Nintendo DSi Features
The Nintendo DSi is the third version of the Nintendo DS handheld console. Nintendo have listened to their customers and as a result they have added new functions as well as improving on the existing functionality of the Nintendo DS.
One of the aims in the development of the new console was to improve its portability. Nintendo wanted to make the console as thin as possible without affecting the durability. The Nintendo DSi is 2.6mm wide which is 12% thinner than the DS Lite that preceded it. However, this has meant that something had to be sacrificed and so the slot for the Game Boy Advance software has been removed.
Nintendo had received many requests from users for larger screens. This presented them with a problem if they wanted to produce a lighter console because the weight of an LCD increases as its dimensions increase. The LCD screen has been increased from 3 inches to 3.25 inches which increases the visual area per screen by around 17%. Improvements have also been made to the sound quality and speaker volume.
New features that have been added are an audio player function and a camera. Some people may feel that with similar functions being offered by many modern mobile phones these functions do not add much to the Nintendo DSi, especially as the camera does not have the resolution offered by mobile phones and digital cameras. However, Nintendo claims that they are not trying to compete with these devices, rather the aim is to allow users to be creative and have fun playing with the pictures. The software for the camera will enable users to use a variety of special effects to take pictures in real-time. For example they can change colours, draw frames, create composite pictures or add graffiti. The audio player is not simply used for audio playback; users can alter the pitch or speed. Other functions make it easier to copy music, practise foreign languages or play a musical instrument. Again the aim is not to compete with MP3 players, but to allow users to play around with the sounds. The console has 256 MB onboard memory and an SD card slot. These will allow users to store music, pictures and download games from the DSi Shop. The Nintendo DSi is the first DS to have upgradeable firmware.
Keen game players will find that during spring 2009 UK retailers will start to have the Nintendo DSi in stock. The popularity of the Nintendo DSi ensures that Nintendo DSi availability will be good. The main problem that consumers will have is not so much finding Nintendo DSi stock but the best Nintendo DSi price. Online price comparison sites with their listings of Nintendo DSi prices and Nintendo DSi cheapest price offering are your best bet. In the meantime don’t be tempted by online offers of ‘Nintendo DSi cheap price’ as many of these are likely to be fakes.