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The software
DSi Camera
The camera is the most eye-catching new feature of the DSi. It combines the features of the brilliant old Game Boy Camera with some of the advanced technology seen in the Japan-only Face Training package. It means that there’s a load of fun stuff to do with a DSi without even plugging in a game cart.
Cat snaps
With its dedicated suite of cat tools, the DSi is set to become the world’s foremost source of LOLcats. Maybe. Anyway, you can see the potential when you add a few lines of hilarious text.
Merge
Combine two faces into one composite vision of beauty. Celebrity couples could use this to make the most sickeningly sweet Christmas cards the world has ever known. There will probably be a horror movie based on this, too.
Compare
Find out how similar two faces are, using the power of DSi. Are you really compatible with that person you married five years ago? Is that guy really your dad?
Goo
You can also warp faces directly, using the stylus to drag and distort as you see fit. A fine tool for creating insulting portraits, or just making youself look a bit nicer.
Slideshow
Prop your DS on a stand and set it to play a slideshow of your mutilated pictures, just like a digital photo frame. You can also send the pictures to the Wii Photo Channel and view them on the TV screen.
Warp
Face recognition means the software can pick out the eyes, nose and mouth from a photo. It works perfectly in Face Training. On DSi it can be used to instantly transform and change facial expressions however you see fit. The DSi picks out the facial features, and by clicking icons for happy, angry or sad faces you’ll get immediate results. Could be handy for cheering up perpetually miserable people or bringing smilers down to your level.
Downloadable content
The first time you connect to the DSi Shop Channel you’ll be given a free bonus of 1,000 points. Software will be priced at 200 points, 500 points or 800 points, so you’ll be able to snap up anything you like rather than having to put spare points towards something bigger. And there will also be two free apps to download as well…
Moving notepad
This isn’t available immediately at launch but should be up and running within a few weeks. It lets you doodle on the screen, add videos and create some very detailed animations. Remember how many frame-by-frame Pictochat movies appeared when the DS first came out? This is a fully featured animation package that will allow you to share videos with your friends.
DSi browser
This is created by Opera, the people behind the current DS and Wii browsers. It’s a free download on day one, to encourage people to sign up to the DSi Shop Channel and explore the console’s online capabilities. Using the extra RAM built into DSi, it promises to be much faster and better than the existing (awful) DS browser. The buttons are designed to look like the Wii browser.
Standby
This is the DS you’re supposed to carry with you wherever you go, and consequently it’s designed to scan for wireless access points. When it finds a Nintendo-approved one, you’ll be able to hook up to the internet without changing any settings. Companies will also be able to deliver local information direct to the DSi. To quote Iwata’s example, subway maps could be downloaded when you walk into the station. It’s the future!
Visualizer
There’s also a mini music visualiser to entertain you with Nintendo graphics that move in time with your tunes. Yup.
