Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Toyota turns to Nintendo DS as in-car GPS remote, won't guide you to Princess Peach]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/toyota-turns-to-nintendo-ds-as-in-car-gps-remote/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/toyota-turns-to-nintendo-ds-as-in-car-gps-remote/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/toyota-turns-to-nintendo-ds-as-in-car-gps-remote/#comments Image

Let's say you liked adding GPS to your Nintendo DS. How about adding a Nintendo DS to your GPS? Toyota is trying just that through a new Smart Navi GPS unit in its Estima Hybrid minivan that will let passengers control the mapping system. Load up the Bluetooth-equipped Kuruma de DS cartridge and you can enter directions from the back seat instead of waiting for the driver's next chance at a red light. The automaker is also hoping to cut the "are we there yet?" levels of ennui to a minimum by providing trivia questions, hand-drawn map notes and a surfeit of tourist info. Mii characters speak out text information, and you can even use the car as a speaker system in the event your Starfox game needs that much more audio immersion. Estima buyers can get the new Smart Navi and Kuruma de DS in Japan on June 1st, although the $2,586 equivalent price for the GPS, the $92 cartridge and the cost of the Nintendo console itself might be too rich when you don't need a navigator to tell you that the princess is in another castle.

Toyota turns to Nintendo DS as in-car GPS remote, won't guide you to Princess Peach originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 May 2012 04:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluetoothdsestimaestima hybridEstimaHybridgamingGPSgps navigationGpsNavigationin-carin-car navigationIn-carNavigationmini vanminivannavigationnintendoNintendo DSNintendoDstoyotatoyota estimatoyota estima hybridToyotaEstimaToyotaEstimaHybridtransportationThu, 17 May 2012 04:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo patent application tech tracks your DS from above, serves as tour guide]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/nintendo-ds-position-patent-application/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/nintendo-ds-position-patent-application/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/nintendo-ds-position-patent-application/#comments Image

Nintendo is already guiding you through the Louvre with a 3DS, but a newly published US patent application takes that kind of tourism to a very literal new level. Legend of Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto's concept describes a way to direct lost tourists by beaming position information through an overhead grid of infrared transmitters to a mobile device (portrayed as a DS Lite) held by the confused visitor below. The handheld then talks wirelessly to a server that lights up floor displays with maps and directions, and a helpful app on the device lets visitors pick their route while they read up on sightseeing tips. Like with any patent, there's no certainty that Nintendo will act on the idea and start wiring up museums with IR blasters, but the January 2012 patent may still be fresh in a frequently inventive mind like Miyamoto's.

Nintendo patent application tech tracks your DS from above, serves as tour guide originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 May 2012 11:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsApplicationdsinfraredinfrared sensorInfraredSensorLouvremapmapsMiyamotonavigationnintendonintendo 3dsNintendo DSNintendo3dsNintendoDspatentpatentsshigeru miyamotoShigeruMiyamototourismtouristus patent and trademark officeUsPatentAndTrademarkOfficeUSPTOwi-fiwifiFri, 04 May 2012 11:47:00 EST<![CDATA[February's gaming sales a mixed bag: up for the month, down for the year]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/februarys-gaming-sales-a-mixed-bag-up-for-the-month-down-for/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/februarys-gaming-sales-a-mixed-bag-up-for-the-month-down-for/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/februarys-gaming-sales-a-mixed-bag-up-for-the-month-down-for/#comments PS VitaAt this point, every time NPD releases its numbers, the video game industry collectively holds its breath. The last couple of months have not been kind, as hardware sales continued to drop. But, in February there was finally some good news -- console sales were 87 percent over January. More impressively, that jump only falls to 62 percent if you exclude the Vita. Still, after so many disappointing months, even that stratospheric jump left sales 18 percent lower than the same period last year. Even when taking software into account sales were down 20 percent -- with the industry as a whole raking in just $1.06 billion last month, down from the $1.33 billion the previous February. Individually there was good news for companies, though. Nintendo saw Super Mario Galaxy cross the five million mark, while all of its consoles (the DS, 3DS and Wii) all saw more than 50 percent spikes in their sales compared to January. Meanwhile, Microsoft held on to its number one slot by moving 426,000 Xbox 360s. Hit up the various source links for more info.

February's gaming sales a mixed bag: up for the month, down for the year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsmicrosoftmicrosoft xbox 360MicrosoftXbox360nintendonintendo 3dsnintendo dsnintendo wiiNintendo3dsNintendoDsNintendoWiinpdnumbersPlaystation 3playstation vitaPlaystation3PlaystationVitaps vitaPsVitasalessonySony Playstation 3sony playstation vitaSonyPlaystation3SonyPlaystationVitastatsvideo game industryvideo gamesVideoGameIndustryVideoGamesvitawiixbox 360Xbox360Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo brings Mobiclip on board to help with Wii U development]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/14/nintendo-mobiclip-acquisition-wii-u/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/14/nintendo-mobiclip-acquisition-wii-u/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/14/nintendo-mobiclip-acquisition-wii-u/#comments
Nintendo beefed up its proprietary arsenal yesterday, with the acquisition of Mobiclip -- a Paris-based video codec provider. As Gamasutra reports, the deal was actually finalized back in October, but only became public this week, when Mobiclip confirmed its new ownership on its website. The company already has a history with Nintendo, having lent a hand with video rendering and playback on the DS and Game Boy Advance. Now that it's officially under its wing, Mobiclip will reportedly collaborate with Nintendo on its forthcoming Wii U, as suggested by a recently posted job listing for a "console software engineer."

Nintendo brings Mobiclip on board to help with Wii U development originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionbusinesscodeccompanyconsolecorporatefrancegamegame boy advanceGameBoyAdvanceindustrymobiclipmoneynintendonintendo DSNintendoDsparisplaybackrenderingsoftwarevideowii uWiiUTue, 14 Feb 2012 07:44:00 EST<![CDATA[IRL: Logic3 PowerSleeve, HP Folio 13 and a trio of Nintendo handhelds]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/irl-logic3-powersleeve-hp-folio-13-and-a-trio-of-nintendo-hand/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/irl-logic3-powersleeve-hp-folio-13-and-a-trio-of-nintendo-hand/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/irl-logic3-powersleeve-hp-folio-13-and-a-trio-of-nintendo-hand/#commentsWelcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

This week's IRL is a bit of a mixed bag, with tales of gadgets well-used and those deployed for pure pseudo-science. In two paragraphs, Mat Smith sums up his experience with three generations of Nintendo DS handhelds, while Dan Cooper attempts to explain why he's still using a gadget he obviously hates. And Dana, our resident laptop reviewer, tries leaving the 'ole six-pounder in the office and going home to an Ultrabook instead.

Continue reading IRL: Logic3 PowerSleeve, HP Folio 13 and a trio of Nintendo handhelds

IRL: Logic3 PowerSleeve, HP Folio 13 and a trio of Nintendo handhelds originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dan CooperDana WollmanDanaWollmanDanCooperdaniel cookDanielCookDSDS LitedsiDsLiteFolio 13Folio13HPHP FolioHpFoliologic3Logic3 PowerSleeveLogic3PowersleeveMat SmithMatSmithnintendoNintendo DSnintendo dsiNintendoDsNintendoDsiPowerSleeveUltrabookUltrabooksThu, 09 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Timber! iOS and Android take 60 percent cut of mobile gaming dollars]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/10/timber-ios-and-android-take-60-percent-cut-of-mobile-gaming-dol/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/10/timber-ios-and-android-take-60-percent-cut-of-mobile-gaming-dol/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/10/timber-ios-and-android-take-60-percent-cut-of-mobile-gaming-dol/#comments The last time we reported on these figures, paid iOS and Android games were chipping away happily at the US market share of those two old oaks, Sony and Nintendo. Well, peer through the cloud of leaves and sawdust and you'll see that the job is done: the two newcomers will generate $500 million more than DS and PSP titles this year, according to stats from Flurry. Click past the break to see the trend since 2009 crystallized into a cold, hard pie chart.

On the other hand, there's a bit of good news for everybody: the overall American mobile gaming market is growing at a rapid pace -- this year's total revenue of $3.3 billion represents a 25 percent increase on 2010, so new devices like the PlayStation Vita and the Transformer Prime should find plenty of room to take seed.

Continue reading Timber! iOS and Android take 60 percent cut of mobile gaming dollars

Timber! iOS and Android take 60 percent cut of mobile gaming dollars originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsandroidappleApple iOSAppleIosgaming revenuesGamingRevenuesgooglegoogle androidGoogleAndroidiOSmarket shareMarketSharemobile gamingMobileGamingmobilepostcrossnintendonintendo 3dsnintendo dsNintendo3dsNintendoDsplaystation portablePlaystationPortablepsprevenuessonysony pspSonyPspThu, 10 Nov 2011 04:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Caption Contest: Real-life Super Mario party searches for Princess Peach]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/06/caption-contest-real-life-super-mario-party-searches-for-prince/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/06/caption-contest-real-life-super-mario-party-searches-for-prince/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/06/caption-contest-real-life-super-mario-party-searches-for-prince/#comments Mamma Mia -- it's 'a me whole lot of Marios! If we were you, Bowser, we'd return Her Majesty to Mushroom Kingdom at once. Okay, okay... in actuality, the above was merely Nintendo hyping the upcoming US release of its psychedelic-consuming plumber's first 3DS title, Super Mario 3D Land. So there's no need to worry folks, Ms. Peach is safe -- at least until you get your grubby paws on the game come November 13th, that is.

Darren: "Mario has sabotaged the Beastie Boys' redux of Sabotage."
Terrence: "Occupy Mushroom Kingdom."
Joe: "Will the real Super Mario please jump up?"
Mat: "Someone got the infinite lives cheat massively, massively wrong."
Sean: "The Mario family reunion took a turn for the awkward when Luigi realized he was the only attendee out of uniform."
Tim: "It's 'a me... your worst nightmare."
Richard Lai: "I ate the wrong mushroom."
Jon: "After defeating multiple Agent Smiths, Neo finds that he advances to level 2 in the Matrix..."
Brian: "Moments later, the mob located a pet store, went to town on the turtle tank and escaped safely through the toilet."
Myriam: "Where's Waldo?"
Zach Honig: "Darn it, Myriam... you took mine!"
Billy: "The first rule of Project Mayhem is..."
Brad: "This would've made that lousy Super Mario Bros. movie a whole lot better."
Amar: "King Hippo + $2 Taco Night = this"
Richard Lawler: "And not a single flying Cape Feather was given that day."
Josh Fruhlinger: "Another Sunday in Williamsburg, Brooklyn."

Caption Contest: Real-life Super Mario party searches for Princess Peach originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d gaming3dGamingcaption contestCaptionContestccgamingnintendonintendo 3dsnintendo DSnintendo of americaNintendo3dsNintendoDsNintendoOfAmericasuper marioSuper Mario 3D LandSuperMarioSuperMario3dLandvideogamevideogamesSun, 06 Nov 2011 11:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo DSi XL bundles land on November 6th, just in time for the holidays]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/nintendo-dsi-xl-bundles-land-on-november-6th-just-time-for-the/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/nintendo-dsi-xl-bundles-land-on-november-6th-just-time-for-the/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/nintendo-dsi-xl-bundles-land-on-november-6th-just-time-for-the/#comments Looking to spring for a new handheld gaming system this Christmas? The Big N is doing its darndest to nudge you in that direction with a new spin on the Metallic Rose and Midnight Blue versions of the DSi XL. Both painted handhelds will be available in bundles alongside Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!. These will set you back $170 a pop for each package deal, and you've got about a week to search the couch cushions for spare coin. You know, just in case the Mini-land ruckus can't wait for Santa's delivery.

Continue reading Nintendo DSi XL bundles land on November 6th, just in time for the holidays

Nintendo DSi XL bundles land on November 6th, just in time for the holidays originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Donkey KongDonkeyKongdsidsi xlDsiXlhandheldhandheldsmariomini-land mayhemMini-landMayhemminipostnintendoNintendo DSNintendo DSi XLnintendo dsi xl colorsNintendoDsNintendoDsiXlNintendoDsiXlColorswifiWed, 26 Oct 2011 02:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo sells over 50 million DS units, 3DS sales fall flat in comparison]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/15/nintendo-sells-over-50-million-ds-units-3ds-sales-fall-flat-in/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/15/nintendo-sells-over-50-million-ds-units-3ds-sales-fall-flat-in/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/15/nintendo-sells-over-50-million-ds-units-3ds-sales-fall-flat-in/#comments

Nintendo's twin-screen wonder has seen almost as many reinventions as Lady Gaga, so it may not come as a huge shock to hear that the DS (in all its guises) has now sold over 50 million units in the US. The home entertainment maestros are still chasing similar success for its three-dimensional sibling, the 3DS, however. Nintendo has managed to sell almost half a million three dee units units after its weighty price cut, but there's now some very potent competitors seeking their own slice of the (portable) gaming pie. Good luck, Nintendo, you're probably going to need it.

Continue reading Nintendo sells over 50 million DS units, 3DS sales fall flat in comparison

Nintendo sells over 50 million DS units, 3DS sales fall flat in comparison originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Oct 2011 05:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3DS50 million50MillionDSdual screenDualScreenNintendonintendo 3dsNintendo DSNintendo DS LiteNintendo DSiNintendo DSi XLNintendo3dsNintendoDsNintendoDsiNintendoDsiXlNintendoDsLitesalessales figuresSalesFiguresstatistics.statsSat, 15 Oct 2011 05:23:00 EST<![CDATA[French court reverses DS flash cart ruling, Nintendo smiles]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/french-court-reverses-ds-flash-cart-ruling-nintendo-smiles/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/french-court-reverses-ds-flash-cart-ruling-nintendo-smiles/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/french-court-reverses-ds-flash-cart-ruling-nintendo-smiles/#commentsNearly two years ago, a French court dismissed a lawsuit that Nintendo filed against a group of vendors accused of illegally selling DS flash carts. At the time, the game-maker argued that sales of the cartridges should be halted on the grounds that they could be used to illegally pirate software, but the presiding judge thought differently, countering that the R4-like devices could be used to develop homebrews or other DIY projects. Last week, however, the Paris Court of Appeals overturned the ruling, in a decision that Nintendo has met with understandable delight. In a statement released today, the company confirmed that Divineo SARL and five other flash cart retailers must pay a total of €460,000 in criminal fines, along with €4.8 million in damages to Nintendo, as ordered by the appeals court. Details behind the ruling remain vague, though Nintendo hailed it as a "strong message to French companies... that such activities are illegal and will not be tolerated," and that convicted vendors will "risk prison terms, face substantial fines and obligations to pay damages." Sail past the break to read Nintendo's statement, in full.

Continue reading French court reverses DS flash cart ruling, Nintendo smiles

French court reverses DS flash cart ruling, Nintendo smiles originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appealappealsappeals courtAppealsCourtcopycourtdamagesdivineodivineo SARLDivineoSarlDIYDSflash cartflash cartridgeFlashCartFlashCartridgefrancefrenchgamehomebrewjudgemagicommoneynintendoNintendo DSNintendoDsoverturnparispiracyR4softwareTue, 04 Oct 2011 18:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Memorex intros Nintendo DS game-changing case, other not-so-game-changing accessories]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/memorex-intros-nintendo-ds-game-changing-case-other-not-so-game/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/memorex-intros-nintendo-ds-game-changing-case-other-not-so-game/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/memorex-intros-nintendo-ds-game-changing-case-other-not-so-game/#comments The Nintendo DS line has had many redesigns up to the present 3DS, but one thing that hasn't changed are the tiny, easily lost cartridges. Enter Memorex's $20 Universal Game Selector Case, announced as part of its gaming accessory lineup for E3. The UGSC stores up to three games and hooks up to the cartridge port on any DS, letting you swap between them using a signal routing switch. We've seen cases similar to this in the past, but Memorex's take is the first to support 3DS titles as well. Based on the renders, the unit looks to make for a weird fit and some noticeable extra thickness (10.5mm to be exact), especially on the DSi XL, but hopefully we'll get a better idea of how it feels in hand at E3. From a functionality perspective, the case does seem rather useful for those with forgetful tendencies, if a bit underwhelming for anybody else. Memorex will also be displaying its new third-party PS3 and Wii motion controllers at the E3, which are viewable in the gallery below, and there's a press release with details after the break.

Gallery: E3 2011: Memorex's WeTime gaming accessory line up

Continue reading Memorex intros Nintendo DS game-changing case, other not-so-game-changing accessories

Memorex intros Nintendo DS game-changing case, other not-so-game-changing accessories originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsaccessoriescartridgecartridgescasedsds litedsidsixlDsLitee3e32011gamingimationmemorexnintendo dsNintendoDsperipheralsplaystation 3Playstation3ps3ugscuniversal game selector caseUniversalGameSelectorCaseunviversalgameselectorcasevideogameswiiWed, 01 Jun 2011 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Keepin' it real fake: a Nintendo DS Lite that gets it (mostly) DS right]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/keepin-it-real-fake-a-nintendo-ds-lite-that-gets-it-mostly-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/keepin-it-real-fake-a-nintendo-ds-lite-that-gets-it-mostly-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/keepin-it-real-fake-a-nintendo-ds-lite-that-gets-it-mostly-d/#comments The death of Nintendo's DS Lite getting you down? Good news: it may have long ago been eclipsed by the DSi and 3DS, but the svelte portable system is still being made -- by someone, somewhere. And you can get a pretty good price on the thing, if you don't mind a few flaws -- like the above bootleg picked up a 1UP editor who though he was getting the real deal from eBay. As soon as the thing arrived in a corrugated cardboard box with pixelated text, it was clear that he had been KIRFed -- hardcore. On top of the aforementioned packaging red flags, the portable has some minor cosmetic flaws, like discoloration, a pockmarked surface, and uneven rubber pads. What's really amazing about this DS, however, is what its manufacturers got right -- it plays DS and GBA games, including, fittingly, pirated titles. The police have reportedly called Wario in for questioning.

Keepin' it real fake: a Nintendo DS Lite that gets it (mostly) DS right originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 22:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bootlegdsds liteDsLiteeBayfakegamingkirfnintendonintendo dsnintendo ds liteNintendoDsNintendoDsLiteportable gamingPortableGamingWed, 11 May 2011 22:59:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Lite discontinued at GameStop]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/22/ds-lite-discontinued-at-gamestop/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/22/ds-lite-discontinued-at-gamestop/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/22/ds-lite-discontinued-at-gamestop/#comments We caught wind of an internal GameStop memo this morning announcing the discontinuation of Nintendo's DS Lite. The memo (pictured above) asks employees to remove displays of Crimson, Black, and Metallic Rose models, once they've burned through their stock -- we've since confirmed the fact with an employee of the gaming chain. Not a huge shocker, of course, given the fact that the five-year-old system has since been eclipsed by 2009's DSi and, more recently, the company's glasses-free 3D portable, the 3DS. We have reached out to Nintendo for comment on the matter and will update this post with official word once received.

Update: We heard back from Nintendo, receiving the usual "Nintendo doesn't comment on rumor and speculation."

DS Lite discontinued at GameStop originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3DSBlackbreaking newsCrimsondiscontinuationdiscontinuedDSgame stopGameStopinternal memosInternalMemosmetallic roseMetallicRoseNintendonintendo 3dsNintendo DSNintendo DS LiteNintendo DSiNintendo3dsNintendoDsNintendoDsiNintendoDsLiteportableportable gamingPortableGamingretailrumorstockFri, 22 Apr 2011 09:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Pen again]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/switched-on-pen-again/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/switched-on-pen-again/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/switched-on-pen-again/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.


Last week's Switched On discussed how some next wave notions from a decade ago were trying to reinvent themselves. Here's one more. Surging smartphone vendor HTC is seeking to bring back an input method that many wrote off long ago with its forthcoming Flyer tablet and EVO View 4G comrade-in-arms: the stylus.

A fixture of early Palm and Psion PDAs, Pocket PCs and Windows Mobile handsets, slim, compact styli were once the most popular thing to slip down a well since Timmy. Then, users would poke the cheap, simple sticks at similarly inexpensive resistive touchscreens. After the debut of tablet PCs, though, more companies started to use active digitizer systems like the one inside the Flyer. Active pens offer more precision, which can help with tasks such as handwriting recognition, and support "hovering" above a screen, the functional equivalent of a mouseover. On the other hand, they are also thicker, more expensive, and need to be charged. (Update: as some have pointed out in comments, Wacom's tablets generate tiny electromagnetic fields that power active digitization, and don't require the pen to store electricity itself.) And, of course, just like passive styli, active pens take up space and can be misplaced.

The 2004 debut of the Nintendo DS -- the ancestor of the just-released 3DS -- marked the beginning of what has become the last mass-market consumer electronics product series to integrate stylus input. The rising popularity of capacitive touch screens and multitouch have replaced styli with fingers as the main user interface elements. Instead of using a precise point for tasks such as placing an insertion point in text, we now expand the text dynamically to accommodate our oily instruments. On-screen buttons have also grown, as have the screens themselves, all in the name of losing a contrivance.

Continue reading Switched On: Pen again

Switched On: Pen again originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ASUScapacitivecolumnCourierDigital ScribeDigitalScribeDSEee PadEee TransformerEeePadEeeTransformerhandwritingHTCMicrosoft ResearchMicrosoftResearchN-trigNintendoNintendo DSNintendoDspalmpalm pilotPalmPilotPDAPsionRoss RubinRossRubinScribestyliistylusSwitched OnSwitchedOntouchscreenSun, 10 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CE-Oh no he didn't!: Sony's Jack Tretton says Nintendo makes 'babysitting tools']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/09/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-sonys-jack-tretton-says-nintendo-makes-ba/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/09/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-sonys-jack-tretton-says-nintendo-makes-ba/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/09/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-sonys-jack-tretton-says-nintendo-makes-ba/#commentsSony does what Nintendon't? That's the general sentiment from a brief interview that PlayStation chief Jack Tretton gave to Fortune this week, in which he talked up Sony's strengths and played down (some may even say belittled) its competitors, and Nintendo in particular. That began with the relatively tame assertion that Sony's decision to go high-end with PlayStation 3 is just now beginning to pay off while the other consoles are "starting to run out of steam," before he took aim at Nintendo's handheld business. According to Tretton, Nintendo's handhelds all offer what he calls a "Game Boy experience," something that's great as a "babysitting tool," but that "no self-respecting twenty-something is going to be sitting on an airplane with one of those." Yow. Any self-respecting twenty-somethings beg to differ? Let us know in the comments below.

[Thanks, Robert C]

CE-Oh no he didn't!: Sony's Jack Tretton says Nintendo makes 'babysitting tools' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Apr 2011 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ce oh noCeOhNojack trettonJackTrettonnintendonintendo 3dsnintendo dsNintendo3dsNintendoDsplaystationsonytrettonSat, 09 Apr 2011 16:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision and Sega show off Wappy Dog dogbot / Nintendo DS game at Toy Fair 2011]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/activision-and-sega-show-off-wappy-dog-dogbot-nintento-ds-game/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/activision-and-sega-show-off-wappy-dog-dogbot-nintento-ds-game/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/activision-and-sega-show-off-wappy-dog-dogbot-nintento-ds-game/#comments
 Toy Fair 2011 isn't quite as big a deal as say, CES or MWC, but it still has its fair share of nifty plaything gadgets. One jewel of the show is Sega's Wappy Dog toy that interfaces with Activision's Nintendo DS title of the same name. In what amounts to the logical evolutionary conclusion of the artist formerly known as Tamagotchi, Wappy Dog allows folks to communicate with their digital pets not only via the DS, but also by playing with and training their pooch's robotic doppelgänger. After playing with DS Wappy, the game automatically syncs up with the toy bot to keep it from developing multiple personality disorder. Though currently a prototype, the toy can dance (hopefully with a little more flava than its iDog cousin), whine, and bark in response to your child's interactions, and is slated for a release this fall at an unknown price point. No need to thank us for finding your next family pet.

Activision and Sega show off Wappy Dog dogbot / Nintendo DS game at Toy Fair 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionnintendoNintendo DSNintendoDsrobotrobot dogRobotDogrobotssegatamagotchitoy fair 2011ToyFair2011Wappy DogWappyDogMon, 21 Feb 2011 19:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo 3DS may have region-locked software, continue an unfortunate trend]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/18/nintendo-3ds-may-have-region-locked-software-continue-an-unfort/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/18/nintendo-3ds-may-have-region-locked-software-continue-an-unfort/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/18/nintendo-3ds-may-have-region-locked-software-continue-an-unfort/#comments Once upon a time, when handheld game systems were thicker and Nintendo was entirely without peer, the company deigned to allow us to import games without fear. On Game Boy of all shapes and sizes, as well as the Nintendo DS, a Japanese cartridge would let you experience portable wonders years before they hit Europe and the US. Starting in 2008, however, Nintendo made DSi-specific titles region-locked -- and that's the same fate that will likely befall games on Nintendo's new 3D handheld as well. "There is the possibility that Nintendo 3DS software sold in one region will not function properly when running on Nintendo 3DS hardware sold in another," a company statement reads, though it's important to note that region locks are typically a two-party affair -- if game publishers choose to make their stereoscopic software region-free, it might work on your handheld anyhow. So yes, you might still have a chance to get your date sim on.

Nintendo 3DS may have region-locked software, continue an unfortunate trend originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3DSDSgamesgaminglocklockedNintendoNintendo 3DSNintendo DSNintendo3dsNintendoDsregionregion freeregion lockregion lockedregion lockingregion-freeregion-lockregion-lockedregion-lockingRegionFreeRegionLockRegionLockedRegionLockingsoftwareTue, 18 Jan 2011 20:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo 3DS good for only 3 to 8 hours of play time per charge]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/08/nintendo-3ds-good-for-only-3-to-8-hours-of-play-time-per-charge/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/08/nintendo-3ds-good-for-only-3-to-8-hours-of-play-time-per-charge/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/08/nintendo-3ds-good-for-only-3-to-8-hours-of-play-time-per-charge/#comments Remember those all-night Mario Kart DS and Advance Wars marathons? Looking to recreate the magic with the 3DS? Bring a wall charger. Nintendo's just unveiled its best-case scenario figures for the 3DS' battery life, and compared with its predecessors, it ain't pretty. The official numbers are three to five hours playing per game, or five to eight if playing an older DS title (and up to three hours 30 minutes to fully recharge). So... three to eight hours under the most ideal circumstances. Let's look at the family album: the DS is 10 to 14 hours, DS Lite 15 to 19 hours, DSi 9 to 14 hours, and DSi XL 13 to 17 hours (all figures also from Nintendo). Can't say we're entirely surprised; Haus of Mario Chief Satoru Iwata's own words back in October were "it is inevitable that Nintendo 3DS will be a device which requires more frequent recharging than Nintendo DS." Think of it as an extension of the warning label. You can never be too careful, you know.

Nintendo 3DS good for only 3 to 8 hours of play time per charge originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsbatterybattery lifeBatteryLifechargedsds litedsidsi xlDsiXlDsLitenintendonintendo 3dsnintendo dsNintendo3dsNintendoDsSat, 08 Jan 2011 00:28:00 EST<![CDATA[id's Carmack talks Rage HD, iPad's power, and future iOS games]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/ids-carmack-talks-rage-hd-ipads-power-and-future-ios-games/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/ids-carmack-talks-rage-hd-ipads-power-and-future-ios-games/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/ids-carmack-talks-rage-hd-ipads-power-and-future-ios-games/#comments Rage HD for iOS is a seriously gorgeous game -- well worth the $2, if you ask us. Now that he can look up from his monitor, id Software's technical wizard John Carmack is making the interview rounds -- let's see what we can glean, shall we? On the subject of Rage itself, expect the first patch to add Game Center support as well as some bug fixes / minor tweaks to prettify the game further. And if you picked up the SD version, consider yourself among a more exclusive crowd: sales have been majorly lop-sided in favor of HD. "If it's that big of a difference," he told TUAW, "we probably won't offer the low-end, standard def version [in future games]."

We already know Carmack's thoughts on the iPhone vs. Nintendo DS / PSP, as they've been echoed before once or twice, but here's one new to us: "You should be able to do something that's better on an iPad than anything that's done on the Wii," according to the John that spoke with Kotaku. That's all purely theoretical, as it's really up to the developer as to how much power it takes advantage of, and even with the tablet in question, "we're nowhere close to maxing out what could be done on an iPad." Oh, and Android? There's work being done for the Little Green Platform as well, but via TUAW John, "there's a lot of things with how the distribution platform works and the diversity of the platforms that you have to target, where things are still much, much nicer on the iOS world."

As for id's next foray in the "iOS world," Joystiq learned that a driving game based in the Rage universe is in the cards, and perhaps something inspired by Quake Arena: "maybe focusing on the lightning gun, and call it 'Lightning Arena' or something, that would be a full roam-around FPS game." When asked about his resemblance to one Kevin Bacon, all reports indicate Carmack vanished behind a green-tinted smoke cloud of 1s and 0s, leaving in his wake a three-foot tall statue of Commander Keen made from old shareware discs.

id's Carmack talks Rage HD, iPad's power, and future iOS games originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carmackdsidid softwareIdSoftwareiosipadjohn carmackJohnCarmacknintendo dsnintendo wiiNintendoDsNintendoWiipspwiiFri, 19 Nov 2010 21:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime dishes cumulative sales numbers for current console generation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/12/nintendos-reggie-fils-aime-dishes-cumulative-sales-numbers-for/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/12/nintendos-reggie-fils-aime-dishes-cumulative-sales-numbers-for/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/12/nintendos-reggie-fils-aime-dishes-cumulative-sales-numbers-for/#commentsRather like Nokia and its market share obsession, Nintendo just can't seem to stop talking about its hardware sales lead. The company's US chief, Reggie Fils-Aime, recently dished some NPD data detailing the specific advantage that the Wii has over its competitors in the US since the current console generation launched: Mario's team has managed to sell 30.4 million units of its hardware, followed by Microsoft's Xbox 360 at 21.9 million and Sony's PS3, which lags somewhere far behind with 13.5 million total sales. On the more mobile front, DS sales have ratcheted up to 43.1 million, more than doubling the PSP's 17.7 million shipments to the US of A. Nothing we haven't heard before, really, but it's always good to get a statistical update for the sake of keeping flamewars as informed as possible.

Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime dishes cumulative sales numbers for current console generation originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aggregateconsoleconsole salesconsole warsconsolesConsoleSalesConsoleWarscumulativedatadsfiguresgamingmicrosoftnintendonintendo dsnintendo wiiNintendoDsNintendoWiinpdplaystation 3playstation portablePlaystation3PlaystationPortableps3pspreggiereggie fils-aimeReggieFils-aimesalessonystatsUSwiixbox 360Xbox360Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple claims 50 percent of portable gaming market, iPod touch 'outsells Nintendo and Sony combined']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/01/apple-claims-50-percent-of-portable-gaming-market-ipod-touch-o/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/01/apple-claims-50-percent-of-portable-gaming-market-ipod-touch-o/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/01/apple-claims-50-percent-of-portable-gaming-market-ipod-touch-o/#comments Nintendo famously called Apple the enemy of the future in the video gaming space, and by golly, it looks like the Japanese giant was right; Steve Jobs just told an audience that the iPod touch alone outsells Nintendo's DS and Sony's PlayStation Portable combined, worldwide. How many games iPod touch users actually play and for how long wasn't discussed, but Jobs said 1.5 billion "games and entertainment" apps have been downloaded -- again, on the iPod touch alone, never mind all those iPhones.

Update: As many fine readers have suggested in comments, this particular statistic seems a little hard to swallow, given that the Nintendo DS alone sold roughly 132 million units -- a good bit less than the 120 million iOS devices Apple claims, and only some of which are iPod touch -- as of the Japanese company's July earnings report. We've contacted Apple for clarification and hope to be able to explain the discrepancy soon.

Check out our liveblog of the keynote event right here!

Apple claims 50 percent of portable gaming market, iPod touch 'outsells Nintendo and Sony combined' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleGame CenterGameCentergamingiPod touchIpodTouchNintendoNintendo DSNintendoDsPlayStation PortablePlaystationPortablePSPsalesSonySony PlayStation PortableSonyPlaystationPortablestatisticsstatsWed, 01 Sep 2010 13:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Resort uses augmented reality to pair virtual girls with actual nerds]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/resort-uses-augmented-reality-to-pair-virtual-girls-with-actual/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/resort-uses-augmented-reality-to-pair-virtual-girls-with-actual/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/resort-uses-augmented-reality-to-pair-virtual-girls-with-actual/#comments You've heard of this Love Plus thing, right? This Nintendo DS-based "dating simulator" is apparently a big deal in Japan, giving Otaku the opportunity to chat up (and kiss) girls the only way they know how: on a hand-held game console, with a stylus. To promote the latest version of the game (Love Plus +), Konami has developed an Augmented Reality iPhone app that players can take to the coastal city of Atami, allowing them to interact with their virtual girlfriends at any of thirteen romantic spots. One can even book a room at the Ohnoya hotel which, according to Discovery News, offers futon beds and a "barcode panel that allows the men to visualize their girlfriends in a flattering summer kimono." Over 2,000 virtual lotharios visited the resort town during the campaign, which began on July 10 and ends today. Check out the trailer for the game (in Japanese, which doesn't diminish the enjoyment for our English readers one bit) after the break.

Continue reading Resort uses augmented reality to pair virtual girls with actual nerds

Resort uses augmented reality to pair virtual girls with actual nerds originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleatamiaugmented realityAugmentedRealitydating simulationdating simulatorDatingSimulationDatingSimulatorgirlfriend simulatorGirlfriendSimulatoriphonejapankonami-gamers-night-2010love pluslove plus +LovePlusLovePlus+nintendo dsNintendoDsotakuvideoTue, 31 Aug 2010 16:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Gorilla goes hands-on with Nintendo DSi XL at the San Francisco Zoo]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/09/gorilla-goes-hands-on-with-nintendo-dsi-xl-at-the-san-francisco/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/09/gorilla-goes-hands-on-with-nintendo-dsi-xl-at-the-san-francisco/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/09/gorilla-goes-hands-on-with-nintendo-dsi-xl-at-the-san-francisco/#comments
Looks like Nintendo's DSi XL has finally found its target audience. Video after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Gorilla goes hands-on with Nintendo DSi XL at the San Francisco Zoo

Gorilla goes hands-on with Nintendo DSi XL at the San Francisco Zoo originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsdsi xlDsiXlgorillanintendonintendo dsnintendo dsi xlNintendoDsNintendoDsiXlsan francisco zooSanFranciscoZoovideozooMon, 09 Aug 2010 19:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo posts Q1 loss on strong Yen and lower DS prices]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/nintendo-posts-q1-loss-on-strong-yen-and-lower-ds-prices/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/nintendo-posts-q1-loss-on-strong-yen-and-lower-ds-prices/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/nintendo-posts-q1-loss-on-strong-yen-and-lower-ds-prices/#comments Although foreshadowed, it's hard to believe that the once mighty Ninty, a company with unshakable profits even during last year's global economic downturn, just recorded a Q1 net loss of ¥25.22 billion ($288 million) compared to a net profit of ¥42.32 billion during the same 3-month period a year earlier. Revenues dropped from ¥253.50 billion to ¥188.65 billion. Lower DS portable gaming machine prices coupled with a strong Yen (86.5 percent of its sales were outside of Japan) helped pull Nintendo into the red. Regardless, Nintendo continues to forecast a full year net profit of ¥200 billion on revenue of ¥1.4 trillion. We'll see.

Nintendo posts Q1 loss on strong Yen and lower DS prices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010declinedsdsifinancesfinancialfinancialsfiscalgamingnintendonintendo dsnintendo dsinintendo wiiNintendoDsNintendoDsiNintendoWiiprofitprofitsquarterlyresultssaleswiiThu, 29 Jul 2010 04:43:00 EST<![CDATA[UK bans R4 cards, makes Nintendo DS pirating 'double illegal']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/uk-bans-r4-cards-makes-nintendo-ds-pirating-double-illegal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/uk-bans-r4-cards-makes-nintendo-ds-pirating-double-illegal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/uk-bans-r4-cards-makes-nintendo-ds-pirating-double-illegal/#commentsWhile us Yankees are celebrating the one small victory for all that's right and good represented by the recent DMCA jailbreak exception, things are looking a little bleaker for UK gadget-heads this afternoon. London's High Court has ruled that R4 cards, which are used by homebrewers and the occasional no-goodnik game pirate to circumvent security on the Nintendo DS, cannot be sold, advertised, or imported into the UK. According to Joystiq, Nintendo claims they've seized over 100,000 R4 devices in the country since 2009. When asked for a comment, the Queen was all like, "What?"

UK bans R4 cards, makes Nintendo DS pirating 'double illegal' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banneddshomebrewillegalnintendonintendo dsNintendoDspiracyr4r4 cardr4 cardsR4CardR4CardsUKWed, 28 Jul 2010 14:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock Band 3 crashing into living rooms on October 26]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/rock-band-3-crashing-into-living-rooms-on-october-26/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/rock-band-3-crashing-into-living-rooms-on-october-26/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/rock-band-3-crashing-into-living-rooms-on-october-26/#comments Look, it's summer break. What better to do than learn a little piano in preparation for the upcoming release of Harmonix's Rock Band 3? The next installment -- which promises to bring all sorts of new kit to the market -- was finally given a release date today, and not surprisingly, it'll be quickly climbing the Santa Lists of rug-rats the world over. According to the company, the title will ship on October 26th in North America, with the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 versions priced at $59.99 sans hardware and the DS rendition at $29.99. Hop on past the break if you're interested in learning about your wealth of pre-order options.

Continue reading Rock Band 3 crashing into living rooms on October 26

Rock Band 3 crashing into living rooms on October 26 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsgamingHarmonixkeyboardmicrosoftmusicnintendonintendo dsNintendoDsplaystation 3Playstation3ps3release dateReleaseDateRock BandRock Band 3RockBandRockBand3sonyvideo gameVideoGamewiixbox 360Xbox360Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Amblyopic six-year-old uses Nintendo DS to regain normal eyesight]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/amblyopic-six-year-old-uses-nintendo-ds-to-regain-normal-eyesigh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/amblyopic-six-year-old-uses-nintendo-ds-to-regain-normal-eyesigh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/amblyopic-six-year-old-uses-nintendo-ds-to-regain-normal-eyesigh/#comments Ben Michaels was on the verge of losing sight in his right eye. The solution? Two hours of Mario Kart DS a day -- using only his bad eye -- until the condition improved. And improve it did. We wonder if using the comparatively dim original DS handheld helped... and we're dying to know what fantastic anecdotal treatments the autostereoscopic Nintendo 3DS might afford civilization at large.

Amblyopic six-year-old uses Nintendo DS to regain normal eyesight originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amblyopiaBen MichaelsBenMichaelseyeeyeseyesightKen NischalKenNischallazy eyeLazyEyemedicineNintendoNintendo DSNintendoDssighttreatmentvisionMon, 28 Jun 2010 22:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo trims DSi and DSi LL prices in Japan, adds new color options for bigger console (updated)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/02/nintendo-trims-dsi-and-dsi-ll-prices-in-japan-makes-no-promises/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/02/nintendo-trims-dsi-and-dsi-ll-prices-in-japan-makes-no-promises/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/02/nintendo-trims-dsi-and-dsi-ll-prices-in-japan-makes-no-promises/#comments Good news for Nippon-based handheld lovers: from June 19, Nintendo will be selling the DSi at a new reduced price of ¥15,000 ($165), accompanied by a more affordable DSi LL, which lands at ¥18,000 ($198). That will make the jumbo portable console cheaper than the regular-sized one costs today, while the whole effort seems clearly aimed at maintaining the market for Nintendo's classical wares after it blows all our minds with its 3DS debut at E3 in a couple of weeks. We look forward to it, we just wish this price cut would go global -- Europeans need love too, you know.

Update: We've also just learnt Nintendo is bringing out a trifecta of new color options for the Japanese LL: blue, yellow and green jumbo DSis will be available on June 19, right alongside the price trim. Come past the break to see the other two hues.

Continue reading Nintendo trims DSi and DSi LL prices in Japan, adds new color options for bigger console (updated)

Nintendo trims DSi and DSi LL prices in Japan, adds new color options for bigger console (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsdsidsi llDsiLlgaminghandheld consoleHandheldConsolejapannintendonintendo dsnintendo dsinintendo dsi llNintendoDsNintendoDsiNintendoDsiLlportable gamingPortableGamingpriceprice cutPriceCutpricingWed, 02 Jun 2010 03:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo net profit declines for first time in six years, panic remains inadvisable]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/nintendo-net-profit-declines-for-first-time-in-six-years-panic/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/nintendo-net-profit-declines-for-first-time-in-six-years-panic/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/nintendo-net-profit-declines-for-first-time-in-six-years-panic/#comments Nintendo's 2009 financial results have just been released and, shockingly enough, the company hasn't been able to break its profit record yet again. In fact, annual net profit dipped -- for the first time in six tenths of a decade -- to $2.44 billion, a 12 percent drop from the previous fiscal year's $2.79 billion. Sales of the Wii were down 21 percent year-on-year, but Nintendo still managed to shift 20 million units globally, so it's not exactly all doom and gloom at Mario HQ. And while Microsoft and Sony are working on their own motion-sensing offerings, Ninty is reloading the only way it knows how -- bringing the noir Wii to fashion-conscious Americans, and an all-new 3D portable console for the rest of us. Anyone willing to bet against Nintendo's income sheet improving next year?

[Original image courtesy of Anarkyman]

Nintendo net profit declines for first time in six years, panic remains inadvisable originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 May 2010 06:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>declinedsdsifinancesfinancialfinancialsfiscalgamingnintendonintendo dsnintendo dsinintendo wiiNintendoDsNintendoDsiNintendoWiiprofitprofitsresultssaleswiiThu, 06 May 2010 06:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Puppet Pouch puts fur on your DS / DSi, smiles on people's faces]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/29/puppet-pouch-puts-fur-on-your-ds-dsi-smiles-on-peoples-faces/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/29/puppet-pouch-puts-fur-on-your-ds-dsi-smiles-on-peoples-faces/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/29/puppet-pouch-puts-fur-on-your-ds-dsi-smiles-on-peoples-faces/#comments As jaded as we are, we just can't bring ourselves to criticize this. Produced by CTA Digital, authors of other questionable gaming accessories, the Puppet Pouch acts as a superfurry (and annoyingly cute) case for your Nintendo portable console. Coming with a felt interior and elastic straps to keep your Ninty nice and minty, it also offers a zipped compartment for storing games and accessories, as well as "puppet functionality." That last bit means you can shove your hand inside it and use the little fella as part of your awesome ventriloquist act. Priced at $19.99, it's available now, but we've just got one oustanding question -- what animal is this supposed to be?

Continue reading Puppet Pouch puts fur on your DS / DSi, smiles on people's faces

Puppet Pouch puts fur on your DS / DSi, smiles on people's faces originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casecta digitalCtaDigitaldsdsidsi caseDsiCasenintendonintendo dsnintendo dsiNintendoDsNintendoDsipadded puppet pouchPaddedPuppetPouchportable consolePortableConsolepouchpuppetpuppet pouchPuppetPouchThu, 29 Apr 2010 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Bayer Didget blood glucose monitoring system does double-duty as a DS game]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/27/bayer-didget-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-does-double-duty-as/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/27/bayer-didget-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-does-double-duty-as/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/27/bayer-didget-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-does-double-duty-as/#commentsBayer Didget blood glucose monitoring system does double-duty as a DS gameUntil we reach the time when tattoos make checking blood glucose levels cool, we're going to need another way to keep kids with diabetes healthy. And hey, kids love videogames, right? Bayer's Didget is based on the company's Contour glucose meter, but instead of connecting by USB it's shaped like a Game Boy cartridge, enabling it to slot into a Nintendo DS or DS Lite. When kids upload their scores to a custom game (the less than thrilling sounding Knock 'Em Downs: World Fair) they'll unlock new characters and items, but there's one fatal flaw in this plan: the system necessarily isn't compatible with the DSi (or its XL brother) and we're guessing the big cartridge slot isn't due for a comeback in the 3DS. In other words, this meter is on a fast-track to obsolescence.

Bayer Didget blood glucose monitoring system does double-duty as a DS game originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bayerbayer didgetBayerDidgetblood glucose monitorBloodGlucoseMonitordiabetesdidgetdsds liteDsLiteglucosehealthnintendonintendo dsnintendo ds liteNintendoDsNintendoDsLiteTue, 27 Apr 2010 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Easy Piano for Nintendo DS shipping now for little Tchaikovskys]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/06/easy-piano-for-nintendo-ds-shipping-now-for-little-tchaikovskys/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/06/easy-piano-for-nintendo-ds-shipping-now-for-little-tchaikovskys/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/06/easy-piano-for-nintendo-ds-shipping-now-for-little-tchaikovskys/#commentsEasy Piano for Nintendo DS shipping now for little Tchaikovskys Mention piano lessons to kids and watch them cringe. Mention playing really awesome games on the Nintendo DS and watch them get all excited. Now, mention piano lessons on the Nintendo DS and watch them squirm in confusion, a definite improved reaction that's all thanks to Easy Piano, which is now shipping to retail. It's a $40 game (of sorts) plus 13 key mini-piano that, if you're lucky, your children might confuse for the Guitar Hero: On Tour controller. Upon it gamers can learn to tickle the (plastic) ivories and even compose their own tunes of up to three minutes in length. That's not enough for a proper concerto, but plenty for your little wunderkind to get an early taste of chiptuning.

Easy Piano for Nintendo DS shipping now for little Tchaikovskys originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>easy pianoEasyPianonintendonintendo dsNintendoDspianopiano lessonsPianoLessonsvalcon gamesvalcon games easy pianoValconGamesValconGamesEasyPianoTue, 06 Apr 2010 22:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo DSi XL review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/nintendo-dsi-xl-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/nintendo-dsi-xl-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/nintendo-dsi-xl-review/#comments Since Nintendo first asserted sole domination over the handheld gaming market with the release of the paperback-sized Game Boy in 1989, the company has striven time and again to make its pocket systems smaller, meeting fantastic financial success along the way. Nintendo did it with the Game Boy Pocket, the Advance SP, the Micro, the DS Lite and again ever so slightly with the DSi -- the last even at the expense of backwards compatibility and battery life. Now, for the first time in the company's history, it's made an existing platform bigger, with questionable reasons as to why. Does the Nintendo DSi XL squash its predecessors flat? Or is Nintendo compensating for something? Find out inside.

Gallery: Nintendo DSI XL / LL unboxing and hands-on


Continue reading Nintendo DSi XL review

Nintendo DSi XL review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aliasingD-paddirectional padDirectionalPadDSDS LiteDSiDSi XLDsiXlDsLiteFingerprintsGame BoyGame Boy AdvanceGame Boy Advance SPGame Boy PocketGameBoyGameBoyAdvanceGameBoyAdvanceSpGameBoyPocketGBAGBA SPGbaSpglossyhandheldhandheldshands-onMario KartMario Kart DSMarioKartMarioKartDsNintendoNintendo DSNintendo DS LiteNintendo DSiNintendo DSi XLNintendoDsNintendoDsiNintendoDsiXlNintendoDsLitepixelatedpixelizationportablereviewreviewsunboxedunboxingWEPWiFiWPAWPA2XLFri, 26 Mar 2010 15:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo announces 3DS -- the glasses-free 3D successor to the DS]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/23/nintendo-announces-3ds-the-glasses-free-3d-successor-to-the-d/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/23/nintendo-announces-3ds-the-glasses-free-3d-successor-to-the-d/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/23/nintendo-announces-3ds-the-glasses-free-3d-successor-to-the-d/#comments Whoa, now this is a whopper coming (almost) out of nowhere. Nintendo has just slipped out a press release in Japan informing the world that all-new 3D-capable portable hardware is coming, with a full unveiling set for E3 2010 this June. Tentatively titled the 3DS, this glasses-free 3D wonder is pitched as the successor to both the DS and DSi, and will use a "compatible cart" that should ensure backwards compatibility with your vast library of favorites from the older consoles. Nintendo expects to launch the 3DS into retail "during the fiscal year ending March 2011."

Update: Unofficial reports from Japan suggest the 3DS will have a parallax barrier 3D LCD from Sharp, a vibration function, and a "3D control stick." Read about it all here.

Nintendo announces 3DS -- the glasses-free 3D successor to the DS originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 03:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3dsautostereoscopicbreaking newsBreakingNewsdsdsie3e3 2010E32010gamesgamingglasses-free 3dGlasses-free3dhandheldhandheld consoleHandheldConsolenintendonintendo 3dsnintendo dsnintendo dsiNintendo3dsNintendoDsNintendoDsiportable consoleportable game machinePortableConsolePortableGameMachineTue, 23 Mar 2010 03:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo slipping DS handhelds into schools, McDonald's training sessions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/21/nintendo-slipping-ds-handhelds-into-schools-mcdonalds-training/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/21/nintendo-slipping-ds-handhelds-into-schools-mcdonalds-training/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/21/nintendo-slipping-ds-handhelds-into-schools-mcdonalds-training/#commentsWhat's a global gaming company to do once they've soundly dominated the portable market? Why, covertly get the DS into schools and restaurants, of course! Shigeru Miyamoto, who created undercover gems like Donkey Kong and The Legend of Zelda, recently informed the AP that his company would be rolling the DS out "in junior high and elementary schools in Japan starting in the new school year," though few details beyond that were available. We do know, however, that this invasion into the education sector is more than just a fluke, with Miyamoto noting that this very area is where he is "devoting [himself] the most." Of course, the Big N already has a nice stable of mind-bending titles, but getting actual teachers to embrace the device in the classroom would be another thing entirely. In related news, select McDonald's eateries in Japan will be using the DS to train part-time workers, though mum's the word on whether the Cooking Mama franchise will be cashing in here.

Nintendo slipping DS handhelds into schools, McDonald's training sessions originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsds litedsiDsLiteeducationfoodgaming handheldGamingHandheldhandheldjapanlearnlearningmathmcdonaldsnintendonintendo dsNintendoDsschoolschoolsShigeru MiyamotoShigeruMiyamototrainingSun, 21 Mar 2010 23:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor mill says Nintendo DS2 might be headed for E3 unveiling]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/rumor-mill-says-nintendo-ds2-might-be-headed-for-e3-unveiling/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/rumor-mill-says-nintendo-ds2-might-be-headed-for-e3-unveiling/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/rumor-mill-says-nintendo-ds2-might-be-headed-for-e3-unveiling/#comments Hot on the heels of the recent DSi XL appearance, rumors are swirling that Nintendo is preparing to announce a second version of the DS -- the DS2, if you will -- at E3 in June. Over on RPad they're spilling the beans about the supposed device, including the fact that it'll boast two larger, higher resolutions screens, an accelerometer, and it will also supposedly run on an NVIDIA Tegra chip. Finally, RPad is also reporting that they spoke with developers who say their games will be finished by the end of the year... leading us all to speculate the unannounced successor could, possibly, be announced at E3, then available by the end of the year. Of course, this info's all 100 percent unofficial, so take everything with a grain of salt, relax, and we'll let you know as soon as we hear something more solid.

Rumor mill says Nintendo DS2 might be headed for E3 unveiling originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsds2e3e3 2010E32010gaminghandheldhandheldsnintendonintendo dsnintendo ds2NintendoDsNintendoDs2rumorrumorsvideogamesvideogamingTue, 16 Mar 2010 10:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo DSi XL hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/nintendo-dsi-xl-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/nintendo-dsi-xl-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/nintendo-dsi-xl-hands-on/#comments Sure, it's been available in Japan for quite some time, but this is the first chance we've gotten to really sit down and play with Nintendo's "more communal" (as we overheard one PR rep describe it, given it's propensity for more eyes comfortably viewing the screens) portable gaming experience, the DSi XL. So let's get the comparisons out of the way: obvious volumetric differences aside, the maximum brightness versus the DSi seems to be slightly higher, and the stylus is inexplicably a handful of millimeters longer -- not a big deal, but you'll definitely figure it out when trying to stuff it into an older model. We're not really a fan of the top lid being glossy again -- we rather like the matte DSi lid, and this one seems even more fingerprint-coveting than its DS Lite predecessor. So with all that said, is the extra screen size worth it? Admittedly we do appreciate the extra room, and it comes without a cost to the picture clarity. The inherent tradeoff, however, is a complete inability to stuff this in our pockets -- we had better luck with the Mini 5, to be blunt. You'll be able to decide for yourself soon enough, but in the meantime, there's pictures below and video after the break!

Gallery: Nintendo DSi XL hands-on

Continue reading Nintendo DSi XL hands-on

Nintendo DSi XL hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsdsidsi xlDsiXlhands-onnintendo dsnintendo dsinintendo dsi xlNintendoDsNintendoDsiNintendoDsiXlnintnedoxlThu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo to release 100 Classic Book Collection for DS on June 14]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/nintendo-to-release-100-classic-book-collection-for-ds-on-june-1/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/nintendo-to-release-100-classic-book-collection-for-ds-on-june-1/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/nintendo-to-release-100-classic-book-collection-for-ds-on-june-1/#comments The Nintendo DS's dual-screen design has always invited book comparisons, and the new DSi XL even more so with those two 4.2-inch displays, so now's as good a time as any for Nintendo to announce that its 100 Classic Book Collection will be coming to American shores on June 14 for $20. Joystiq says they're expecting the book list to be the same as the Euro pack, so expect some choice public domain works here -- we doubt this has got any of the big e-book players shaking in their shoes, but just wait until Miyamoto releases the $129 Wii Eye Motion Detector with packed-in Mario's Read Speed mini-game. Then it's gonna get crazy.

Nintendo to release 100 Classic Book Collection for DS on June 14 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100 classic book collection100 classic books100ClassicBookCollection100ClassicBooksbookbooksclassic booksClassicBooksdsdsi xlDsiXle booke readere-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-readerEBookebook readerEbookReaderEReadernintendo dsnintendo dsi xlNintendoDsNintendoDsiXlWed, 24 Feb 2010 23:03:00 EST<![CDATA[R4 card provider ordered to pay Nintendo over $500,000 in damages]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/r4-card-provider-ordered-to-pay-nintendo-over-500-000-in-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/r4-card-provider-ordered-to-pay-nintendo-over-500-000-in-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/r4-card-provider-ordered-to-pay-nintendo-over-500-000-in-damage/#commentsIt may only amount to a drop in Nintendo's pockets, but an Australian provider of R4 cards used to copy Nintendo DS games has now been ordered to pay Nintendo $620,000 Australian dollars (or about $556,822 US dollars) in damages, and destroy all its remaining stock for good measure. While that company, GadgetGear, doesn't seem to be commenting on the matter itself, Nintendo says that GadgetGear has "now acknowledged that game copying devices infringe both Nintendo's copyright and Nintendo's trademarks and that they are illegal circumvention devices," adding that "GadgetGear and the directors have agreed to permanently refrain from importing, offering for sale and/or selling game copier devices." Of course, it is just one provider of R4 cards that's affected by the case, but Nintendo is no doubt hoping that the hefty fine will be enough to at least act as a deterrent to others.

R4 card provider ordered to pay Nintendo over $500,000 in damages originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiadamagesdsfinegadgetgearlawsuitnintendonintendo dsNintendoDspiracyr4r4 cardr4 cardsR4CardR4CardsMon, 22 Feb 2010 06:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Third-party studio offers more confirmation of motion-sensing Nintendo DS2]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/third-party-studio-offers-more-confirmation-of-motion-sensing-ni/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/third-party-studio-offers-more-confirmation-of-motion-sensing-ni/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/third-party-studio-offers-more-confirmation-of-motion-sensing-ni/#commentsWe've already had a pretty clear indication that Nintendo's inevitable DS successor would have at least some form of motion control, and an unspecified third-party studio has now offered some additional confirmation of that, and some downright glowing impressions of the device itself. According to CVG, an "insider" that's currently using a DS2 development kit says that the DS2 is "genuinely the best thing I think I've ever worked with," and that it has "a 'tilt' function that's not dissimilar to iPhone, but does a lot more." The source further added that The Pokemon Company is getting "special attention" with it (rest easy, everybody), and that Nintendo likely won't be showing off any hardware at GDC next month. Yeah, that sound you just heard was the rumor mill being cranked up a notch.

Third-party studio offers more confirmation of motion-sensing Nintendo DS2 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsds 2ds2gdcmotion sensingmotion sensorMotionSensingMotionSensornintendonintendo dsnintendo ds 2nintendo ds2NintendoDsNintendoDs2pokemonrumortilt sensorTiltSensorWed, 17 Feb 2010 13:46:00 EST