New big-screen Nintendo DSi announced

Nintendo has officially unveiled a larger-screened DSi and it’s launching this side of Xmas in Japan.

The DSi LL, as it is clumsily known, is designed with some of the unit’s secondary functions in mind. Browsing the internet, using it as a music player, reading books on it, viewing photos etcetera will all be easier thanks to the new model’s 4.2 inch screens. The DSi LL comes with two touch pens too – one long and fat, the other short and thin – and has two brain-training games and the DS Easy Dictionary pre-installed.

Apart from that the DSi LL is just a bigger version of its immediate predecessor – the standard DSi only has 3.25 inch screens. It also launches with a couple of tasteful new colour options. Natural White, Wine Red and a fetching shade of Dark Brown should tempt the target market of discerning adults.

The DSi LL debuts in Japan on November 21st, priced ¥20,000 (approx £135). Nintendo has also announced that the unit will launch in Europe in the first quarter of 2010, where it will be known as the DSi XL. Full price/date details will be confirmed shortly, but it is expected that it will be more expensive regular DSi. Not too much more, we hope, although we’ll doubtless buy one whatever it costs.

So how do you like the look of it – will you be upgrading? You’re probably going to need trousers with bigger pockets if you do…!