No doubt you'll already have seen the reports. Last week, Japanese news source, Nikkei, revealed that Nintendo is set to launch a re-designed DS, complete with a camera, music-playing capabilities and improved wireless internet access (NeoGaf has the main points and some scans here). The new version is supposedly hitting Japanese shelves before Christmas with a 20,000 Yen price tag. Most follow-up stories are mentioning the possibility that the camera will be useable in certain games, perhaps mimicking the several mobile titles that use the camera.
Meanwhile, music functionality may be delivered via SD card compatibility, which could also allow a new channel of data exchange between your Wii and DS. Screen size will apparently be larger too, though there's no sign of the rumoured double touchscreen feature.
Reactions to the news haven't been entirely favourable...
Nintendo has traditionally plowed its own furrow through the technology sector, rarely jumping on the feature set bandwagon. But by turning the DS into a converged handheld platform, the company is suddenly competing on the same terms as the PSP as well as nudging at the mobile phone sector. Reuters suggests this may be a response to strengthening PSP performance in Japan, where Sony's device has outsold the DS for several consecutive months.
Or maybe it just has some really need game ideas that require a camera and improved Wi-Fi - some sort of multiplayer version of Polaroid Pete, maybe?
