The System Menu is software shipped pre-installed on every DSi which allows the launching of games from an official Nintendo certified game carts, "channels" and DSiWare titles. It runs a GUI similar to the Wii's "Wii Menu". The DSi runs in certain permission modes similar to the Wii, where by running in backwards compatibility mode turns off extra hardware and down-clocks the CPU. Using the power button you can soft reset to return to the menu while in game (or in a DSi application), similar to the "Home Menu" on the Wii. Game carts can also hot-swapped while in the menu.
Versions
To check which version of the DSi firmware you currently have, open the System Settings and check the lower right hand area of the top screen.
| Version | JAP | USA | EUR | KOR | Release date | Changelog | CDN Availability | CDN Post Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 1024 | X | X | X | October 22, 2008 | First Update to Japanese Region DSi System Menu | v1024 (Japanese Only) | October 22, 2008 |
| 1.2 | 1280 | X | X | X | December 18, 2008 | Second Update to Japanese Region DSi System Menu | v1280 (Japanese Only) | December 18, 2008 |
| 1.3 | 1536 | 1536 | 1536 | X | Launch Day (USA, EUR) | Attempted to stop some DSi flashcards, Button Combo for DSi Camera application (L or R), Shop Channel Support | v1536 (All Regions) | March 25, 2009 (JAP); March 26, 2009 (USA, EUR) |