Derek

Awesome! Thanks for the links. You've been more than helpful, and I appreciate it. And yeah, I got a PassCard3 thingy that I'm using to boot my M3, until I take the step of running FlashMe as shown in those last few links you offered me.

Okay Mooney... So I got myself an M3 Lite Pro and a 1GB kingston microSD card. So far so good. I've even stumbled into getting Moonshell to work, even though the best current directions/FAQs I've found for the current version tell me things that don't seem to hold true on my copy (such as expecting a _BOOT* file to appear, which never does). But when I run my M3 in slot-2, it automatically boots into this "M3 NDS MOVIE PLAYER" shell. From there I can find the Moonshell file and run it, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to disable the "M3 NDS MOVIE PLAYER" software, and just boot to Moonshell, for instance. Or, more importantly: To my knowledge, I will not be able to run FlashMe if I can't disable the M3 software. This is a serious problem. What gives?

So, I'm trying to make some video files to watch on my DSlite via Moonshell (or perhaps DSO, we'll see). In my study, I found that the DPG format is considered superior to the older GBM video files. I've been able to convert a few WMV files to DPG with no problem at all. But, I'm running into a snag when it comes to getting new video files I want, and then converting them to DPG. For instance, files from Google Video. When using a third-party website such as KeepVid, I can get AVI files that appear to work normally, but are defunct when it comes to converting them over via BatchDPG. KeepVid gives me the option to instead download FLV files, or I can save directly from Google Video in the GVI file format, but I haven't been able to figure out if these file types are usable by BatchDPG. I have similar problems with saved YouTube files. Any suggestions or helpful hints?

Your links to the downloads for the FlashMe file itself are broken. Do you know of a current place to find a safe, official version of the file?

Anybody here knowledgeable when it comes to microSD readers/writers that are just like little USB thumb drives? I'm in the market for a reader/writer for a microSD card, and would rather avoid SD adapters. I've discovered several different kinds of USB devices that do just what I want, normally ranging in price from $12 to $20 or so. Most are similar to this. Now, I've found a website called "SuperMediaStore.com" and they have what appears to be just what I want. A USB microSD/Transflash card reader for just $5 with free shipping. I'm just slightly nervous because it seems too good a price to be true. I called their customer service/tech support line, and two different employees insisted to me that the device doesn't read microSD cards, but that it reads SD adapters/SD cards. That seems completely absurd, considering it isn't big enough to use an SD card. Can anybody offer any input or pointers concerning microSD reader/writer USB drives? I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.

I don't think it matters too much in slot-2 cards...Okay, thanks. I see. I use PayPal on occasion, so I'll hafta see what HopeBuy's shipping fees are like. Why do you think that? Both of the setups you mentioned support GBA code. The M3 Lite Professional (Mentioned in your "piece-meal" setup) just doesn't support GBA ROMs over 32M. So with both of them you could use PocketNES, Goomba, SMSAdvance, Cologne, and/or PCEAdvance, which are in my opinion the best GBA emulators out there (Get them from HERE). Well, depending on which internet retailer site I look at, alot say "no GBA support" or "will not play GBA." Sites like this one (well, I guess this one mentions 32M), and this one, and this one, and this one too. ...Though this review on GBAtemp seems to indicate that "smaller" GBA roms will still work, and this seller/blog mentions a 32Mbit ceiling for GBA functionality. So, if you're sure that, contrary to most retailers, the M3 Pro will play <32Mbit GBA programs, or can suggest further reading to that end, I just might have found my product. Especially since you're saying that even though the GBA functionality, if present, is only 32Mbit or smaller, that such a limit doesn't inhibit the best emulators. Although I'm curious if you watched that YouTube video I linked, where he's running NES/SNES emulators in DS mode, and he can control screen proportions and stuff via touch-screen support. That's pretty rad.

You're right, it would be a small amount of space. Maybe 4-8 albums of music, depending on how much room I want left for GBA/NDS code... Have you found that the brand of microSD card you use matters? I found a website called HopeBuy that has a sizzling price on a combo. An M3 Lite Perfect, a Passcard3, a 1GB microSD card, and an SD adapter, for under $100. Do you know if HopeBuy is a reputable seller? They sell Sandisk-brand microSD cards in that bundle... Alternatively, I could piece-meal a set together. I could get a M3 Lite Professional, a Passcard3, a 1GB microSD card (Sandisk, or Toshiba?), and be under $70, before shipping. Then I'd just need to look for a USB microSD reader or something. I'd be giving up the ability to run GBA code, doing it that way... But the DS-coded emulation scene seems to be off to a fast start, with the functionality of programs like NesDS and SnezziDS appearing to be particularly promising. If HopeBuy is a good place to shop, one decision to make is if GBA-code functionality is worth the extra ten to fifteen bucks... Comments?

Yes, they both fit perfectly and do not stick out. The SC Lite Rumble is cheaper for one main reason: It does not support GBA mode. Therefore, I would either go with the M3 or look at a SuperCard Lite (no rumble). Oh, duh. For some reason, when I read that note on the SCLR description, I thought it was talking about not coming with a GBA-form-factor shell, like the M3 sometimes does. The M3 Perfect Lite & Passcard 3 is still more expensive than the SuperCard Lite Black & SuperKey, by a 30% increase (about $20), at least at KickTrading. I'll shop around and see what the prices are like at other online shops. Any you'd particuarly recommend for a state-side customer? I really do prefer the M3's side-loading microSD slot, so hopefully I can find a better price somewhere... And I have a fairly important question about the M3 Lite, software wise. The reviews of it I'm reading speak highly of all the included software. That's great -- I'm glad it comes with good stuff, including legacy emulators. But what about running DSO? Do I put DSO on the microSD card and then choose to run it from the M3 software's GUI? If I get an M3 and can't get DSO to work on it, I'll be pretty frustrated. P.S. The G6 Lite is pretty tempting, cost wise, because it includes 512MB of space - no need to go buy a microSD card. Other than not being able to stick a 2GB microSD card in it, like I could with an M3, are there any other reasons you'd recommend the M3 over the G6 Lite?

A few questions about this recommendation... Do both the M3 Lite and the SC Lite fit into the DSlite perfectly, not hanging out even a little bit? I'm comparing the M3 Perfect Lite (bundled with the Passcard3), as seen here... ...with the SuperCard Lite Rumble (bundled with the SuperKey), as seen here. Why is the SC so much cheaper? Does its rumble function work just like the official rumble pak, or is it louder? If the prices were the same, which they aren't, I might go with the M3PL because its microSD slot is on the side, not the top. I'd prefer that. But a 80% price hike, without the rumble bonus? What gives?

Oh, you were quite coherant. Thanks very much for helping me! This might be a good deal to some, but not if you want to run DSO/MP3s off of the slot-2 device. Remember: 256 Mbit = 32MB. This means you would only be able to put 32MB of songs /apps (including DSO) onto it. Also, you'll have to buy a microSD card if you want to run anything off of the slot-1 part of the bundle. Yeah, that's like three or four songs. Thanks for the heads-up. Yeah, I'm pretty determined to do it that way. I'm not so much into having ROMS on a slot-1 device. My normal habit is to only do the ROM or emulation thing for dead platforms. Thanks. This was actually one more reason I had for wanting to find a slot-2 solution. Do both the M3 Lite and the SC Lite fit into the DSlite perfectly, not hanging out even a little bit? I'm going to look at each and see if either is bundled with a PassMe or slot-1 card. I'm almost certainly going to have to do the FlashMe thing, because having to use a PassMe card upon every boot will completely defeat the purpose of using a slot-2 solution to keep slot-1 open. Exactly. Yes, just hold "Select" as you boot up.Excellent. Yeah, I really want slot-1 to be open for normal NDS game cards. I'm going to have a look at some of the slot-2 things you recommended, and then I'll probly have a few more questions for you...

It seems almost certain that I'll be getting my assistance from Mooney, but I decided to post an open topic as opposed to PM'ing him because others with similar questions may benefit from the exchange. That said... I just got a nice new black DSlite. I already have a few games that I enjoy (NSMB, Trace Memory, Metroid Pinball) and I have a few I'm planning to get soon (Brain Age, SM64, MarioKart, Hotel Dusk). If you feel the urge to recommend a certain game (or games) that will be exceptionally wonderful insofar as long distance WiFi playing is concerned, go ahead. But, what I would really like to do is make my DSlite multifunctional. I would like to use it as my MP3 player and PDA-type device, specifically (writing notes, keeping a calendar and contacts list, storing TXT to read later, etc.). The ability to play movie files and NES/Coleco emulators would be a bonus. Now, I'm aware that DSOrganize will allow me to do most of what I want -- PDA functions, MP3 player, TXT support. So I could just get a one-time slot-1 solution (like an M3simply or an R4 or a DS-X) for that, and be done. But in addition to further functionality, like GBAhomebrew and emulation, I would really like to use slot-2. Specifically, I would love it if I could have my DSOrganize/MP3 player located in slot-2 -- why? Because I wouldn't always have to switch out NDScards when I want to play normal NDS games. If I had a slot-2 solution, I would almost NEVER have to remove it, while if I had a slot-1 solution I would always have to take it out to play, and put it back in to use the PDA/MP3 functions. Does that make sense? Now, if my research has led me to some correct conclusions, here's what I think I've figured out so far. First, the one-step slot-1 solutions are super easy and work great, except for the caveat of not running non-DS code and taking up my slot-1 when I don't want them to. Second, accessories like the EZ-Flash line of products may do what I want in slot-2, with the added benefit of fitting in perfectly and looking just like the normal slot-2 cover, which would be excellent. Third, I can't expect DS coded software such as DSOrganize to just run off of a slot-2 solution, because the DSlite will expect GBA code to be there. Am I correct so far? If so, here's my questions... Is my desire to run DSOrganize in slot-2 even possible? I'm thinking I'd have to mess with my firmware, which I'm nervous about doing -- but my research seems to indicate that I could use FlashMe to get my DSlite firmware to recognize DS code in slot-2. So, would using FlashMe and a slot-2 solution such as the EZ-Flash products allow me to run DSOrganize without keeping a slot-1 card in my DSlite? If I can convince myself to try FlashMe, will I still be able to get my DSlite to go to the normal firmware menu that lets me choose between DS cards, options, GBA, and PictoChat? I don't want to lose access to that menu by changing my firmware. Ideally, I would like to end up with a DSlite in its case that has a copy of New Super Mario Bros in slot-1, a stealth slot-2 card in that allows me PDA/MP3 functions (such as DSO), and the ability to turn it on and use either slot's contents without having to remove either one. I've read both of your FAQ's, Mooney, and they are quite helpful. But I still ended up with the above questions/concerns, so any further help is greatly appreciated. Oh, one more thing: it would appear that the "EZ-Flash V Bundle" would, for just sixty bucks or so, get me a one-step slot-1 solution that would double as a FlashMe device, and the slot-2 solution that I want with the added bonus of looking just like the normal slot-2 cover AND browser memory expansion AND adjustable rumble functionality. This seems like a pretty tempting way to go, especially considering the rumble pack that I have sticks out all ugly and is too loud. What say you?

I took two photos.. Getting my camera to get a good shot of the purple color seemed almost impossible. Then I realized that's the one you don't need anymore.