Wii gamers tap top news

Read all about it, on your Wii - Nintendo is to provide a news service over an online channel on its new console. The Wii already has weather forecast and shopping channels, among others, and Nintendo has announced it will be adding a News Channel to the mix, courtesy of Associated Press. The free channel of worldwide headline news and pictures will have a beta status at launch, but 'the final version will be coming soon,' promises Nintendo. ...more

NTL plans to double cable broadband speeds

NTL is planning to double or even treble the speed of all its cable broadband users' connections over the next four weeks. Cable Forum has learned that 300Kbps users will be upgraded to 1Mbps, 750Kbps to 2Mbps and 1.5Mbps to 3Mbps The increases will be free, but as some 300Kbps customers may not be prepared to take the 3GB monthly data limit that comes with the new speed, they will have the option of upgrading. ...more

EFF warns over Google privacy risk

Digital civil rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation is warning that the latest version of the Google Desktop application may pose a serious risk to your privacy. Among the facilities of the Desktop is the ability to search your files remotely. This is because, if you choose to enable this, Google will keep copies of the files on your computer on its servers, so that you can log into the service remotely and access them. ...more

BT and BSkyB eye AOL UK

BSkyB and BT have emerged as the favourites to buy AOL UK's Internet access business. Reports that the business was up for sale emerged ten days ago and since then various big-name firms have been mentioned as possible buyers, including Carphone Warehouse, Vodafone and Google. However it appears that the field has narrowed to just two, though both are baulking at the rumoured $1bn asking price. ...more

Jobs: scrapping the iPod mini is a risk

Steve Jobs has admitted that the decision to scrap the iPod mini in favour of the new iPod nano is a 'bold gamble'. The Apple CEO told the New York Times that the mini had accounted for half of all iPod sales and that any delay in the nano would have had a huge impact on revenues. He explained that the potential for late problems with both the nano's custom chips and miniaturised circuit board could have held it up. ...more