Bent on mobile success, Google is reportedly ready to let Motorola spend upwards of $500 million marketing its first phone under the search’s giant corporate umbrella.  “All four major U.S. wireless carriers … are expected to make the device available to their customers this fall,” The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources. 

Defying negative reviews and broader market trends, Google’s Chromebook appears to be a hit with consumers. “It’s defying skeptics and gaining share as the rest of the personal-computer market shrinks,” Bloomberg writes. Indeed, in less than a year, Chromebooks have grabbed 20% to 25% of the domestic market for low-tier laptops -- or that cost less than $300 -- according to NPD Group. 

Fullscreen is rolling out new management tools to help video producers better monetize their offerings on YouTube. In particular, the company has rolled out Fullscreen Gorilla, which will help producers participate in branded sponsorship campaigns, TechCrunch reports. “That’s one way that Fullscreen is helping creators to better monetize their channels through its network,” it writes.

CNBC reported on Tuesday that Guggenheim Digital Media and private-equity firm KKR have dropped their joint bid for Hulu. Translation? “The pay-TV biz is going to get its hands on Hulu,” Variety writes. In other words, “That leaves three bidders, all with ties to established distributors: satcaster DirecTV, telco AT&T (together with the Chernin Group), and in a less likely scenario, Time Warner Cable may come in as part owner.” 

BlackBerry’s latest attempt to revive its U.S. smartphone business was botched, the  company’s head admitted this week. “Were we perfect at the launch?” president and CEO Thorsten Heins said Tuesday. “Probably not.” Likely as a direct result, Richard Piasentin, Blackberry’s managing director of U.S. sales and marketing, was reportedly forced to step down, last month. 

Yahoo reportedly paid about $48 million in cash for address book app and plugin maker Xobni. The acquisition-happy Yahoo “has promised (Xobni’s) staff of 32 many millions more in stock for earn-outs if they stay at the company for several years,” AllThingsD reports. AllThingsD had previously suggested that the acquisition price was closer to $40 million. 

About that major restructuring at Microsoft that AllThingsD said was coming on the first of the month? Well, it’s still coming, and most likely by Thursday, Kara Swisher reports. “Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is poised to unveil his plan to drastically restructure the tech giant this week,” she writes. “He is expected to organize the Redmond, Wash.-based company around services -- or software -- and devices, both in the consumer and business sectors.” 

Adjusting to kids’ changing habits, Hasbro just dropped $112 million in cash for a 70% stake in mobile game maker Backflip Studios. “The deal values company at $160 million, which is another bellwether for the valuations in the industry,” TechCrunch writes of the broader mobile gaming market. 

Having set a Friday deadline for bids, Hulu has reportedly received binding offers from DirecTV, AT&T together with Chernin Group, and Guggenheim Digital Media together with private-equity firm KKR. “They will review their options and seek to work out a definitive agreement with one of the interested buyers in the next week or two,” The Wall Street Journal reports, regarding Hulu’s owners. 

Sure to make you feel your age, The New York Times’ Bits blog marvels at just how young most technology workers are. “It’s well known that technology is a young man’s game,” it writes. “Still, it is surprising to see just how young (and how male).” How old is too old, today? Try 35.