Hulu Japan lands HBO content, but don't expect any changes in the US

Hulu Japan has mailed in a status update noting that its content library has increased by more than 300 percent since launching last fall, now amounting to over 800 films and around 6,900 TV shows. Newly added to that list is Mad Men and more notably, "select HBO shows" including Entourage and Sex And The City today, followed by Entourage and Band of Brothers later this year. Of course, similar to the situation that sees Showtime favorites like Dexter available on Netflix in Latin America but not here in the States, it doesn't make it any more likely HBO will suddenly become cord-cutter friendly at home -- this is an international deal only. Hulu does have more good news in Japan though, now that it works on more devices with the Wii coming soon and "aggressive expansion" planned for the rest of 2012. While it doesn't help the list of Hulu Plus-compatible Android phones grow any faster, there is a quick trailer celebrating the new content, viewers on either side of the Pacific can check it out after the break.

Nike+ FuelBand iOS app updated to run along your Path, sync in the background

If you decided to snag the latest Nike+ wristband earlier this year, you're about to get some added functionality thanks to an iOS application update. First, the outfit has added Path integration to the mobile software. Users can now keep track of the sights they've visited while out for a jog or bike ride and share said moments / achievements with their mates. When the day comes to a close, those points-of-interest along the trail will appear on the app's progress graph. You'll also encounter background syncing by holding down the FuelBand's button alongside the ability to check battery status, offline data access and setting the time with your iPhone or iPod touch. For a quick look at what you can expect to see with the refresh, sprint to the gallery below.

HTC One V now available from Virgin Mobile

Rounding out the US launch of the HTC One lineup, the retro-inspired HTC One V has launched over at Virgin Mobile. The Ice Cream Sandwich device shares its Sense 4.0 software with big brothers the HTC One X and HTC One S, but other specs place the phone in a lower tier. It features a 1GHz Snapdragon S3 processor, 3.7-inch display, and 5MP camera. What stands out about the One V, though, is its design that harkens back to older HTC handsets, including the protruding “chin” of models like the Hero and G1.
The HTC One V is available contract-free from Virgin Mobile today for the affordable price of $199.99. Other than it’s low cost, the name makes it a perfect fit.

Shuttle takes quiet nettops down the Cedar Trail, intros XS35V3 and XS35GTA V3

Nettops have slipped a bit out of vogue, but Shuttle is keeping the flame alive for those who like their desktops tiny and hushed. The XS35V3 and XS35GTA V3 have moved on to more contemporary Cedar Trail-era, 2.13GHz Atom D2700 processors that keep the power draw to a fanless 27W, even when everything is churning at full bore. That limit might get tested with the GTA variant, which brings in Radeon HD 7410M graphics for a lift to 3D performance, but neither mini desktop will exactly make the power company beg for mercy. Either is a barebones kit with the laptop-sized hard drive, optical drive and OS left to the buyer -- if you don't get them at the same time, you'll have only the HDMI, VGA, USB and card reader to keep you company. Europeans are currently the only ones getting a crack, where it costs €172 pre-tax ($214) for the XS35V3 and €233 ($290) to get its faster GTA cousin.

Inside Google's amazing Accessory Development Kit demo hardware (video)

The coolest thing at Google I/O this year isn't a cheap tablet or a pair of overpriced glasses or even a killer keyboard. It is, believe it or not, an alarm clock. But not just any alarm clock -- this is an alarm clock with potential. What you see above, and demonstrated in the video after the break, is the gadget that was handed out to attendees who went to learn about the Android Accessory Development Kit. It has an array of RGB LEDs on the front which it can use to display simple numerals and digits, but thanks to a bevy of sensors -- and plenty of connectivity options -- that's just the beginning. USB? Check. NFC? Definitely. Accelerometer, colorimeter, magnetometer, barometer, hygrometer, thermometer? Yes, all that and more.

Fraudster Cons Customers Into Buying Potatoes Packaged In iPhone And iPad Packaging

In the least offensive way possible and speaking as an Englishman, this type of scam could only be dreamt up in the north of England. A conman has been making cash packaging up potatoes and water bottles in original iPhone packaging and selling them as iPhones to unsuspecting customers, This is Hull and East Riding reports.

Meet the New ModBook Pro: A Full-Fledged OS X Tablet Built From a 2012 13-Inch MacBook Pro!

It’s been a long time since I’ve heard the name AxioTron. Back in 2007, the company created a unique modified MacBook called the ModBook – a full OS X based tablet computer (several years before the iPad!). Well, I’ve got two words for you: They’re back!

No profit in Nexus 7 pricing, says Rubin

How do you take a tablet featuring a 7-inch display and quad-core Tegra 3 processor and sell it for $200? You leave no room for profit. And that is exactly what Google and ASUS are doing with the Nexus 7, the newly unveiled tablet that seeks to carve out a place for itself right alongside Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Google has a lot more at stake with the project, agreeing to shoulder all marketing costs and more in exchange for a tablet that was designed from the ground up by ASUS in a time period spanning only four months.

FCC filing suggest Verizon could soon host the LG Optimus Vu

A filing uncovered over at the FCC site shows us the outline of a device that looks remarkably similar to the LG Optimus Vu. If the 4G LTE logo didn’t give it away, the LG VS950 appears destined for Verizon. A quick check of the radios reveals LTE Band 13 support as well as CDMA and GSM radios. Other transmitters checked out include Bluetooth, WiFi, and NFC.

RIM to join forces with Windows Phone in bid to survive?

 Good bye BlackBerry, hello Windows Phone? 

Research in Motion may have to bite the bullet and admit it's in serious trouble, with executives under pressure to do something radical in a bid to save the company, such as joining forces with Microsoft.

Earlier today we heard that RIM was going to delay its BlackBerry 10 operating system launch until next year, and cut a further 5,000 jobs, as the firm recorded larger than expected losses.

Reuters' sources say the RIM board is under increasing pressure to explorer other drastic options, one of which is ditching BB10 altogether, in favour of Windows Phone 8.

In Depth: 10 best tech comebacks of all time

Sometimes the right person, product or company can be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Brilliant ideas can be buried by bean-counters, the brightest firms can become bogged down in bureaucracy, and fickle fashions can doom perfectly decent designs.

Sometimes, though, the world of tech gives them a second chance — and the comebacks can be anything from amusing to awe-inspiring. These are our favourite tech comebacks. Have we missed any of your favourites?

Virgin Mobile Now Selling Prepaid iPhone in Its Stores

Virgin Mobile began selling the iPhone on Thursday, becoming the second prepaid carrier in the U.S. to offer the popular device.

Distro Issue 47: Made in the USA edition

It's that time of the year when folks in the US of A tend to get a tad bit patriotic. Pretty soon, those of us in the States will be all about grilling and putting back a few hot dogs and / or hamburgers before rushing off to catch some fireworks. We're looking to keep the spirit alive in our weekly, too. This time around, we offer up a Made in the USA edition with editorials that tackle Nevada's solar-geothermal hybrid power plant and just how much coin it takes to offer internet in American Samoa -- along with a few more stops in between. The Nexus 7 and Nexus Q were revealed at Google I/O and we offer some initial thoughts on the pair of gadgets from the folks in Mountain View. Find yourself jonesin' for a closer look at that fancy Tesla S? You're in luck. You'll find some detail shots of the new $50,000 EV in "Eyes-On" this week. So what are you waiting for? There's a monster truck on the cover for crying out loud! Dive right in to the latest issue via your download method of choice.

Google Drive for iOS Hits the App Store

Shortly after announcing Google Chrome for iOS at the Google I/O conference, Google has now released Google Drive for iOS, bringing their recently launched cloud service to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (available now from the App Store).

After more delays, Sprint’s Galaxy S III available from all channels starting July 1

I think we’ve finally got it now, the official date that Sprint customers can walk into their local shop and plop down a couple hundo for the Samsung Galaxy S3. According to a post on the Sprint Community Forums, the 16GB version of the GS3 will be available in stores, online, and via telesales starting July 1st. The 32GB handset will be available online and through phone sales only. Pricing remains at $199 and $249 respectively.
There has been some confusion about the phone’s ship date after Sprint delayed the launch of the Galaxy S III on several occasions. The issue was further compounded through the fulfillment (or lack of fulfillment) of certain pre-order sales. For the sake of all those Sprint users awaiting the device, we hope this date sticks. And look on the bright side, at least now you will only have to wait 15 days to enjoy LTE speeds on your new handset.

GameStop plans to sell Nexus 7, starts taking Android tablet trade-ins

Google's Andy Rubin suggested the Nexus 7 would reach third-party US stores eventually -- we just didn't think it would be this quickly. GameStop says it's taking pre-orders for the 16GB version of the Android 4.1 tablet starting today. At $249, it will cost exactly what it does in its currently exclusive Google Play home; in other words, one of the parties involved could be taking a voluntary hit on the already razor-thin profit margins. The 7-inch slate should be arriving roughly at the same mid-July timeframe as it is for those ordering straight from the Google source.

It wouldn't be GameStop if there weren't trade-ins involved, and sure enough, the game retailer is using the Nexus 7 as the lure. Confirming an earlier leak, the chain is now accepting Android tablet trade-ins worth up to $200 in cash (or $250 in store credit) depending on how pristine the hardware is coming into the store. Play your cards right, and you're very nearly getting the Google-blessed tablet for free. As an extra incentive, any gear whose exchange goes directly towards buying the Nexus 7 will get a 30 percent boost in value. Knowing the buzz surrounding the price-to-performance ratio of the ASUS-made Nexus, we won't be surprised if GameStop suddenly faces a glut of older Android tablets in its backrooms.

Review: Ion iCade Mobile – An Affordable Classic Gamepad for iPhone and iPod touch!

The original iCade arcade cabinet for iPad (review) was a magical device – the first of its kind, allowing users to play classic games otherwise lost in time, and enjoy a real arcade-like experience while doing it. While at CES 2012 in January, I noticed that the iCade now has a little brother: The iCade Mobile.

Google Confirms: Chrome Could Be Crashing Your MacBook Air!

Following numerous reports of freezing and crashing issues with new MacBook Airs in the Apple Support Communities, many  (notable, Gizmodo) suggested that Google Chrome might be the cause of all of this grief. Google has now stepped forward to confirm those rumors.

Unboxing the Nexus 7 [Video]

You’ve already seen us go hands-on with the newly unveiled Nexus 7 tablet from Google and ASUS, so let’s rewind things a bit. This is the Nexus 7 before it has been ripped from its packaging and all the anxiousness and anticipation that goes along with it. What’s in the box? Well you’ll just have to watch to find out.

AT&T Wanted RIM to Create an iPhone Competitor

Back in 2010, while AT&T was the exclusive carrier for the iPhone in the U.S., it asked Research in Motion to develop a touchscreen smartphone to compete with the iPhone.

 

Sprint launching LTE network July 15, starts with Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, and San Antonio

Ready to finally use your 4G LTE Sprint smartphone on an actual 4G LTE network? July 15th is the date to watch, at least if you live in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, or San Antonio. Sprint will be rolling out their next-gen network in those five cities first and join the likes of Verizon and AT&T as the three main providers of LTE coverage in the States. More markets will follow as part of a nationwide rollout, though Sprint hasn’t given any timeframe.

In Depth: 10 best free lightweight troubleshooting tools

Figuring out exactly why a PC isn't working can be a complicated process, even for experts - there's just so much that can go wrong.

Our latest collection of Tiny Tools can help, though, by providing easy access to hundreds of lightweight, (mostly) portable and free utilities.

Whether you're suffering unexpected crashes or internet issues, Windows update or performance problems, there's something here to help you restore your system to normal working order.

And they're not just for geeks. Many of these tools are so simple that just about anyone can use them to troubleshooting their system problems.

Does Apple Have Big Plans for Podcasts?

Podcasts were first brought to iTunes in 2005, and after a strong push, they seem to have fallen to the wayside. With the release of Apple’s Podcasts app this week, could Apple be announcing to the world that they’re finally taking podcasts seriously?

Did the DROID Incredible 4G drop the “G” or was this simply a marketing mistake?

We were excited to see that a supposed HTC DROID Incredible 4G may exist thanks to marketing materials posted over at AndroidForums.com, but this isn’t a new device at all: it’s the HTC DROID Incredible 4G we got our hands on last month, but this ad refers to it as the HTC DROID Incredible 4.

A possibility is that Verizon dropped the “G” in 4G, but this would be a long shot considering there has yet to be a third device in the DROID Incredible series.

Coca-Cola's A011 vending machine keeps drink cool without using (much) power

So maybe that self-chilling soda didn't pan out, but Coca-Cola is working on another method for keeping its beverages cool without using power. In partnership with Fuji Electric Retail Systems, the company has developed the A011 vending machine, which is capable of keeping drinks frosty for up to 16 hours a day without using energy. The A011 works by shifting the cooling process from mid-day, when energy use is higher, to nighttime, when there is a higher power capacity. Even after the machine stops powering the chilling, the unit's temperature only rises slightly, thanks to vacuum insulation and an airtight design. Great in theory, right? Well Coca-Cola Japan will put the product to the test this summer with a two-month pilot program in two of Japan's toastiest areas, Tajimi City in Gifu Prefecture and Kumagaya City in Saitama Prefecture. If things go well, the company will tweak the A011 to extend the amount of time it can go without power. Room-temperature soda is the worst, so here's hoping it works.

Spotify No. 2 Revenue Source for Record Labels, Lags Far Behind iTunes

Music streaming service Spotify is now reportedly the second largest source of revenue for the major record labels, but still lags far behind leader Apple’s iTunes.

AppleInsider:

The claims, which have not been independently confirmed, come from a source close to the company who notes that even at number two, Spotify has a huge gap to overcome to reach a level of success enjoyed by iTunes, reports Business Insider.

Hands-on with the Nexus Q Media Streaming device (and using the Nexus 7 remote) [VIDEO]

You’ve already seen the Nexus Q, Google’s media streaming orb that looks stylish and is a lot more flexible than comparable competition, get unboxed by the Phandroid crew at Google I/O, but you haven’t seen our quality time with the device.

The Amazing Spiderman Hits The App Store Before The Cinema

The Amazing Spiderman iOS game to go along with the film hit the App Store today, four days before it’s scheduled to be released in the cinema in the US. The game, which runs exclusively on the iPhone 4/4S and the iPad 2 and new iPad, tests your spider senses over 25 missions inspired by the film.

At $6.99, it’s not the cheapest game but fans of the Marvel comic will definitely want to test out their web slinging abilities, so it’s definitely not one to miss.

Verizon says Share Everything, and now you finally can

When Verizon finally came good on its Share Everything promise, mobile matrimony on the big red finally seemed a solid reality. If your team couldn't wait to get its sharesies on, then rest easy, as Verizon's come good on that 28th delivery date. Don't forget, you'll still have to cough up a monthly fee per device ($40 for a smartphone, $20 for a mobile hotspot etc) but you can still divvy up that $50-$100 monthly access fee, and be prepared to argue over that $15 overage charge if you choose the wrong one.

RIM Delays Launch Of BlackBerry 10 OS Until 2013

RIM has announced they are delaying the launch of their next mobile operating system. RIM now says it will be released in 2013.

Business Insider:

The company showed off BlackBerry 10 at its developers conference in May and claimed the new platform will be what finally puts the company back on track.

Xbox Music to offer streaming, downloads and cloud storage?

Xbox Music - will the pupil become the master?

Rumours are afoot that Microsoft's recently announced Xbox Music service hopes to take on iTunes, Spotify and iCloud and loads of other stuff all in one go.

Those 'with knowledge of the situation' told Bloomberg that the public-yet-still-quite-secret service will offer streaming, music downloads and cloud storage in one Xbox-centric package.

It seems that Ballmer and co have been letting other companies make all the mistakes before swooping in with a Frankenstein's-musical-monster service incorporating the best features of each. 

Canon 7D 2.0.X firmware update scheduled for August, brings plenty of free fixins

It's hard to believe, but the last the last time we covered a major firmware update for Canon's 7D DLSR the iPhone 4 was still fresh in our minds. Now, nearly two years later, Canon is offering up a bevy of new features for the camera with its soon to be released -- and free -- 2.0.X update. To start, folks who shoot RAW will be pleased to know that they can shoot up to 25 continuous frames (17 in RAW + JPEG) in burst mode -- that's up from just 15 previously. You'll also be able to edit images captured in the format straight from the camera, as well as set a maximum limit of 6400 (up from 3200) for its Auto ISO mode. If that wasn't enough, Geotaggers should know that Canon is also going to make its GP-E2 GPS module (originally introduced with the 5D Mark III) 7D-compatible. Lastly, videographers are getting a nice bump in the audio and multi-camera shooting departments; you'll be able to manually control the mic-input with a choice of 64 volume levels (like the Mark II) and an updated sub-menu interface will allow the first four characters of your videos' file names to be changed. The update won't be available until early August, but you'll find full details and a video demo at the source link below.

Google Chrome Browser Coming to iOS

There have been a lot of third-party web browsers released for iOS, but Google this morning at their Google I/O conference just announced the most anticipated Mobile Safari alternative to date: Google Chrome for iOS, set to hit the App Store later today (via The Verge)!

Android PC gets wrapped in maple, hits that premium sweet spot

If you feel that a typical barebones Android PC really won't do alongside your chaise longue and stack of hardback first editions, you may be interested in Jeffrey Stephenson's latest case mod. Underneath the birds eye maple, acrylic panelling and mesh, the Acero houses VIA's humble $49 Neo-ITX-based system card, running an iteration of Android 2.3 ready for mouse and keyboard add-ons. Up to 720p graphics is possible, which can be output through its VGA or HDMI ports and although that 800MHz processor may not be up to delivering the greatest gaming thrills, we've already got our joystick picked out.