Nintendo has unveiled a new, larger version of its DSi handheld, which will be hitting European shores in the first quarter of next year. The DSi XL will feature 4.2-inch screens, almost twice the size offered by the Lite version of the console, and will include two different styluses. It is the fourth incarnation of the popular device to be released, following the chunky original Nintendo DS, the slimmer DS Lite and the camera-equipped DSi.

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:46:33

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers' (ICANN's) plan to introduce foreign language generic domain names will improve accessibility for global web users, according to a UK internet registry. Nominet UK, which manages .uk internet domains, has welcomed the forthcoming introduction of web addresses written in non-Latin script such as Cyrillic or Chinese. Phil Kingsland, director of communication at the firm, said the move will allow almost a billion non-English speakers worldwide to access local websites without needing to convert their keyboards.

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:37:26

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is to set to approve the introduction of generic domain names written in non-Latin script for the first time. It is expected that the body will approve this change at its conference in Seoul later this week, with ICANN describing the move as the biggest technical change to the internet in its 40-year history. Should the plans go ahead, it will mean that web addresses will be able to be written in scripts such as Arabic, Cyrillic, Hindi and Japanese.

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:29:04

Nintendo's newest exercise game Wii Fit Plus has received a recommendation from the Department of Health (DoH). The Japanese gamemaker has been given permission for the title to carry the logo of the NHS Change4Life programme, which is dedicated to getting people to eat and live more healthily. This makes Wii Fit Plus the first videogame ever to receive approval from the government's health department.

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:13:20

New sports game Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 has struck back at its footballing rival FIFA 10 by replacing it as the top-selling game in the UK. The latest entry in Konami's football franchise ended FIFA 10's three-week reign at the top of the UK's all-format chart on its first weekend of release. PES 2010 proved a particularly popular choice with PlayStation 3 owners, with 66 per cent of sales coming on Sony's console, compared to 32 per cent on Microsoft's Xbox 360 and two per cent on PC.

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:24:38

Nokia is taking legal action against rival phone manufacturer Apple after claiming that the popular iPhone infringes patented Nokia technology. The Finnish company said that Apple's touchscreen-compatible handset has contravened ten of its patents relating to technologies such as speech encoding, wireless data transmission and security. Nokia states that it has made its legal complaint in order to protect intellectual property standards which are essential to the operation of the mobile phone industry.

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:57:41

The Xbox 360 will receive an add-on allowing it to play Blu-ray movies, according to Microsoft's chief executive officer Steve Ballmer. In an interview with technology website Gizmodo, Mr Ballmer stated that owners of the console will at some point be able to pick up Blu-ray drives as optional accessories. This follows in the footsteps of the Xbox 360's HD-DVD add-on, which was discontinued after the disc format's demise.

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:57:59

Nintendo is to launch a limited edition black version of its Wii console on November 6th 2009. The new-look version of the popular motion-sensing system will come bundled with a matching black Wii Remote controller, as well as similarly-hued Nunchuk and Wii MotionPlus attachments. In addition, the hit summer title Wii Sports Resort will come included in the package alongside its predecessor Wii Sports, which launched alongside the Wii in 2006.

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:46:23

3 has confirmed that the HTC Hero is coming to its network and will be compatible with music download service Spotify. The acclaimed smartphone will be the first handset released by 3 to use the Android OS, which allows for Spotify functionality among other features. When it launches in November, 3's version of the HTC Hero will come bundled with Spotify Premium as part of its tariff, allowing for instant access to millions of songs using the phone's internet capabilities.

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:01:14

Police officers across the UK are to be provided with smartphones by 2010 as part of a new initiative to improve services. The National Policing Improvement Agency is moving to provide police forces with the multimedia devices on the back of successful trials among a small number of constabularies. Bedfordshire Police is among the forces to have introduced smartphones for officers, allowing them to gain easier mobile access to photographs and information while out and about.

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:02:01