Nintendo Launches DSi With Camera, Wireless Browsing
Speaking at the press conference, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata showed off the third generation of the device, notingthe larger total screen space—with the combined size of the two screens coming in at 3.25 inches, up from 3 inches.
While the screen has gotten larger, customers who were worried about how much space the DSi will take up in their pocket or bag will be happy to know that the overall size of the mobile gaming device shrank by 12 percent, or about 2.6mm.
Nintendo also is including wireless capabilities in the DSi. Users can download games from what is being called the "DSi shop" and can surf the Web through a built-in browser. DSiWare games can be bought by users through points.
The earlier version of the DS came with a GBA card slot built in for games. This DSi changes things up, with Nintendo using an SD card slot. Pictures, music and games can be downloaded to the device via the on-board browser and stored on the SD card, reducing clutter.
The DSi also now includes two cameras. One is on the outside of the clamshell case while the other is on the inside, facing the user. It seems pretty likely that Nintendo is planning to incorporate user faces onto the DSi in one way or another in the future. And, in a nice tie-in, because the DSi is a wireless device gamers can upload photos from their handheld directly to the Wii. The camera is 640 x 480 resolution.
The DSi will launch in Japan on Nov. 1 for $179, or 18,900 Yen. A U.S. release datehasn't been announced.