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!
Update 2: We've also added a gallery (as you can see below).
Update 3: 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.
Update 4: You can now watch Nintendo's DSi demo video after the break, and trust us, it rules.
Update 5: Engadget Japanese tells us that only one display is touch-screen.
[Via:
Engadget ]
