Lifehacker says there aren’t a lot of new features since their first look at the software, but it is a free antivirus app, albeit one that might not be great enough to get you to switch from your current app. After all, AVG is still free for individuals, but for small businesses that need to install one on every machine, this might free up a good deal more budget for a fancy Xmas party. [Microsoft via Lifehacker]

Some new vending machines in Japan are designed to hand out free drinks to all comers—but only in case of an emergency.

In the earthquake-prone country, specially marked vending machines currently being distributed to subway stations can be set to “emergency mode,” in which they hand out free drinks to everyone.

It’s a pretty great idea, as water is something that people need during a disaster and is just sitting in those vending machines. They’ve just got to make sure pranksters aren’t able to turn free mode on when there isn’t a disaster afoot. [Inventorspot via The Daily What]

Playing live is what we love. This album is a thank you to our fans – the people who give us a reason to do it and make it happen.

However, instead of adopting Nine Inch Nails’ position on free music, Coldplay is saying that they are doing this as a thank you to fans in this time of economic recession. I’m not going to argue with their reasons. It’s free and I like Chris Martin. Although not in the way Jason Chen likes Chris Martin. OK, maybe a little.

Check the band’s tour dates at their web site, and go there on May 15 to get the album. [Coldplay]

If you’re going to continue to offer more and more awesome content in your unmetered Freezone, including Xbox Live, ABC’s iView and iTunes downloads, I’m REALLY going to need you to launch ADSL2+ at my local exchange so I can switch. Seriously, now that you’ve added Super 14 rugby to your Freezone, I’m so frustrated at the crappy deal I’m forced into putting up with because I need ADSL2+ that I’m probably going to have kick something just to stay sane.I mean, considering that I would get – for no extra charge – full Fox Sports coverage of the Aussie Super 14 matches, up to 4 on demand games each round and an unmetered quota for all games, I reckon I could almost give up the Fox Sports package on Foxtel – I mean, I only get it for the Super 14…

Grrrr. I’m so frustrated! My local exchange is like watching the Waratahs implode on their way to the finals year after year. In any case, I envy rugby fans already on iiNet, that’s for sure.

[iiNet Freezone - Thanks Adam!]

To be fair, there’s actually some useful stuff in this kit. The included keyboard overlays can remind you of Gmail shortcuts (the perfect excuse to score your fix of adhesive unicorn and glitter paraphernalia). To order your stickers, send a self-addressed envelope (we’re not joking) to:

Send me some Gmail stickers already
P.O. Box 391420
Mountain View, CA 94039-1420

Supplies seem to be limited, so avid sticker collectors best move quickly. [Google]

Well, it’s only semi-legal. You’d better download these files fast before they’re taken down (they’ll most likely pop up again elsewhere though, with a day or two’s delay). The instructions are here, complete with photos of the process. If you want to unlock, hit that up now rather than pay $US30-$US50 to some guy to unlock your phone for you. [Sw box via ZonaBlackBerry via Into Mobile]

They’re also announcing the addition of Universal Music Group and Sony BMG to the MP3 DRM-less format (DRM-less as long as you buy the music), the last bits to complete their “majors” MP3 collection. We think the deal is hotness as long as you’re OK with the fact that you’re renting, not buying; well, you’re now “buying” those ten tracks a month, in essence. [Zune]

The movie follows a 60 city tour across twenty battleground states to promote voting with the objective to change the colour of the current administration. It has appearances by REM, Joan Baez (Steve Jobs’ former girlfriend, for those of you who are not as old as myself), Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), Viggo Mortensen, Roseanne Barr, and of course, Michael Moore himself, as well as a bunch of extras. Quite honestly, while I personally agree–looking from outside the US–with the need for change, I would have preffered to get the Dark Knight free in HD. [Slacker Uprising]