Turn on your Nintendo 3DS right now and connect to WiFi and you'll have the option to download the latest system update, Version 7.0.0-13U. This update will take a few minutes and when your system resets you'll find a number of handy new features available.
One of the coolest things it lets you do is link your Nintendo Network ID, which means that you'll finally have one universal account (and wallet) for both Wii U and 3DS. When you log in after the update you really have to make sure that you enter your information correctly, because the system can only use one account. Once you've double and triple checked that you've got the right account information you'll be all set to buy anything and not have to worry about which wallet has money. This doesn't yet mean that you can freely download Virtual Console titles on your 3DS that you've already purchased on Wii U, sadly. Nintendo woefully needs to implement some sort of Cross-buy feature, because it doesn't make sense to have to buy your old titles twice just to play them on your portable system. The 3DS is still missing a number of key titles on the Virtual Console too, so hopefully they beef it up soon.
But once you have your Nintendo Network ID all set up you'll see another new feature on the homepage with the addition of Miiverse. As on the Wii U, Miiverse allows players around the world to post their experience, pictures and game tips from various games. It's a handy way to get help if you're stuck in a game and seems to be pretty popular on the Wii U, so it's great to see 3DS using the same feature.
The update also lets Nintendo 3DS owners transfer all of their content to different Nintendo 3DS systems an unlimited number of times, once every seven days. Before this update you could only do that for a total of five times. I'm not sure why you'd need to transfer your content to new systems more than that but perhaps you're clumsier than I am.
Regardless, it's good to see Nintendo constantly polishing their system, especially since there are so many new users thanks to the fancy new 3DS special editions feature Link and the Mario Bros. New Zelda game, new Pokemon and a terrific catalog means that this is going to be a helluva Holiday season for Nintendo. For more about the update check Nintendo's official site here.
