If you're a Nintendo DS person, you've probably already hoovered up all available information about the forthcoming DSi. Well, as is typical in life, reading about something and experiencing it are often very different. Dan Evans and I were reminded of this today, when Nintendo hosted a "sneak preview" of the DSi in its New York office. When we got our hands on the new handheld console, we decided it was just possibly more fun than either of us had anticipated.

For me, the most entertaining new thing is what you can do with Nintendo Camera feature, using the 11 different "lenses" built into the DSi. Stretching out images, adding "graffiti" and "stamps" (see more pics after the jump) and creating kaleidoscope-like effects (like the one above) is my idea of a good time. The DSi will also let you do many weird and cool things with your music and with 10-second sound bites you record yourself. Then there's the SD slot and the ability to download games... This is a whole different experience!

We saw some other, um, stuff we can't tell you about yet. Suffice to say, the new DSi is very engaging. I am now very sure that I want one.

Pick one of 14 different "visualizations" while you listen to your music. If you plug in a headset, you can close the case up, and your songs will keep playing.

The camera facing you puts your image right into some of the new games, as Dan is demonstrating here.

I don't really rock. Chip, the Nintendo demoer, wrote that using the Graffiti lens.