Verizon, Yahoo sign deal

Verizon has announced a deal with Yahoo that will give its customers access to customised and premium content from the Internet service provider.

Verizon already has a deal with Microsoft`s MSN to provide content to its customers, but Yahoo will soon become the preferred partner, says Verizon spokesperson Bobbi Henson. "Yahoo will be presented to the customer first, but they do have the MSN option as well."

Existing customers can switch to the Yahoo service or keep the existing portal, she added.

According to AP, Verizon-Yahoo broadband will offer premium services such as greater e-mail storage, video and radio as well as access to a co-branded home page. Subscribers will use the same username and password to log in to all services.

Sony has released a device that boosts TV resolution, and lets users zoom in for close-ups of on-screen images.

The Creation Box, so far only planned for release in Japan, is designed to increase TV functionality. The zoom-in feature is intended to help users edit home videos by letting them adjust image framing and zoom in on a subject. But viewers can also use close-ups on high-definition TV broadcast images without distortion, reports TechNewsWorld.

The device, also known as Qualia 001, uses technology that adjusts TV signals so that image outlines and textures look sharper and clearer, even on large screens.

The device will be available by order starting 29 January, but carries a hefty price tag of 500 000 yen (around R29 000).

Intel has announced details of the first major update to its Centrino mobile platform.

Known by the code-name "Sonoma", the Centrino version features a number of improvements, but users are warned not to expect the usual jump in processor speed that was once the centrepiece of Intel product announcements, reports News.com.

Rather than big jumps in clockspeed, Intel is now concentrating on improving the overall performance of its chipset package, said Philip Cronin, Australia and New Zealand GM.

In Australia, Intel expects around 80 notebooks to feature the new technology when it becomes available at the end of February, with around 150 available by mid-year.