If you don't have a camera, an MP3 player, or a DS already, then surely your curiosity has been piqued by the official announcement of the DSi, Nintendo's new iPhone-flavored system. It has some fancy new tricks up its sleeve, but those tricks have a price, and the currency is battery life.
According to spec comparisons, a DS Lite at the maximum brightness lasts you about five to eight hours, while a DSi at the maximum brightness will net you a mere three to four hours of fun. Of course, only a thorough hands-on will find out what activities last longer and which elements suck up the most life.
While this matters to someone like myself who does a lot of traveling and plays a lot of portable games, this probably won't affect those who are buying it for the extra features -- the people who are basically after an iPhone without the phone parts and the $70-a-month bills that come with it. A shorter battery isn't going to affect these people, who are too busy "hanging out" at the "mall" with people called "Chase" or "Dawson" to strain the juice on their machines too much.
Still, this is some terrific negative news for me to take out of context like always, so let's instead go with this: The DSi only runs for thirty seconds and Metal Gear Solid 4 is going to be on the DS but it will come in 100,000 cartridges because the DS sucks! Thank you.
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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
8:26 AM on 10.02.2008
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Thing is pretty indestructable.
Also.
MGS5 Confirmed For DS.
Regardless, it still doesn't look to keep up in terms of battery life, even with a one-setting handicap. Layme.
By the way, I'm not impressed by the DSi.
I don't need 2 cameras, I like having a GBA slot, and though the SD card and internal memory sounds cool I doubt Nintendo will really put out anything that puts it to good use.
It's unfortunate how much confusion and disinformation is out at the moment. I'm afraid the DSi only supports AAC and has NO support for mp3. Nintendo can't be expected to pay licensing fees! Essentially it brings functionality down to parity with the Wii Photo Channel.
Who wants a low quality camera and MP3 player in their DS anyway, (especially seeing as there are ways to make a DS lite an MP3 player) And surely the screen will stretch the already existing DS games resolution a little?
I think the greatest thing about this announcement is that Ds Lites will be cheaper because of it. Kind of like the GBA SP / Micro situation, where the predecessor will always be more popular.
no big deal
especially when using the mp3 and camera just turn down the brightness it will double your time. Lets be creative folks Iam sure down the line nintendo will partner with someone in tech for a better batt.
Maybe it will at least lower the DS Lite price.
Also I am amused by the tonal comparisons between this "battery life is shorter on new DS" post and the old "battery life is shorter on new PSP" post. Just sayin'.
What is this?!
That would be interesting. Maybe some video chat + pictochat and not limited to within 100 feet or whatever.
Then I could throw away my zune.
(yeah yeah yeah zunes are crap throw it out anyway.)
LOOK AT ME![/b][/color][/size]
Please get a new joke.
Love, Dexter
Well, this isn't all my material, is it?
Love, Jim.