The "New" 3DS is a stop-gap system to bridge to a new system in 2016 or 17.  This new system may be a powerful handheld, a tablet, a fusion console or something else and may be expensive.  But 3DS interest is lagging, and New 3DS will likely boost it for a year or two.

But more importantly, what is clearly happening is software development is moving to Wii U, and possibly to new handhelds and/or consoles.  Nintendo can't support 3DS fully and prepare the successor(s).  Solution?  Give a slight power upgrade and new controls, and then port Wii software.  2015-16 could see a half dozen Wii Ports like Xenoblade, Mario Galaxy, Zelda:TP and others.  This should stimulate sales to late adopters who are also anxious to try the large existing 3DS library, and hardcore fans will trade in and upgrade.

But most importantly softare resources can focus on the coming next-gen and prevent a softare drought that recent Nintendo launches have seen.  Iwata has already aluded to this unified future where titles can be shifted from home console to handheld and vice versa to prevent software gaps.  We all expected it, but probably not in this format and not this soon.  I think it's very smart.

Please rewrite this article. You are writing this as if you have proof but it is a matter of opinion. As well I would like to respond that it may be Nintendo setting up for a long life time for their platform. 2016 is to early for a console selling as well as the 3DS, 2017 maybe,, but most likely 2018 along with the hardware (home console).

I actually think you are right.

Nintendo will not ignore a 40M userbase with new releases, but it will use Wii/Gamecube Software to keep games comming.

I'm not sure if stop-gap is the right term, because I doubt they were planning to release an entirely new handheld any time soon. A stop-gap measure to me would imply that Nintendo need more time to prepare a new generation of devices.

I do think some features are a test run for their next handheld--particularly improved online capabilities, improved (or new, I'm not clear on this) operating system, better Miiverse integration, MicroSD, more buttons, and built-in NFC support. Similar to the way the SD-card slot, flash memory and DSiWare on DSi was a test run for 3DS.

I think we'll see a new handheld in spring 2017.

The 3DS isn't selling really well though.

Best selling system of last year, not as well as they want, but still really well. This year no, but I was trying to say that this is not a stop-gap, this is to re-create momentum

He doesn't have to rewrite anything. If you were able to deduce that what he was saying was all a matter of opinion, don't insult the intelligence of other users by implying that they can't do the same and need more of his help to figure that out. No one here is stupid enough to think that he was stating fact.

EDIT: Also, no. 2016 is not too early. The GBA had a three year lifecycle and sold 80m. 3DS sold half in 3 years.

The thing is... it's NOT selling well at all. It's on track to sell less then 10 million units this year and will keep declining in the years to come. It's also almost guaranteed to be the WORST selling handheld for Nintendo in their history. 

Living on 3ds until 2017-2018 like you're suggesting would be a recipe for a financial disaster for Nintendo.

It will be 2017.......obviously.

And NOT a tablet.

Of-course it was the best-selling console of last year, it had no competition. It was a new console in it's second year last year, versus the PS3, the 360, all old consoles, and the Wii U, which bombed.