Tech Olive

The new handheld gaming system from Nintendo, the DSi, is set to release on the April 5th, 2009, and will retail for $169.99 USD. From launch, it will only be available in 2 colors, which are blue and black.

Some of the new features of the DSi are:

• 2 0.3MP cameras
• 12% thinner
• Larger screen, by .25 inches
• A new DSi shop similar to the Wii’s store, using “Nintendo Points” , instead of “Wii Points”
• You will be able to buy game content as well as “apps” similar to an iPhone
• 256 MB of internal flash memory
• A new SD card slot to store pictures, and listen to AAC audio
• The power “button” of the original DS, now located next to the bottom left screen
• One more brightness setting than the DS Lite, “Extreme death” as it has been labeled
• Use of the Wii Photo channel with DSi pictures
• Upgradeable firmware
• Parental controls
• Better processor
• 4 times the amount of available RAM

And for kicks, some of the negative aspects of the DSi:

• Battery life has dropped 5 hours since the DS Lite
• No more GBA slot on the bottom, which means no more Guitar Hero Games (unless they come up with another way to connect a controller, wireless anyone?) or Rumble Pack
• Different R4 (flash/homebrew) units are required compared to previous DS’s
• Future firmware updates “may” lock users out if they use an R4 card