Nintendo Officially Unveils New DS

From DailyTech: The new unit, called the "DSi" will keep the trademark double-screen (DS), while expanding the screens to 3.5 inches, a 17 percent increase in size. Like Apple's iPods, Nintendo is cramming more into a smaller space, fitting the jumbo new screens into a package that's 12 percent thinner than the previous DS. The general look of the handheld is otherwise relatively unchanged, with the stylus being perhaps slightly larger.

One major omission is the scrapping of the GBA cartridge port, likely to help cut the size down and make room for the bigger screens in the thinner body. Fans of backwards compatibility will have to turn to their old DS's and the defunct Game Boy Advance for their GBA gaming fix.

While that exclusion is disappointing,Nintendo packs a lot of features in the new unit to make up for it. The biggest new feature, perhaps, is the addition of cameras. The outside of the case gets a 0.3 MP VGA (640x480) resolution camera, similar to that found on some cell phones. Inside, there's a smaller camera on the hinge. New games will be able to harness the camera functionality for unique new gameplay. Further, the new DS comes with a free paint program so users can edit their pictures.

The new unit also will come with an advanced web browser, so users can send their new pictures over the internet if they have a wi-fi function.

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