The wait is over: After many rumors, Nintendo yesterday announced the third version of their highly succesful DS handheld device at their Nintendo Conferene. The new device is called DSi. While the second DS version, the DS Lite, decreased the size of the orginal and also enhanced its design, making it adult compatible, the third installment will have the same dimensions, but more features. Here's the list:

1. Front camera for taking the player's picture (possibly for later inclusion in future games)
2. Backside camera for taking pictures of the player's surroundings
3. Built-in Flash RAM for downloading DS ("DSiWare") and Wii games from the official shop and also for storing photos and music
4. Music Player (AAC format, only)
5. Picture tool for manipulating photos (teen party usage...)
6. Photo Diary for "middle-aged and senior people to keep the records of their daily lives"
7. Two built-in "Brain Age" type games
8. Enhanced connectivity and web browsing
9. MyDS concept to make the handheld "exclusive for yourself"

Players will be able to change the pitch or speed of the music playback (a little bit like with the "White Record" in Nintendogs) or distort portrait photos to make fun of your friends. Don't expect a Cybershot camera or a music device for the discerning ear, though. As Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo of America, puts it:

As usual with new hardware, the question whether to "upgrade" (and pass your old DS Lite to a friend's or your own children) will depend on special software coming for it. We expect Nintendo to use the added capabilities as extras in future games, not barring Lite owners from enjoying the games. But there might be a few exclusive DSi titles, as well -- we'll see. Also, the MyDS concept is aimed at customizing the DS for each owner, with the goal of having each household member buy their own DS (in Japan, Nintendo claims, each DS is used by an average 2.8 household members,) Also, until March 2010, first-time users of the DSi Shop will be awarded 1.000 DSi points for shopping. There will be some free applications (like the DSi browser or a "Moving Notepad"), 200-points-titles (e.g. very compact tools and games), 500-points-games (big tools, simple puzzle games) and the premium range of download games that will cost more than 800 points.

Nintendo plans to release the DSi in Japan for the holiday season of this year, while other countries will have to wait for an undisclosed date in 2009 (but from above DSIWare Trial campaign facts, March 2009 sounds not entirely unlikely). The pricing has not yet been disclosed.