So What is new about the DSi

Music Maestro!!

The new DSi is resplendant with 256Mb of onboard memory and an SD card slot. As well as storage for your photographic creations the DSi will store and play music stored in the AAC format.

We have some great deals on DSi compatible SD and SDHC memory cards.

An Ipod it is not but the ability to carry some tunes with you is a very welcome addition.

What the DSi does provide is the ability to change the speed or pitch of audio tracks independently using the touchscreen.

The built in microphone allows you to record and play with sound to your hearts content.

As well as being highly amusing this could be useful for learning a language or a piece of music.

Bigger, Brighter, Better

An increase in screen size from 3 inches to 3.25 inches means a total increase in screen area of 17%. The new screens are also even brighter than on the DS Lite with a choice of 5 brightness settings.

DSi is thinner too

Despite this the DSi is 2.6mm (or 12%) thinner than the DS Lite and this has been achieved mainly by the loss of the GBA card slot. This is bad news for those with a library of GBA games but surely most people will be happy to sacrifice this link to nintendo history for the other improvements on offer.

The added twist of the double camera, microphone and onboard storage is sure to make this another must have best seller alongside the existing DS Lite and the Wii.

DSi Ware

As well as a new menu system which works much like the Wii channels the DSi will be an online tool from the first time you set it up (assuming that you have a wifi connection of course).

The UK DSi ware store is up and running and by simply tapping the Shop icon in your DSi menu you will be taken directly there.

The DSi store allows you to download applications known as DSiware such as a web browser or mini games which are stored either internally or on your SD card.

You purchase software using DSi points (you get 500 with your DSi). You can buy DSi points for £9 per 1000 points so the games will make ideal pocket money purchases.

Buy your discounted DSi Points here

We highly recommend that you download the Opera internet browser which is a fine application and makes the internet fairly usable even on such a small display.

There are only half a dozen or so applications available at the moment such as the paper plane game for 200 points (that is £1.80 in real money, if you think of a DSi point as a penny then you wont go too far wrong) or Warioware Snapped for 500 points which uses the built in DSi camera in the games.

Hopefully over the coming months Nintendo will really pack the DSiware store with apps for us to enjoy and we should also see some DSi specific full size games soon to really make the most of the DSi’s new hardware capabilities.

What are you waiting for? Check out the cheapest Nintendo DSi deals.