Walking with the DSi

by Alisha Karabinus { Nov 3rd 2008 at 10:53AM }

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.

Gallery: Nintendo DSi

This one is very nice: it's just a simple unboxing and a look at the features, without someone yapping about the smallest minutiae of the system.

Experience the Internet browser loading times for yourself!

Just a quick video that demonstrates the sadness of R4 inoperability, and the joy of English-language games working on the DSi.

Tags: dsi, features, launch, nintendo-dsi, unboxing, walkthrough

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.