Called the DSi and slated for release in Japan next month, the updated portable device comes with a number of upgrades but does not alter the core DS game-playing processors. The unit is a revision of the DS, not a brand-new, more powerful DS2. The look is similar to the already released DS Lite, but the DSi sports several multimedia features for photos and music.

Nintendo has fitted the DSi with two 0.3 megapixel (capable of 640 x 480 resolution shots) cameras, one on the outside and one between the dual screens. Users will be able to edit photos using the touch screen, and a newly added SD memory-card slot means that DSi owners can pull the card out and look at them on your TV with the Wii’s Photo Channel.

The DS screens have received an update, as well. Both screens have been made slightly larger, measuring 3.25 inches diagonally, versus DS Lite’s 3 inches. The device’s touch functionality appears to have been left alone and remains on just one screen.

Perhaps as a response to the growing popularity of the iPhone and iPod touch, DSi also incorporates the ability to play MP3s. Users can tap the touch screen to modify the pitch and playback speed of a song.

DSi also takes a hint from its big brother, Wii, and includes both a built-in Web browser and the Nintendo DS Store. Nintendo will be selling Nintendo DS Ware on the store, not unlike the WiiWare service launched on Wii earlier this year. There is no word yet on what software will be on the store, but Nintendo has issued possible price-points, which start at free and go up to several dollars.

If you’re a Game Boy Advance fan, take note: Nintendo has removed the GBA cartridge slot from the DSi. However, the DS Store does open the possibility for Nintendo to sell those now-incompatible games to users.

Nintendo said the DSi will be available on November 1 in Japan for 18,900 yen (roughly $180). The rest of the world won’t see the DSi until 2009. Nintendo of Europe has announced the device for a spring 2009 release. Nintendo of America has said nothing about DSi yet, but is holding a two-day press event in San Francisco starting Friday. MTV News will be there with the latest on DSi and other breaking Nintendo news.

At the Tokyo event, Iwata also announced several new DS and Wii games, including a third “Mario & Luigi” role-playing game for the DS and a new “Punch-Out” for the Wii.

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“Current solar cells are flat and can only absorb visible light,” he said. “I came up with an innovative solar cell that absorbs both visible and UV light. My project focused on finding the optimum solar cell to further increase the light absorption and efficiency and design a nanotube for light-electricity conversion efficiency.”

You know, that’s just what I was thinking when I was 12, but my idea didn’t quite work. Well, it was just a paper towel roll with “Solar Rays” written on the side in Sharpie, and I tried to use it to melt G.I. Joe figures. But still. Well done, William!

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It’s so bad, it’s good

Click here to see video of the mod in action.

Who can forget the Power Glove? Not us, and certainly not the Japanese hacker responsible for this functioning Power Glove/Wiimote hybrid.

What is the sound of one hand gaming?

This mod allows an individual to play Wii with only one hand. Created by Ryan Culy for a friend with a majority of his left arm missing, this mod is one of the feel good stories of this year.

Wiimote mod busts caps

This mod has a gutted Wiimote crammed into a metallic gun shell, complete with working trigger. For those that don’t dig on Nintendo’s Zapper and want something a bit more hefty and lifelike while they blast zombies in the face in House of the Dead, this might be the mod for you.

via Gizmodo
Sony has just announced a keypad peripheral that sits on top of a DualShock 3 and SIXAXIS to allow QWERTY typing (it also appears to have its own Bluetooth connection and power source). A lot like the keypad Microsoft released a while back for the 360, it also has a touchpad for mouse support as well (that could even be used in some games).