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Exciting Nintendo DS Details

Hardware

Nintendo of America today released details regarding the Nintendo DS (NDS), its so called 'Third Pillar'.

Launch Date: Q1 2005 in Europe and Australia. 21/11/04, in North America (US$149.99), and 2/12/04, in Japan (�15,000).

Size (when closed): 148.7 millimetres wide, 84.7 millimetres long, 28.9 millimetres tall.

Top Screen: Will be backlit, is 3 inches diagonally, semitransparent reflective TFT colour LCD with 256 x 192 pixel resolution and .24 mm dot pitch, capable of displaying 260,000 colours.

Touch Screen: Same as above, but with a transparent analogue touch screen.

Wireless Communication: IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo's proprietary format; wireless range is 9 to 30 metres, depending on circumstances; multiple users can play multiplayer games using just one DS Game Card.

Controls: Touch screen, embedded microphone for voice recognition, A/B/X/Y face buttons, control pad, L/R shoulder buttons, Start and Select buttons.

Input/Output: Ports for both Nintendo DS Game Cards and Game Boy Advance Game Packs, terminals for stereo headphones and microphone.

Other features: Embedded PictoChat and Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt software. PictoChat allows up to 16 users to chat at once; also contains embedded real-time clock; date, time and alarm; touch-screen calibration.

CPUs: One ARM9 and one ARM7.

Sound: Stereo speakers providing virtual surround sound, depending on the software.

Battery: Lithium ion battery delivering six to 10 hours of play on a four-hour charge, depending on use; power-saving sleep mode; AC adapter.

Languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian.

Colour: Silver and black (so far). The news that both PictoChat and Metroid Prime Hunters will be built-in is extremely exciting. Also, a smart decision, since it is debatable whether or not people would fork out money for a simple program such as those.

The US price of US$149.95 roughly equals AUD$215 - but thats a rather uneven number, so it is likely it will be raised to $250 for the Australian release. This also occurred with the recent GBA SP price drop - Australians ended up paying a good $30 more than people in the US.
br> Also, the Nintendo DS will 'spring to life' from the battery-saving Sleep Mode when it senses other NDSs within range, giving you the chance to chat and scribble instantaneously.

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