As
expected, Nintendo has announced the new DSi at its Fall presentation in Japan. The device features a
dual touchscreen layout almost identical to the DS Lite, though the company is calling it a "third platform," which means it's complementing the existing system, not necessarily replacing it. Looks-wise there's not much different happening, but it's some 12 percent thinner -- partly because it omits the GBA cartridge slot. The displays are slightly larger, at 3.25 inches apiece, and there's an external three megapixel camera as well as a front-facing camera located on the inside hinge. The DSi has an SD slot and internal storage -- we're not sure how much at the moment -- but photos can be taken directly to the Wii Photo Channel on the card. Nintendo's also launching an online "DSi Shop," which will sell content directly over WiFi, including a free browser app and "DS Ware" game -- and the company will offer free wireless connectivity at "Nintendo Zone" hotspots located in Japanese McDonalds. The shop will take the newly-renamed Nintendo Points (formerly Wii Points), 1000 of which will come free with the handheld until March 2010, and content will be priced in 200 / 500 / 800 point brackets. The DSi will come in white or black finishes, and will cost ¥18,900 ($178) when it launches in Japan on November 1st -- the rest of us will have to wait until next year.
Update: We've added the official Japanese DSi site link,
check it out! Our brothers at Joystiq have done a comprehensive spec-check of the DSi compared to the PSP-3000 and iPhone / iPod touch. Be sure and
take a gander. You can also watch Nintendo's DSi demo video after the break, and trust us, it rules.
Update 2: Joystiq is liveblogging Nintendo's San Francisco media event.
posted October 2nd 2008 12:44AM
SD or SDHC?
As far as I can identify on the images, it does appear to have 2 touchscreens, as there seems to be the same gap bettween the frame and the screen. If you look closely at the DS Lite, it has a gap on the touchscreen and a flat plastic protection on the top one.
If we manage to find a high res foto it shoud be easier to confirm!
..... so it's an "update", not a "new" DS.
How many decades should pass for next-gen handheld gaming systems to be revamped?
Usually one (decade). That's about the lifecycle. About three more years (at the earliest) and Nintendo and Sony will put out some new ones. As long as they keep selling the current generation, there's no need to put out the next. If all it takes is a cheap camera and a regular SD card slot to make everyone go out and repay the $180 for the same thing then that's exactly what they are going to do (and people are obviously digging it).
Well this picture sais it all.
ONLY ONE TOUCHSCREEN!!!
http://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/static/image/2008/10/02/dsid07.jpg
Notice the difference in both screens, as the bottom touchscreen ans a noticeable gap and the the top one doesn't.
More Hardware and Press pics here:
http://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/23361.html
Taken from nintendo's press Release:
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/2008/081002.html&sl=ja&tl=en&hl=pt-PT&ie=UTF-8
Nintendo DSi" "Nintendo DS Lite"
about the same body size and thickness of the 2.6mm (about 12%) to thin the増SHIMASHITA cell
two LCD screens to 3.0 inches to 3.25 inches (Area ratio of about 17%) are expanding.
The body is equipped with a new, 300,000-pixel camera SD MEMORIKADOSUROTTO use features and "Nintendo DSi camera" and the music player software
"Nintendo DSi sound" stored in memory to save itself, how did you ever "Images or play music," now.
"Nintendo DSi shop" will be available free through the site,
"Nintendo DSi browser" save the console can download the memory Wi-Fi communications environment can be viewed on the Internet.
In addition, the Company plans to expand through the Internet, "Nintendo software DSi" (as well as game software, such as calculators will be practical application) can be downloaded for a fee, can be an extension of the body to function, the function of one's own Nintendo DS is available with built.
In the country, "Nintendo DSi" will be released in 2009.
Comparison Chart:
LCD Size:
DS - 3.00
DSI - 3.25
LCD Screen:
DS/DSi - Transmissive TFT color LCD (Capable of displaying 260,000 colors)
Body Size:
DS - Lenght - 133.0mm | Vertical - 73.9mm | Thickness - 21.5mm | (Stylus length about 87.5mm)
DSi - Lenght - 137.0mm | Vertical - 74.9mm | Thickness - 18.9mm | (Stylus length of about 92mm)
Weight:
DS - About 218g (GBA Connector stylus, including battery pack)
DSi - About 214g (Including battery pack stylus)
Charging Time:
DS - About 3 hours
DSi - Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
Battery Duration:
DS - Minimum brightness - 15-19 h | Low - 10 to 15 h | High - 7 and 11 h | Maximum - 5 to 8 h
DSi - Minimum brightness - 9 to 14 h | Low - 8 to 12 h | Medium - 6 to 9 h | High - 4 to 6 h | Maximum - 3 to 4 h
DSi Japan Website:
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/dsi.html
I'm on the wall with the DSI, but some of the games in that video seriously looked kick ass!
I'm wondering if the browser can be used to login to wifi access points that require a web page based login? For example at Starbucks, McDonalds, etc. And by that I mean can you do that so that you can then run a DS/DSi game over the internet via those access points, not just to use the browser.
The main thing though for me is, is the intent for the new platform to be download-games-based or is it still going to be cartridge-based? If the new platform is all downloaded games, with DS cartridges being the "backward compatible" part, then I'll probably have to pick one of these up. Also, they really, really need to make a "Virtual Portable" store for it. GBA, GBC, GB, Gamegear, NeoGeo Pocket, Lynx....)
Lastly, what form of WiFi? I hope it's not still 802.11b. n? g?
"Looks-wise there's not much different happening, but it's some 12 percent thinner -- partly because it omits the GBA cartridge slot."
So, it means that people who bought Guitar Hero On Tour will be unable to play it...
I'll stick with my DS Lite, thanks.
No, it does not have two touchscreens. The Nintendo Website would have mentioned it. A feature like a 2nd touchscreen would be as obvious a bulletpoint as the camera.
underwhelmed....
"capable of maximum picture-taking resolutions of 640x480"
640x480 = 307.200 píxels = 0,3 megapíxels
That's the resolution of the inner camera. The outer one however is 3MP.
I like it. I have the original blue DS, and have been wanting to upgrade to the Lite for quite some time. Guess I'll just wait on it.
Something tells me that SD card slot will make for some interesting homebrew apps...
i hope there is video recording abilities... and maybe some type of video chat?
or maybe WIFI PICTOCHAT!
or maybe regular video pictochat, so that instead of typing a message to someone who's 10 feet away from you, you can video chat with them!
I like the fact that it seems to have a matte finish. No more fingerprints and smudges all over the black DS!
good thing the battery cover in my ds fell out. This means I can get the new one
It's a little on the ugly side, but all the features are there. Count me in!
Very interesting. Will have to wait for reviews but if this thing has:
SHDC
Compatiblity with R4/M3 Simply
Optimized music playing capabilites (hopefully with 20+ hours, since with closed lids screen should be off)
and WPA support
...then I'm selling my Nano and DS to get this! :D
Eh, I'm not digging it. Are the games going to be completely new? like is this a new platform?
If so how are the games different? just camera support or something? Arg. I don't get this thing.
This long and still no details of WPA support or not?
Ouch.. battery time has taken a nose dive over the original DS lite? That sucks.
Are you kidding me Nintendo? No dual analog nubs for FPS? Epic Fail /sigh
Come on now! You know that Nintendo fans are only interested in JRPGs, platform games, turn-based war games, cooking/dating simulators, and puzzlers.
Me? I got sick of the DS after owning it for about a month. Dull, silly little Japanese-style gimmicky games don't cut it for me.
I'll stick with my PSP-2000 for now. I prefer not to require a stylus in order to play games.
Engadget!
Please use your wide range of contacts and find out if this thing supports WPA yet!
No GBA slot is a big turnoff for me, what about it's use as an expansion port for games like araknoid with devices like the paddle? games that use ds games that get stuff unlocked by using gba games (Megaman ZX, Spiderman, Wario Ware Touched...) or just the large library of GBA games? I think an expansion to plugin a camera would be fine.
looks from some of the game demo there might be graphical hardware upgrades to it too?
This isn't a new handheld system from Nintendo, it's like the transition from a DS to DS lite. They can't bump up the resolution because it still plays regular DS games, which don't support any resolution other than the current resolution. This isn't meant to be a new system. It's meant to be an upgrade. It couldn't have dual touch screens either, because, like I said before, it plays the current DS games.
*cough* This looks pretty sweet! :D I've been wanting a Nintendo DS for quite a while now, but I've never managed to get one. I think I'll get this one instead — though, if my hands start cramping due to its thin-ness, which should I get as an alternative: DS Phat, or DS Lite? I'm personally leaning towards the Phat, 'cause I like big, bulky controllers for my consoles and stuff.
Does anyone know what the block-eliminating game @ 2:40 in the video is?
Wow, this is cool.
Should i be happy, or greatly disappointed? Rhetorical question.
I don't even think we'd need a camera on a system that's used to play games. i mean, that's what cellphones and digicams are for.
And i doubt that someone who could afford a DS wouldn't have a camera.
What i like about this is the smaller size; 12% thinner? And the fact that i don't have to use an R4 anymore since it supports SD cards.
On the other hand, they took out the GBA slot, which i could care less since my blasted bro deleted all my saves in pokemon, but others seem to. I just hope i won't hear any news about them replacing the DS card/cartrige slot permanently for an SD compatible one.
I NEED BETTER WiFi CONNECTION. Can't they think about that first before the vain people and cameras?
Aaaah! They took the throw power switch away!! Ah! That was one reason I bought the Lite! It was so easy on the first DS to accidentally turn off the power while playing a game, and then they introduced the throw switch on the side. And now it's gone! Not cool! Put the SD card slot where the GBA slot was and leave the swtich! Ugh. And for all of you brilliant people complaining about low res screens and graphics. If they made the screens a higher resolution than all the current DS games wouldn't take up the whole thing anyway. Like the GBA games don't on the Lite. Games play at their native res on all screens, no matter what the resolution of the screen is. So go ahead and make it a VGA screen, and dual touch screens, and better graphics. Then you can complain about why the original games only take up an inch of the screen, the dual touch only works on new games, and the old games graphics are still crappy (which they aren't, judging by that video up there). :) It's not meant to be a whole new portable. I don't think nintendo will ever release a whole new portable...
there is one question i have, how would you be able to play guitar hero on the dsi
man, i think that nintendo thinks that sony was taking all the customers with the mulitimedia freakness- music, pictures, and videos.
i am really looking forward to getting the DS I but when and where can i get it?
if it is not out in canada yet, when will it?
is it out in canada beacause i can't find it anywhere?
sounds awesome as long as
a) old DS can play the DSi games (in other words make the camera optional in the games)
b) nintendo changes it's mind and puts a GBA slot in
ALSO I have a question which camera will take a BETTER QUALITY PICTURE
This is a really bad idae, we will need the GBA card slot for games like guitar hero on tour, for the guitar chords otherwise teh game doesnt even start =(
and the GBA slot is also needed for internet browsing expansions, whihc theres only a few that use ( not me i saw in a catalog )
So i stil like the DS lite...
But my choice....
and i dont really know wy we will need a camera for....
i wanna!
camera, but no gba slot? damn you
i still own tons of games i didnt finish for the gba, and my gba is lost somewhere in my room
i guess i'll be sticking to my 16 gigs good ol' fat black psp u.u
Then just stick with your old DS.
Im gonna stick with my DS until it breaks then i'll get
the new one.
To a previous poster: DSL isn't firmware upgradeable (not without the risque "flashing" process involved - requires some skills with steady hands). No point in upgrading your firmware when you've got a CycloDS Evo. or M4 (or what have you) (especially the slot 1 models).
I'd bet these newer systems got upgradeable firmware, like the Wii.
I was glad when I got my Evolution DS card (slot 1) - don't need a separate card for games (that was the main problem with the GBA slot cards - whoever was referring to these "problems with homebrew on the DS" that was a major problem for some time - cause some games actually checked if the ROM was being loaded in Slot 1 - and froze if the slot check failed), But there goes your need for these fancy cards when you get an SD slot on this thing (just load an executable onto the DSi with it and you're set - as long as they have that set up for multi-use and -- you hope they don't lock it out to certain features-only via their firmware). But it still uses the DS cards. If you have a mod card - these things are upgradeable too (remember?) so no worries there either (unless you still have one of those old GBA things, then you'll want to upgrade - it's worth it, trust me).
As for GBA support - another poster: Gamers said the same thing (oh I won't buy that) when Nintendo took away GB/C (original gameboy/colour) support for the DS. Hey, you can play GB/C (heck even GBA and to a lesser extent - SNES) games with a good emulator :)
Currently the CycloDS Evolution is the only cart that stably supports SDHC. And the most updated and compatible with games (according to a homebrew wiki) - don't quote me though, I could be wrong (but I've been using mine for the past while, it has had a few hiccups here and there - it's to be expected with something like that though, it's not perfect in other words).
Well I'm glad they're working on another ds but there are some down sides. So all of you who jumped up and down get ready for this: Only supports 2 GB SD cards, doesn't store any content other than music games and dsi bought programs, Screen Resolu. isn't improved, and overall is an over glorified ds lite. Honestly, I see no reason to buy it when I can get a PSP 3000 that does a hell of alot more thatn take pictures and play music. Worst upgrade ever.
There are 2 camera's the one on the outside is 3 megapixels, the one on the hinge next to the microphone is 0.3 megapixels. I live in the U.S.A. and I ordered one for $249.00 from TTSAKM on Ebay. It is set to arrive around Christmas 2008 (yeah thats right 2008, this year). The reason they put a GBA slot on the DS and DS lite is to ease the process of removing the GBA from videogaming (making it obselete and not making it anymore). THe DSi is the switch, after they release it in all continents they will stop making GB color ,GBA ans GBA SP.
u mean $249.00 is the dsi package and do u mean sin dollar or US dollar???
You are wrong, I ordered one so I know all the specifications. It store a lot more than what you say you are just trying to make less people buy it, probaly so you could buy one with less competition. It is the best upgrade ever.
THIS MESSAGE GOES TO H8ter
yup i agree with u
H8ter you are wrong , I ordered one so I know all the specs
"You are a pure idiot H8ter"
dsi is like so cool!!!especially e camera.e editing of e pictures in dsi rockz man!!!no matter wat a dsi is comfirm coming onto my handz!!!(loz)
u mean $249.00 is the dsi package or what.