The DSi launched this weekend in Japan, and for those of you who (like this blogger) lacked either the courage, or the enthusiasm (or, uh, the pile of bones) necessary to import the new handheld, we've compiled a few videos so you can at least experience the DSi. An array of walkthroughs and explorations await you after the jump, and you've also got the option of kicking back with this epic walkthrough. For 22 minutes of our time, they better throw in some popcorn or something.
Well that helped me but confirmed my sadness. No option for English menus.. as much as I'd love to learn the Japanese language it just won't happen so soon. Even though you may not necessarily rely on it completely, if others were to play with the dsi, I'd hate to have to answer every bloody damn question they'll have due to this issue. Damn NOA, why screw us like this so often? Pfff
Gotta say I was hoping for better load times for the internet usage, I found that when i was using the old browser on my ds it was faster than that seemed to be, only ended up being to use the thing to look up how to cook a few different things., basically i could google and that was it, and it appears it wont change much with the DSi. wouldn't even be willing to check my email on that thing.
Well, you are all somewhat correct. On the regular DS it's 33+66 MHz but as I understood it back then they did had different capabilities and I also was told that each one did things on its own screen. However later some guy said they had removed the Arm7 from the DSi and that the assign one of the chips for each screen part was wrong.
All this may also be wrong though :D, but in that case there are no Arm7 longer, only one Arm9 and the old Arm7-stuff runs with some translation on the Arm9 instead.
I guess we can't say whatever it's true or 33 or 66 MHz or anything yet, nothing prevents Nintendo allowing higher speeds for DSi titles I guess. Though not very likely.
There's no way they could remove the ARM7, it's needed for sound and touchscreen stuff. ARM9 does the rest and it's not just for graphics. Either way it's not powerful enough for Flash, although I wouldn't be surprised if it's a slightly faster ARM9 than in the DS, since real time image manipulation is pretty processor intensive.
What about trying something that isn't an R4, like a DSX? The R4 automatically starts when it is in the DS no matter what your DS settings are. Other cards will work like games. If you have it setup to show the DS menu first it will. Then you select the device in the DS slot. So obviously the R4 is doing some trickery to force the DS to start it that other carts may not do.
A whole bunch of flashcarts has been tried before and neither worked. So well, I'm very sure no current card will work. Remains to see if that or loading from the SD-card will be fixed or not.
{ Nov 3rd 2008 at 10:53AM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matthew @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:16AM
Well that helped me but confirmed my sadness. No option for English menus.. as much as I'd love to learn the Japanese language it just won't happen so soon. Even though you may not necessarily rely on it completely, if others were to play with the dsi, I'd hate to have to answer every bloody damn question they'll have due to this issue. Damn NOA, why screw us like this so often? Pfff
Michael @ Nov 3rd 2008 12:57PM
Gotta say I was hoping for better load times for the internet usage, I found that when i was using the old browser on my ds it was faster than that seemed to be, only ended up being to use the thing to look up how to cook a few different things., basically i could google and that was it, and it appears it wont change much with the DSi. wouldn't even be willing to check my email on that thing.
aliquis @ Nov 3rd 2008 9:33PM
Maybe it's as simple as his Internet connection being crappier than yours / bigger webpage unless you have used the same / different ads.
yost @ Nov 3rd 2008 1:00PM
can anybody confirm, or deny if it can ply flash videos?
Mert @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:08PM
Nope. 33MHz, dude.
A. Mazing @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:51PM
Uhh actually, it has a 33MHz ARM7 and a 67MHz ARM9.
But anyway, I don't think you will be watching videos on it or playing flash games anytime soon.
Mert @ Nov 3rd 2008 3:26PM
The ARM9 processor is for 3D stuff.
aliquis @ Nov 3rd 2008 9:32PM
Well, you are all somewhat correct. On the regular DS it's 33+66 MHz but as I understood it back then they did had different capabilities and I also was told that each one did things on its own screen. However later some guy said they had removed the Arm7 from the DSi and that the assign one of the chips for each screen part was wrong.
All this may also be wrong though :D, but in that case there are no Arm7 longer, only one Arm9 and the old Arm7-stuff runs with some translation on the Arm9 instead.
I guess we can't say whatever it's true or 33 or 66 MHz or anything yet, nothing prevents Nintendo allowing higher speeds for DSi titles I guess. Though not very likely.
iofthestorm @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:56PM
There's no way they could remove the ARM7, it's needed for sound and touchscreen stuff. ARM9 does the rest and it's not just for graphics. Either way it's not powerful enough for Flash, although I wouldn't be surprised if it's a slightly faster ARM9 than in the DS, since real time image manipulation is pretty processor intensive.
SirPoonga @ Nov 3rd 2008 3:35PM
What about trying something that isn't an R4, like a DSX? The R4 automatically starts when it is in the DS no matter what your DS settings are. Other cards will work like games. If you have it setup to show the DS menu first it will. Then you select the device in the DS slot. So obviously the R4 is doing some trickery to force the DS to start it that other carts may not do.
aliquis @ Nov 3rd 2008 9:33PM
A whole bunch of flashcarts has been tried before and neither worked. So well, I'm very sure no current card will work. Remains to see if that or loading from the SD-card will be fixed or not.
NetOperator Wibby @ Nov 3rd 2008 8:04PM
Hmm, so you can swap cartridges without turning off the system? And, no restart required after using PictoChat is welcome as well.