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.