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Can your game console act as a TV replacement? Very nearly, now that more and more video apps are hitting consoles at a record rate. HBO Go, which has become a symbol of sorts for the potential of app-based on-demand entertainment as a cable accessory, has hit the Xbox, joining Roku, Android phones, the iPhone, and the iPad -- and, of course, smart TVs and laptops, too.

Unlike IP-based cable provider apps like Time Warner and Xfinity, HBO Go works anywhere in the U.S. just like Netflix, provided you have a subscriber log-in that comes from signing in via your cable provider. Oh, there's one more thing: not all cable providers allow HBO Go to work on the Xbox. Depending on who your provider is, you'll either (a) not be able to use HBO Go, or (b) be able to use it on certain devices, but not others.… Read more

It's looking like "Game of Thrones" fans will have a couple extra days to get ready to watch the premiere of season two on Microsoft's XBox Live. Rumor has it that both HBO Go and Comcast's video-on-demand service will be available on Xbox Live tomorrow, according to tech news site GigaOM.

Ever since Microsoft announced last fall that its gaming console would add HBO Go and Comcast in with its new content partners and live TV programming, users have awaited the official launch. Several other apps shortly became available, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, and … Read more

Sackboy and friends put the pedal to the metal in a new racing adventure set to debut in 2012.

Media Molecule announced yesterday LittleBigPlanet Karting for PS3, a kart racing game made in collaboration with ModNation Racers co-creator United Front Games. The title retains the familiar "Play, Create, Share" motto used in previous LittleBigPlanet releases but offers large areas for driving instead of just side-scrolling adventures. … Read more

A few of us here in the office have been looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker that will work in the shower. Alas, G-Project's new $69 G-Go speaker, which just became available in Target stores, is splash-resistant but not waterproof, so it might not quite fit the bill, but it's close.

The speaker comes in three colors and has an integrated handle for carrying it around. There are no built-in rechargeable battery like some portable Bluetooth speakers have, but you can get up to 8 hours of on-the-go use with four AA batteries, according to the company. You can stream music to it from any Bluetooth-enabled device, which includes virtually all smartphones and many tablets, including the iPad and higher-end Android tablets (the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet do not offer Bluetooth). … Read more

As promised at CES 2012, Seagate announced the latest major firmware upgrade for the Seagate GoFlex Satellite today.

When first released almost a year ago, the Satellite was effectively the first wireless storage expander for the iPad as well as other mobile devices, allowing for streaming digital content it stored to up to three mobile devices via its built-in Wi-Fi network. One of the few drawbacks of the device was the fact that it couldn't relay the Internet access from another Wi-Fi network, making mobile devices remain offline when connected to its Wi-Fi network. … Read more

Finally, you now can have access to a Thunderbolt storage device without having to sell an arm and a leg, but maybe just a little finger.

Seagate's latest adapter for its superflexible external hard drive, the GoFlex Desk, now supports the Thunderbolt standard and costs just $190.

While $190 is not a small amount, the GoFlex Desk Thunderbolt adapter, when coupled with a GoFlex Desk drive (which costs another $250 for the top 4TB capacity), still comes out at least $100 cheaper than any other Thunderbolt storage device, including those with much less storage space.

To add icing to … Read more

The Wikimedia Foundation has completed the process of transferring its domains away from Go Daddy in response to Go Daddy's initial support for the Stop Online Piracy Act, the foundation said this week.

"As the provider of the 5th most visited Web properties in the world, the Foundation cares deeply about who handles our domain names. We had been deliberating a move from GoDaddy for some time--our legal department felt the company was not the best fit for our domain needs--and we began actively seeking other domain management providers in December 2011. GoDaddy's initial support of (SOPA)...… Read more

Residents of Portland and Washington, D.C. will have another option for getting around town without owning a car. Car2Go is expanding its fleet of rentable Smart cars this month and will set up shop in the East and West coast cities.

Car2Go, a subsidiary of Daimler, began its car-sharing service in Germany in 2008 and launched in the U.S. in 2009. It currently counts 70,000 members in nine international cities, and launched a fleet of 200 all-electric Smart cars in San Diego, Calif. at the end of last year.

With insurance, gasoline, and parking included in the … Read more

Businesses looking to support Windows 8 ARM tablets may find a few features missing in action.

Ahead of today's launch of the beta dubbed the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, Microsoft has revealed that certain features used to manage Windows-based devices won't be available for the ARM platform.

"ARM-based tablets running Windows 8 are ideal for workers who are constantly on the go and need a long-lasting battery, Microsoft said in its Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Guide for Business document released today.

"ARM-based tablets use less power than 32-bit and 64-bit devices and workers can rely … Read more