Virgin plans 3G radio

UK broadcaster Virgin Radio claims it will become the first station in the world to offer radio via 3G mobiles, BBC reports.

The radio station will broadcast on selected 2G and 3G networks in partnership with technology firm Sydus. Later this year listeners will be able to download software from the Virgin Web site which enables the service.

Virgin Radio will be the first station made available, followed by two digital stations, Virgin Radio Classic Rock and Virgin Radio Groove.

Virgin Radio new media head James Cridland says the application will allow the company to tap into a huge new audience and keep radio relevant for a new generation of listeners. "This application will enable anyone, anywhere to listen to Virgin Radio simply with the phone in their pocket."

Search giant Google has formally launched its desktop search tool designed to help users search for information on their computers.

The launch means Google has beaten the likes of Microsoft, Yahoo and Ask Jeeves, which are still in the beta stage with their desktop search tools.

According to The Bosh, the free downloadable Google Desktop Search Version 1.0 offers several advances over the test version, including search of PDF files, AOL instant messages and meta-information stored with music, image and video files.

The tool also works with non-Microsoft browsers, such as Firefox and Netscape, plus e-mail programs, and supports Chinese and Korean language interfaces. Google also added a 'plug-ins feature` that allows developers to integrate their software into the Google Desktop catalogue.

Film studio Lions Gate entertainment has announced an initial list of 12 movies that will be available for Sony`s PSP games console.

According to BBC, Open Water and Saw are among the latest movies to be available in the UMD format used by the handheld.

The Punisher and House of the Dead will also be among the movie titles, as well as older movies like Total Recall and Rambo: First Blood. Disks will cost between $20 (R120) to $30 (R180) for new titles and $10 (R60) to $20 for older films.