We're not sure why this functionality is so hard to find, but using connections 1-3 won't allow anything higher than WEP. Those settings are actually buried in the system, forcing you to choose "Advanced Settings" on the main "Internet Connection Settings" screen. Strangely enough, we found it quite difficult to find settings that allowed us to connect to a security higher than WEP. The DSi has the ability to connect to any 802.11b or g Wi-Fi router or hot spot. A DSi system can still play with any version of the handheld.
PINK NINTENDO DS DOWNLOAD
You'll access Download Play to sync up games with local DS systems. There are also a few familiar faces in the DSi's interface, as Pictochat (a way to chat and draw with local DS systems) and DS Download Play remain intact. The audio editing tools are easy to use, yet surprisingly powerful. There's plenty of fun to be had with the frame features as well you can put your face on pretty much anything you can shoot. There is even facial recognition technology here that will stamp your face with a Wario mustache or give you a pig nose. These effects can not only be tweaked while taking photos, but also after you've already shot them. Aside from taking conventional photos, there are various lens options built into the application. The DSi will also support SDHC cards, which are those that exceed 2GB of storage. The DSi Camera application allows you to take pictures via either camera and store them on the unit's internal 256MB of storage or onto an SD card. There are plenty of blank spaces, too, that you'll undoubtedly fill with downloaded games and applications from the DSi Shop. The new layout is very much in the vein of the Nintendo Wii experience, where different "channels" or applications can be scrolled through and moved around. This new firmware includes various media and online applications that allow you to interact with photos and music.
PINK NINTENDO DS UPGRADE
You won't be able to upgrade your original DS or DS Lite to the new DSi experience. We'd gladly give up the 4 millimeters to be able to play any Game Boy Advance game.īy far the most significant changes to the DSi, aside from the cameras, is the updated firmware and interface exclusive to the device. While we believe this omission helped shrink the device's thickness, we wish it had survived the update. First off, the Game Boy Advance slot has been removed, so fans of that handheld platform are out of luck. On the outside of the DSi you'll find a few more noticeable changes. The unit's two stereo speakers, located on either side of the top screen, seem to have been lowered about half an inch. That said, we could not really detect huge improvements in overall brightness and color performance. The DSi's two screens are noticeably larger, especially when switching back and forth between systems. Microphone placement remains the same, although the internal camera is now centered with the mic just to its right. A long tap will power the device on and off, while a short tap (when the DSi is on) with give you a soft reset, something you could not do on any other DS. The power button has been moved to the bottom left of the lower touch screen. The DS Lite's D-pad, a carbon copy of the one found on a Wii remote, was a bit looser. Moving along to the D-pad, we experienced the same sort of click responsiveness. Even the select and start buttons have gotten a similar treatment-we found them especially difficult to press with the DS Lite. The same can be said for the L and R rear buttons, too they are now much more springy, and require much less of an effort to engage. The X, A, B, and Y buttons aren't as deep, thus they require less of a pressing motion. They're also labeled this time around, with symbols for power, charging, and Wi-Fi activity.Įvery button on the system has been changed as Nintendo has opted for buttons that click more, as opposed to the softer experience had with the Lite. The two LED lights found on the right hinge of the Lite are gone, replaced by a set of three on the left hinge of the DSi. Side by side, you won't notice much of a different in appearance. Size wise, the DSi is only about 4 millimeters thinner than the Lite and just 5 millimeters wider. While we didn't scuff it up during our testing, it appears this covering will be more prone to such cosmetic scratches. While the DS Lite is coated in a shinny plastic, the DSi is covered in a matte, almost rubberized outer layer. That said, you'll find it isn't any heavier as both weigh just under half a pound. It definitely feels more robust than the DS Lite. If you own or have held a DS Lite, the first thing you'll notice about the DSi is its sturdiness.