NDSi-XL + EZ Flash Vi + DSLibri = eReader

[jlg432]

If you already have the Nintendo DSi-XL it doesn't take much to make it into an e-reader, mp3 player as well as movie (mp4) player. All for under $30.

Just add a flash card such as EZ Flash Vi and a 2+ gig Micro SDHC card - download the free software for the Flash card and away you go. You can even get a free movie converter, e-Book converter, various free e-book PC readers and a free ePub editor.

Installing DSLibri gives the unit basic ePub support. It will bring you back to where you left off in an open e-book. You can also add bookmarks, adjust font size, reverse image and there are several modes of switch pages. You hold the unit in portrait mode and use both screens to view the e-book. You can exit an open e-book to the main e-book Table and enter another e-book.

Unlike on the DS-Lite you do not have brightness control on the fly. This needs to be done before starting up DSLibri.

Not a bad setup for a multi media type of device with two 3.5 inch screens.

It also comes with a limited wifi Internet browser.

Add DSReader and you have a txt format reader.

Add DSOrganize and you can do your own file management on the unit.

John

[Arainais]

Is this possible with a regular nintendo DSi? I would like an ereader for my 8 year old daughter, but she already has a DSi and if there was a way that she could use it as a reader as well as play the game cartridges that she has, that would be awesome.

[Freeshadow]

afair there is still no homebrew mode for the DSi up and working, so it doesn't matter if you run your homebrew on a DS, DSi or DSiXL. the working methods use the "DS mode" i.e. making no use of the additional hardware or memory in both of the i models.

[jlg432]

Sorry to get back late on this but yes it is possible and very affordable.
and works on all of the NDS hand helds.

The homebrew app is DSLIBRE and works on all of them. The DS/DS-Lite/DSi and DSi-XL.

You first need a DSi compatible flash card (Note these cards are backwards compatible with the older devices.

You buy the card online. All the rest of the software including the Homebrew software is free. I would not do any Firmware updates to the actual Flash module as it should work right out of the box.

So you need the Flash card which looks like a regular NDS game card.

There is a slot on it that will allow you to insert the micro-sdhc card with the OS software as well as any games/homebrew apps plus the ebooks, mp3's, jpeg pictures or even some full length movies. The size of the micro-sdhc depends on you and what you want to do with it.

If you search on the Internet for ezflash Vi as well as NDS homebrew you will find further information.

There is even a site where you can download most NDS games.

I have approx 30 epubs, 15 mp3's, 3 movies and approx 6 youtube videos on my sdhv card as well as over 100 game titles. I even carry a few titles for the very young so I can give a demo of what the DSi can do for the young ones.

If you have any issues just send me an email.

John

[Freeshadow]

even being affordable. I wouldn't bother tinkering with the hardware solutions if the device in question is an i or i XL model and not the older ones. what the coders in charge have done withe the Wii will happen to the DSi models too. they will be cracked and a homebrew channel for the DSi 'll sooner or later appear on the net, where in contrary the makers of additionaly needed hardware can and will be again sooner or later stopped or massively hindered what 'll have impact on said hardware's prices.
my personal opinion its worth to wait for a dsi hackmii equvalent, eapecially since a "nintendo approved" DSiWare epub reader is rather NOT probable, since the epub spec would require to allow usage of non DS "watermarked" image files on the device.
this currently is not the case and 'll probably not be since nintendo seems to fear manipulated jpegs as a buffer overflow based entry point into the system.
As a matter of fact the dsi apps process only images made by the dsi cam, which have apart from the clearly visible DSi Cam ID string in the jpegs EXIF data, also a chunk of still not fully taken apart chunk of binary data in the Exif area, which the devices seem to use as ID for "safe" images. all other jpegs are rejected.

[jlg432]

Freeshadow, I don't have the slightest idea what you are talking about.

There are no hardware mods involved and the cost of the flash card is minimal and expands the devices usefulness. These cards have been around for several years. You just replace the game card with the flash card that's it. You will have access to Movies, music, jpeg pictures via the "Moonshell" app which is part of the software used.

No streaming or connecting to the Internet with the DS... is required. To change your content just pop out the flash card, remove the Micro-SDHC card and reload it with your PC (Drag and drop). Use folders to organize your content.

If a person already owns a DS/DS-Lite, DSi or DSi-XL they may as well expand it's usefulness now not later.

Spelling error on the ereader app it's called DSLibris.nds



John

[jlg432]

Added some screen shots for those interested in what it looks like.

The pictures do not do it any justice.

[Freeshadow]

my point was:
the flashcard is a hardware based solution and can as such be easier "stopped" than a pure software based. this esp. in the case of the i models where a system update might easily render any flashcard useless.

my 2nd point was, that altough there is no software based solutio yet
there is more than probable that there 'll be one, and if onece done it 'll be more long-living than the hardware methods.

exactly the same has happened in the case of the wii.
hardware rooting solutions legally hunted software ways still alive and kicking

[Freeshadow]

+ since said cards were designed for the DS and not the i models they use the i models in classic ds mode thus make no additional use of the i models better hardware.

[jlg432]

The cards with the "I" added to their name support the I type ds consoles. Fw updates have been released over time to deal with device and game issues and for $25 approx - add quite a bit of flexibility to the dsi / dsi-xl and the older consoles. The big advantage is these consoles are portable.

John