Nintendo DSi ships April 5th

Feb 19 2009, 5:00am CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Nintendo finally brings the new Nintendo DSi portable gaming console to the United States starting April 5th. The Nintendo DSi has been on sale in Japan since November 1st 2008.
The Nintendo DSi was already very successful in Japan and it sure will hit a home run also in the US. The Nintendo DSi will ship on April 5th at an MSRP of $169.99. The Nintendo DSi will be available at launch in matte Blue and matte Black.
The major new feature of the Nintendo DSi are its two cameras – one camera is on the external body, and the second one points at the user when the device is flipped open.
As the first truly interactive digital camera in a video game system with 10 different interactive 'lenses; that can manipulate your photos, the Nintendo DSi Camera offers an easy way to take and share your photos with family and friends.
The cameras also present people with unprecedented ways to interact with their games while giving developers a new tool to devise creative games and experiences. If the touch screen gave Nintendo DS a sense of feel and the microphone allowed it to hear, the two cameras give Nintendo DSi the sense of sight.

Another enhanced feature is the Nintendo DSi Sound application, which serves as both an interactive voice recorder and music player that allows users to play with their music while they listen to it. Users can access different audio filters or control the pitch and speed of recorded voice or music files to alter voices or change the tempo of a song. The mic is located between the two screens when the device is flipped open, and there is also a stereo headphone output that lets users listen to music saved on an SD card, even with the screen shut.

In the world of software, Nintendo DSi will be the platform for the most relevant and fun on-the-go games and applications. The Nintendo DSiWare application will populate Nintendo DSi with software that can be downloaded using Nintendo DSi Points directly to the portable system, just as WiiWare™ has with Nintendo’s Wii console. Developers big and small are invited to create software that makes use of the properties and functions of the hardware. Nintendo DSiWare games and applications will be available at a range of values, starting at 200 points.

In addition to downloadable games, Nintendo DSi is able to play games made specifically for the system and sold at retail. The system can also play most Nintendo DS games, and will have access to a library of more than 850 titles originally made for that system.
Additional features and news of Nintendo DSi will be revealed as April 5 approaches.
Via the Nintendo DSi site. The Nintendo DSi is available for pre-order on Amazon.com. Availability is spotty, as the two DSi consoles already take the 2nd and 3rd spot in the Amazon video game top seller list.

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Luigi Lugmayr
Luigi is the founding chief Editor of I4U News and brings over 15 years experience in the technology field to the ever evolving and exciting world of gadgets. He started I4U News back in 2000 and evolved it into vibrant technology magazine.
Luigi can be contacted directly at ml@i4u.com. Luigi posts regularly on LuigiMe.com about his experience running I4U.