DS lite and MIDIbox SID-LC
Nintendo DS lite vs. Nintendo DS
(Click for more DS lite photos…)
Well, the photos of my Nintendo DS lite (photo gallery retired) are up. Like the phoot above there are also comparisons to the original DS. The screen is amazingly better. There’s almost no comparision… Oh, and the form of the device itself is much improved. The new one is so, so, so much nicer.
Also, last night I got that SID-based synth (which will hopefully become the for-sale MIDIbox SID-LC) to make its first sounds. At first I made this sample which has some background noise due to what I think is a bad SID. So, I then replaced the SID with a newer version one, supplied it with appropriate power, and got it to work. However, before I applied the proper firmware there was all manner of nifty glitchyness going on. Listen to this file right here for all the wonderful glitch: midibox_sid_first_-2.mp3
That was made by triggering a MIDIbox SID-LC prototype (stuffed with a MOS 8580R5) with an x0xb0x set to ‘Random’, occasionally switching back to keyboard mode and hitting a few keys.
What is the cost difference on the new DS?
Same price. Still $129.
It’s amazing that every time I look at a DS, I think “Donkey Kong LCD game” and the modern hardware is capable of so much more than one of those now for the same size of one of those LCD games..
Hehe, maybe you’ve been watching too many videos about the POPSTATION and such. ;)
It really is small, though… I can’t see a console being smaller than the DS lite without it simply being TOO small.
You mean like the Game and Watch? :) I kinda think it was intentional.
Now, what’d be cool is if they released a Game and Watch “emulation” cart. :)
I was just thinking of making up self-adhesive skins to make it look like one.
Man, you’d make a mint, and then get sued ;)
Hrm… I’ve got the skill… And I know a good printing company…
Bah. But I’m lazy.
I wouldn’t be surprised if some enthusiastic homebrew person has done this already… :)
I’m desperately wanting to get into some DS homebrew stuff. Trying to decide which method is better – PassMe card, firmware re-flash, or possibly that Datel Max Media Player that comes with a 4GB hard drive.
I also think someone really needs to make a communications cart for this thing, with like Jabber or AIM and IRC on it. Maybe email. That it has wifi just boggles me.
I’m sure it is intentional..but given that a bit of kit in the eighties was running a dedicated game with LCD elements for graphics, and now you’ve got something that is basically a microcomputer with two full colour hi-res screens, one of which is a touch screen – it’s scary how fast the last fifteen or twenty years has gone..
I think so, yes. The DS is a really great platform… It’s much cheaper than others, and there’s some really, really fun games available. Games aren’t as pricy as PSP ones, either. Also, the battery life is incredible.
The screen is amazingly better. There’s almost no comparision… Oh, and the form of the device itself is much improved. The new one is so, so, so much nicer.
You’re really convincing me to buy that DS from you. ;)
Although I do admit that it’s sexy in red.
You mentioned that it’s “rear-colored clear acrylic”, do you think it’ll be as easy to remove that color as with the old apple iBooks?
Hrm, now that’s a good question… Probably? Some parts are still moulded in pure white, though. Like the buttons, hinge, etc.
OMG, I havent seen a side by side view of the two before… all I know is I am getting a new DS soon.