The Cameras and Picture Editing
The Nintendo DSi comes with two built-in cameras. One camera, located in the top cover, is designed to point outward, while the second camera, sitting on the inner hinge next to the microphone, points right at you. The DSi comes with new camera software that lets you take and save pictures on your system. The resolution for both cameras isn't very high at 640x480, but it's enough for the DSi display screens.
Hitting the left or right shoulder buttons from the menu screen takes you into snapshot mode, where you can take pictures. A button in the lower right corner of the touch screen lets you swap between the inward- and outward-facing cameras. You can also take pictures from within the camera software.
The software gives you several photo editing options that can make manipulating images even more fun than taking them. The editing options run along the top of the screen, making it easy to jump to each effects menu while working on a picture. The draw option lets you free-write on pictures and add premade graphics, such as hearts, stars, or chat bubbles.
Other menu options allow you to distort the image, add a Mario mask, adjust the tint, and add kaleidoscope effects. The software can also locate faces automatically. One feature lets you add graphics, such as a mustache, cat ears (with whiskers), or sunglasses, on a face that will track the subject as he or she moves around the screen. A second option lets you take pictures of two people and morph them together. However, the morphing effect looks more like a dissolve wipe video cut than an actual A-to-B morphing sequence.
The DSi's new menu system considerably improves on the original. By default you'll boot into the menu screen, and from there you'll initially be able to choose between Settings, DS card, Camera, Music, DSi Shop, Network, and PictoChat. You can use the touch screen to scroll left or right along the menu and rearrange the layout by dragging around the icons with the stylus. System menus and programs each get their own spot on the menu bar similar to how programs get their own Wii channel slots on the Wii. New programs will appear on the menu as they're installed. The menu comes populated with Settings, DS card, Camera, Music, DSi Shop, Network, and PictoChat. Swapping games in and out is also easier now because you don't have to power off the system. New games will automatically appear in the DS card area in the system menu. The DSi supports both WEP and WPA security over Wi-Fi.
v8_m8 posted Apr 12, 2009 12:33 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)
freakbabyblues- posted Apr 10, 2009 2:42 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)