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More details are emerging about Nintendo’s intended scope for its new 3DS handheld – with latest comments from Nintendo president Satoru Iwata suggestion newspaper and magazine content functions like those seen on the Kindle and iPad
In a new interview with Japanese newspaper Nikkei, Iwata said the online functions of the device – advanced beyond the traditional DS wireless capabilities by allowing background downloads – mean it can pull content off the web automatically.
"As you carry it with you while out and about, it will seek out and automatically connect with wireless LAN spots, and download information," he said according to a summary of the interview by Andriasang.
"We’re thinking about functionality where it will automatically acquire newspaper and magazine articles."
One of the many unique elements to the iPad which Apple has promoted to developers and media outlets is the device’s use as an e-reader for books plus apps for newspapers and magazines.
Amazon’s Kindle device also features newspaper and magazine content – plus ebooks – which are downloaded via online subscriptions.
It’d be no great leap for the 3DS to add this kind of non-game content functionality.
Iwata has already expressed envy towards the kind of functionality on the Amazon Kindle.
And at E3 last week as part of the device’s unveiling, Nintendo outlined the 3DS’ ability to playback movie content for animated stereoscopic movies from the likes of Dreamworks and Disney.
