Nintendo announces the new updated DSi

At Nintendo of Japan's Fall Press Conference, the big N confirmed the rumors of a new DS that emerged earlier in the week. Kotaku reports that the new upgrade, named the DSi, features a 640 x 480 resolution camera, an SD card slot for storing pictures and other downloadable content, "audio enhancements," larger 3.25-inch screens, and a slimmer body.

In addition to the hardware upgrades, the new DSi adds connectivity to a "DSi Shop," where users can use Nintendo points to purchase downloadable content via Wi-Fi, similar to the Wii console. Expect to see a free Web browser and a constantly growing library "DSiWare" games.

Those of you with a GameBoy Advance collection of games, there's one problem: The new DSi removes the second game slot, thus removing compatibility to the older generation of games. This is the only missing feature when compared to the DS lite and the original DS.

The DSi will hit store shelves in Japan on November 1 for ¥18,900, or about $180. Initial colors will be black and white, and will hit other worldwide markets sometime "next year."

Need one before the holidays? Expect to go through an import shop and pay a pretty hefty premium. Or, you could always use a vacation to Japan.

So, are you going to upgrade?

Kotaku - Nintendo Announce New DS: The Nintendo DSi

Nintendo of Japan - Nintendo DSi (Japanese)