Secret Hole - revealed

In the latest issue of Nintendo Dream, a 'secret hole' in the Nintendo DS was revealed. Suddenly, all major websites were talking about it, but it took a relatively small website (us) to show them all what the fuss is all about...

Near the bottom-right of the Nintendo DS, there's the earphone plug. Just next to it, a square hole is situated, of which Nintendo hasn't officially said what it is meant for (yet). However, together with the Test Reports on the NDS we acquired over a week ago, we found the conceptual Nintendo DS manual.

First, let's look at the port for ourselves. Let's go back to the pictures shown during E3 2004.

As we can see, a square-formed port, next to the earphone plug. The port was already there during E3! And no-one even noticed. Let's take the Nintendo DS (conceptual) manual and see what this one has to say about the port.

Now there are a few things we can see in this picture, first of all, the number 24 placed directly under the earphone plug. However, the manual reads "Headphone / MIC. Connector" corresponding to number 24. The second obvious thing we can see in the image above, is a small drawing of a headset to the left of the secret port. Why would we place a headset-icon next to another port, if it could've been connected to the headphone plug? The answer is easy: the secret port will be a special headset plug.

Now I can already hear some of you think: "The Nintendo DS was said to have a microphone built in already. Combined with earphones, why would we add another one?". The answer is quite simple. Built-in microphones are often a bit 'weaker' and take up more background noise than external microphones. And secondly, doesn't speaking to a device in public look a bit odd compared to using a headset? ;)

We've already received some (unofficial) words from Sega, that their upcoming Phantasy Star Online DS for the Nintendo DS will feature headset-support for live-chat during play. Now this is something interesting. When playing using the normal WiFi connection, it would be odd to use a headset when the people you're playing with are only a few meters or feet away, unless... Unless Sega is planning to support online play of Phantasy Star Online DS.

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FacebookPosted on 25-08-2004 by Dennis

Comments

Online makes sense, but surely Sega should be calling it Phantasy Star No-Line?!

ganon-n-r, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
WOW PSO DS!!!!!!! WANDERFUL!!!!!!

gariele_333, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
well... someone is happy <img src="images/smileys/5.gif"> I guess you didn't see the previous announcement(s) of PSO?

Dennis, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
I know. GCA wasn't the only one. PGC, Quiter, etc. This is just the kind of scoops that keep me from abandoning this site <img src="images/smileys/4.gif">

Dennis, 30-11--0001 at 00:00