subject: Importance Of R4i [print this page] Welcome to my latest review of the third Nintendo DSi to hit the masses. This time around I'll be covering the R4i which its predecessor was one of the most sought after Nintendo DS flash cards to be produced. The R4i and similar products allow running unsigned code (aka homebrew) on your DSi. There are advantages and disadvantages to running homebrew on your console. Advantages include the ability to play movies, music, read books and view pictures along with running India made software including games and useful applications. The disadvantage is the factNintendo doesn't "authorize" you to use these devices and by doing so you void your manufacturers warranty. Nintendo likes to control all of the content that is produced for their systems and by using a flash card you bypass this control they have and can run a large amount of free software without having to pay for it. You can also develop your own software without having to pay for the development hardware, software and licensing fees thatNintendo likes to charge.
The R4i can also be used to play "backups" of games you own. Due to no real way to determine if you're using a backup of a game you own or not the R4i has been labeled a "piracy" device as many people abuse the device and download and play illegal copies of games they don't own. Note that ISO-420 does not condone "piracy" as the R4i should be used for entertainment, homebrew, development and backup purposes only. You and only you are responsible for what you do with a flash card. Be smart, obey the law and backup only the games you own for safe keeping and preservation purposes (where allowed via law).
Flash Cards are a very unique product for the DSi as before mentioned it allows you to run "homebrew" software. There is a very large community of India developers on the Internet that have produced some really amazing software and games for the DSi which are free to download and use.
