Nintendo DSi

Nintendo DSi
Manufacturer	Nintendo
Type	Handheld
Generation	Seventh
Lifespan	2008 - 2014
CPU	2 ARM architecture processors
Media	DS/DSi Game cards SD/SDHC cards
Storage	Cartridge save 256 MB of internal memory SD/SDHC cards
Connectivity	Wi-Fi (with WEP and WPA/2 support)
Online Service	Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, DSiWare
Release Date	Nintendo DSi JP November 1, 2008 AU April 2, 2009 EU April 3, 2009 US April 5, 2009 Nintendo DSi XL JP November 22, 2009 EU March 5, 2010 US March 28, 2010 AU April 15, 2010
Units Sold	41 million
Top Game	Flipnote Studio
Compatibility	Nintendo DS
Predecessor	Nintendo DS
Successor	Nintendo 3DS

The Nintendo DSi was a modified version of the original Nintendo DS that was released in 2008.

Features

Differences from the Nintendo DS

This DSi's primary new features were the inclusion of two 0.3 megapixel cameras facing toward and away from the user. An SD Card can be inserted on the right side of the DSi. The lights indicating battery strength and whether or not the system is charging have been moved to the left hinge, with the addition of a third light indicating WiFi strength. Much like the Wii, there the DSi had a customizable menu screen where one can move around built-in and downloaded applications and games. Unlike the Wii's 4x4 channel grid, the DSi's menu was a single straight line. Also unlike the Wii, the slot for the inserted game was able to be moved.

Other improved functions included the screens, which were 0.25 inches larger then that of the original and Lite models, and they were covered by a slick matte finish. The power button was a circular button on the bottom left of the Touch Screen rather then a rectangular button on the upper right or a power switch on the right side. The power button must be held down in order to shut down the system; if pressed quickly, it will just move back to the menu screen. When changing system settings or exiting PictoChat, the system did not need to reset before using it again. This also allowed for hot swapping games while the system was still running. Sound quality has improved slightly with the help of better speakers. There were now five settings of brightness as opposed to the DS Lite's four.

The DSi did have some drawbacks. The most noticeable difference was the lack of a Game Boy Advance slot, rendering the DSi unable to play any games from that library as well as DS games that utilized the slot such as Guitar Hero: World Tour. The battery length also was reduced from the DS's, with a difference of 5 hours, depending on the brightness setting. Additionally, while the DSi was capable of playing DS games from other regions, it was unable to play DSi-enhanced or DSi-specific games from other regions. It was still possible to play an imported DSi-enhanced game on either the original or DS Lite models.

DSi Camera

DSi Camera is a built-in application for the Nintendo DSi that takes advantage of the central focuses of the DSi is the added cameras. Users can capture and modify pictures taken through either of the DSi's cameras. Modifications include altering the colors, flipping the image onto itself, and decorating the photo with stamps and markers, much like the Wii's Photo Channel. Users can mark their favorite photos within the DSi's album and marked photos will appear at random on the top screen of the DSi's main menu. Photos an also be taken without having to load up the app simply by hitting the L or R button on the main menu. Photos taken this way are automatically marked as favorites. An interesting feature, while photos can be stored on the SD card and uploaded to a computer, photos can also be directly uploaded to Facebook directly from the DSi Camera app.

DSi's Camera can also be taken advantage of in certain video games, being the primary reason a DS game would be enhanced to work better on or exclusive to the DSi. Photos stored in the album can be used as wallpaper for the DSiWare application Photo Clock. The camera can also be used to take a self-picture and apply it to the face of the main character in a few DSiWare games.

DSi Sound

DSi Sound is a built-in application for the Nintendo DSi. It allows the user to record and modify their own sound clips as well as modify music stored on the SD Card. Modifications include changing the pitch and speed of the clip, playing the clip backwards, and filtering the sound. If music stored on the SD Card is being played, the option for a Visualizer appears. The user can scroll through several different visualizers including ones based off Excitebike and Super Mario Bros. and is also able to interact with all of them. Similar to the cats on the News Channel and Photo Channel for the Wii, DSi Sound features a parrot that will sometimes spil the beans on easter eggs.

DSi Shop

The primary source for exclusive DSi games can be found in the DSi Shop. DSiWare downloads are sorted under 4 categories representing their price points: Free, 200, 500, and 800+. Note that 800+ allows for more expensive games with 800 as the lowest price point. Downloads can range from simple applications like clocks and calculators to standard games like platformers and puzzlers. Some DSiWare games are bits of existing Game Boy Advance or Nintendo DS games or ports of older games from various consoles.

The DSi Shop was closed in March 2017.

Firmware

The DSi is set up to be able to receive firmware updates from time to time. So far, the only noticeable firmware update has been the ability to upload DSi Photos to Facebook.

Backwards Compatiblity

The Nintendo DSi lacks a second slot like it's predecessors rendering it unable to play Game Boy Advance games as well as DS games that utilized the second slot to enhance the experience. Regardless, the DSi is compatible with every other existing DS game, including ones from different regions.

Designs

Nintendo DSi

The Nintendo DSi was the first and smaller design of the DSi sub-family. In addition to the various differences noted above, its lighter weight and shape makes it more portable.

Nintendo DSi XL

The DSi XL (LL in Japan) is a much larger edition of the DSi primarily geared for the older market. Keeping with this mindset, the DSI XL models feature a classier design as well as classier colors. Sporting all the same features as the DSi, the DSi XL's new features lie mostly in the size. The screens are now 4.2 inches each and when fully opened, it is roughly the same size as DVD case. Although the default stylus is already larger then previous designs, the DSi XL comes with another even larger stylus resembling a ballpoint pen. It also comes preloaded with certain DSiWare programs such as Brain Age Express titles to appeal to the older demographic. The DSi XL's size makes it far less portable and much heavier then any of its DS and Game Boy predecessors.

Legacy

DSiWare purchases could be transferred to the 3DS wirelessly with an application called the Nintendo 3DS Transfer Tool. Players could choose between a full transfer or a custom transfer. There were several exceptions to games that could not be transferred between the systems, and unused DSi points could not be transferred.

See Also

• List of Nintendo's DSiWare Games (Comprehensive List)