We heard rumors about some kind of e-reader function for Nintendo's 3DS, but Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata all but confirms it and actually lays out some related functionality in an interview with Nikkei.
"We're thinking about functionality where it will automatically acquire newspaper and magazine articles," he said. "As you carry it with you while out and about, it will seek out and automatically connect with wireless LAN spots, and download information."
Of course, Iwata is probably thinking of Japan when he speaks of these possibilities. And he rejects any connection to similar functionality in Apple's product line, like the iPad and the iPhone: "I personally am a user of iPhones and iPods," he told Venture Beat. "I think of what these mean to me as a competitor. But I never thought of them when we were designing the 3DS."
I don't care where the inspiration came from so much. I just hope they actually follow through. It would be nice to be able to read on a device that's always going to be in my pocket anyway.
Nintendo plans e-reader functions for 3DS [GI.biz]
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site
Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
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Contest:
3:20 PM on 06.21.2010
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Comics and other reading material could be nice, but I'm not really breaking out my PSP for Comics as it is. Mostly because they don't have DC comics.
At least I hope it's not going to have a huge card reader....
At least I hope it's not going to have a huge card reader....
But this is a neat functionality. I hope, for some people's sake, it goes through.
Then I read the post.
If you can get e-books, movies, news and MP3s on it as well, all the better.
I'm not totally into the idea of a DS that's always on and looking for wireless signals. How's that gonna impact battery life?
I immediately thought of the ill-fated add-on for the GBA as well. Until I got got to the comments, I didn't really understand the article: WHERE'S MY ICE CLIMBERS ON 5 PLASTIC CARDS?!