Nintendo today are releasing the DSi handheld console in Europe, the successor to the DS Lite released in 2006. The DSi is set to release in America on the 5th of April, having already been released in November last year in Tokyo and earlier this week in Australia.
There has been a somewhat lack of interest around the new handheld from gamers, who were initially hoping Nintendo would unveil a completely new handheld in October last year at their Fall conference. The DSi is now the third iteration to the DS console, which received a new look in 2006 with improved LCD screens and battery life. The DSi brings some minor face lift changes, however the biggest changes are the inclusion of two cameras, both VGA with 0.3 megapixels. One is placed on the internal hinge towards the user and the other on the exterior shell. The user can take photos and then manipulate them with the Nintendo DSi Camera software.
Nintendo have also added an SD/SDHC expansion slot which will allow the user to play AAC music tracks with the Nintendo DSi Sound software, however there is no support for MP3s. The user can also edit the music with filters or by changing the pitch. The user is also able to record eighteen 10-second voice recordings, using the built in microphone.
The SD storage can also be used for downloaded software from the DSi Shop or as external storage for photos. Nintendo are giving away 1000 Nintendo Points to everyone for free, who buys a DSi before March 10th.
Nintendo have also upped the security offerings available on the DSi, with new games supporting WPA and WPA2. They have also decided to drop the Game Boy Advance slot to improve portability. Previous games which used the rumble pack or guitar grips are now unsupported as they required the GBA slot.
The DSi launches today for £149.99 in the UK, €169.99 in Europe and will release for $169.99 in North America next week.