Dual Cameras

The DSi has two .3 megapixel cameras, one on the shell's spine that "looks" at the user when the console is open and one that faces outward on the outer case. The cameras aren't anything special, and honestly, any cell phone made in the past five years has a better camera than either of these two, but the DSi pairs the cameras with a fun little software package that allows you to modify your pictures in all sorts of wacky ways. You can mirror the image, make a kaleidoscope, add a pig nose, stretch out some features, merge two faces together or even take pictures of two people and have the software determine if they're related. The software is surprisingly fun and gives some idea as to possible implementations of the cameras in future games. Currently, only WarioWare Snapped utilizes the cameras, however the potential for increased camera utilization is there.

Sound and Music Support

The DS and DS Lite always had microphone support for games, but the DSi adds a full fledged sound application as well as the ability to play digital music files off of the SD card. Unfortunately you're limited to AAC files only which means that your huge library of MP3s is pretty much useless on the DSi. Once you get your music onto the SD card, or record some of your own with the built in microphone, you have a bevy of controls at your fingertips to loop sounds, change pitch, or apply pre-packaged pitch changes to make your voice sound like a parakeet, or like you're talking into an electric fan. It's a fun application, but unless you're a budding DJ or you're looking to break into a high security installation by fooling the voice recognition checkpoint, I don't know how much use you'll get out of it on a daily basis.

DSi Shop Channel

Like the Wii Shop Channel, the DSi now has its own shop channel. For now the offerings are pretty sparse, however you'll get a free 1,000 shop points (ten bucks) just for taking your DSi online to the shop. The DSi Shop Channel is also the only place to get the DSi's web browser for the low, low price of nothing. The browser isn't anything special, and is slow as all get out, but it's free, and if you needed a quick web fix in a pinch and didn't have a PC or a cell phone nearby it fits the bill, however restrictive and particular that bill might be.

Various Form Factor Changes

Oddly enough, the small changes to how the DSi looks, feels and operates offer some of the most compelling reasons to upgrade. The new matte finish not only looks good, but is fingerprint proof and makes the console easier to hold. The new DSi system menu, similar to the Wii's menu, allows for you to pop in a game while the system is on and start playing rather than restarting the system as well as configure your Wi-Fi connection without needing a game cartridge that supports Wi-Fi. The volume slider has been replaced with buttons and moved to the side of the unit. These buttons also double as up and down buttons for the screen brightness meaning that you can change the screen brightness while playing a game or without having to reboot the console to the system menu. The DSi's buttons, particularly the d-pad, have a more "clicky" feel to them, giving greater feedback than the DS Lite's buttons.

What You'll Lose

GBA Compatibility

Nintendo giveth and Nintendo taketh away and while you're ooh-ing and aah-ing over the DSi's new SDHC slot, know that it's at the expense of the GBA slot that allows the DS Lite to play 99% of GameBoy Advance games. That means no Guitar Hero: On Tour either as there's no place to put the GH adapter. You can bet your bottom dollar that some of those GBA titles will make their way to the DSi Shop but who wants to pay for games twice?

Your Accessories

Once again Nintendo has decided to change up the pins on their power adapters meaning that your AC adapter and any car chargers used for the DS Lite won't work any more. The console does come with an AC adapter, so that's not a big deal, but if you plan on charging on the go, you'll need to pony up some cash for a new car charger. If you rock a form fitting shell for your DS Lite, they won't work either as the DSi's dimensions don't match up exactly with the DS Lite.