Bit prohibitive to pre launch sales.

Did they need to rally their shares or something?

The one main thing that I really love about the DS is just the ability it has to really stand out in the market. People used to see a GameBoy as a console, but people see the DS as a DS.
People see the PSP (and I mean the mass market now) as a console that does cool things. But people see the DS as just being a DS.
Kind of like how people see and ipod as an ipod, not as an mp3 player.
Now, im probably not making much sense here - of course a DS is a games console. But it is become this iconic little device, its non threatening and well designed. And you can't go anywhere without seeing something to do with a DS is some shape or form.

The trouble with the DS now is that in terms of how popular it is, games do get tedious and its hardware is quite limited - and its in fear of falling short of the demand, or the things that people expect of it.
Nintendo have pretty much nurtured the DS into what it is now, but to follow through it takes alot of participation not only from consumers, but also from Nintendo and its business partners.

For example - if you went into a supermarket like Tesco, built your entire shopping list online (all the things you need), you take your kids' DS to the supermarket with you, insert the Tesco DS card and it wirelessly accesses a tesco server, picks up your shopping list that you made and basically tells you where it is in the store as you walk around, touching the screen once you have picked up your item, it then shows you the nearest item, or offers on that item.

That's just a silly example of the things that the DS could become, almost like a little personal device. But for it to move forwards in a more "handy" direction, personally I think its got to be more along the lines of business partners, more memory and just having more unique ideas for a great DS infrastructure.
In japan wireless networking is aplenty, over here its pretty much just starting out - imagine if Nintendo and other big companies really started to push the envelope of wireless networking in the UK. The DS is a great platform for people to have in their pocket and access a whole world of wireless stuff.
Be it directions round a supermarket or instead of going to a cinema and waiting for the screens to show you your cinema times - you could take your DS with you to an Odeon cinema, wirelessly access them, view times and trailiers of films and pay for your tickets you stand in the que for your snacks.
Little things like this could REALLY push the DS forward.
Having music and a camera would only make it a bit more interesting, but I would imagine if big companies invested in wireless networks and had a partnership with Nintendo - things could really take off for the little handheld.

But thats just me going over the top with ideas, but still, it would be cool to be able to do stuff like that with a DS because, chances are, an average family is bound to have a DS in their home - so I think its more about bringing features to them, rather than bringing features to a new DS.

@2 I NEED my DS to do all these things, I didn't think I did but I do now!

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