The Nintendo DS Gets an Overhaul
It’s about time the DS gets a facelift. Though unconfirmed, it’s said that Nintendo is planning to release a new version of their top-selling handheld complete with a music player, camera, and bigger screens. That way, it can catch up with Sony’s PSP in the way that it functions as a “mainstream” all-around media player.
A Japanese business magazine, Nikkei, released the first (I’m guessing prototype) snapshots of the new DS. My apologies to those looking for pictures, the ones printed on the Nikkei weren’t available and the pictures I found were just makeshift images done out of speculation—but I’ll post them anyway to wet your beaks.
The Nikkei article mentions Nintendo’s plan of releasing the revamped handheld by the end of the year in Japan. No word yet on when it’ll be released in other regions.
As for the dilly on the new features, for one, it will boast its very own music player software, so people don’t have to rely on shady homebrews to play music on their DS.
Another addition will be a camera which will be built-in, allowing users to take, swap and store pictures in their devices. Other sources also mention that the camera will, in time, be used to enhance gameplay mechanics on some future titles. Knowing Nintendo’s track record for innovation, I’m sure they’ll find a way to integrate this newly added technology in satisfying ways.
It may not have been mentioned in any article, but I’m guessing the new DS will also have either an internal memory or a memory card slot–how else are people going to store music and pictures?
The new DS will also have better wireless connectivity. Though the article only mentioned connectivity for the Wii, here’s hoping that the Wi-Fi functionality will also be upgraded.
Lastly, and probably the most important upgrade, are the screens which are said to be bigger and brighter. There have also been rumors about having two-touch screens (as opposed to having only one with the current models), but we’ll know soon enough come the announced simultaneous press event at San Francisco and Tokyo scheduled for later during this week. We might even get information about the price.
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