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This review will focus on the current DSTWO EOS v1.02 firmware and its features. Features not currently available will be mentioned and discussed based on publicly available information. The review kit will be tested on a DSi XL and a 2 GB Japanese Kingston microSD card. NDS compatibility will be tested with both NDS Homebrew and NDS ROMS and the GBA EMU will be tested with both GBA Homebrew and GBA ROMs. All review photos will be taken using the “SILVER” EOS v1.02 included theme.
Official Features List (Corrected):
* Real time functions: real-time save, real-time game guide (txt, bmp, jpg), and real-time cheat.
* Multi-saves (up to 4 slots), easy to back-up and restore saves.
* Unlimited microSD storage space support. SDHC support. FAT or FAT 32.
* Multiple languages.
* Built-in GBA/SNES Emulator.
* Action slow motion (4 levels).
* File management system (copy, paste, cut, and delete). Long file name support.
* E-book in .BMP, .JPEG, .JPG, .PNG, .TIF, .GIF, .TXT, and .PDF formats.
The official features contains some “Engrish”, misspelled words, and dual index formatting. Based on the package description, someone with little to no knowledge of this hobby might easily pass this card off as being “cheap junk.”
The list includes the phrase “unlimited microSD storage space support,” a selling tactic lie for which I have no appreciation. The included paper manual has an image of a microSD card and the box includes the phrase “SDHC” and a printed SDHC logo. This card clearly only supports SDHC external media, and as consumers we know that the limitation of SDHC cards is 32 GB.
The list mentions SNES emulation, something which has not yet been implemented by Team SuperCard or the EOS Operating System.
E-book support includes a listing of mostly image formats and skips some dedicated E-book formats (.EPUB, .LIT, .LRF, .MOBI, etc). I would have preferred that the image formats were listed under an appropriate Image heading and for .TXT and .PDF to remain under the E-book heading.
The feature list lacks any mention of video/multimedia formats. The card was publicized as supporting drag/drop video codec playback. This is another feature not yet implemented by Team SuperCard or the EOS Operating System.
Oddly there is no mention of the “plug-in” system for creating custom icons used as launching points for NDS Homebrew and NDS ROM files. This is an interesting feature which not only helps organization through a favorites list but provides a way for users to personalize their theme.
Contents:
- 1x SuperCard DSTWO
- 1x microSD reader
- 1x User manual (in "Engrish" and Chinese)
- 1x blue leather wrist strap
The SCDS2 ships in thin matte black colored cardboard box. The box measures approximately 5 and 1/2 inches by 3 and 3/4 inches by 3/4 of an inch. The left and right sides of the box fold inwards and secure with a cardboard flap. The box is printed with the “SuperCard” logo on all sides but the bottom. The top of the box includes a shiny DSTWO logo, a SuperCard Team logo, and a SDHC logo. The bottom of the box includes 3 shiny firmware screen captures of the EOS software. Also found on the bottom of the box is the official “Engrish” features listing and an official SuperCard URL (www.supercard.sc).
The box protects a thin plastic felt covered tray which slides in snugly and holds the SCDS2 and the microSD reader. Both of these items sit tightly into their respective cutouts, so well are they contained that users have reported damaging the shell of their SCDS2 while attempting to remove it. Removing either item is a simple as pulling out the tray and pushing on the back side to allow the item to lift away from the packaging. Under this tray sits the paper user manual and leather wrist strap. The wrist strap was not initially available for pre-ordered kits and later SCDS2 offered the strap as an additional purchase for resellers, causing each reseller to manually insert the wrist strap into each box. As a result of this some users have purchased a SCDS2 and not received the wrist strap, thus making it optional for the reseller and a random bonus for the buyer.
The included microSD reader measures approximately 1 and 3/4 of an inch by 5/8ths of inch by 2/8ths of an inch. The black colored plastic shell feels smooth and sturdy to the touch. The USB connector is protected by a clear plastic cover which slides and locks into the plastic shell. If the cover is reversed it will not lock shut and should not be forced. This microSD reader is a functional alternative and a nice addition to the internal packaging contents, however, it is much larger than my preferred solution and from a generic manufacturing factory. The longevity of this microSD reader based on build quality alone seems fairly long, yet only time will tell.
