The Nintendo DS (NDS or DS, and the iQue DS in China) is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo, Released Worldwide in 2005. On November 13, 2003 Nintendo announced that it would be creating a new console to release in 2004, Nintendo stated the console would not be a successor to either the Nintendo ‘GameCube’ or the Game Boy Advance, but would be considered as a "Third Pillar” along side the other consoles.

On 20th January 2004 Nintendo announced the console would go under the code name "Nintendo DS”, the console’s name officially refers to "Developers’ System”, in reference to developers of the new game designs the system was meant to inspire, and "Dual Screen”, the systems most obvious and distinct feature.

The Nintendo DS is distinguishable by its LCD dual screens, with the bottom panel being a touch screen. It also features a built-in microphone and supports wireless communications. The console’s main controls are located on the lower part of the console and has 7 Buttons, A, B, Y, X, Start, Select and a Power button, also a directional pad (D-Pad), with two more buttons L and R located on the Shoulders of the Console.

The lower display of the Nintendo DS is a touch screen, designed to accept input from the included Stylus, the user’s fingers, or the curved places tab attached to the optional wrist strap. The touch screen allows users with in-game elements more directly than by pressing buttons; for example, in the included chatting software, PictoChat (PictoChat is a Wireless chat system in Nintendo DS), the stylus is used to write messages or draw.

The Nintendo DS has sold 101.78 million, including DS Lite, and DSi Units, as of March 2009

Weight: 300 grams (9.7 oz)
Physical dimensions: 148.7 mm x 84.7 mm x 28.9 mm (5.85 in x 3.33 in x 1.13 in)
Screens: Two separate 3-inch TFT LCD (Thin film transistor liquid crystal display), Resolution of 256 x 192 pixels.
CPU’s: Two ARMS processors, an ARM946E-S main CPU and ARM7TDMI co-processor at clock speeds of 67 MHz and 33 MHz respectively. The ARM946E-S CPU processes 3D rendering and the ARM7TDMI processes 2D rendering for DS games and Game boy Advance gameplay
RAM: 4 MB of Mobile RAM
Voltage: 1.65 volts required
Storage: 256 KB of serial flash memory
Wireless: 802.11 + Nintendo Original Protocol
Wi-Fi: Built-in 802.11 Wireless Network connection (802.11b compatible with WEP encryption support only)
Successors Include, Nintendo DS Lite, Nintendo DSi

Manufacturer: Nintendo
Date: 2005

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH4596. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.