Intel, Philips team up

Intel and electronics group Philips have joined up to market home entertainment systems with Intel chips, reports TechNews.

Intel will supply a processor, chipset and software for a Philips Media Centre that will allow customers to store and share photos, music and video in a single system, as they promote digital products for the home.

The PC-based Philips Showline Media Centre will include a card that allows users to watch two TV channels at once, as well as a 250GB hard disk drive for storing music and photo collections and a recorder for DVDs and CDs.

Verizon Wireless is taking legal action against two US companies for allegedly bombarding its customers with automated telemarketing calls, reports the Register.

In two separate lawsuits, Verizon is seeking injunctions against Intelligent Alternatives of California, and Resort Marketing Trends of Florida.

Verizon Wireless alleges that the companies "made hundreds of thousands of calls to cellphone customers using pre-recorded messages and auto-diallers in violation of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act as well as state laws".

Verizon wants both companies to cease their actions and is also seeking monetary damages.

Nikon has announced two new WiFi-enabled models, reports Physorg.com.

Coolpix P1 and P2 are the first built-in WiFi-enabled cameras to hit the marketplace and allow consumers to immediately transmit images wirelessly directly to a PC or any Pict-Bridge-enabled printer equipped with the optional Nikon Wireless Printer Adapter (PD-10), for wireless printing.

The cameras will be made available in the US in September.

Worldwide football body FIFA is holding a trial of Adidas` Smartball technology at a tournament in Peru this month, which could relieve football refs of the onerous task of deciding if the ball is actually on the pitch, reports The Register.

If successful, FIFA could draft in the system for next year`s World Cup tournament to be held in Germany.

The Smartballs are fitted with a microchip and sensors are embedded in the touchline so that if a ball runs out of play or goes into the goal, a device on his wrist alerts the ref.