Nintendo DS Lite Cobalt / Black

Product Description
Amazon.com
The best-selling video game system in the world has a new cool new color scheme. Like a black T-shirt with a splash of color, the new Cobalt/Black version of the portable Nintendo DS grabs your attention. It looks good whether it’s toted in your school backpack, pulled from your purse or riding with you on a family trip. Cobalt/Black marks the seventh color in the Nintendo DS Lite palette. It joins Polar White, Coral Pink, Onyx, Crimson/Black and the limited-edition Gold and Metallic Rose. Now there’s a Nintendo DS color to complement any outfit.

Nintendo DS Cobalt/Black in box
Nintendo DS Lite revolutionizes the way games are played with ultra-bright dual screens and touch-screen technology. Connect wirelessly to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and put your skills to the test against players across the room or across the world. With impressive 3D rendered graphics and ultra-bright screens, Nintendo DS Lite delivers cutting-edge portable games for fans of any genre. With the Nintendo DS Headset, you can talk and chat over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or voice command games.

Features

Nintendo DS Cobalt/Black
System
With Nintendo DS Lite, dual screens and touch-screen technology allow you to interact with games like never before. Wireless communication allows you to experience real-time multiplayer gameplay, and the free Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service allows you to compete against players from around the globe.

Dual Screens:
Two incredibly bright LCD screens offer one of the most groundbreaking gameplay advances ever developed. Each 3-inch screen can reproduce a true 3D view, with impressive 3D renderings that can surpass images displayed on the Nintendo 64.

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection:
Ready to take on the world? Now, with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, you can connect wirelessly, chat and play with Nintendo DS owners across the globe. All you need to play is a Nintendo DS and a Wi-Fi-ready game. There are no subscription fees -- the service is free!

Touch Screen Technology:
The lower screen offers something never before provided by any dedicated game device: touch-screen capabilities. You no longer have to rely on just buttons to move your character or shift perspectives. Navigate menus or access inventory items simply by touching the screen with a stylus or fingertip. The possibilities are limited only by developers' imaginations. The touch screen features a tougher film cover for durability, and the included stylus is stored in the back of the unit.

Microphone Port:
A built-in microphone port means that with Nintendo DS, you only need to tell your games what to do. The Nintendo DS microphone gives you even more ways to interact with your favorite games.

Wireless Network:
With Nintendo DS Lite, you can connect with a local wireless network of up to 16 players. The wireless range can be an incredible 30 to 100 feet and for some games, multiplayer requires just one Nintendo DS game card.

Note: Nintendo DS Lite wireless communication, including PictoChat, is not private and is not monitored by Nintendo. We recommend that you never reveal any personal information or arrange to meet a stranger.

Rich Stereo Sound:
Nintendo DS Lite sound capabilities allow for greatly expanded use of voices and music, and a richer, more immersive game experience. Stereo speakers allow for virtual surround sound and a plug for headphones transmits stereo sound.

Backward Compatibility:
Nintendo DS Lite features a separate media port for Game Boy Advance cartridges, allowing you to play all your favorite Game Boy Advance games in single-player mode.

Technical Specs:

* Size (closed): 133 millimeters (5.2 inches) wide, 73.9 millimeters (2.9 inches) long, 21.5 millimeters (0.85 inches) tall.
* Top Screen: A backlit, 3-inch, transmissive TFT color LCD with 256 x 192 pixel resolution and .24 mm dot pitch, capable of displaying 260,000 colors.
* Touch Screen: Same specs as top screen, but with a transparent analog touch screen.
* Wireless Communication: IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo’s proprietary format; wireless range is 30 to 100 feet, depending on circumstances; multiple users can play multiplayer games using just one DS game card.
* Controls: Touch screen, embedded microphone for voice recognition, A/B/X/Y face buttons, plus control pad, L/R shoulder buttons, Start and Select buttons. The stylus is 1 centimeter longer and 2 millimeters thicker than the stylus of the original Nintendo DS.
* Input/Output: Ports for both Nintendo DS game cards and Game Boy Advance game paks, terminals for stereo headphones and microphone. A removable cover for the Game Boy Advance game pak slot provides added protection from dust and other foreign materials.
* Other Features: Embedded PictoChat software that allows up to 16 users within local range of one another to chat at once; embedded real-time clock; date, time and alarm; touch-screen calibration.
* CPUs: One ARM9 and one ARM7.
* Sound: Stereo speakers providing virtual surround sound, depending on the software.
* Battery: Lithium ion battery delivering five to 19 hours of play on a four-hour charge, depending on use; power-saving sleep mode; AC adapter.
* Languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian.

Product Description by Amazon.com

Toys by Amazon

Keep Them Young While You Can - Holiday Toys for 7 to 11 Year Olds
11:09 PM PST, November 11, 2008, updated at 11:12 PM PST, November 11, 2008
When picking gifts for seven to eleven year olds, I feel the need to pick items that are still kid focused but with a bit of a twist that makes them feel more grown up. Let's be honest, we all know a "tween" (oh, how I despise that word!) who will be asking for an iPod, a video game system, or *gasp* a cell phone this year. Something about all that grown-up technology feels like it should be held off a little longer. Whatever happened to letting a kid be a kid until they were fifteen or sixteen? And even then, they are still kids- they just might be taller than you and ask for your car keys.
For seven to eleven year olds, independence and feelings of accomplishment are key, and while "toys" might seem too young for them, there are a lot of great offerings in the toy area this holiday that will make them happy. And maybe you'll even get a "Thanks Mom! Thanks Dad!" this time.


If you have a child asking for a personal gaming system, but you don't want to cave into creating a video game monster, the LeapFrog Didj might be just the remedy. While it is a gaming system, these games are learning tools and targeted at just this age group. While they might have enjoyed the Leapster at a younger age, this group is ready to graduate to the Didj and onto titles like Star Wars Clone Wars, and Super Chicks that allow more custom gaming and also allow parents to track their child's learning through the LeapFrog Learning Path. This Learning Path technology will update parents on where their child is doing well, and in what areas they might need to study more. It's a helpful tool for parents who want to want to see what their child is learning but can't be hovering over their shoulders at all times.


Something that all parents of seven to eleven year olds are interested in is keeping their kids active and not just lounging on the couch. A cool new item that encourages this is Udance. Udance is an interactive toy that tracks your dancing when you wear sensors that strap to your feet. The movement is tracked by a sensor, and will tell the participant how well they are doing with the dance moves. Music by Chris Brown, Rihanna and other popular artists will make your kid get up and boogie down.



Science toys are also popular with this age group. Kits like Snap Circuts allow your child to safely explore how electricity works. Another exploration toy that is hot this holiday is the Eyeclops Nightvision. Kids can don these goggles that will allow them to see perfectly in pitch black, and bring a whole new world to life at night.






Technology toys for girls is also popular this holiday. My Meebas and Huru Humi are two interactive toys that are the perfect size for stocking stuffers or gift exchanges. The Hannah Montana Guitar Video Game allows girls to take part in the pop star action by playing along with their favorite Hannah songs. Girls will also enjoy the Jakks Pacific Spa Factory and Cupcake Maker. These are two kits that encourage innovative thinking and a sense of accomplishment as girls enjoy their fun new creations.

Classic toys like LEGO get a new twist with Indiana Jones and Star Wars Clone Wars sets. Remote control vehicles are also big for boys this season. The Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro Car will drive up walls and even on the ceiling, and the Airhogs Battling Helis are sure to keep sibling rivalry alive (even dad will want to play with these fun helicopters!).


So what are you buying for your "tween" this year? Are they asking for toys that we haven't covered? Leave us a comment and let us know!
--Laura McMullan
Product Description by Amazon.com

Children's gifts ideas

Christmas gift for kids
LeapFrog® Leapster® Learning Game System - Green

Product Description
Now parents and kids can both feel good about time spent playing electronic games with the Leapster Learning System by LeapFrog. An exciting library of educational games (sold separately) turn this handheld device into a conduit of exciting learning adventures that teaches reading, math, critical thinking, vocabulary and more. Kids can play fun games, read electronic books, create cool art and watch interactive videos. Color display on backlit screen is gentle on the eyes while the jack for optional headphones is gentle on other people's ears. Ages 4 to 10 years. Imported.


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Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #42 in Toys & Games
Color: Green
Brand: LeapFrog
Model: 20200
Released on: 2006-06-12
Dimensions: 11.00" h x 11.00" w x 3.10" l, 1.40 pounds

Features
Portable interactive system with action-packed games focused on learning essentials for preschool to fourth grade
Comes with 2 games built in.
Expandable with large library of games
Teaches phonics, spelling, math, art, music and more

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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Here is one handheld gaming system that both parents and kids will be able to agree upon. The Leapster Learning Game System takes the brain-building principles that Leapfrog laid out in its earlier electronic learning devices (which have an interactive book format) and applies them to a video-game format. Leapster draws kids in with familiar video game templates—all of which have a secret weapon: a built-in learning component. LeapFrog hopes that kids will become so engaged in the gaming aspects and familiar television and movie characters offered by this toy that they won’t even notice that they’re learning and reinforcing valuable reading, math, and language skills.


Aimed at 4- to 10-year-olds, the 6-by-4-inch Leapster is sized for little hands and comfortably shaped with safe, rounded edges. The 2-1/4-inch touch screen is ample for most of the gaming activities; although a little cluttered when used for the art and drawing modules. Buttons are suitably placed on either side of the unit for thumb-operated control. The right side features "A" and "B" buttons for selecting settings and answers while the left has a multi-directional gamepad for game play. A pen is also attached for drawing, selecting tools and settings, and dragging and placing objects. The 3-inch backlit display makes games visible in the dark (although parents will prefer that the Leapster is shut off at bedtime) and the animated graphics, while not completely state-of-the-art are well done and suitable for this age range.


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The Leapster Learning Game System takes the brain-building principles that Leapfrog laid out in its earlier electronic learning devices (which have an interactive book format) and applies them to a video-game format.

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As with the manufacturer’s LeapPad products, the Leapster does require the purchase of additional cartridges to expand its capabilities. Kids can choose titles with their favorite characters to play educational games with. The star-studded list of celebrity narrators includes TV personalities, such as SpongeBob Squarepants, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Dora the Explorer; and movie stars, such as Nemo, Cinderella, Ariel (The Little Mermaid), and Batman. Leapfrog’s own cartoon star, Tad, is narrates a few as well. While stocking up on the extra software titles can get expensive, it also gives parents some control and input on which characters they’d like their kids to learn from. And, characters for these titles are appropriately matched to the maturity of the targeted grade level (pre-K through 4th grade).

Starting up or hitting the Home button takes players to the main menu. There is one staple pre-loaded game that children will likely come back to again and again. Rabbit River is based on the Frogger game format, but with an additional learning element. In letters mode, kids guide their bunny to hop floating logs to the other side of the river while jumping on specific letters to identify them or spell out a requested 3- or 4-letter word. In numbers mode, the bunny must land on specific numbers on the logs to skip count by twos or form a correct equation. The other pre-loaded activity is Color Corral, an interactive coloring book designed to boost creative problem-solving skills. This module is like a kid’s version of Photoshop and offers a variety of scenic templates, colors, tools, and moving icons that kids can combine for an infinite number of possibilities. The included manual gives suggestions on how to reinforce these math, reading, and art concepts in the real world. .




Each game offers multiple skill levels so kids can ease into new territory at the beginner level and challenge themselves with more advanced learning problems as they understand the concept. If kids are stumped at any point during a game, they can hit the Hint button and receive a friendly push in the right direction from an animated tutor, Edison the firefly. Edison also appears automatically if kids answer a question incorrectly several times in a row and coaches the child to reach the correct answer. The Pause button lets kids stop the game for a snack break and pick back up again where they left off.

Designed for portability, the Leapster fits easily in a backpack or tote bag and is ideal for more purposeful edutainment on the go, whether it’s a quick game on the bus ride to school or hours of playtime during vacation travel. This learning system runs on four AA batteries or on a rechargeable battery pack when combined with the Leapster L-Max Recharging System (sold separately). Leapster covers this handheld device under a 3-month warranty. --Cristina Vaamonde

From the Manufacturer
Play Anywhere . . . Learn Everywhere! The Leapster Learning Game System teaches in the way your child loves to play! Kids can play action-packed games that teach skills for preschool through 4th grade. Multiple learning levels, tailored tutorials and a wide variety of learning games take advantage of both the multi-directional control pad and the easy to use stylus. This ensures that children are learning skills while playing the video games they love. With Leapster, the name of the game is learning! Appropriate for ages 4 years to 8 years. All Leapster games work with all Leapster systems.


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Customer Reviews
Breaks easily
Having 3 leapsters in our house, I can say with certainty- they break. And for something so pricey, it's disappointing. And I wish I learned with the first one and registered it with them, as when it broke and called them, I wasn't sure if it was within it's one year 'warranty' period.

They did offer to replace it for about 3/4 of the current price, which I accepted. I received a refurbished one which stopped working the second time it was used. Very disappointing. Especially since I could have bought a new one for $9 more.

The first time one broke it was dropped from about 3 feet. The second one broke and the sound stopped working without any trauma from my kids.



Best money spent so far
This toy has already provided my son with hours of entertainment. He doesn't even have a game for it yet. We decided to see how our 3 year old would do with the system's games first. HE LOVES IT. He picked up the concept very quickly, and to my surprise, knows exactly what buttons to push with very little help at the start. We also look for durability in a product, as he is only 3, and his sister is not yet 2. (She tends to pick up his toys). He has dropped it by accident a few times; again, pleasantly surprised... no scratches, dents, and still works fine!

No complaints.
We bought this for my son's third birthday, and almost two years later he still loves playing with it. It has been very durable, and most importantly doesn't drain batteries at a ridiculous pace. Some of the games available for this system are better than others, but overall we've been extremely happy with our purchase.