Game Consoles

The mobile gaming medium is certainly a distinctive monster than its stationary sibling as it has a longer life cycle, the sales tend to fluctuate drastically and the aesthetic improvements are generally more grandiose. While some may still consider the Sony PSP 3000 as the second banana to Nintendo nearly ubiquitous DS Lite, the Sony PSP has sold more than 55 million units since it first appeared in the markets in the year 2005. Sony tweaked its original PSP in 2007 by getting it a little slimmer and lighter chassis, improvement in speeds along with the ability to output straight to a TV screen, with the name Sony PSP 2000.

In 2008, the PSP has got yet another minor makeover with changes like a built in microphone in order to increase the usability of its on-board Skype functionality and also with a better video output support which allows you to play games on the non HD hook-ups. The other improvements include in the display, which is said to be having reduced glare with better colour reproduction and diminished ghosting. Apart from these changes, the PSP 3000 is all identical to its predecessor.

Design:

Where is the difference?
Starting with the casing, top to bottom and side to side, it looks virtually identical to the PSP 2000. The Sony PSP-3000 Game Console has got the same slim dimensions of its predecessor which is, (H X W X D) 71 x 168 x 16 mm and weighs a light 200 grams with all the batteries, game disk and the memory stick on board. Have a closer look, you will find some subtle changes. The Sony moniker has been moved from the right of the screen to left where the PlayStation logo used to be. So where is the PSP logo? Look down at what used to be the home button which brings the PSP into alignment with the PlayStation 3 that has a similar master control button smack in the midst of its wireless gamepad. Yet another thing that is noticeable is that the, PS, Select and Start buttons along the bottom of the PSP are now fully oval and no longer the oblong half circles. When you run your fingers along the tops and they will also feel flush to the case model, not protruding as they do on the PSP 2000. Overall, the ABS plastic of the casing feels and looks more metallic and less plastic now.

A better display:
Only the 4.3″ size of its luscious LCD display is retained as it has got a complete make-over which results in better colour reproduction and is less prone to glaring. The colour vibrancy has been improved a lot and the difference was very evident, but as far as the glaring is concerned, the difference is not huge. Do not dream that you will be able to play in direct sunlight, but we assure you that you will have better luck with lesser distractions from the indoor light sources. You are given the option to toggle between wide and standard colour options and by doing so, can clearly see the difference with the colours.

The layout:
The Sony PSP 3000 is available in two common colours: Black and Silver. The silver model has a matte finish, while the black model has a glossy finish. Hence, you can have a smudge and fingerprint free handheld if you choose the silver model and vice versa if you opt for the black one. Unfortunately the displays of both the models are the smooth and shiny ones that remain to attract dust and fingerprints. Apart from these very minor cosmetic changes of the console, the button layout is basically the same as its predecessor. The display is fully surrounded by the buttons and the layout is based on the classic PlayStation Controller layout.

Navigation:
The four way directional pad is on the left and the square, triangle, cross and circle keys are in the right and you will find the two shoulder buttons along the top edge of the console.  In the bottom left of the facia is an analogue thumb stick for precise movement. It would have been great to have a second thumbstick on the right of the device that mimics the design of a PlayStation controller. The array of media controls, select, start, volume, brightness and  home button are lined up just after the display.

Built-in Mic:
A welcome addition to the PSP3000 is the built-in microphone that is located just beneath the display. This is a great inclusion as it can be used for online communication within the game or for using the Skype application. The single biggest advantage of having a mic integrated into the body of the console is that, the console can then be used with any standard pair of headphones. Whereas, the PSP2000 required a special pair of headset to communicate online. Since the layout is a familiar one, anyone who has used a Sony console over the last decade should be able to pick it up and play straightaway.

Ports in PSP-3000:
The headphone or AV jack on the bottom of the Sony Playstation Portable 3000 Handheld is compatible with any standard 3.5mm headphones and also works with the special PSP only AV out cables for connecting the device to TV. The USB port is retained in the centre top edge of the console. Sony has not included a cable in the package, but since it is a standard mini USB connector, you might have one lying around. You will find that the USB is flanked by two screw holes and they are for allowing the other accessories to be firmly attached to the frame. However, most of the people will use the USB connectivity only for making quick connections to the PC in order to transfer digital media, games and demos that are available through the online PlayStation store.

Features:

The Graphical User Interface:
If you own any gadget of Sony’s, you must certainly aware of its Cross Media Bar interface. The original PSP was the first product to use it and since then, it has been incorporated in to the Play Station 3 and many of the other television sets and AV receivers of Sony. Trip the “on” switch and you are greeted by the same familiar logo and XMB interface, but you will not miss to notice that it is bit more colourful with enhanced edge distinctiveness in terms of darks and lights. It is a pretty slick menu system that can be easily navigated through with the help of the D pad and the control buttons. However, with some of the applications, you will find that the simplicity of the system is lost. The web browser was not as well designed as the overall XMB menu system.

Firmware:
The PSP 3000 arrives running the version 4.20 firmware which has been updated to 5.01, so we were immediately set to be grabbing about it. It takes only a few seconds to configure the device to work with a home WiFi network, about a minute to download the patch and another couple of minutes to install, all in a wireless manner. Since the debut of the prior model, intervening updates have wonderfully exploited the abilities of the hardware with welcome features including free internet radio powered by SHOUTcast, LocationFree video watching from select Sony Electronics along with the Remote Play access to and control of a registered PlayStation 3.

The Media:
The Sony PSP is designed to play movies and games out of a new kind of media called Universal Media Disks (UMD), and this media is certainly not universal as its name indicates as Sony’s PSP is the only device that uses them. The UMD is a kind of combination of the mini CD and the old MiniDisc which holds only about 2.2GB of data. To load them, there is a snap open door on the rear of the device and the Memory Stick Duo slot remains to be on the left edge.

For now UMD stays to be the primary means of delivering the games to the PSP 3000 Handheld console, but Sony has been expanding the options that are available in the online PlayStation Store as well. This store allows the users to rent and buy movies and downloadable games and all these downloadable content is stored on the MemoryStick Duo.

WiFi functionality:
Though the PSP 3000 is primarily a gaming system, it has got some very notable media functionality as well, such as the built-in WiFi capability. With the WiFi feature, you will be able to connect the device to any wireless internet service, including those with the WEP and WPA encryption, but not the WPA2. One of the greatest disappointments with the WiFi feature is that the PSP3000 continues to be using the slowest 802.11b version; an upgrade to 11g or even the 11n is long overdue.

Built-in Skype Client:
The Sony PSP3000 is equipped with the built-in Skype client that can be used for the free Skype to Skype calls as well as the calls to and from the regular mobile phones, only if you have the paid Skype add-ons. Though this might not threaten to be the serious competition to the iPhone or any of the other dedicated mobile phones that are available in the market, the ability to make use of Skype, without the need of a headphone can certainly prove to be very useful.

Remote Play in PSP-3000:
Yet another unique feature of the PSP 3000 is the “Remote Play” which allows the PSP to log on into the PlayStation 3 either via home network or net and stream any video, audio and images that are stored in the PS3.

The Web Browser:
As we had mentioned earlier in the review, the PSP 3000 has a web browser, but you will end up desperate for a touch screen or a numeric keypad. The browser is not well designed and you will find that a lot of the graphically rich pages will be cramped or broken on the screen. This is basically because of the fact that there is very limited flash support and that it is not very robust. Said that, you will be able to control the cursor using the analogue and it is a very nice touch. Most of the people will find that the browsing experience in this Sony PSP is much better than their mobile browsing experience that they get via their phones.

Apart from the web browser is a RSS reader which could use an overhaul to make it easier to use and add your own feeds. There is also a very handy dedicated Google search icon and in addition to all these, the PSP is also equipped with a dedicated Shoutcast client that offers free streaming of internet radio. It is nothing but a plug-in that works via the browser, but since it is overdesigned, it is not as straightforward and easy to use as it should be otherwise.

The Gaming Features:
Though the PSP 3000 has a very impressive set of media and online features, most of the consumers tend to put the console secondary when it comes to gaming on the go. The Nintendo DS remains to be the king of portable gaming and we say this only based on the number of units sold. But you will find that there are lots of teens who are looking for some more sophisticated and less kid oriented games than what the DS offers. For those who are looking for some real killing, fighting and stuff and not great fans of, the cute stuff of Mario, Pokemon, Zelda, Cooking Mama and Animal Crossing games, the PSP will certainly be a welcome breath.

Portable version of PS2?
Initially with the early stage of the PSP, it was knocked down just as a portable version of the PlayStation 2 as so many titles were simply the ports from the PlayStation 2 games. The hit list was mostly dominated by many of the franchise standbys, which includes Grand Theft Auto, SOCOM, Tekken and God of war too. You must also note that these phenomenal titles have been designed for the PSP from the scratch. For those who like some speeding and racing, there are sports, action, racing and shooter games, but all is not sweat and blood as you will also find plenty of quirky puzzle games like Puzzle quest, Lumines and LocoRoco. The list does not end here as the console has a host of family favourites including Ratchet and Clank and Daxter.

Online Multiplayer Component:
You would be delighted to know that most of the popular games have an online multiplayer component. While some of the games offer ad hoc multiplayer, some of the other titles offer Internet play or both. The online game play service is completely free; but the performance of these varies from title to tile and is also dependent on the network speed. The whole experience will be just as fun and fulfilling as playing on a home console.

The store:
The PlayStation store can be accessed via a single PlayStation Network account and you can also have a PS3 and the PSP on a single account. Hence, you will also have the PS3 movies purchased on the system offloaded to be viewed on the PSP.

Performance:

Video:
As far as video is concerned, the PSP3000 is capable of playing them from a variety of sources. Though it is very easy to just buy the pre-recorded UMD video discs, it is the most ill-advised idea. One of the best way outs is to copy your own set of videos from your system on to a Memory Stick Duo card and just pop it on to the PSP. You can also download a wide range of freeware and commercial software products that can readily convert files into PSP friendly formats and resolutions which are MPEG or H.264-AVC and up to 720 x 480 pixels. If you are ready to invest on an add on cable, you will also be able to output the PSP’s audio and video into a TV. One of the most annoying limitations of the PSP 2000 has been corrected in this model which will allow you to have video and game playback on pretty much any TV. In the case of the previous model, the game play had been limited to progressive scan only via the component video that limits you to the HDTV hook-ups. The PSP3000 also has the built-in capability to stream live television from any Sony LocationFree TV device, which is basically Sony’s version of the Slingbox. As long as the PSP is in a Wi-Fi hotspot, the device will be capable of streaming video and change the channels on the LocationFree box, even if you are half way around the globe.

Issue with the resolution:
One of the biggest disappointments with the videos is that, the videos of the UMD disks that have pre recorded videos and from that of a Memory Stick with home ripped videos can be displayed at the DVD level 720 x 480 pixels resolutions but note that the quality will differ depending on the compression of the video. They will fit into the widescreen display of your television set but since the games are locked to the native 480 x 272 pixel display, if your TV does not possess a robust zoom function, you will be stuck with just window boxed experience for gaming.

Audio:
The audio features of the PSP-3000 console are so good, that we can even say that it doubles as a very decent MP3 player. It can play a wide range of formats which includes DRM-free MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC and ATRAC3 files along with the support for album art; exciting! Is it not? In addition to this, it has a visualiser function and support for the Repeat and Shuffle modes. Its support for the images is equally good. The PSP3000 supports the JPEG, GIF and TIFF image formats and it displays the ones stored in the MS Duo card individually or as a slide show. The larger images may have to be compressed before viewing.

Graphics:
We have to appreciate Sony for its kind of graphics in the games as they are much better than what you get out of the DS. In fact, the games are at the level that you can expect from a Play Station 2.

Microphone and Speakers:
The microphone is well and alright when it is used to chat across the pond and bug family and friends via the Skpe, but there are complaints that there is some echo. We have no word on if it supports noise cancellation, but let us just say that the mic is still not the way you will want to talk smack in a friendly online match if, say you are playing in a noisy coffee shop or cafe. If you opt out the headphones, you have always got the external speakers which produces decent amount of volume for the games and UMD movies. But the volumes of the videos that are copied over to the memory stick have very less potential.

Power:

For the sake of power, the PSP3000 has a 5 volt AC power adaptor and the device can also be charged via USB. The only issue is that, charging via USB is a little bit time consuming when compared to the time consumed by the power adaptor to charge the device.

Warranty:

Sony PSP3000 comes with one year limited warranty.

Note:
Though Sony has released its latest model the Sony PSP GO, the PSP 3000 will continue to be sold alongside the most expensive sibling.

Conclusion:

If you ask us if PSP 3000 will be able to replace your iPod, iPhone or even a portable DVD player; for the die-hard media lovers, the answer is no. But if you are looking to travel with a few hours of music and TV shows, then the console makes for a good diversion from a game and also eliminates the need to lug a second device along with you. Though you will not be getting a bigger display as you would get with a DVD player, on the positive side, the PSP is less bulky and you will have a bigger display than the iPod or iPhone. We all are aware of the fact that a small but growing library of games is available on the iPhone and iPod Touch. In addition to this, they also offer far better web browsing, communications and media options and this means that Apple is as big rival to the PSP as the Nintendo currently is.
If you already own a PSP 2000, then we do not think that you need an upgrade unless you are looking to enjoy the minor tweaks like better video and microphone. If you are an original PSP owner and skipped the PSP 2000, you will see an even more dramatic difference upgrading.

Check 2010 Best Game Consoles in this website.

Sony PSP 3000 Handheld - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Sony
Model Name	PSP 3000
Form factor	Handheld
Dimensions (H x W x D)	71 x 168 x 16 mm
Weight	200 grams
Display Type	4.3 inches / 10.9 cm (16:9) full-transparent type, TFT drive
Display Colour Support	Approximately 16,770,000 colours
Available Enclosure Colours	Black, Silver
Colour Support	Yes
Media Type	Read-only Universal Media Disc drive
Compatible Codecs	Universal Media Disc Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile Level 3. Universal Media Disc Music: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile Level 3, Linear PCM, ATRAC3plus™. Memory Stick™
Significant Features	PlayStation Store Bluetooth
Processor Type	333 MHz
Built-in Speakers	Yes
Sound output mode	Stereo
Connectivity Features	Headphones , USB , Composite video output
Interface	DC IN 5V connector. Video out/headset connector. Hi-Speed USB. DC OUT connector. Memory Stick Duo™ slot. Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11b)
Total Expansion Slots(Free)	1 Memory Stick Micro (M2)
Battery	Rechargeable - Lithium ion
Battery life	3 to 6 hours
Package contents	Sony PSP Go, AC adaptor, a USB chord, Media GO software and an instruction manual
Power	AC Adaptor DC 5.0 V
Power Consumption	Approx. 6 W
Manufacture Warranty	One year limited warranty

Everybody is trying to slim down for this summer and the Nintendo game console is not an exception. In our review of the original Nintendo DS handheld reviews, we had mentioned that, the only characteristic of the console that we did not like is its bulkiness and Well, Nintendo heard us! They have addressed this issue with a signature Nintendo remodelling. In fact, it has been given an extra dosage of style, not only has it slimmed down, it has brightened up too. Called the Nintendo DS Lite, it improves upon its predecessor in almost every conceivable way.

The DS Lite Game Dual Screen console is a beauty of a machine that is a major argument in its own right for clever thinking over packing as much tech into the box as possible. The key selling points of the original DS, such as the dual screen displays, built-in wireless connectivity, touch screen with stylus and microphone for voice control over certain games. The launch of the DS back in the year 2004 was limited success; with the release of the DS Lite in the year 2006 giving it a new lease of life and driving the UK market crazy.

We are reviewers, so it is really hard for us to go past without saying the cons of the model. As far as the Nintendo Lite is concerned, the downside is that the enhancements in the console are only cosmetic than anything else, just offers the gamers a light weighed and much more stylish way of getting their latest Magnetica and Super Mario Bros on.

Design:

The Nintendo DS Makeover:

The tangible weight and size reductions, repositioned buttons, sharper visual performance, repositioned stylus holder, everything is a welcome addition to the Japanese giant’s celebrated family of portable gaming console, the Nintendo DS. Aesthetically the Lite looks absolutely terrific.
This Nintendo DS Lite Handheld console that has got a very notable make-over attempts to make the same fashion statement for video games that the iPod did for the MP3 players. As in the case of iPod, the Lite too comes in a wide spectrum colours. It is also available in a limited edition Pink supported by the female artist with the same name. But at the time of its release only the black and white models were available. Although the DS Lite is available in different colours, it’s the lacquered white finish that shows Nintendo’s new baby off to best effect, hence the obvious Apple comparisons. As in the original DS, the DS Lite too comes with two vertically tiered screens. The bottom touch screen is the one that you will be using on stylus or a finger to perform operations like selecting the moving options and moving characters. If you are not very comfortable with the touch screen operations, a normal face button layout is also available and it gives you a more standard method of control.

It is really lite:

As the name indicates, the console has shredded a lot of weight and is not a much more compact system, measuring (H x W x D) 133 x 72 x 21 mm and weighs just 217 grams. These figures show that the console is about 39% smaller and 21% lighter than its elder brother. In the original model, the bottom half was over sized, but this model has the top and bottom halves symmetrical and rounded corners that are more tampered. Despite the overall size reductions, the trademark twin displays have the same dimensions. With these changes made to the design, the DS Lite is now a much more pocket friendly console.

Finger print and scratch magnet:

The single biggest problem with the DS Lite is that, it comes in a high gloss finish and so is a magnet of fingerprints. Nintendo has also failed to include the rudimentary cleaning cloth in the package. The Black coloured Lite is the device that is most affected by this characteristic of Lite. On the positive side, the clamshell design makes sure that the DS Lite travels well, limiting the scratches and marks to the exterior, while the dual touch displays remain fully protected.

Some repositioning:

The layout of DS Lite is mostly similar to that of Nintendo DS with some slight beneficial changes. The speaker retains its place in the top half of the clamshell, taking the centre position and despite being smaller than the original DS, it sounds as loud as its predecessor. The bottom part of the console feels more flimsy, maybe because we got used to the bulkier model. To the left of the touch screen, you will find the D-Pad that is about ¾ the size of the original, but not reductions in the efficiency. Though the four X, Y, A and B face buttons are essentially the same, they feel a little more pronounced than the original DS. You will no longer find the semi ovals on the top, as the start and stop buttons are now small circles and you will find them on the bottom.  The power button also has been moved to the right side of the system, a re-location from just above the D-pad. This change is one of the most welcome changes as the original looks exactly like the select and start buttons, and had been placed in the same area on the opposite side; this led to occasional turn off instead of pausing.

The facia of the DS Lite Console system has been left untouched, from left to right, you will find the volume control, the GBA game slot and the in-line enabled headphone port. You will find the microphone in the hinge between the screens. The rear of the unit too is basically the same and the only difference you will notice is that, the stylus holder is moved from the back of the system to the left of power switch. Though the left and right triggers have been miniaturised, as in the case of the face buttons, they are more pronounced and much easier to press. The DS cartridge slot is centred at the top, and the AC power port is off to the left. The system includes an AC adaptor, two styli that match the Lite’s colour, and a smaller wrist strap that.

The cartridges:

The DS Lite Console from Nintendo has its own cartridges that have a size that is in between SD and CompactFlash cards. It is almost fully backward compatible with the GameBoy Advance titles; we had to use “almost” there because the unit does not play multiplayer modes of the GBA games. Though the cartridges of DS are much smaller in capacity than the Sony PSP’s UMDs, the good news here is that they can be played without the wait for the unbearable load times of this proprietary format of Sony.

The GBA slot:

The GBA slot itself has undergone some makeover. Instead on an empty cartridge slot, Nintendo has now included a plastic cover that looks like a half size GBA game. It looks as though you will lose it for sure, though it is quite sleek it also put itself in the place of our criticism. The GBA games stick out of the cartridge slot by about a centimeter; the original DS fits the cartridges perfectly. There is nothing very serious to worry about though, as it does not impede the game playing even in the slightest way. And when you consider the fact that the DS is backwards compatible with tons of GBA games, it is really a very small price to pay.

Features of DS Lite:

Forget what the DS Lite does not offer: major interactive feature upgrades, improved quality of games, better software performance or ace out the PSP in terms of whiz bang 3D graphics technology. Instead concentrate on the strides that the system makes like enhancement in the overall quality of gameplay, improvement in visibility and of course more pocket friendly.

Excellent WiFi service:

Being introduced just after a year after the system had launched, the WiFi compatibility on the DS is surprisingly solid, especially considering the fact that it is a free service that is hosted by a company that is known for its aversion to online gaming. As in the case of the original DS, the WiFi setup is extremely simple and efficient in the DS Lite too. The WiFi system recognises most of the wireless connections. If you have no WiFi hot spots nearby, you can always create one from a broadband connected PC just by attaching the Nintendo USB Wi-Fi connector to it.

Play with your buddies nearby:

If you wish to create a friends list, just enter a 12 digit friends codes for each game that you would like to play with your buddies. But if you wish to play against the non-friends, it will either be a hit or a miss as you will not be finding a game to join as fast as you will on an online console like the Xbox 360, but as long as you are playing a fairly popular game in a reasonable hour, it will not be long before you locate your competition. You can even have a voice chat using the offered microphone. We prefer the local wireless as it is much more reliable with the additional benefit of allowing multiplayer via a single cartridge. With the GBA multiplayer games, you will not be able to play head to head over a wireless connection and with the absence of a link cable port, you will not be able to have a wired bond to the older GBAs or Nintendo GameCubes. This is not possible at least until Nintendo releases yet another adaptor that interfaces with the proprietary power port of DS Lite.

Graphics Quality:

The quality of graphics of the DS Lite games is pretty decent. They are better than the PS1/N64, but were nowhere near the quality of Xbox or PS2 or the Nintendo GameCube. And they are no better when compared to the games of PSP. One area where the DS Lite over powered the other consoles is in its innovative quality of titles. While the PSP games were much like the games of its siblings, while the touch screen set-up of the DS-Lite that allows the designers to create some really unique game play. It is quite disappointing that the DS Lite does not have the audio, video and web surfing features of the PSP.

Improved Brightness:

Nintendo has made some real improvements in the brightness settings by upgrading it to four, whereas the original DS had only two of them. At the lowest setting, the Lite is just as bright as the original DS, but at the brightest setting, it is simply brilliant and is as bright as the GBA SP. But the GBA game’s colours look very much washed out while played with the lite, whereas the good quality backlighting of DS makes the graphics of the games stand out.

Games for all:

No body can deny the fact that a console is only good as its games and equally, a console also gets the games that it deserves. As far as the Lite is concerned, Nintendo has led by example with its range of touch generations by producing some groundbreaking titles that not only appeal to the veteran gamers but has also ensnared brand new audiences who previously would not have touched a video game.

For instance, the Nintendogs is essentially a pet simulator having some unique features that will allow you to interact with your digital mutt like never before. With the help of the stylus you will be able to actively tickle and stroke your pooch, throw Frisbees for it to chase and much more. With voice recognition, you can call the pet and even teach him to obey command and teach tricks by speaking directly into the console. In the Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? You take part in a wide range of number and word based challenges against the clock. Based on an analysis of your performance, the game then calculates your brain age and offers a regime for self-improvement. Again, it is the interactivity that makes this such fun, and you will be scribbling down words memorised from lists, shouting out colours and much more.

Software:

The DS software catalogue is expanding at a terrific rate. But it is worth noting that an in-built cartridge slot provides full compatibility with the entire back catalogue of Game Boy Advance games; perfect for retro heads.
For testing the battery performance of the Nintendo DS lite against the DS original, we played an exact same game at the brightest setting and max volumes of each of the systems. The Lite lasted for about five hours whereas its predecessor came out as the winner with about six hours and forty five minutes. It takes about three hours to get the system fully charged and as in the case of the DS original, Lite to goes into sleep mode when the system is closed.

Power Supply:

One thing that is annoying about the DS Lite is that it uses a different power supply to the original DS. Given, it is the same PSU as the GBA Micro, but that is not going to help current DS owners that want to upgrade and fancy having a PSU at work and at home.

Warranty:

Nintendo offers its DS Lite with one year manufacturer’s warranty.

Verdict:

If you still do not own a portable gaming device, the Nintendo DS Lite is worth having a consideration especially with its list of quirky and original titles. So, if you have not yet got the hip to the dual screen diversion’s charms; the touch sensitive titles experienced through top and bottom mounted visual displays using stylus or d-pad and button based front end, this is just the perfect chance. But if you already own the original model, then we would say that the improvements are not very significant enough to shell out another 100 more pounds, unless you are really desperate to get rid of the bulkiness of the handheld console. If you like to own a portable console with more mature titles with decent multimedia capabilities and web browsing, the Sony PSP is a best buy.

Nintendo DS Lite Console - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Nintendo
Model Name	Nintendo DS Lite
Console type	Handheld
Dimensions(H x W x D)	133 x 72 x 21 mm
Weight	216 grams
Game Media type	Cartridge
Sound Output Mode	Stereo
Display	2 Backlit, 260,000 colour, 3? diagonal reflective TFT LCD screens. Lower one is a touch screen. 2D and 3D video acceleration
Display resolution	256×192 pixels
Input Device Type	D-pad; four buttons plus shoulder buttons and select and start buttons; stylus on lower touch screen
Features	One ARM7 processor and One ARM9 processor. 4 megs memory.
Audio	Built in stereo speakers with virtual surround sound, mic and headphone jack
Software bundle	PictoChat wireless messaging application. Clock and calendar. Metroid Prime: First Hunt (first person shooter) demo included.
Game Cartridges supported	Two slots: one for Game Boy Advance games and another for DS game cartridges. The DS is not compatible with Game Boy Color and earlier games.
Modem	No
Ethernet	No
Bluetooth	No
WiFi	Yes
Maximum data transfer rate	11 Mbps
Controls	Touch screen, embedded microphone for voice recognition, A/B/X/Y face buttons, plus control pad, L/R shoulder buttons, Start and Select buttons. The stylus is 1 centimeter longer and 2 millimeters thicker than the stylus of the original Nintendo DS.
Input/Output	Nintendo DS game cards and Game Boy Advance game paks, terminals for stereo headphones and microphone
Languages	English, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian
Battery	Rechargeable lithium ion
Battery Life	Five to 19 hours of play on a four-hour charge, depending on use; power-saving sleep mode
Box contents	Nintendo DS Lite with battery installed, two styli, wrist strap with “thumb stylus” attached at the end, instruction booklet and charger
Warranty	Limited 1 year warranty

Sony had first announced about its portable PSP handheld console in the year 2003 at E3, which first arrived the stores of UK in the year 2005. The PSP Go is the latest device of Sony in the family of portable handhelds that has seen three different models since it was originally launched in the year 2005. This model has dropped the hugely unpopular Universal Media Disc format in favour of the digital downloads via Sony’s online store.

A bold effort:

This PSP is a massive initiative by Sony to capitalise over its massive popularity of Sony PS2 in order to move across its new market, which is pretty much owned by its very strong rival company in the gaming market, the Nintendo. Though Nintendo is said to be having the edge with its dual touch screen at a lower cost, over Sony’s costlier console with a better specification, Sony has still managed to attract a significant amount of market with its much faster, sleeker and good looking PSP.

What is new on the Go:

So, if you ask us what is new in the device? It is not radically new to the PSP franchise. Apart from being much compact than the other three earlier generations of the portable gaming device, it features some additions like built-in Bluetooth, slide out controls and the radical change being completely digital, completely deserting the cartridges and optical discs.

PSP though a makeover:

The list of features of the Sony PSP Go Console is very less, but the device has gone though a complete makeover. The main focus of the make-over has been on removing some fat and shedding some weight. Sony PSP Go is available in black and white colours; you can expect some colourful versions in the future though. Sony has maintained the glossy finishing of the device that attracts scratches and fingerprints as in the case of all the previous models. However, the surfaces surrounding the D-pad and the other controls have been given matte finishing.

Display and Dimensions:

Another thing that you will notice after the very obvious decrease in the width of PSP Go is the fact that its 3.8” display is slightly smaller than the PSP 3000’s 4.3” display. The resolution has been maintained to be the same 480 x 272 pixels and its wide-screen aspect ratio too. Though the screen now has a smaller surface area with less viewing space, since the resolution is in-tact, the graphics look much sharper. The screen is not having the interlacing issue that its predecessor suffered with. The colours, Screen and Brightness have been improvised a lot too.

All these design changes paying off in the dimensions of the device which measures just 5″ wide, 2.75″ tall and just over half inch thick. Particularly when the device is kept close, the minimalistic deign is very appealing.

Into the Pocket-Friendly club:

One of the most evident problem that both the previous models of the PSP and all the various iterations of the Nintendo DS in the last five years was that, though they had the term pocket friendly in their name tag, they were truly not “Pocket” friendly, unless you are wearing cargo pants with a deep O pocket styling. And we have said this because, the latest PSP Go from Sony has come in as a exception by being truly pocket friendly, by sliding easily into your jean pockets without showing off too much of a bulge. But we are not promising any gamer who is a fan of the latest trend of “Skinny Jeans”, as you will not be succeeding shoehorning the PSP Go or any other device for that matter, into your pockets.

Sliding controls:

You will find that the controls are hidden in a slider that pulls from underneath the screen whenever you intend to start playing or watching a video. With the much improved display, the controls that are hidden away are surely a design win. It has two rounded rubber stoppers that allow you to gripe the device well. The overall finger and thumb control over the device is far better when compared with the Nintendo DSi.

Gripes with the arrangement and size of the controls:

Yet, we will have to point out some of the black spots in the arrangement of the controls specially, their in-game performance. Clearly, the issues caused are only because of miniaturising them and awkward positioning. The analog stick has been moved to the right of the D pad that makes you feel off-centred. While put into real action, we could not help noticing that the new positioning felt way too awkward. Though the new PSP users will not find it a big issue, the other PSP veterans will certainly not appreciate the change. The analog stick offered is smaller than that found on its predecessors, but it feels much more sturdy and durable. You can also feel that there is a lot of friction while moving around; they are not much looser as in 3000.

Placement of the controls:

Most of the time, the buttons exhibited no issues, they had solid operations assigned to them like the ones in the Nintendo DSi. The L and R buttons are more prominent, which will be preferred by most of the gamers instead of the shoulder buttons that adorned the earlier versions of the PSP. The start and select buttons have been placed too close to each other and they also do not have the same tactile feedback as the other buttons are having. There has been some rearrangement with the display, volume and sound buttons too; they can now be found between the L and R shoulder buttons. They work alright, but the issue is that you have to look at their location when the screen is slid up to use them. Fortunately, the remaining controls have been left where they had been previously. The power switch is on the lower right side and the wireless switch will be available on the lower left side of the device, immediately below the new M2 micro memory card slot about which we will discuss below.

Memory:

As we had mentioned in the intro, Sony has removed the UMD media slot and opted for a 16GB internal storage unit. In addition to this, the Sony proprietary Memory Stick Pro Duo slot has been replaced with a smaller M2 micro memory card slot, which is again a proprietary format of Sony.

Microphone:
As in the case of its predecessor, the PSP Go Video Game Console too has a built-in microphone for applications like Skype and also for making calls via the WiFi. You will find the microphone between analog stick and the Start and Select buttons. By investing on some additional cables, you can hook-up the PSP Go to a TV and you can also buy either a composite or component cable for displaying videos and games.

Absent features of PSP GO:

There are a couple of things that you will not find on the PSP Go; a touch screen and a second analog stick. While the former would make some of the first person shooting games easy and fun, the latter is expected simply because the feature is available in its rival gaming console, the DSi. With a touch screen interface, you would have also enjoyed the advantages of an on screen keyboard for on-screen data entry and surfing.

Efforts paid off:

The whole device stands as a treat showing off the efforts of the design engineers of Sony who have impressively managed to reduce the size and weight of the console. Yet, we have a few grips with the miniaturisation efforts of Sony. First of all, it is disappointing that there is simply no way that you will be able to remove the battery, so you will have to be a really stingy player for about four hours as long as you are away from a plug point. Though it is not too bad for daily use, this will prove to be a killer blow if you are on a long flight journey or something equivalent.

Disappointment for the big hands:

If you are a gamer with big hands, forget it! The Sony PSP Go is not the console for you. They have squeezed the D pad and the analogue nub into a very small real estate that will be a deal breaker for you. If you are having big hands, it is better that you at least get a demo for about half an hour, playing with any of your friend’s device or that of your dealer, before you even think of swiping your card.

WiFi with no upgrades:

Wi-Fi is back and, disappointingly, Sony deemed it unworthy of an upgrade. So, you can have any type of connection you want so long as it is the most basic 802.11b variety and nothing can lend you a helping hand if the encryption is set to anything other than WEP or WPA1.

Browser:

The web browser is slow and awful when viewing full fat websites, with Flash playback, it is particularly slow and cumbersome. Mobile only sites look OK though, while PSP optimised sites, such as the online manual, are of course, good.

Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity:

Sony has added Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity in its PSP GO handheld Console, which is a very good addition as it makes all the wireless tasks feasible and extremely easy. With this feature, you can connect to wireless headsets, but we had experienced some difficulties in getting a stereo headset in good working condition, connected to the device. One very fine advantage of the Bluetooth feature is that you will be able to control the PSP via a PS3 controller. But for this to work; you have to connect both the devices and the controller to a PS3 simultaneously with the help of USB cables.

A better media:

Since the UMD slot has been removed, accessing of all the multimedia and gaming has to be done via the 16GB of internal storage or with the M2 memory stick. With the help of the built-in WiFi, you will be able to download software from the Sony PlayStation store directly to their PSP Go, or even transfer data from the PC or PS3 via a USB. You can expect Sony to sell some big budget downloadable games, which will also be available in the UMD media and for such titles; it will be a wiser to transfer data directly from your PC or PlayStation 3 with the help of USB rather than using the WiFi connection on your PSP. For instance, downloading the MotorStrom of 520MB takes more than 2 hours to complete from the GO and just 20 minutes via the PC.

Multimedia capabilities:

Apart from gaming, you can have fun with the multimedia capabilities of the PSP Go that includes playback of videos, digital music and photos. As we mentioned earlier, it also has a rudimentary web browser and a dedicated Internet Radio player.

Operating System:

The PSP Go operates on an OS that is slightly different from that of its predecessors; Software version 5.70. There is very little difference between them and this will be mostly because of the fact that the slider affects the behaviour of the device. For instance, when the screen of the system is closed, the device gets into a screen saver mode that displays an analog clock and date. Both the shoulder buttons have to be hit together in order to bring up a calendar and scroll through the months by hitting over either the L or R buttons. When the device is slid open again, you will be taken to the XMB menu. These specific behaviours of the device can be customised, for instance, you can set the device to go into sleep instead of the clock display.
One other improvement that has been made to the firmware of the PSP GO is that, you have an option to pause a game and return to the cross media bar. And while playing, just by hitting over the PlayStation logo button in the bottom left corner of the screen, the home menu will come up and by hitting over the Pause Game button, freeze the game and return to it later by clicking over the “Resume Game” button under the game icon in the XMB. Though it takes about 10 seconds to pause a game, this feature is very useful.

Games seal the deal:

Fashion factors aside, you must be asking us what is the great deal with the £225 price tag for this new kit, and you may even argue with us saying that you might as well buy a new PS3 slim for that kind of a tag. So, here is the deal why you must go for this UMD free toddler. Sony has decided to expand the online offering that are available to more than 225 games, 2300 movies and more than 13,000 TV episodes and the new game titles include the most anticipated titles and brand new ones. You will be able to put some serious time in on your commutes to work this Christmas with the new Gran Turismo, Motostrom: Artic Edge or Fifa 10, really tempting, is it not?  Some of the other notable PSP titles include Pixel Junk Monsters Deluxe, Tiger Woods PGA tour 10, Soulcaliber: Broken Destiny, Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite, Madden NFL 10, God of War: Chain of Olympus, Star Wars: Battlefront II, Beaterator, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas, Field runners and Tetris.

The PlayStation store:

In order to taste the same kind of success that Apple tasted with the micro transaction based download system with the iPhone and iPod Touch, Sony is doing its best in order to add similar elements of casual gaming to the PlayStation store. As an initiative in this attempt, Sony has included the PSP Minis which is the latest bite sized casual gaming that will be offered exclusively in the PlayStation Store. The best part about these games is that they are not exclusive to PSP GO; they can be downloaded by any of the PlayStation users, it is just that they are released at the same time as the GO. You can buy them either by loading up with the PlayStation Store Credits or even by buying the prepaid cards at the retailers that have a unique unlock code. We found that these games cost a wee bit more than the usual costs paid at the App stores.

Not very intuitive:

The PlayStation is not an intuitive online applications store. There are no screen shots offers for the games and they are also not organised in a logical manner. Yet another issue with the downloading is that, once you start downloading, you will not be able to use the GO for anything else until the download is complete.

The PlayStation network:

If you are having games and content across a number of Sony devices, you can link them all into your online PlayStation Network account in order to make sure that you can play or view whatever you have purchased. This is in fact quite useful and with this technology available, you will be able to share content with up to five Sony devices. Just buy them once and you can make use of them in any of PSPs or PS3 at no extra charge.

This is just one reason why you might want to go for the PSP Go, you can download games, demos, movies and trailers from Sony’s online store quite easily and the whole process is pretty straightforward. But if you are possessing a stack of the older UMD games, that are not available on the PS store, then you will be a little displeased. And we are sure that no one will be really interested in two PSP versions with them.

Performance:

Though there are a few speculations that there is an advanced chipset employed in the PSP GO that aids in a better performance, we virtually found that there is not much difference with this model and its predecessor.

Software:

Sony has included a Media Go Software in the package that allows you to convert most of the videos for playback on the PSP Go and also rip audio CDs to the device. The software functions between the PC and PSP Go, the same way as iTunes and iPod.

Battery and battery life of PSP GO:

As in the case of its iPhone companion, the PSP GO is also bad in battery life. In addition to this the fact that it is not user replaceable is letting us down. This has been deliberately done by Sony in order to combat piracy, as we know that the previous PSP models have been exploited via custom battery packs like Pandora’s Battery. The battery life is same as that you must have found in the PSP 2000 and PSP 3000. Sony claims that you will get about three to six hours of gaming time. The ability to manually check the battery life in the PSP has been removed, hope to get back the feature in the next firmware upgrade.

Inside the box:

The accessories supplied with the console include an AC adaptor, a USB chord, Media GO software and an instruction manual. As in the case of the previous PSPs, Sony does not offer a standard mini USB port and instead, everything has to be connected with the help of a proprietary port. This includes AC adaptor, the USB cord and the afore-mentioned PSP Go cable accessories that allow you to view the games and videos on a TV display.

Warranty:

Sony offers its latest PSP GO one year limited warranty for parts and labour.

Verdict:

The new Sony PSP Go has been designed beautifully for the “On the go” gamers. It certainly has the wow factor that you would like your mates to be impressed with the new and innovative technology. It is a great device, but we feel that it is over-priced. The value of it can be determined only by the kind of games and videos Sony offers for the device online. With the PSP3000 available at a much lower cost, it is hard for us to recommend Go to the people; the console also has fewer number of games that it can currently play.

You can go forward and get the device playing for you, if you have no issues with the staggering price tag.

Sony PSP GO Game Console (Black, White) - Specification Details

Manufacturer	Sony
Model Name	PSP GO
Form factor	Handheld
Dimensions (H x W x D)	2.7” x 5” x 0.7”
Weight	5.6 oz
Display Type	3.8 in TFT active matrix LCD display
Display Colour Support	16.7 million colours
Available Enclosure Colours	Black and White
Colour Support	Yes
Included Games	Gran Turismo, Motostrom: Artic Edge or Fifa 10 and lots more
Media Type	16GB internal storage unit M2 micro memory card
Significant Features	Slider screen Pocket friendly PlayStation Store Bluetooth
Processor Type	333 MHz
Built-in Speakers	Yes
Sound output mode	Stereo
Connectivity Features	Headphones , USB , Composite video output
Input Device Type	Game pad - Integrated
Total Expansion Slots(Free)	1 Memory Stick Micro (M2)
Battery	Rechargeable - Lithium ion
Battery life	3 to 6 hours
Package contents	Sony PSP Go, AC adaptor, a USB chord, Media GO software and an instruction manual
Manufacture Warranty	One year limited warranty

The Nintendo DS has traded higher than a hundred million devices all over the world since its initial release four and half years ago, hardening the company’s product as the all time popular easily moveable handheld console. It also crosses the most well known Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP), it is well known commercial-grade winner and its sales of almost fifty million.The third loop of the Nintendo DS and it was primitively published in Nov 2004, is called as Nintendo DSI. By altering the device’s boiler suit pattern and widely improving its screen performance, the company has refreshed the model as DS Lite in January 2006.

Rumours that propagated about the second design came true when Nintendo has announced its latest and mostly believable last retrograde from the Nintendo DSI organisation. This acclivity added two VGA minute resolution cameras, increased the screen size to be slightly larger, and an SD card expansion slot to the portable console. The slot called Game Boy Advance which was encountered in both of the earlier designs has been removed in the latest design.

The Nintendo DSI is offering a great deal of ground breaking media lineaments and the on-line practicality that is ensuring the purchase of it by the user Nintendo DS Lite who may think twice about advancing to the latest version. The users of original DS version also should undoubtedly shift to new version, and those who are still making thoughts about purchasing original DS, the new Nintendo DSI is a good way to go through.

Design:

Lustreless Rubberised Outer Layer:
If you have used or own the DS Lite, the foremost matter you will discover about DSI is that its firmness. You will unquestionably sense that it is more full bodied. That also says that it is no longer cloggier because both liberate fairly below half a pound. The new DSI spreads over with no lustre, contains almost rubbery outer layer, whereas the DS Lite is surfaced with glistening plastic. Though it is not muled during testing, it seems to be mostly prostrate to such decorative abrasions. In the terms of size, the DSI is just 4 millimetres slenderer than DS Lite and also just 5 millimetres wider. The DSI is out in several colours like white, blue, pink, red and black.

Relocation of the Lights:
Next to that, you would not detect much difference in visual aspect. A band of tierce lights are placed along the left side hinge of the new DSI instead of the two lights on right hinge of DS Lite. Now they are also tagged around, with symbolisations of power, charging and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Bouncy with More Click Buttons:
As Nintendo preferred for the pushes that clink more, every button on the DSI has been changed, which is an absolute contrast to the gentle feel you experienced on the DS Lite. The pressing motion is less for A, B, X and Y as they are not that deep as they were earlier. In the same way the R and L buttons are also now more bouncy and in result you need very minute attempt to make them function. It was found very hard to compress the start and select buttons particularly in DS Lite though; they too were same as the other buttons. You will feel the same kind of click reactivity when you move along the D-pad. The D-pad of DS Lite is found to be somewhat looser, which is a carbon replicate of that match detected on the Nintendo Wii remote.

Resettled Power Button:
The power press is now relocated to the underside left from the lower touch screen. A farseeing tap is provided to provide power to the device, on or off. And on the other hand, the little tap (whilst the DSI is in ON mode) gives you a gentle readjust, which cannot be done and not available on DS Lite.

Brightness and Colour Performance:
Though the inner camera is at present centred with its microphone merely to its adjacent right, the position of microphone remains unchanged. Especially when you shift backward and forward amongst the systems, the deuce screens of DSI Handheld Game console are perceptibly bigger. This says that you may not really discover immense betterments in total brightness and colour performance. The deuce stereo system speakers of the unit which are attached on both sides of the upper side screen, now appear to be brought down around one-half of an inch.

Removal of Game Boy Advance Slot:
You will determine some more obtrusive alterations on the exterior of the DSI Video Game Console. To list down, first of all, the Game Boy Advance’s expansion slot has been withdrawn, as a result of which the lovers of that hand held platform are away from fortune. Someone may trust that this deletion helped shrivel the thickness of the device, and wish that the alteration made good upgrade. Now we happily drop out the 4 millimetres to be capable of playing whatsoever, the Game Boy Advance game.

Volume Slider Changed to Push Button:
The audio slider is changed over to a push press arrangement in DSI and is located along the left face instead of the front left edge on the DS Lite, the head phone jack retains in the same old position. Though everyone will enjoy the alterations in buttons, we believe that it would be even more fun with slider rather than the new buttons. It is much more convenient to dumb the device just by sliding the slider with thumb, instead of holding the button for few seconds for the same thing. On the right bezel, the SD card expansion slot of the device is placed.

Two 0.3 Mega Pixel Cameras:
As brought up in the beginning, the new Nintendo DSI Gaming Console comprises of deuce 0.3 mega pixel cameras, in which one is positioned along the internal hinge and other is placed on the external front cover. While the external camera is alive, a pink LED light glows out. The perpendicular squarely logo of DS in plastic which is found on DS Lite and located on the outer casing is also deserted.

Variation in Stylus Size:
The Nintendo provides you with an extra stylus which is mounted on the rear location similar to DS Lite. You will be fond of the DSI’s stylus which has been increased in size and raised up by another 4 millimetres.

Features:

Updated Firmware and Interface:
Out and away, the most important modification on the DSI is the modified firmware and interface which is undivided to the unit, apart from the cameras. You would not be capable of upgrading your master DS and DS Lite to the novel DSI’s experience.

Permits Access to Several Media and Online Applications:
The fresh firmware permits you to move to snaps and music, which also includes several media together with online coverings. The device’s design is mostly like Nintendo Wii’s feel, where assorted transmission channels and coverings can be moved through and propelled around. You can doubtlessly fill the great deal of white spaces available with the downloaded games or even using the coverings from the DSI shop.

Internal Memory and SD Card:
You can save the photos taken by the camera using DSI camera apps either along the device’s inner 256MB of memory or onto an SD card. And the new DSI also abides the SDHC cards that have a storage capacity of more than 2 GB. There are several lens choices constructed in to the applications, apart from capturing schematic photos. These consequences can, not simply be plucked while you are taking the snaps, but as well later after you have already captured them. Even a face identification technology has been included, which can be used to add few effects, for instance it embosses your own face also with Mario moustache or apply you a funny pig nose. There is abundant sport to be enjoyed even in the frame characteristics, you can place your human face over anything you film or you want to.

DSI Sound Application:
By using powerful tools and included comfortable to usage tools you can record the sound and edit it by using the DSI Sound apps. You are given options to increment and reduce the pitch or speed, and you can even use pre-installed sound filtrates that transmutes your recorded sections. These segments could also be saved either on to the SD card or on to internal memory. The DSI Sound apps provided permits you act up on your own music and even you can even deform it. But nevertheless, currently the device is capable of playing only AAC files. Regrettably the MP3 and some other audio data file fans would not be able to enjoy this application. In order to boot, you will also not be able to save your own edited music.

Pictochat and DS Download:
You will be able to find a few intimate fronts in the interface of DSI, like Pictochat, which is a way to chit chat and extract from local DS systems, and DS download act persists integral. You can approach download act for synchronising up the games along with the local DS systems. With most of the models of the DS device, the DSI system is capable of playing.

The Online or Wi-Fi Connectivity:
The DSI holds the capability of linking with any 802.11 b or any g Wi-Fi router or any other hot spot. You will find it oddly adequate hard to link with a higher security than WEP. All those settings in real are inhumed inside the system, pushing you to select from the “Advanced Settings” over the main “Internet Connection Settings” screen. We are not certain why it is made very difficult to discover this practicality, but by utilising connexions 1-3, would not permit you to connect to larger than WEP. You could also manually arrange a connection through the more encryption like WPA or WPA2, by accessing the advanced menu. You will just need to insert security key, when you are capable of scanning towards hot spots which confirm the encryption over WEP. The DSI can connect to AOSS, in case your own router affirms it. You will be granted an easy internet connection to the DSI by utilising the option Wi-Fi USB connector of Nintendo, which is sold separately.

The Nintendo DSI Shop:

DSI equivalent to the WiiWare:
The handheld equivalent called as DSI shop has been developed after the achievement of Wii Virtual Console by Nintendo and its WiiWare Platform. Nintendo explicated that this is an online heart to download games of DSI only and apps which are constructed by the first base or third base party developers. The Nintendo will provide you with an active time of diversity of titles, in which some uses DSI camera in games. The pricing structures of all these provided titles vary from costless to one thousand DSI points. And also as an incentive, Nintendo also offers free 1000 points to use for any users who visit DSI shop at times of certain offers. Also, since the outlet had been launched, you will also be offered with a free web browser.

Nintendo Points for DSI Shop:
An interface really alike to the channel of Wii Shopping will be greeting you once you successfully enter into DSI shop. Though the Nintendo points cannot be transmitted, you can use them in both the shops. You can also add points by either using your credit card or shop-brought Nintendo points card. And you will find several paths to surf the usable titles, for instance, through title or even through price.

Sensible Downloading Speeds:
Downloading speed upon the DSI shop are very sensible, things proceeded by rather fleetly. That says that you must observe that the Internet activity in spades have virtual affect on the battery life, which more concerned than whatsoever earlier lineament of DSI.

Opera Powered Web Browser:
Opera powered web browser is one among the primary free apps provided. Even though, you would not be able to watch any of the videos or view any of the flash application in the least, it functions substantially adequate.

Transfer to DSI Internal Memory:
You should make a note that downloaded apps and acts cannot be played directly from the SD card. Firstly you must copy the game and application into the DSI’s inner memory and then can play them.

Performance:

Doubled Microprocessor Size:
Nintendo DSI Handheld Game console have as well obtained some hardware amendments, under the cap. The chief processor size has been doubled to 133 MHz, to that of 67 MHz discovered within the earlier DS Lite. DSI’s RAM has been multiplied by four, making it 16MB from its initial 4MB. But still, do not allow these digits sap you. No big variation in functioning among the systems has been detected when the same game is played. We suppose that this upgrade in design is just to fulfil the hardware requirements of cameras. It is said that Nintendo has suggested at DSI “enhanced” games, the titles provided can be played upon whatever DS, still you will be supplied with more features when you play it on DSI.

Less Competent DSI Battery Life:
Nintendo itself has accepted that DSI’s battery is less competent with that of DS Lite’s, which provides functioning time of 19 hours in the lowliest setting of screen brightness. Alternatively, DSI battery is capable of holding charging for approximately 9-14 hours, which depends on the brightness of the screen and power appetite features like cameras. During the tests conducted over the DSI battery, nothing is found dissatisfying about its battery life, but the DS Lite utilisers might discover the slender growth in frequency of the charging .

Frustrating Pirated Software:

It is no more confidential that hijacked software used to be a big trouble for DS Lite. Several hacked cartridges are discovered on the Internet, which allows playing illicitly downloaded games. Now the DSI for once discovered a path to frustrate them and also profits you through its updateable firmware.

Service and Support:

A Limited Warranty of one year is provided by Nintendo to its DSI.

Contents of the Box:

Nintendo DSI Console, Stylus, AC Adapter, one lithium ion battery, instruction manuals and warranty are provided in the packed box of DSI console.

Verdict:

As the new DSI is the third loop of the cycle DS system, it left a doubt, who needs to buy it? Possessors of original DS, better doubtlessly upgrade to DSI. The modifications in design, amendments in size of the screen and brightness paired with the accession to DSI shop are more than adequate rationalities to accept immerse. That also says that the current users of DS Lite should also take a look at it. The DSI shop is the fullest reason for up-gradation and you will have to determine if it is an adequate bonus. And naturally if you do not own any of the new DS systems, this will be the best choice. Though it is a bit expensive than present DS Lite, it is of good value. The unit is definitely a further step in the way of iPhone and iPods which have accession to outlets for downloading acts and apps. One matter in reality is doubtless, the Nintendo DSI is the manufacturer’s most challenging and also solidly constructed portable device up to date.

Nintendo DSI Handheld Console - Technical Specification Details

Manufacturer	Nintendo
Model Name	DSI
Form factor	Handheld
Dimensions (H x W x D)	2.9 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
Weight	7.5 oz
Display Type	LCD display - 3.25″ TFT active matrix-Colour-Integrated
Display Colour Support	260000 colours
Display Features	Touch Screen
Available Enclosure Colours	White, blue, pink, red and black
Colour Support	Yes
Included Games	The Aly and AJ Adventure
Media Type	Cartridge, SD Memory Card
Significant Features	AAC playback, Built-in microphone, built-in two VGA digital cameras
Processor Type	ARM9 134 MHz
Built-in Speakers	Yes
Sound output mode	Stereo
Connectivity Features	IEEE 802.11
Input Device Type	4-way cross keypad - Integrated - 6 buttons
Total Expansion Slots(Free)	1 Nintendo DS cartridge slot, 1 SD Memory card
Battery	1 x Game console battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion
Capacity	840 mAh – 14 hours
Package Particulars	Nintendo DSI Console, Stylus, AC Adapter, one lithium ion battery, instruction manuals and warranty.
Manufacture Warranty	One year limited warranty