Nintendo DSi Won't Hit North America Until 'Well Into' 2009, More Details Emerge

The Nintendo DSi will not arrive in North America until "well into calendar year 2009" due to strong demand for the existing DS Lite model, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime stated today at a press event in San Francisco.

Unveiled last night, the Nintendo DSi updates the existing DS hardware with a slimmer frame, bigger screens, support for downlodable games, two cameras, and a SD card slot. It's slated to hit Japan on November 1 for $180.

In addition, Nintendo of America offered up the following Nintendo DSi details:

• Expanding on past mentions of increased audio functionality, the DSi sports a louder volume than previous DS models.

• On-board camera software will let users distort pictures and decorate them with graffiti, as well as instantly share pictures with other DSi owners.

• Owners can create a Daily Diary using pictures.

• Songs use AAC format.

• Users can fast-forward through songs and recordings, as well as record their own voice and distort pitch.

• Brain Age will be the first downloadable game.