Author Topic: DS Lite Details (Read 8432 times)

Jonnyboy117 · « **on:** February 09, 2006, 05:52:25 AM »

Documents and photos filed with the U.S. government answer many detailed questions about the Nintendo DS Lite.

Since the DS Lite was announced in January, Nintendo has been typically quiet about any details of the system, and no actual photos have been released (the announcement was accompanied only by rendered artwork). All that has changed in the past couple of days, since Nintendo's filing with the Federal Communications Commission was discovered. The public filing includes numerous external and internal photos of a DS Lite prototype, as well as the system's manual in various languages. You can see the external photos in our DS Lite hardware profile. Below is a summary of new information about the DS Lite, gathered from the photographs and manual.

PictoChat appears to be exactly the same as in the original DS model, shooting down rumors of a new online version of the program...though such a product could still be released separately.
Although the DS Lite's external port appears to be identical to that of the Game Boy Micro, the manual firmly states that the DS Lite AC adaptor is only compatible with the DS Lite. Presumably, this means that the system cannot be recharged with the Micro's adaptor. The manual says there is still no multiplayer compatibility in GBA mode, which had been speculated due to the Micro-like port.
The GBA cartridge slot does indeed have a removable cover to keep out dust when a GBA cartridge or DS Option Pak is not inserted. The cover can be removed with your thumb.
The shoulder buttons do not protrude from the system casing as much as on the original DS or the GBA SP. They cannot be seen when looking directly at the front of the system.
The new brightness levels have a significant impact on battery life. At the brightest level, the DS Lite can be played for 5-8 hours, which is slightly less than with the original DS. (This setting may be brighter than the original DS, though.) On the lowest brightness level, the DS Lite can operate for 15-19 hours. There are two additional brightness levels between these two extremes.
The DS firmware (system menus and settings) seems to be exactly the same, except that the backlight icon can be touched multiple times to scroll through the brightness settings, whereas the light could simply be turned on and off with the original model.
The new power button appears to be a spring-loaded slider switch, not a button as on the original DS. You push it up to turn on the system, but it returns to the bottom position when you let go. To turn off the system, you push the switch up again and hold for a few seconds. The power switch is located on the right side of the system, above the stylus.
The DS Lite includes a new stylus with a rounded back end, which makes it fit flush with the system casing when stored. Drawings in the manual indicate that the new stylus may be thicker and longer than the original version.
The dual-screen logo on the outside of the system is not prominently raised, as seemed to be the case in Nintendo's concept art. The logo appears to be only very slightly raised, and it may in fact be slightly recessed.
The wrist strap will now be sold separately instead of included with the system, according to the manual.

Hostile Creation · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2006, 06:16:49 AM »

Awesome infoz, even if I don't end up getting this (if I did, it'd be for my mother and sister who both love the DS).

TMW · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2006, 06:28:00 AM »

Oh man...I wasn't all that interested until I saw those photos.

Plus, 18 hours of battery life is just sweet.

As much as I hate to admit it...sign me up.

pyrokamileon · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2006, 06:37:46 AM »

am I the only one who's a bit discouraged by these "actual" pictures? I mean the render was beautiful, I thought that it looked so sweet... but then I looked at the newest pictures and, I don't know it just doesn't seem as nice. anyways, it still has this new design and all the new features so I'll still get it when it comes out... haha, it took me a few moments to realize that little black thing on the side of the system was the stylus...

Jonnyboy117 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2006, 06:43:18 AM »

These are very poor photos of a prototype unit. Once Nintendo sees that these ugly things are all over the Net, I'm sure they'll release gorgeous new photos (hopefully of a black DSL).

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2006, 06:47:23 AM »

ProTip: Wait till you see the thing in person instead of through crappy digi pics...

Artimus · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2006, 08:39:48 AM »

I feel so special!

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2006, 08:42:39 AM »

Is "lowest setting" the same as "off"?

Jonnyboy117 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2006, 09:30:23 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: KnowsNothing
Is "lowest setting" the same as "off"?

I wondered that myself. I'm guessing no, because the original DS lasts longer than 5-8 hours with the light off, and the DS Lite appears to use the same battery. (The physical size is the same, at least, and I don't know why they would use a lower-power battery of the same size in an otherwise upgraded system.)

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2006, 11:00:51 AM »

Uh, wouldn't a more proper test be to see if the standard DS lasts "15-19 hours" or more with the light off?

Artimus · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2006, 11:13:44 AM »

5-8 hours with full brightness is pretty good considering you wouldn't need it that often.

hudsonhawk · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2006, 11:19:30 AM »

Isn't 18 hours about what the current DS gets playing GBA games? I have a sneaking suspicion that's where that figure comes from - GBA only, not when driving both screens.

ruby_onix · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2006, 12:25:27 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: PGC NewsBot
PictoChat appears to be exactly the same as in the original DS model, shooting down rumors of a new online version of the program...though such a product could still be released separately.

Well, that's one less excuse for Nintendo to charge extra money for the DS Lite.

No wonder Reggie says it's Japan-exclusive for now. Nintendo of America isn't in a position where they can overcharge people with the DS right now.

ruby_onix · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2006, 01:12:49 PM »

Looking at the pics, I really don't like how the top half of the unit is raised around the edges, making it concave, presumably to seal it around the edges when it's closed. That sort of thing makes it bothersome to easily open and close the unit. The rounded edges of the GBA SP are much nicer.

They took one of the problems of the DS's design (being flat around the edges), and made it even worse. While quite obviously looking at a GBA SP's design, which had the solution.

Nintendo probably thought they needed to do this because they didn't recess the D-pad and buttons (which is a great thing, IMO), but if you just made two recessed circles where the buttons meet the top half, then you're fine. As-is, all they did is just recess the entire top half of the unit, which left them unable to round the corners.

Mario323 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2006, 03:09:01 PM »

All around good news. Kind of strange that the power adapter is different. Those pics are pretty ugly though--the unit looks a little diry and light yellow in some spots. I expect they will release some glossy, shiny pics of it pretty soon. I may pre-order one of these from Lik-Sang. A japanese system will still play my US games just fine, right?

MegaByte · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2006, 03:31:50 PM »

If you search the FCC site, you can actually find pictures of other Nintendo stuff including the old DS design... it uses the same crappy plastic.

Artimus · « **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2006, 04:02:06 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: ruby_onix
Looking at the pics, I really don't like how the top half of the unit is raised around the edges, making it concave, presumably to seal it around the edges when it's closed. That sort of thing makes it bothersome to easily open and close the unit. The rounded edges of the GBA SP are much nicer.

They took one of the problems of the DS's design (being flat around the edges), and made it even worse. While quite obviously looking at a GBA SP's design, which had the solution.

Nintendo probably thought they needed to do this because they didn't recess the D-pad and buttons (which is a great thing, IMO), but if you just made two recessed circles where the buttons meet the top half, then you're fine. As-is, all they did is just recess the entire top half of the unit, which left them unable to round the corners.

Who the hell has ANY problem opening a DS? Goodness, do you not have fingers?

blackfootsteps · « **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2006, 04:24:33 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Mario323
... A japanese system will still play my US games just fine, right?

Yes, there's no region lock on the DS original and surely that won't get changed for DSL.

~*Adolph*~ · « **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2006, 04:27:18 PM »

boooo no online pictochat.BOOOO
They could of at least included searching for pictochat while you play games
like how a few DS games do. BOOOOO

How am I supposed to switch battery light only on startup.

The whole point of being able to change brightness is that If my battery is low
I can change light brightness and continue playing. I do that with my new GBA SP
it has the two light settings and if I am on red on high light power than I turn it down to nomral and I can continue playing and find a save spot. That is useful. Having 5 settings is useless if you can't change them on will.

I might still end up picking it up. But right now hype is lowering.
I guess I'll keep my thumbstrap of my original DS since it doesn't come free or whatever

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2006, 04:29:41 PM »

A way to find other DS users just by having it on would have been great, but I think Nintendo omitted that because they were afraid it would be used by pedophiles to find victims.

vudu · « **Reply #20 on:** February 10, 2006, 08:14:47 AM »

This hasn't been mentioned here yet ... GBA games will stick out from about 1 cm (0.4 in) from the unit. Presumably to make the unit smaller.

Pale · « **Reply #21 on:** February 10, 2006, 08:50:28 AM »

Vudu, where did you hear/see that?

vudu · « **Reply #22 on:** February 10, 2006, 09:13:51 AM »

News - New DS Lite Pics, J-Launch Colors: Crystal White, Icy Blue, Enamel Navy

Quote
Nintendo has recently opened up a website detailing what you can expect out out of the DS Lite, at least in Japan.

Some of the pertinent points would be:
· Three launch colors: Crystal White, Icy Blue, Enamel Navy
· GBA Cartridges will stick out of the slot by about 1cm. But you get a dummy cart to fill the slot when it's empty.
· The thumbstrap is back. And it's white.
· The charger will be different from the current DS/GBA SP chargers.

There's also a picture of the GBA slot w/ a game in it on the link I gave. I suppose it's possible that the picture was just taken with the game not inserted all the way, but unfortunately I doubt it.

Pale · « **Reply #23 on:** February 10, 2006, 09:28:10 AM »

Yeah, I'm sitting here wonderig if it is just on its way in, because the pic of the DS cart is shown as if it was in the process of being inserted. I wonder if Gamesarefun are just going off the picture or if it says it somewhere in the Japanese...

Edit: Staring at the picture again, there is a bunch of japanese below it... with the term "1cm" put in there so it looks as if it does stick out...

Artimus · « **Reply #24 on:** February 10, 2006, 09:29:39 AM »

I don't think it matters at all...original GB games stuck out of the GBA/SP and it was fine, and they stuck out at least 3cm.

News:

Author Topic: DS Lite Details (Read 8432 times)