Nintendo DSi: First look photos

By Pam Carroll and Nate Lanxon on 05 March 2009

(Credit: CNET UK)

Our colleagues in the UK have already got their mitts on a brand-new Nintendo DSi. We could pout, but instead have decided to take the more mature path and share their happy snaps with you. The latest revision of the DS handheld console is not entirely new, but it does offer some hot new features.

Depending on what your priorities are, there are two major new features that could be considered the biggest deal. The first is the inclusion of two digital cameras — one on the back for taking photos of other people, one on the inside for taking photos of yourself.

Both take decent 640x480-pixel images (check out our pictures later on for examples), but we can only speculate on what Nintendo will end up using these for in the long run.

The other big new feature is the SD card slot, which also signals the eradication of the dated Gameboy Advance cartridge port. When the DSi launches, Nintendo will offer an online store for downloading content and add-ons directly to the console over Wi-Fi.

A new music player lets you play some tunes, but only those in AAC format, including downloads from the iTunes Plus store. MP3s are not supported. Instead, you can use the shoulder buttons to insert claps, drum beats and Mario sound effects over the top of your favourite songs. They tell us it's fun for a few seconds, but wears thin pretty quickly.

Good things that have been obliterated include the glossy jacket the DS Lite wore — the DSi is now coated with a matte finish. The twin screens are slightly larger, as is the console itself, but the pixel resolution remains the same and so do the graphics.

The DSi will be on sale in Australia on 2 April for AU$299, alongside the existing model, which will drop to AU$199. Whether two cameras, a music player and downloadable content is worth the $100 premium will depend on how good the download store is — the DSi costs the same as an Xbox 360 Arcade version, for crying out loud. Stay tuned for our full review.

(All images courtesy of CNET UK)

Topics: nintendo, dsi, ds, camera, itunes, downloads, new, console, photo, cartridge

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Comments (14)

  • dsi commented on 12/11/2009 22:44 Report abuse

    dsi way better than that other ds lite i want it

  • S-kid with a DSi :)> commented on 12/04/2009 10:17 Report abuse

    pchal1@hotmail.com
    no its not have you played one? and the format is just .M4a
    use any converter google it
    DSi is the bwest...:)

  • wowzels commented on 07/04/2009 12:38 Report abuse

    the new dsi is it is AWESOME the original one i had broke and i love the new one i am sooo going to get it

  • dsi cool commented on 06/04/2009 02:48 Report abuse

    i love the knew dsi it is so totally wicked i had the origanal one but i lost it so i want it

  • Blue rush commented on 04/04/2009 13:21 Report abuse

    Well i saw the dsi commercial last night with the two men it was funny anyway i want the dsi because of the 2cameras and the ds shop channel

  • NickK commented on 27/03/2009 20:03 Report abuse

    The DSi will be awesome if they release gameboy/colour/advance games on the DS shop channel.

  • pchal1@hotmail.com commented on 18/03/2009 11:35 Report abuse

    the Dsi is boring............ the cameras are less than a mega pixel and the music format is completly weird and nowone even knows how to jet it on their convertors

  • MIIown commented on 17/03/2009 05:34 Report abuse

    I've got the BLACK one already!!!!!!!!!!

    With a BLACK leather case and screen protectors!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    LOL

  • ds fan commented on 15/03/2009 11:35 Report abuse

    i had the original ds it just broke yesterday i was looking to buy a dsl but then i saw the DSL i like lots of stuff to muck around with and this one a a internet browser see think i'm going to get it .

  • DSi otaku commented on 10/03/2009 16:41 Report abuse

    theres gonna be white and black only and maybe more colours available later...

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