Nintendo’s march into the mainstream continues apace with the registration of a sizeable bunch of new trademarks for their handheld consoles at the Japanese patent office in October. And none of them sound especially gamesey either…

Those of you using the DS or the camera-equipped DSi as some kind of lifestyle tool or virtual cookbook doubtless won’t be troubled by such a notion. Although gamers shouldn’t worry themselves too much since we doubt that the list of trademark applications represents the entirety of Nintendo’s intentions for its handhelds - indeed many titles look like mere placeholders.

Nevertheless it does sort of show where Nintendo’s corporate head is at, and demonstrates that they’re still thinking well outside of the box in terms of what might be deemed the DS’ traditional functionalities - the potential mobile and navigational applications being of particular interest.

More power to them, we say. Just as long as they continue to chuck a few decent games into the mix. Anyway, wrap your speculating gear around this little lot:

DSiMail
DSiMode
DSiVision
DSiCommunication
DSArcade
DSBook
DSCreator
DSClub
DSCommunity
DSCooking
DSDiary
DSeye
DSFamily
DSFriend
DSLife
DSLive
DSLibrary
DSmobile
DSMap
DSNavi
DSNet
DSPhone
DSPlus
DSPoint
DSSchool
DSSpeak