diff --git a/apis/atmos/src/test/java/org/jclouds/atmos/blobstore/integration/AtmosContainerIntegrationLiveTest.java b/apis/atmos/src/test/java/org/jclouds/atmos/blobstore/integration/AtmosContainerIntegrationLiveTest.java
index 373379bbe9..a2f31c766b 100644
--- a/apis/atmos/src/test/java/org/jclouds/atmos/blobstore/integration/AtmosContainerIntegrationLiveTest.java
+++ b/apis/atmos/src/test/java/org/jclouds/atmos/blobstore/integration/AtmosContainerIntegrationLiveTest.java
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ package org.jclouds.atmos.blobstore.integration;
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertEquals;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 
 import org.jclouds.blobstore.domain.BlobMetadata;
 import org.jclouds.blobstore.integration.internal.BaseContainerIntegrationTest;
@@ -34,13 +33,12 @@ import org.testng.annotations.Test;
 public class AtmosContainerIntegrationLiveTest extends BaseContainerIntegrationTest {
 
    @Override
-   public void testListContainerMaxResults() throws InterruptedException,
-            UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testListContainerMaxResults() throws InterruptedException {
       // Not currently working
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void testListContainerMarker() throws InterruptedException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testListContainerMarker() throws InterruptedException {
       // Not currently working https://community.emc.com/thread/100545
    }
    
diff --git a/apis/s3/src/main/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/CopyObjectOptions.java b/apis/s3/src/main/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/CopyObjectOptions.java
index b994458180..cc9989a948 100644
--- a/apis/s3/src/main/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/CopyObjectOptions.java
+++ b/apis/s3/src/main/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/CopyObjectOptions.java
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ import static org.jclouds.s3.reference.S3Headers.COPY_SOURCE_IF_UNMODIFIED_SINCE
 import static org.jclouds.s3.reference.S3Headers.DEFAULT_AMAZON_HEADERTAG;
 import static org.jclouds.s3.reference.S3Headers.METADATA_DIRECTIVE;
 
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Map.Entry;
@@ -227,7 +226,7 @@ public class CopyObjectOptions extends BaseHttpRequestOptions {
     * @param eTag
     *           hash representing the payload
     */
-   public CopyObjectOptions ifSourceETagMatches(String eTag) throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public CopyObjectOptions ifSourceETagMatches(String eTag) {
       checkState(getIfNoneMatch() == null, "ifETagDoesntMatch() is not compatible with ifETagMatches()");
       checkState(getIfModifiedSince() == null, "ifModifiedSince() is not compatible with ifETagMatches()");
       replaceHeader(COPY_SOURCE_IF_MATCH, String.format("\"%1$s\"", checkNotNull(eTag, "eTag")));
@@ -242,10 +241,8 @@ public class CopyObjectOptions extends BaseHttpRequestOptions {
     * 
     * @param eTag
     *           hash representing the payload
-    * @throws UnsupportedEncodingException
-    *            if there was a problem converting this into an S3 eTag string
     */
-   public CopyObjectOptions ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(String eTag) throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public CopyObjectOptions ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(String eTag) {
       checkState(getIfMatch() == null, "ifETagMatches() is not compatible with ifETagDoesntMatch()");
       Preconditions.checkState(getIfUnmodifiedSince() == null,
                "ifUnmodifiedSince() is not compatible with ifETagDoesntMatch()");
@@ -307,7 +304,7 @@ public class CopyObjectOptions extends BaseHttpRequestOptions {
       /**
        * @see CopyObjectOptions#ifSourceETagMatches(String)
        */
-      public static CopyObjectOptions ifSourceETagMatches(String eTag) throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+      public static CopyObjectOptions ifSourceETagMatches(String eTag) {
          CopyObjectOptions options = new CopyObjectOptions();
          return options.ifSourceETagMatches(eTag);
       }
@@ -315,7 +312,7 @@ public class CopyObjectOptions extends BaseHttpRequestOptions {
       /**
        * @see CopyObjectOptions#ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(String)
        */
-      public static CopyObjectOptions ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(String eTag) throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+      public static CopyObjectOptions ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(String eTag) {
          CopyObjectOptions options = new CopyObjectOptions();
          return options.ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(eTag);
       }
diff --git a/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/CopyObjectOptionsTest.java b/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/CopyObjectOptionsTest.java
index d650de40eb..68ab331456 100644
--- a/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/CopyObjectOptionsTest.java
+++ b/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/CopyObjectOptionsTest.java
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ import static org.testng.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertNull;
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertTrue;
 
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.Map;
 
@@ -155,7 +154,7 @@ public class CopyObjectOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testIfETagMatches() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagMatches() {
       CopyObjectOptions options = new CopyObjectOptions();
       options.ifSourceETagMatches(etag);
       matchesHex(options.getIfMatch());
@@ -168,18 +167,18 @@ public class CopyObjectOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testIfETagMatchesStatic() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagMatchesStatic() {
       CopyObjectOptions options = ifSourceETagMatches(etag);
       matchesHex(options.getIfMatch());
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = NullPointerException.class)
-   public void testIfETagMatchesNPE() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagMatchesNPE() {
       ifSourceETagMatches(null);
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testIfETagDoesntMatch() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagDoesntMatch() {
       CopyObjectOptions options = new CopyObjectOptions();
       options.ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(etag);
       matchesHex(options.getIfNoneMatch());
@@ -192,17 +191,17 @@ public class CopyObjectOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testIfETagDoesntMatchStatic() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagDoesntMatchStatic() {
       CopyObjectOptions options = ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(etag);
       matchesHex(options.getIfNoneMatch());
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = NullPointerException.class)
-   public void testIfETagDoesntMatchNPE() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagDoesntMatchNPE() {
       ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(null);
    }
 
-   private void matchesHex(String match) throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   private void matchesHex(String match) {
       String expected = "\"" + etag + "\"";
       assertEquals(match, expected);
    }
@@ -213,13 +212,13 @@ public class CopyObjectOptionsTest {
 
    }
 
-   public void testIfUnmodifiedAfterETagMatches() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfUnmodifiedAfterETagMatches() {
       ifSourceETagMatches(etag).ifSourceUnmodifiedSince(now);
 
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalStateException.class)
-   public void testIfUnmodifiedAfterETagDoesntMatch() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfUnmodifiedAfterETagDoesntMatch() {
       ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(etag).ifSourceUnmodifiedSince(now);
    }
 
@@ -230,49 +229,49 @@ public class CopyObjectOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalStateException.class)
-   public void testIfModifiedAfterETagMatches() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfModifiedAfterETagMatches() {
       ifSourceETagMatches(etag).ifSourceModifiedSince(now);
 
    }
 
-   public void testIfModifiedAfterETagDoesntMatch() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfModifiedAfterETagDoesntMatch() {
       ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(etag).ifSourceModifiedSince(now);
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalStateException.class)
-   public void testETagMatchesAfterIfModified() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagMatchesAfterIfModified() {
       ifSourceModifiedSince(now).ifSourceETagMatches(etag);
 
    }
 
-   public void testETagMatchesAfterIfUnmodified() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagMatchesAfterIfUnmodified() {
       ifSourceUnmodifiedSince(now).ifSourceETagMatches(etag);
 
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalStateException.class)
-   public void testETagMatchesAfterETagDoesntMatch() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagMatchesAfterETagDoesntMatch() {
       ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(etag).ifSourceETagMatches(etag);
    }
 
-   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterIfModified() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterIfModified() {
       ifSourceModifiedSince(now).ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(etag);
 
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalStateException.class)
-   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterIfUnmodified() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterIfUnmodified() {
       ifSourceUnmodifiedSince(now).ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(etag);
 
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalStateException.class)
-   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterETagMatches() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterETagMatches() {
       ifSourceETagMatches(etag).ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(etag);
    }
 
    @Test
-   void testBuildRequestHeadersWhenMetadataNull() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   void testBuildRequestHeadersWhenMetadataNull() {
       CopyObjectOptions options = new CopyObjectOptions();
       options.setHeaderTag(DEFAULT_AMAZON_HEADERTAG);
 
@@ -281,7 +280,7 @@ public class CopyObjectOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   void testBuildRequestHeaders() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   void testBuildRequestHeaders() {
       CopyObjectOptions options = ifSourceModifiedSince(now).ifSourceETagDoesntMatch(etag).overrideMetadataWith(
                goodMeta);
       options.setHeaderTag(DEFAULT_AMAZON_HEADERTAG);
@@ -310,7 +309,7 @@ public class CopyObjectOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   void testBuildRequestHeadersACL() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   void testBuildRequestHeadersACL() {
       CopyObjectOptions options = overrideAcl(CannedAccessPolicy.AUTHENTICATED_READ);
       options.setHeaderTag(DEFAULT_AMAZON_HEADERTAG);
 
diff --git a/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/ListBucketOptionsTest.java b/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/ListBucketOptionsTest.java
index 486fe381d8..7d2839bd95 100644
--- a/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/ListBucketOptionsTest.java
+++ b/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/ListBucketOptionsTest.java
@@ -24,11 +24,10 @@ import static org.jclouds.s3.options.ListBucketOptions.Builder.maxResults;
 import static org.jclouds.s3.options.ListBucketOptions.Builder.withPrefix;
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertEquals;
 
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.util.Collections;
 
-import org.jclouds.s3.reference.S3Constants;
 import org.jclouds.http.options.HttpRequestOptions;
+import org.jclouds.s3.reference.S3Constants;
 import org.testng.annotations.Test;
 
 import com.google.common.collect.Multimap;
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ public class ListBucketOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testPrefix() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testPrefix() {
       ListBucketOptions options = new ListBucketOptions();
       options.withPrefix("test");
       assertEquals(options.buildQueryParameters().get(S3Constants.PREFIX), Collections
@@ -61,7 +60,7 @@ public class ListBucketOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testOneOptionQueryString() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testOneOptionQueryString() {
       ListBucketOptions options = new ListBucketOptions();
       options.withPrefix("test");
       Multimap<String, String> map = options.buildQueryParameters();
@@ -70,7 +69,7 @@ public class ListBucketOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testTwoOptionQueryString() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testTwoOptionQueryString() {
       ListBucketOptions options = new ListBucketOptions();
       options.withPrefix("test").maxResults(1);
       Multimap<String, String> map = options.buildQueryParameters();
@@ -80,7 +79,7 @@ public class ListBucketOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testPrefixAndDelimiterUrlEncodingQueryString() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testPrefixAndDelimiterUrlEncodingQueryString() {
       ListBucketOptions options = new ListBucketOptions();
       options.withPrefix("/test").delimiter("/");
       Multimap<String, String> map = options.buildQueryParameters();
@@ -97,19 +96,19 @@ public class ListBucketOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testPrefixStatic() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testPrefixStatic() {
       ListBucketOptions options = withPrefix("test");
       assertEquals(options.buildQueryParameters().get(S3Constants.PREFIX), Collections
                .singletonList("test"));
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = NullPointerException.class)
-   public void testPrefixNPE() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testPrefixNPE() {
       withPrefix(null);
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testMarker() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testMarker() {
       ListBucketOptions options = new ListBucketOptions();
       options.afterMarker("test");
       assertEquals(options.buildQueryParameters().get(S3Constants.MARKER), Collections
@@ -123,14 +122,14 @@ public class ListBucketOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testMarkerStatic() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testMarkerStatic() {
       ListBucketOptions options = afterMarker("test");
       assertEquals(options.buildQueryParameters().get(S3Constants.MARKER), Collections
                .singletonList("test"));
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = NullPointerException.class)
-   public void testMarkerNPE() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testMarkerNPE() {
       afterMarker(null);
    }
 
@@ -161,7 +160,7 @@ public class ListBucketOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testDelimiter() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testDelimiter() {
       ListBucketOptions options = new ListBucketOptions();
       options.delimiter("test");
       assertEquals(options.buildQueryParameters().get(S3Constants.DELIMITER), Collections
@@ -176,14 +175,14 @@ public class ListBucketOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testDelimiterStatic() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testDelimiterStatic() {
       ListBucketOptions options = delimiter("test");
       assertEquals(options.buildQueryParameters().get(S3Constants.DELIMITER), Collections
                .singletonList("test"));
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = NullPointerException.class)
-   public void testDelimiterNPE() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testDelimiterNPE() {
       delimiter(null);
    }
 }
diff --git a/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/PutBucketOptionsTest.java b/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/PutBucketOptionsTest.java
index 435dd98961..adf15842f4 100644
--- a/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/PutBucketOptionsTest.java
+++ b/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/PutBucketOptionsTest.java
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@ package org.jclouds.s3.options;
 import static org.jclouds.s3.options.PutBucketOptions.Builder.withBucketAcl;
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertEquals;
 
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
-
 import org.jclouds.s3.domain.CannedAccessPolicy;
 import org.jclouds.s3.reference.S3Headers;
 import org.testng.annotations.Test;
@@ -50,7 +48,7 @@ public class PutBucketOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   void testBuildRequestHeaders() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   void testBuildRequestHeaders() {
 
       PutBucketOptions options = withBucketAcl(CannedAccessPolicy.AUTHENTICATED_READ);
 
diff --git a/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/PutObjectOptionsTest.java b/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/PutObjectOptionsTest.java
index c5e2df1d94..556e8e669e 100644
--- a/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/PutObjectOptionsTest.java
+++ b/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/options/PutObjectOptionsTest.java
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@ package org.jclouds.s3.options;
 import static org.jclouds.s3.options.PutObjectOptions.Builder.withAcl;
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertEquals;
 
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
-
 import org.jclouds.s3.domain.CannedAccessPolicy;
 import org.jclouds.s3.reference.S3Headers;
 import org.testng.annotations.Test;
@@ -50,7 +48,7 @@ public class PutObjectOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   void testBuildRequestHeaders() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   void testBuildRequestHeaders() {
 
       PutObjectOptions options = withAcl(CannedAccessPolicy.AUTHENTICATED_READ);
       options.setHeaderTag(S3Headers.DEFAULT_AMAZON_HEADERTAG);
diff --git a/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/services/BucketsLiveTest.java b/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/services/BucketsLiveTest.java
index 594c1d3b7c..d1b65f5969 100644
--- a/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/services/BucketsLiveTest.java
+++ b/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/services/BucketsLiveTest.java
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import static org.testng.Assert.assertNull;
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertTrue;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.net.URL;
 import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.Set;
@@ -36,6 +35,7 @@ import java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeoutException;
 
 import org.jclouds.aws.domain.Region;
+import org.jclouds.blobstore.integration.internal.BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest;
 import org.jclouds.s3.S3Client;
 import org.jclouds.s3.domain.AccessControlList;
 import org.jclouds.s3.domain.AccessControlList.CanonicalUserGrantee;
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ import org.jclouds.s3.domain.ListBucketResponse;
 import org.jclouds.s3.domain.Payer;
 import org.jclouds.s3.domain.S3Object;
 import org.jclouds.s3.internal.StubS3AsyncClient;
-import org.jclouds.blobstore.integration.internal.BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest;
 import org.jclouds.util.Strings2;
 import org.testng.annotations.Test;
 
@@ -332,8 +331,7 @@ public class BucketsLiveTest extends BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest {
       }
    }
 
-   public void testListBucketDelimiter() throws InterruptedException, ExecutionException, TimeoutException,
-         UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testListBucketDelimiter() throws InterruptedException, ExecutionException, TimeoutException {
       String bucketName = getContainerName();
       try {
          String prefix = "apps";
@@ -350,8 +348,7 @@ public class BucketsLiveTest extends BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest {
 
    }
 
-   public void testListBucketPrefix() throws InterruptedException, ExecutionException, TimeoutException,
-         UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testListBucketPrefix() throws InterruptedException, ExecutionException, TimeoutException {
       String bucketName = getContainerName();
       try {
          String prefix = "apps";
@@ -368,8 +365,7 @@ public class BucketsLiveTest extends BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest {
 
    }
 
-   public void testListBucketMaxResults() throws InterruptedException, ExecutionException, TimeoutException,
-         UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testListBucketMaxResults() throws InterruptedException, ExecutionException, TimeoutException {
       String bucketName = getContainerName();
       try {
          addAlphabetUnderRoot(bucketName);
diff --git a/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/xml/S3ParserTest.java b/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/xml/S3ParserTest.java
index b887c69feb..8ae37fc4aa 100644
--- a/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/xml/S3ParserTest.java
+++ b/apis/s3/src/test/java/org/jclouds/s3/xml/S3ParserTest.java
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ package org.jclouds.s3.xml;
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertEquals;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.net.URI;
 import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.Set;
@@ -130,7 +129,7 @@ public class S3ParserTest extends PerformanceTest {
 
    public static final String listContainerResult = "<ListContainerHandler xmlns=\"http://s3.amazonaws.com/doc/2006-03-01/\"><Name>adrianjbosstest</Name><Prefix></Prefix><Marker></Marker><MaxKeys>1000</MaxKeys><IsTruncated>false</IsTruncated><Contents><Key>3366</Key><LastModified>2009-03-12T02:00:13.000Z</LastModified><ETag>&quot;9d7bb64e8e18ee34eec06dd2cf37b766&quot;</ETag><Size>136</Size><Owner><ID>e1a5f66a480ca99a4fdfe8e318c3020446c9989d7004e7778029fbcc5d990fa0</ID><DisplayName>ferncam</DisplayName></Owner><StorageClass>STANDARD</StorageClass></Contents></ListContainerHandler>";
 
-   public void testCanParseListContainerResult() throws HttpException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testCanParseListContainerResult() throws HttpException {
       ListBucketResponse container = runParseListContainerResult();
       assert !container.isTruncated();
       assert container.getName().equals("adrianjbosstest");
@@ -161,7 +160,7 @@ public class S3ParserTest extends PerformanceTest {
                Strings2.toInputStream(successfulCopyObject200));
    }
 
-   public void testCanParseCopyObjectResult() throws HttpException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testCanParseCopyObjectResult() throws HttpException {
       ObjectMetadata metadata = runParseCopyObjectResult();
       Date expected = new SimpleDateFormatDateService().iso8601DateParse("2009-03-19T13:23:27.000Z");
       assertEquals(metadata.getLastModified(), expected);
diff --git a/apis/swift/src/test/java/org/jclouds/openstack/swift/options/ListContainerOptionsTest.java b/apis/swift/src/test/java/org/jclouds/openstack/swift/options/ListContainerOptionsTest.java
index d15a7ddd75..ab5d5762d1 100644
--- a/apis/swift/src/test/java/org/jclouds/openstack/swift/options/ListContainerOptionsTest.java
+++ b/apis/swift/src/test/java/org/jclouds/openstack/swift/options/ListContainerOptionsTest.java
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import static org.jclouds.openstack.swift.options.ListContainerOptions.Builder.u
 import static org.jclouds.openstack.swift.options.ListContainerOptions.Builder.withPrefix;
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertEquals;
 
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.util.Collections;
 
 import org.jclouds.http.options.HttpRequestOptions;
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ public class ListContainerOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testPrefix() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testPrefix() {
       ListContainerOptions options = new ListContainerOptions();
       options.withPrefix("test");
       assertEquals(options.buildQueryParameters().get(SwiftConstants.PREFIX), Collections.singletonList("test"));
@@ -60,7 +59,7 @@ public class ListContainerOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testOneOptionQueryString() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testOneOptionQueryString() {
       ListContainerOptions options = new ListContainerOptions();
       options.withPrefix("test");
       Multimap<String, String> map = options.buildQueryParameters();
@@ -69,7 +68,7 @@ public class ListContainerOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testTwoOptionQueryString() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testTwoOptionQueryString() {
       ListContainerOptions options = new ListContainerOptions();
       options.withPrefix("test").maxResults(1);
       Multimap<String, String> map = options.buildQueryParameters();
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ public class ListContainerOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testPrefixAndPathUrlEncodingQueryString() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testPrefixAndPathUrlEncodingQueryString() {
       ListContainerOptions options = new ListContainerOptions();
       options.withPrefix("/cloudfiles/test").underPath("/");
       Multimap<String, String> map = options.buildQueryParameters();
@@ -96,18 +95,18 @@ public class ListContainerOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testPrefixStatic() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testPrefixStatic() {
       ListContainerOptions options = withPrefix("test");
       assertEquals(options.buildQueryParameters().get(SwiftConstants.PREFIX), Collections.singletonList("test"));
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = NullPointerException.class)
-   public void testPrefixNPE() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testPrefixNPE() {
       withPrefix(null);
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testMarker() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testMarker() {
       ListContainerOptions options = new ListContainerOptions();
       options.afterMarker("test");
       assertEquals(options.buildQueryParameters().get(SwiftConstants.MARKER), Collections.singletonList("test"));
@@ -120,13 +119,13 @@ public class ListContainerOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testMarkerStatic() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testMarkerStatic() {
       ListContainerOptions options = afterMarker("test");
       assertEquals(options.buildQueryParameters().get(SwiftConstants.MARKER), Collections.singletonList("test"));
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = NullPointerException.class)
-   public void testMarkerNPE() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testMarkerNPE() {
       afterMarker(null);
    }
 
@@ -155,7 +154,7 @@ public class ListContainerOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testPath() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testPath() {
       ListContainerOptions options = new ListContainerOptions();
       options.underPath("test");
       assertEquals(options.buildQueryParameters().get(SwiftConstants.PATH), Collections.singletonList("test"));
@@ -168,13 +167,13 @@ public class ListContainerOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testPathStatic() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testPathStatic() {
       ListContainerOptions options = underPath("test");
       assertEquals(options.buildQueryParameters().get(SwiftConstants.PATH), Collections.singletonList("test"));
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = NullPointerException.class)
-   public void testPathNPE() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testPathNPE() {
       underPath(null);
    }
 }
diff --git a/blobstore/src/main/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/options/GetOptions.java b/blobstore/src/main/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/options/GetOptions.java
index fa172ca061..eb953d28b6 100644
--- a/blobstore/src/main/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/options/GetOptions.java
+++ b/blobstore/src/main/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/options/GetOptions.java
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ package org.jclouds.blobstore.options;
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
 
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -221,7 +220,7 @@ public class GetOptions {
       /**
        * @see GetOptions#ifETagMatches(String)
        */
-      public static GetOptions ifETagMatches(String eTag) throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+      public static GetOptions ifETagMatches(String eTag) {
          GetOptions options = new GetOptions();
          return options.ifETagMatches(eTag);
       }
@@ -229,7 +228,7 @@ public class GetOptions {
       /**
        * @see GetOptions#ifETagDoesntMatch(String)
        */
-      public static GetOptions ifETagDoesntMatch(String eTag) throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+      public static GetOptions ifETagDoesntMatch(String eTag) {
          GetOptions options = new GetOptions();
          return options.ifETagDoesntMatch(eTag);
       }
diff --git a/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/integration/internal/BaseBlobIntegrationTest.java b/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/integration/internal/BaseBlobIntegrationTest.java
index b36c8c30d7..56323f28a5 100644
--- a/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/integration/internal/BaseBlobIntegrationTest.java
+++ b/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/integration/internal/BaseBlobIntegrationTest.java
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ import java.io.FileInputStream;
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.InputStream;
 import java.io.OutputStream;
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.security.NoSuchAlgorithmException;
 import java.security.cert.CertificateException;
 import java.util.Arrays;
@@ -51,11 +50,11 @@ import javax.ws.rs.core.MediaType;
 
 import org.jclouds.blobstore.ContainerNotFoundException;
 import org.jclouds.blobstore.domain.Blob;
+import org.jclouds.blobstore.domain.BlobBuilder.PayloadBlobBuilder;
 import org.jclouds.blobstore.domain.BlobMetadata;
 import org.jclouds.blobstore.domain.PageSet;
 import org.jclouds.blobstore.domain.StorageMetadata;
 import org.jclouds.blobstore.domain.StorageType;
-import org.jclouds.blobstore.domain.BlobBuilder.PayloadBlobBuilder;
 import org.jclouds.concurrent.Futures;
 import org.jclouds.crypto.Crypto;
 import org.jclouds.crypto.CryptoStreams;
@@ -268,7 +267,7 @@ public class BaseBlobIntegrationTest extends BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest {
    }
 
    @Test(groups = { "integration", "live" })
-   public void testGetIfMatch() throws InterruptedException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testGetIfMatch() throws InterruptedException {
       String container = getContainerName();
       try {
 
@@ -291,7 +290,7 @@ public class BaseBlobIntegrationTest extends BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest {
    }
 
    @Test(groups = { "integration", "live" })
-   public void testGetIfNoneMatch() throws InterruptedException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testGetIfNoneMatch() throws InterruptedException {
       String container = getContainerName();
       try {
 
@@ -304,7 +303,6 @@ public class BaseBlobIntegrationTest extends BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest {
 
          try {
             context.getBlobStore().getBlob(container, name, ifETagDoesntMatch(goodETag));
-            validateContent(container, name);
          } catch (HttpResponseException ex) {
             assertEquals(ex.getResponse().getStatusCode(), 304);
          }
diff --git a/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/integration/internal/BaseContainerIntegrationTest.java b/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/integration/internal/BaseContainerIntegrationTest.java
index b313ce34a2..ed2bcc34d5 100644
--- a/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/integration/internal/BaseContainerIntegrationTest.java
+++ b/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/integration/internal/BaseContainerIntegrationTest.java
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import static org.jclouds.blobstore.options.ListContainerOptions.Builder.maxResu
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertEquals;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeoutException;
@@ -114,7 +113,7 @@ public class BaseContainerIntegrationTest extends BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest {
    }
 
    @Test(groups = { "integration", "live" })
-   public void testListContainerMarker() throws InterruptedException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testListContainerMarker() throws InterruptedException {
       String containerName = getContainerName();
       try {
          addAlphabetUnderRoot(containerName);
@@ -137,7 +136,7 @@ public class BaseContainerIntegrationTest extends BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest {
    }
 
    @Test(groups = { "integration", "live" })
-   public void testListRootUsesDelimiter() throws InterruptedException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testListRootUsesDelimiter() throws InterruptedException {
       String containerName = getContainerName();
       try {
          String prefix = "rootdelimeter";
@@ -153,7 +152,7 @@ public class BaseContainerIntegrationTest extends BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest {
    }
 
    @Test(groups = { "integration", "live" })
-   public void testDirectory() throws InterruptedException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testDirectory() throws InterruptedException {
       String containerName = getContainerName();
       try {
          String directory = "directory";
@@ -230,7 +229,7 @@ public class BaseContainerIntegrationTest extends BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest {
    }
 
    @Test(groups = { "integration", "live" })
-   public void testListContainerPrefix() throws InterruptedException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testListContainerPrefix() throws InterruptedException {
       String containerName = getContainerName();
       try {
          String prefix = "containerprefix";
@@ -247,7 +246,7 @@ public class BaseContainerIntegrationTest extends BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest {
    }
 
    @Test(groups = { "integration", "live" })
-   public void testListContainerMaxResults() throws InterruptedException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testListContainerMaxResults() throws InterruptedException {
       String containerName = getContainerName();
       try {
          addAlphabetUnderRoot(containerName);
@@ -295,8 +294,7 @@ public class BaseContainerIntegrationTest extends BaseBlobStoreIntegrationTest {
    }
 
    @Test(groups = { "integration", "live" })
-   public void testListContainer() throws InterruptedException, ExecutionException, TimeoutException,
-         UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testListContainer() throws InterruptedException, ExecutionException, TimeoutException {
       String containerName = getContainerName();
       try {
          add15UnderRoot(containerName);
diff --git a/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/integration/internal/BaseMapIntegrationTest.java b/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/integration/internal/BaseMapIntegrationTest.java
index 11079a0464..6e59bd2a58 100644
--- a/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/integration/internal/BaseMapIntegrationTest.java
+++ b/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/integration/internal/BaseMapIntegrationTest.java
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import java.io.File;
 import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.InputStream;
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Map.Entry;
 import java.util.Set;
@@ -150,7 +149,7 @@ public abstract class BaseMapIntegrationTest<V> extends BaseBlobStoreIntegration
    }
 
    @Test(groups = { "integration", "live" })
-   public void testDirectory() throws InterruptedException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testDirectory() throws InterruptedException {
       String containerName = getContainerName();
       String directory = "apps";
       Map<String, V> rootMap = createMap(context, containerName);
diff --git a/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/options/GetOptionsTest.java b/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/options/GetOptionsTest.java
index 8870938a7e..299d8608a2 100644
--- a/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/options/GetOptionsTest.java
+++ b/blobstore/src/test/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/options/GetOptionsTest.java
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import static org.jclouds.blobstore.options.GetOptions.Builder.range;
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertNull;
 
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.util.Date;
 
 import org.testng.annotations.BeforeTest;
@@ -179,7 +178,7 @@ public class GetOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testIfETagMatches() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagMatches() {
       GetOptions options = new GetOptions();
       options.ifETagMatches(etag);
       assertEquals(etag, options.getIfMatch());
@@ -192,18 +191,18 @@ public class GetOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testIfETagMatchesStatic() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagMatchesStatic() {
       GetOptions options = ifETagMatches(etag);
       assertEquals(etag, options.getIfMatch());
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = NullPointerException.class)
-   public void testIfETagMatchesNPE() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagMatchesNPE() {
       ifETagMatches(null);
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testIfETagDoesntMatch() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagDoesntMatch() {
       GetOptions options = new GetOptions();
       options.ifETagDoesntMatch(etag);
       assertEquals(etag, options.getIfNoneMatch());
@@ -216,13 +215,13 @@ public class GetOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testIfETagDoesntMatchStatic() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagDoesntMatchStatic() {
       GetOptions options = ifETagDoesntMatch(etag);
       assertEquals(etag, options.getIfNoneMatch());
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = NullPointerException.class)
-   public void testIfETagDoesntMatchNPE() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagDoesntMatchNPE() {
       ifETagDoesntMatch(null);
    }
 
@@ -232,13 +231,13 @@ public class GetOptionsTest {
 
    }
 
-   public void testIfUnmodifiedAfterETagMatches() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfUnmodifiedAfterETagMatches() {
       ifETagMatches(etag).ifUnmodifiedSince(now);
 
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalArgumentException.class)
-   public void testIfUnmodifiedAfterETagDoesntMatch() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfUnmodifiedAfterETagDoesntMatch() {
       ifETagDoesntMatch(etag).ifUnmodifiedSince(now);
    }
 
@@ -249,44 +248,44 @@ public class GetOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalArgumentException.class)
-   public void testIfModifiedAfterETagMatches() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfModifiedAfterETagMatches() {
       ifETagMatches(etag).ifModifiedSince(now);
 
    }
 
-   public void testIfModifiedAfterETagDoesntMatch() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfModifiedAfterETagDoesntMatch() {
       ifETagDoesntMatch(etag).ifModifiedSince(now);
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalArgumentException.class)
-   public void testETagMatchesAfterIfModified() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagMatchesAfterIfModified() {
       ifModifiedSince(now).ifETagMatches(etag);
 
    }
 
-   public void testETagMatchesAfterIfUnmodified() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagMatchesAfterIfUnmodified() {
       ifUnmodifiedSince(now).ifETagMatches(etag);
 
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalArgumentException.class)
-   public void testETagMatchesAfterETagDoesntMatch() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagMatchesAfterETagDoesntMatch() {
       ifETagDoesntMatch(etag).ifETagMatches(etag);
    }
 
-   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterIfModified() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterIfModified() {
       ifModifiedSince(now).ifETagDoesntMatch(etag);
 
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalArgumentException.class)
-   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterIfUnmodified() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterIfUnmodified() {
       ifUnmodifiedSince(now).ifETagDoesntMatch(etag);
 
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalArgumentException.class)
-   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterETagMatches() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterETagMatches() {
       ifETagMatches(etag).ifETagDoesntMatch(etag);
    }
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/http/options/GetOptions.java b/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/http/options/GetOptions.java
index 77054c4001..ee4d8a635b 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/http/options/GetOptions.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/http/options/GetOptions.java
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ package org.jclouds.http.options;
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
 
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -161,8 +160,6 @@ public class GetOptions extends BaseHttpRequestOptions {
     * 
     * @param eTag
     *           hash representing the payload
-    * @throws UnsupportedEncodingException
-    *            if there was a problem converting this into an S3 eTag string
     */
    public GetOptions ifETagMatches(String eTag) {
       checkArgument(getIfNoneMatch() == null, "ifETagDoesntMatch() is not compatible with ifETagMatches()");
@@ -190,8 +187,6 @@ public class GetOptions extends BaseHttpRequestOptions {
     * 
     * @param eTag
     *           hash representing the payload
-    * @throws UnsupportedEncodingException
-    *            if there was a problem converting this into an S3 eTag string
     */
    public GetOptions ifETagDoesntMatch(String eTag) {
       checkArgument(getIfMatch() == null, "ifETagMatches() is not compatible with ifETagDoesntMatch()");
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/org/jclouds/http/options/GetOptionsTest.java b/core/src/test/java/org/jclouds/http/options/GetOptionsTest.java
index 07d5723e80..e9b75f86d6 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/org/jclouds/http/options/GetOptionsTest.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/org/jclouds/http/options/GetOptionsTest.java
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import static org.jclouds.http.options.GetOptions.Builder.tail;
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertNull;
 
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.util.Date;
 
 import org.jclouds.date.internal.SimpleDateFormatDateService;
@@ -205,7 +204,7 @@ public class GetOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testIfETagMatches() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagMatches() {
       GetOptions options = new GetOptions();
       options.ifETagMatches(etag);
       matchesHex(options.getIfMatch());
@@ -218,18 +217,18 @@ public class GetOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testIfETagMatchesStatic() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagMatchesStatic() {
       GetOptions options = ifETagMatches(etag);
       matchesHex(options.getIfMatch());
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = NullPointerException.class)
-   public void testIfETagMatchesNPE() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagMatchesNPE() {
       ifETagMatches(null);
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testIfETagDoesntMatch() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagDoesntMatch() {
       GetOptions options = new GetOptions();
       options.ifETagDoesntMatch(etag);
       matchesHex(options.getIfNoneMatch());
@@ -242,17 +241,17 @@ public class GetOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testIfETagDoesntMatchStatic() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagDoesntMatchStatic() {
       GetOptions options = ifETagDoesntMatch(etag);
       matchesHex(options.getIfNoneMatch());
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = NullPointerException.class)
-   public void testIfETagDoesntMatchNPE() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfETagDoesntMatchNPE() {
       ifETagDoesntMatch(null);
    }
 
-   private void matchesHex(String match) throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   private void matchesHex(String match) {
       String expected = "\"" + etag + "\"";
       assertEquals(match, expected);
    }
@@ -263,13 +262,13 @@ public class GetOptionsTest {
 
    }
 
-   public void testIfUnmodifiedAfterETagMatches() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfUnmodifiedAfterETagMatches() {
       ifETagMatches(etag).ifUnmodifiedSince(now);
 
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalArgumentException.class)
-   public void testIfUnmodifiedAfterETagDoesntMatch() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfUnmodifiedAfterETagDoesntMatch() {
       ifETagDoesntMatch(etag).ifUnmodifiedSince(now);
    }
 
@@ -280,44 +279,44 @@ public class GetOptionsTest {
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalArgumentException.class)
-   public void testIfModifiedAfterETagMatches() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfModifiedAfterETagMatches() {
       ifETagMatches(etag).ifModifiedSince(now);
 
    }
 
-   public void testIfModifiedAfterETagDoesntMatch() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testIfModifiedAfterETagDoesntMatch() {
       ifETagDoesntMatch(etag).ifModifiedSince(now);
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalArgumentException.class)
-   public void testETagMatchesAfterIfModified() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagMatchesAfterIfModified() {
       ifModifiedSince(now).ifETagMatches(etag);
 
    }
 
-   public void testETagMatchesAfterIfUnmodified() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagMatchesAfterIfUnmodified() {
       ifUnmodifiedSince(now).ifETagMatches(etag);
 
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalArgumentException.class)
-   public void testETagMatchesAfterETagDoesntMatch() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagMatchesAfterETagDoesntMatch() {
       ifETagDoesntMatch(etag).ifETagMatches(etag);
    }
 
-   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterIfModified() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterIfModified() {
       ifModifiedSince(now).ifETagDoesntMatch(etag);
 
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalArgumentException.class)
-   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterIfUnmodified() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterIfUnmodified() {
       ifUnmodifiedSince(now).ifETagDoesntMatch(etag);
 
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = IllegalArgumentException.class)
-   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterETagMatches() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testETagDoesntMatchAfterETagMatches() {
       ifETagMatches(etag).ifETagDoesntMatch(etag);
    }
 
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/org/jclouds/rest/internal/RestAnnotationProcessorTest.java b/core/src/test/java/org/jclouds/rest/internal/RestAnnotationProcessorTest.java
index c1a19b59e9..9ea6c43e66 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/org/jclouds/rest/internal/RestAnnotationProcessorTest.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/org/jclouds/rest/internal/RestAnnotationProcessorTest.java
@@ -1485,7 +1485,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildTwoHeader() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildTwoHeader() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneHeader = TestHeader.class.getMethod("twoHeader", String.class);
       Multimap<String, String> headers = factory(TestHeader.class).createRequest(oneHeader, new Object[] { "robot" })
                .getHeaders();
@@ -1503,7 +1503,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildOneClassHeader() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildOneClassHeader() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneHeader = TestClassHeader.class.getMethod("oneHeader", String.class);
       Multimap<String, String> headers = factory(TestClassHeader.class).createRequest(oneHeader,
                new Object[] { "robot" }).getHeaders();
@@ -1512,7 +1512,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildOneHeader() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildOneHeader() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneHeader = TestHeader.class.getMethod("oneHeader", String.class);
       Multimap<String, String> headers = factory(TestHeader.class).createRequest(oneHeader, new Object[] { "robot" })
                .getHeaders();
@@ -1521,7 +1521,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildTwoHeaders() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildTwoHeaders() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method twoHeaders = TestHeader.class.getMethod("twoHeaders", String.class, String.class);
       Multimap<String, String> headers = factory(TestHeader.class).createRequest(twoHeaders,
                new Object[] { "robot", "eggs" }).getHeaders();
@@ -1530,8 +1530,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildTwoHeadersOutOfOrder() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException,
-            UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildTwoHeadersOutOfOrder() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method twoHeadersOutOfOrder = TestHeader.class.getMethod("twoHeadersOutOfOrder", String.class, String.class);
       Multimap<String, String> headers = factory(TestHeader.class).createRequest(twoHeadersOutOfOrder,
                new Object[] { "robot", "eggs" }).getHeaders();
@@ -1546,7 +1545,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testQueryInOptions() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testQueryInOptions() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneQuery = TestQueryReplace.class.getMethod("queryInOptions", String.class, TestReplaceQueryOptions.class);
       String query = factory(TestQueryReplace.class).createRequest(oneQuery,
                new Object[] { "robot", new TestReplaceQueryOptions() }).getEndpoint().getQuery();
@@ -1560,7 +1559,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
                @BinderParam(BindMapToMatrixParams.class) Map<String, String> options);
    }
 
-   public void testTestMapMatrixParams() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testTestMapMatrixParams() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method method = TestMapMatrixParams.class.getMethod("action", String.class, String.class, Map.class);
       HttpRequest request = factory(TestMapMatrixParams.class).createRequest(method,
                new Object[] { "robot", "kill", ImmutableMap.of("death", "slow") });
@@ -1602,7 +1601,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildTwoQuery() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildTwoQuery() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneQuery = TestQueryReplace.class.getMethod("twoQuery", String.class);
       String query = factory(TestQueryReplace.class).createRequest(oneQuery, new Object[] { "robot" }).getEndpoint()
                .getQuery();
@@ -1618,7 +1617,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildOneClassQuery() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildOneClassQuery() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneQuery = TestClassQuery.class.getMethod("oneQuery", String.class);
       String query = factory(TestClassQuery.class).createRequest(oneQuery, new Object[] { "robot" }).getEndpoint()
                .getQuery();
@@ -1626,7 +1625,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildOneQuery() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildOneQuery() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneQuery = TestQueryReplace.class.getMethod("oneQuery", String.class);
       String query = factory(TestQueryReplace.class).createRequest(oneQuery, new Object[] { "robot" }).getEndpoint()
                .getQuery();
@@ -1634,7 +1633,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildTwoQuerys() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildTwoQuerys() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method twoQuerys = TestQueryReplace.class.getMethod("twoQuerys", String.class, String.class);
       String query = factory(TestQueryReplace.class).createRequest(twoQuerys, new Object[] { "robot", "eggs" })
                .getEndpoint().getQuery();
@@ -1642,8 +1641,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildTwoQuerysOutOfOrder() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException,
-            UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildTwoQuerysOutOfOrder() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method twoQuerysOutOfOrder = TestQueryReplace.class.getMethod("twoQuerysOutOfOrder", String.class, String.class);
       String query = factory(TestQueryReplace.class).createRequest(twoQuerysOutOfOrder,
                new Object[] { "robot", "eggs" }).getEndpoint().getQuery();
@@ -1657,7 +1655,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testMatrixInOptions() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testMatrixInOptions() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneMatrix = TestMatrixReplace.class.getMethod("matrixInOptions", String.class,
                TestReplaceMatrixOptions.class);
       String path = factory(TestMatrixReplace.class).createRequest(oneMatrix,
@@ -1699,7 +1697,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildTwoMatrix() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildTwoMatrix() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneMatrix = TestMatrixReplace.class.getMethod("twoMatrix", String.class);
       String path = factory(TestMatrixReplace.class).createRequest(oneMatrix, new Object[] { "robot" }).getEndpoint()
                .getPath();
@@ -1716,7 +1714,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildOneClassMatrix() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildOneClassMatrix() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneMatrix = TestClassMatrix.class.getMethod("oneMatrix", String.class);
       String path = factory(TestClassMatrix.class).createRequest(oneMatrix, new Object[] { "robot" }).getEndpoint()
                .getPath();
@@ -1724,7 +1722,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildOneMatrix() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildOneMatrix() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneMatrix = TestMatrixReplace.class.getMethod("oneMatrix", String.class);
       String path = factory(TestMatrixReplace.class).createRequest(oneMatrix, new Object[] { "robot" }).getEndpoint()
                .getPath();
@@ -1732,7 +1730,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildTwoMatrixs() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildTwoMatrixs() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method twoMatrixs = TestMatrixReplace.class.getMethod("twoMatrixs", String.class, String.class);
       String path = factory(TestMatrixReplace.class).createRequest(twoMatrixs, new Object[] { "robot", "eggs" })
                .getEndpoint().getPath();
@@ -1740,8 +1738,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildTwoMatrixsOutOfOrder() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException,
-            UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildTwoMatrixsOutOfOrder() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method twoMatrixsOutOfOrder = TestMatrixReplace.class.getMethod("twoMatrixsOutOfOrder", String.class,
                String.class);
       String path = factory(TestMatrixReplace.class).createRequest(twoMatrixsOutOfOrder,
@@ -2380,7 +2377,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildTwoForm() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildTwoForm() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneForm = TestFormReplace.class.getMethod("twoForm", String.class);
       Object form = factory(TestFormReplace.class).createRequest(oneForm, "robot").getPayload().getRawContent();
       assertEquals(form, "slash=/robot&hyphen=-robot");
@@ -2406,40 +2403,39 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testProvidesWithGeneric() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testProvidesWithGeneric() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Set<String> set = injector.getInstance(AsyncClientFactory.class).create(TestClassForm.class).set();
       assertEquals(set, ImmutableSet.of("foo"));
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testProvidesWithGenericQualified() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException,
-            UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testProvidesWithGenericQualified() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Set<String> set = injector.getInstance(AsyncClientFactory.class).create(TestClassForm.class).foo();
       assertEquals(set, ImmutableSet.of("bar"));
    }
 
    @Test(expectedExceptions = AuthorizationException.class)
    public void testProvidesWithGenericQualifiedAuthorizationException() throws SecurityException,
-            NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+            NoSuchMethodException {
       injector.getInstance(AsyncClientFactory.class).create(TestClassForm.class).exception();
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildOneClassForm() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildOneClassForm() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneForm = TestClassForm.class.getMethod("oneForm", String.class);
       Object form = factory(TestClassForm.class).createRequest(oneForm, "robot").getPayload().getRawContent();
       assertEquals(form, "x-amz-copy-source=/robot");
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildOneForm() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildOneForm() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method oneForm = TestFormReplace.class.getMethod("oneForm", String.class);
       Object form = factory(TestFormReplace.class).createRequest(oneForm, "robot").getPayload().getRawContent();
       assertEquals(form, "x-amz-copy-source=/robot");
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildTwoForms() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildTwoForms() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method twoForms = TestFormReplace.class.getMethod("twoForms", String.class, String.class);
       Object form = factory(TestFormReplace.class).createRequest(twoForms, "robot", "eggs").getPayload()
                .getRawContent();
@@ -2447,8 +2443,7 @@ public class RestAnnotationProcessorTest extends BaseRestClientTest {
    }
 
    @Test
-   public void testBuildTwoFormsOutOfOrder() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException,
-            UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testBuildTwoFormsOutOfOrder() throws SecurityException, NoSuchMethodException {
       Method twoFormsOutOfOrder = TestFormReplace.class.getMethod("twoFormsOutOfOrder", String.class, String.class);
       Object form = factory(TestFormReplace.class).createRequest(twoFormsOutOfOrder, "robot", "eggs").getPayload()
                .getRawContent();
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/org/jclouds/util/Strings2Test.java b/core/src/test/java/org/jclouds/util/Strings2Test.java
index a213eca89f..c94a4c17aa 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/org/jclouds/util/Strings2Test.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/org/jclouds/util/Strings2Test.java
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ package org.jclouds.util;
 
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertEquals;
 
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
-
 import org.testng.annotations.Test;
 
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableMap;
@@ -43,7 +41,7 @@ public class Strings2Test {
       assertEquals(Strings2.urlEncode("/read-tests/ tep", '/'), "/read-tests/%20tep");
    }
    
-   public void testReplaceTokens() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testReplaceTokens() {
       assertEquals(Strings2.replaceTokens("hello {where}", ImmutableMap.of("where", "world")), "hello world");
    }
 
diff --git a/providers/azureblob/src/test/java/org/jclouds/azureblob/blobstore/integration/AzureBlobIntegrationLiveTest.java b/providers/azureblob/src/test/java/org/jclouds/azureblob/blobstore/integration/AzureBlobIntegrationLiveTest.java
index 49bfa6c950..ce345013da 100644
--- a/providers/azureblob/src/test/java/org/jclouds/azureblob/blobstore/integration/AzureBlobIntegrationLiveTest.java
+++ b/providers/azureblob/src/test/java/org/jclouds/azureblob/blobstore/integration/AzureBlobIntegrationLiveTest.java
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 package org.jclouds.azureblob.blobstore.integration;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException;
 
 import org.jclouds.blobstore.domain.Blob;
@@ -34,7 +33,7 @@ import org.testng.annotations.Test;
 public class AzureBlobIntegrationLiveTest extends BaseBlobIntegrationTest {
 
    @Override
-   public void testGetIfMatch() throws InterruptedException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testGetIfMatch() throws InterruptedException {
       // this currently fails
    }
 
diff --git a/scriptbuilder/src/test/java/org/jclouds/scriptbuilder/util/UtilsTest.java b/scriptbuilder/src/test/java/org/jclouds/scriptbuilder/util/UtilsTest.java
index dbcfc99ce7..a1a53ac728 100644
--- a/scriptbuilder/src/test/java/org/jclouds/scriptbuilder/util/UtilsTest.java
+++ b/scriptbuilder/src/test/java/org/jclouds/scriptbuilder/util/UtilsTest.java
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ package org.jclouds.scriptbuilder.util;
 
 import static org.testng.Assert.assertEquals;
 
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
-
 import org.jclouds.scriptbuilder.domain.OsFamily;
 import org.jclouds.scriptbuilder.domain.ShellToken;
 import org.testng.annotations.Test;
@@ -35,7 +33,7 @@ import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableMap;
 @Test(groups = "unit")
 public class UtilsTest {
 
-   public void testReplaceTokens() throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
+   public void testReplaceTokens() {
       assertEquals(Utils.replaceTokens("hello {where}", ImmutableMap.of("where", "world")),
                "hello world");
    }