New Nintendo DSi console launches with music player, camera and online gaming ability







Nintendo's latest handheld console has hit the British high street today, 48 hours before it hits American shores. It is priced at £149.99, although Tesco and Amazon are selling them for £144.97.



The latest version of the DS confirms the console has moved beyond a simple games player with two cameras, internet browsing and a music player.

Retailers are warning of a shortage of the new console despite the fact it will cost 30 per cent more than in the U.S. All the major console retailers have found it necessary to create waiting lists for customers wanting a DSi.

The Nintendo DSi is available in white and black and is priced at £149.99

Available in black or white, it is the lightest member of the Nintendo DS family. It has a 3.25" screen and is 12 per cent thinner than the Nintendo DS Lite.

The latest version can connect to the internet via a WiFi link allowing users to download games and software from the new Nintendo DSi store and play their friends whereever they are in the world.

The console has two built-in cameras, which detect facial features and body movements. This means users can play Wii-style games, such as WarioWare using movement alone rather than relying on the traditional buttons and stylus.

Although the cameras are crude by new mobile phone standards, they come with 11 special camera effects. The device can be used to capture, customise and share photos with friends and family. A distortion tool is available to create 'quirky and fun' images and also draw Mario Bros characters that look like loved-ones.

Journalists try out the new Nintendo DSi today in Sydney. It is on sale for £149.99

Volume and sound quality have also been improved and users can use the DSi as a music player using an SD card to store favourite tunes. Although it lets you play AAC files (with .m4a, .mp4, and .3gp file extensions) it doesn't support the MP3 format.

Still it does have a DJ tool where you can store up to 18 different 10-second sound bites. From there, you can add sound effects, and change the speed and octaves.

Nintendo had sold 96million DS consoles worldwide by the end of 2008.