Could Nintendo Big-Screen DSi Be The Next Hot E-Reader?

The increase in size, from 3.25 inches to 4 inches, was first reported by the Nikkei Business Daily today. The larger screen is expected before the end of the year in Japan with no date yet floated for the U.S. launch.

However, the Nikkei reported that Nintendo will sell two versions of the DSi: one with the larger screen, the other with the original size. Both will sell for 18,900 yen, or $210 U.S. (The original DS screen was 3 inches). All other functionality will remain the same.

Reportedly, the company will market the larger-screen DSi toward an older demographic with failing eyesight, which presumably would appreciate seeing larger graphics and text. In addition, a larger screen could portend the use of the device for movies and even digital books. The move will not only position the DSi more effectively against Sony's PlayStation Portable, but also against e-readers such as Sony's e-book and Amazon's Kindle, as well as Apple's iPhone.

Kotaku.com has reported that a Nintendo spokesman told Japanese-language game site Famitsu.com, "Our company isn't doing any interviews [about this]. We think it's a speculative article."