mp3 player, etc. Micro SD is the standard.

[[e-mail] @ Nov 30th 2007 8:55AM]

I already have that exact same USB adapter which I bought to use for my micro sd card for my supercard lite. I basically already own this...

[Ethan @ Nov 30th 2007 11:26AM]

It's Brando isn't it? I had one of those, it broke!

Anyway, just buy an R4 and get Moonshell. Is that still what people are using these days?

[Jamar @ Nov 30th 2007 9:31AM]

I imagine this is supposed to cater to those who want movies/music/stuff on their DS without being lumped in with the ROM pirates (be honest now- I know at least one commenter here will not make a distinction between the two).

[AlexForster @ Nov 30th 2007 10:38AM]

wow thats amazing!

oh wait, ive been using my ninjapass x9 for like a year, and i guarantee it blows this thing away.

boorrrrringggggggg

[Rainier @ Nov 30th 2007 11:07AM]

Pirates, ye all be!!! Yarrrr!!!!!






*quietly adjusts eye patch*

[sgt_easton @ Nov 30th 2007 2:13PM]

My only concern is that I'm hoping a person can load their own media on this (i.e. not just media purchased from Nintendo or whoever). Given the time disparity between the hardware release and the online service, it makes me think that one's own content is fair game. In which case, I'll definitely get one.

[tony chrenka @ Nov 30th 2007 7:01PM]

there is also an american version that has been out for about a year called the R4. it runs off a micro sd .

[tekdroid @ Dec 2nd 2007 10:38AM]

CycloDS Evolution has a long-lost legitimate brother?