Nintendo unveils new DSi – Competing with PSP 3000, Apple iPhone
The rumours were true, and the new Nintendo DS has now been officially unveiled at a press conference in Tokyo. The DSi, as it has been named, offers a range of improvements and new features, all of which clearly put it in direct competition with the PSP 3000 and Apple iPhone.
Just a few days ago, Mike reported on the speculation that a new Nintendo DS model was in the offing. Reports were suggested a release before the end of the year but the Japanese company was staying tight-lipped about the device. But in an official press conference this morning, Nintendo announced the new DSi, which will be available in Japan from November 1st.
According to The Telegraph, Nintendo’s president, Satoru Iwata said:
We want to change the DS from something that’s in every household to something that’s for every person.
All of the earlier speculation proved to be correct and the leaked feature set of the new DS Lite iteration has proven accurate. These changes (listed below) put the DS in direct competition with the new Sony PSP and Apple iPhone, both of which have been eating away at Nintendo’s handheld market share of late.
What’s New (with thanks to PC World):-
- The DSi is longer, deeper, and thinner than the DS Lite.
- The screens have increased in size from 3 inches in diameter to 3.25 inches in diameter.
- The DSi is 4 grams lighter than the DS Lite – not noticeable.
- Battery life has reduced from between 5 and 19 hours to 3 and 15 hours.
- The DSi has lost GBA backwards compatibility.
- An SD Card slot has replaced the GBA game slot.
- Two 0.3-megapixel cameras now included.
- Ability to download games over Wi-Fi from a DSi Shop.
It’s an impressive list of features, with the only downsides being the loss of GBA backwards compatibility and the reduced battery life. But in place of those two things, you get a built-in camera and an SD Card slot.
While the new Nintendo DSi is out next month in Japan, gamers America and Europe are going to have to wait until Spring 2009 to get their grubby little hands on one. There is a Nintendo event scheduled in San Francisco on Thursday which is likely to include the US unveiling and release details.
So, is this enough to prompt current DS users to upgrade? And more importantly, is the DSi enough to combat the surging PSP or the ever-popular iPhone?
I can’t see many DS owners rushing out to upgrade as it’s not really sufficiently different to warrant purchasing if you already haven existing model. However, I can see more people being tempted in to getting a DS now that it includes a camera and more multimedia functionality.
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14 Responses to “Nintendo unveils new DSi – Competing with PSP 3000, Apple iPhone”
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October 2nd, 2008
Wrong! the camera is .3 mp. and there is 2 one on the inside and one on the out.
DS is every person in my house.
All five of us even my 3 year old has one.
I probably will get one for myself.
October 2nd, 2008
I never realized how powerful the iphone (itouch) were.
October 2nd, 2008
Norm, article corrected. Is it me or is 0.3 megapixels utter shite?
October 2nd, 2008
DAVE PARRACK,
I’d like to point out another mistake in the article. After listing the changes the DSi will sport, you refer to it as “an impressive list of features.” Clearly this is a mistake. No worries, happens to us all.
-Arvis
October 2nd, 2008
Its just an ok upgrade I guess. Not impressive.
And yes – .3 megapixels will be like a few blocky squares that kind of make an image.
October 2nd, 2008
0.3 Megapixel is a joke!! What is Nintendo thinking. They love to not be on par with technology just like the Wii. Come correct or go home Nintendo. Really if your in the market for a hand held I don’t see why you just don’t drop $ on a PSP. I believe it the adult and real gamers choice.
October 2nd, 2008
wow…now i have to buy ANOTHER DS!…..I have both original and lite…now this…i also have to buy another psp, excep i dont have the slim….then im buying the iphone next year when my contract ends….did i mention the millions of ps3 games coming out this fall….one season, a shitload a of games….i cant wait to get my hands on SOCOM Confrontation with that sweet bluetooth..o and that awesome bluetooth snap on keyboard…..man, when will i get a break….the money will be flying out of my wallet faster than i can put it in….this is going to be a looonnng 3 months……i also hate when people pretend to be Ferro or Parrack….when they comment, their name is bold and colored blue….and nintendo has never made a good handheld…seriously, look at the gameboy..now this shit?….i wish they had COD4 online for psp…THAT WOULD BE FUCKING SWEET….i would play my psp nonstop if it was real
October 2nd, 2008
Fake Mike Ferro – Your comments keep being deleted because you are using Mike Ferro as your name.
October 2nd, 2008
I’ll stick with my DS Fat.
I can’t understand the need people have of upgrading.
All the extra stuff actually puts me off. If I want all the extra stuff, I’ll get it, and I’ll get something that’s actually made for those things, not where its added to what I want.
I love my DS, and its old, but Nintendo makes quality products. I won’t need a DSi. By the time my fat DS is dead, we’ll be two handheld generations in the future. Thank goodness I get to skip this one.
October 2nd, 2008
I think you will find it is a 3 mega pixel camera, not 0.3
Not really a subtantial enough upgrade to warrant me getting it. I will stick with DSlite
October 3rd, 2008
No Spidydog
it is 0.3 Megapixels. It’s all over the web.
October 3rd, 2008
CAD,
You said something positive about a Sony product…. You feeling ok?
-Arvis
October 3rd, 2008
The majority of web sites I have read say 3 not 0.3 ?? But if it is 0.3, well that is useless…..
October 4th, 2008
PSP rip off LMFAO