On February 2, 2006, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2006/0025218 (Serial No. 11/183,737) was published, perhaps giving the world the first view of a new Nintendo® gaming device. This application, entitled "Game apparatus utilizing touch panel and storage medium storing game program," includes an image and a description of functionality not yet existent in current Nintendo® DS™ models. According to the application, an allegedly novel feature of the disclosed invention "is to provide a game apparatus utilizing touch panel and a storage medium storing a game program that are able to control a movement of a character appearing in a game space by use of a touch panel capable of simultaneously detecting two pointing positions." (emphasis added). Additional images disclose the use of two fingers on a touchpad to "control" an object of the game played. According to the DS Advanced article (noted below), "either the DS Lite will have multiple touch functions that have yet to be announced, or another DS is in the works to be launched at some point after the DS Lite."

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2006/0025218: LINK
DS Advanced Article: LINK
Nintendo® DS™ Product Website: LINK