diff --git a/Src/Newtonsoft.Json.Tests/Linq/JTokenTests.cs b/Src/Newtonsoft.Json.Tests/Linq/JTokenTests.cs
index 85530d78..c1c55aab 100644
--- a/Src/Newtonsoft.Json.Tests/Linq/JTokenTests.cs
+++ b/Src/Newtonsoft.Json.Tests/Linq/JTokenTests.cs
@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Tests.Linq
 
       Assert.AreEqual(new DateTime(2000, 12, 20), (DateTime)new JValue(new DateTime(2000, 12, 20)));
 #if !PocketPC && !NET20
+      Assert.AreEqual(new DateTimeOffset(2000, 12, 20, 0, 0, 0, TimeSpan.Zero), (DateTimeOffset)new JValue(new DateTime(2000, 12, 20, 0, 0, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc)));
       Assert.AreEqual(new DateTimeOffset(2000, 12, 20, 23, 50, 10, TimeSpan.Zero), (DateTimeOffset)new JValue(new DateTimeOffset(2000, 12, 20, 23, 50, 10, TimeSpan.Zero)));
       Assert.AreEqual(null, (DateTimeOffset?)new JValue((DateTimeOffset?)null));
       Assert.AreEqual(null, (DateTimeOffset?)(JValue)null);
@@ -281,6 +282,60 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Tests.Linq
       Assert.AreEqual(5f, (float?)(new JValue(5m)));
       Assert.AreEqual(5, (byte)(new JValue(5)));
 
+      Assert.AreEqual("1", (string)(new JValue(1)));
+      Assert.AreEqual("1", (string)(new JValue(1.0)));
+      Assert.AreEqual("1.0", (string)(new JValue(1.0m)));
+      Assert.AreEqual("True", (string)(new JValue(true)));
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (string)(new JValue((object)null)));
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (string)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual("12/12/2000 12:12:12", (string)(new JValue(new DateTime(2000, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, DateTimeKind.Utc))));
+#if !NET20
+      Assert.AreEqual("12/12/2000 12:12:12 +00:00", (string)(new JValue(new DateTimeOffset(2000, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, TimeSpan.Zero))));
+#endif
+      Assert.AreEqual(true, (bool)(new JValue(1)));
+      Assert.AreEqual(true, (bool)(new JValue(1.0)));
+      Assert.AreEqual(true, (bool)(new JValue("true")));
+      Assert.AreEqual(true, (bool)(new JValue(true)));
+      Assert.AreEqual(1, (int)(new JValue(1)));
+      Assert.AreEqual(1, (int)(new JValue(1.0)));
+      Assert.AreEqual(1, (int)(new JValue("1")));
+      Assert.AreEqual(1, (int)(new JValue(true)));
+      Assert.AreEqual(1m, (decimal)(new JValue(1)));
+      Assert.AreEqual(1m, (decimal)(new JValue(1.0)));
+      Assert.AreEqual(1m, (decimal)(new JValue("1")));
+      Assert.AreEqual(1m, (decimal)(new JValue(true)));
+      Assert.AreEqual(TimeSpan.FromMinutes(1), (TimeSpan)(new JValue(TimeSpan.FromMinutes(1))));
+      Assert.AreEqual(new Guid("46EFE013-B56A-4E83-99E4-4DCE7678A5BC"), (Guid)(new JValue("46EFE013-B56A-4E83-99E4-4DCE7678A5BC")));
+      Assert.AreEqual(new Guid("46EFE013-B56A-4E83-99E4-4DCE7678A5BC"), (Guid)(new JValue(new Guid("46EFE013-B56A-4E83-99E4-4DCE7678A5BC"))));
+      Assert.AreEqual(new Uri("http://www.google.com"), (Uri)(new JValue("http://www.google.com")));
+      Assert.AreEqual(new Uri("http://www.google.com"), (Uri)(new JValue(new Uri("http://www.google.com"))));
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (Uri)(new JValue((object)null)));
+      Assert.AreEqual(Convert.ToBase64String(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes("hi")), (string)(new JValue(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes("hi"))));
+      Assert.AreEqual(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes("hi"), (byte[])(new JValue(Convert.ToBase64String(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes("hi")))));
+
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (Uri)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (int?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (uint?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (Guid?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (TimeSpan?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (byte[])(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (bool?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (char?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (DateTime?)(JValue)null);
+#if !NET20
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (DateTimeOffset?)(JValue)null);
+#endif
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (short?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (ushort?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (byte?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (byte?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (sbyte?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (sbyte?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (long?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (ulong?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (double?)(JValue)null);
+      Assert.AreEqual(null, (float?)(JValue)null);
+
       byte[] data = new byte[0];
       Assert.AreEqual(data, (byte[])(new JValue(data)));
 
@@ -378,6 +433,13 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Tests.Linq
       Assert.IsTrue(JToken.DeepEquals(new JValue(emptyData), (JValue)emptyData));
       Assert.IsFalse(JToken.DeepEquals(new JValue(emptyData), (JValue)new byte[1]));
       Assert.IsTrue(JToken.DeepEquals(new JValue(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes("Hi")), (JValue)Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes("Hi")));
+
+      Assert.IsTrue(JToken.DeepEquals(new JValue(TimeSpan.FromMinutes(1)), (JValue)TimeSpan.FromMinutes(1)));
+      Assert.IsTrue(JToken.DeepEquals(new JValue((object)null), (JValue)(TimeSpan?)null));
+      Assert.IsTrue(JToken.DeepEquals(new JValue(TimeSpan.FromMinutes(1)), (JValue)(TimeSpan?)TimeSpan.FromMinutes(1)));
+      Assert.IsTrue(JToken.DeepEquals(new JValue(new Guid("46EFE013-B56A-4E83-99E4-4DCE7678A5BC")), (JValue)new Guid("46EFE013-B56A-4E83-99E4-4DCE7678A5BC")));
+      Assert.IsTrue(JToken.DeepEquals(new JValue(new Uri("http://www.google.com")), (JValue)new Uri("http://www.google.com")));
+
     }
 
     [Test]
diff --git a/Src/Newtonsoft.Json.Tests/PerformanceTests.cs b/Src/Newtonsoft.Json.Tests/PerformanceTests.cs
index 7505d312..74f0b891 100644
--- a/Src/Newtonsoft.Json.Tests/PerformanceTests.cs
+++ b/Src/Newtonsoft.Json.Tests/PerformanceTests.cs
@@ -333,6 +333,44 @@ If attributes are not mentioned, default values are used in each case.
       }, "New");
     }
 
+    [Test]
+    public void JTokenToObject()
+    {
+      JValue s = new JValue("String!");
+
+      int interations = 1000000;
+
+      TimeOperation(() =>
+      {
+        for (int i = 0; i < interations; i++)
+        {
+          s.ToObject(typeof (string));
+        }
+
+        return "";
+      }, "New");
+
+      TimeOperation(() =>
+      {
+        for (int i = 0; i < interations; i++)
+        {
+          s.ToObject(typeof(string), new JsonSerializer());
+        }
+
+        return "";
+      }, "Old");
+
+      TimeOperation(() =>
+      {
+        for (int i = 0; i < interations; i++)
+        {
+          s.Value<string>();
+        }
+
+        return "";
+      }, "Value");
+    }
+
     private void SerializeSize(object value)
     {
       // this is extremely slow with 5000 interations
diff --git a/Src/Newtonsoft.Json.Tests/Properties/AssemblyInfo.cs b/Src/Newtonsoft.Json.Tests/Properties/AssemblyInfo.cs
index da0d87f0..409b51df 100644
--- a/Src/Newtonsoft.Json.Tests/Properties/AssemblyInfo.cs
+++ b/Src/Newtonsoft.Json.Tests/Properties/AssemblyInfo.cs
@@ -76,5 +76,5 @@ using System.Security;
 // by using the '*' as shown below:
 [assembly: AssemblyVersion("4.5.0.0")]
 #if !PocketPC
-[assembly: AssemblyFileVersion("4.5.10.15519")]
+[assembly: AssemblyFileVersion("4.5.11.15520")]
 #endif
diff --git a/Src/Newtonsoft.Json/Linq/JToken.cs b/Src/Newtonsoft.Json/Linq/JToken.cs
index 3301fc49..1579c0fc 100644
--- a/Src/Newtonsoft.Json/Linq/JToken.cs
+++ b/Src/Newtonsoft.Json/Linq/JToken.cs
@@ -61,6 +61,13 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     private int? _lineNumber;
     private int? _linePosition;
 
+    private static readonly JTokenType[] BooleanTypes = new[] { JTokenType.Integer, JTokenType.Float, JTokenType.String, JTokenType.Comment, JTokenType.Raw, JTokenType.Boolean };
+    private static readonly JTokenType[] NumberTypes = new[] { JTokenType.Integer, JTokenType.Float, JTokenType.String, JTokenType.Comment, JTokenType.Raw, JTokenType.Boolean };
+    private static readonly JTokenType[] StringTypes = new[] { JTokenType.Date, JTokenType.Integer, JTokenType.Float, JTokenType.String, JTokenType.Comment, JTokenType.Raw, JTokenType.Boolean, JTokenType.Bytes, JTokenType.Guid, JTokenType.TimeSpan, JTokenType.Uri };
+    private static readonly JTokenType[] CharTypes = new[] { JTokenType.Integer, JTokenType.Float, JTokenType.String, JTokenType.Comment, JTokenType.Raw };
+    private static readonly JTokenType[] DateTimeTypes = new[] { JTokenType.Date, JTokenType.String, JTokenType.Comment, JTokenType.Raw };
+    private static readonly JTokenType[] BytesTypes = new[] { JTokenType.Bytes, JTokenType.String, JTokenType.Comment, JTokenType.Raw };
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Gets a comparer that can compare two tokens for value equality.
     /// </summary>
@@ -378,39 +385,9 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
       return token.Type.ToString();
     }
 
-    private static bool IsNullable(JToken o)
+    private static bool ValidateToken(JToken o, JTokenType[] validTypes, bool nullable)
     {
-      return (o.Type == JTokenType.Undefined || o.Type == JTokenType.Null);
-    }
-
-    private static bool ValidateFloat(JToken o, bool nullable)
-    {
-      return (o.Type == JTokenType.Float || o.Type == JTokenType.Integer || (nullable && IsNullable(o)));
-    }
-
-    private static bool ValidateInteger(JToken o, bool nullable)
-    {
-      return (o.Type == JTokenType.Integer || (nullable && IsNullable(o)));
-    }
-
-    private static bool ValidateDate(JToken o, bool nullable)
-    {
-      return (o.Type == JTokenType.Date || (nullable && IsNullable(o)));
-    }
-
-    private static bool ValidateBoolean(JToken o, bool nullable)
-    {
-      return (o.Type == JTokenType.Boolean || (nullable && IsNullable(o)));
-    }
-
-    private static bool ValidateString(JToken o, bool nullable)
-    {
-      return (o.Type == JTokenType.String || o.Type == JTokenType.Comment || o.Type == JTokenType.Raw || (nullable && IsNullable(o)));
-    }
-
-    private static bool ValidateBytes(JToken o)
-    {
-      return (o.Type == JTokenType.Bytes || IsNullable(o));
+      return (Array.IndexOf(validTypes, o.Type) != -1) || (nullable && (o.Type == JTokenType.Null || o.Type == JTokenType.Undefined));
     }
 
     #region Cast from operators
@@ -422,7 +399,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator bool(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateBoolean(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, BooleanTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Boolean.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return Convert.ToBoolean(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
@@ -437,10 +414,14 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator DateTimeOffset(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateDate(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, DateTimeTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to DateTimeOffset.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
-      return (DateTimeOffset)v.Value;
+      if (v.Value is DateTimeOffset)
+        return (DateTimeOffset)v.Value;
+      if (v.Value is string)
+        return DateTimeOffset.Parse((string)v.Value);
+      return new DateTimeOffset(Convert.ToDateTime(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
     }
 #endif
 
@@ -455,7 +436,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateBoolean(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, BooleanTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Boolean.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value != null) ? (bool?)Convert.ToBoolean(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
@@ -469,7 +450,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator long(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Int64.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return Convert.ToInt64(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
@@ -486,7 +467,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateDate(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, DateTimeTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to DateTime.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value != null) ? (DateTime?)Convert.ToDateTime(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
@@ -504,10 +485,16 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateDate(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, DateTimeTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to DateTimeOffset.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
-      return (DateTimeOffset?)v.Value;
+      if (v.Value == null)
+        return null;
+      if (v.Value is DateTimeOffset)
+        return (DateTimeOffset?)v.Value;
+      if (v.Value is string)
+        return DateTimeOffset.Parse((string)v.Value);
+      return new DateTimeOffset(Convert.ToDateTime(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
     }
 #endif
 
@@ -522,7 +509,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateFloat(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Decimal.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value != null) ? (decimal?)Convert.ToDecimal(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
@@ -539,7 +526,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateFloat(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Double.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value != null) ? (double?)Convert.ToDouble(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
@@ -556,7 +543,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateString(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, CharTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Char.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value != null) ? (char?)Convert.ToChar(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
@@ -570,7 +557,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator int(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Int32.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return Convert.ToInt32(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
@@ -584,7 +571,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator short(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Int16.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return Convert.ToInt16(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
@@ -599,7 +586,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator ushort(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to UInt16.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return Convert.ToUInt16(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
@@ -614,7 +601,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator char(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || (!ValidateInteger(v, false) && !ValidateString(v, false)))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, CharTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Char.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return Convert.ToChar(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
@@ -628,7 +615,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator byte(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Byte.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return Convert.ToByte(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
@@ -645,7 +632,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Int32.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value != null) ? (int?)Convert.ToInt32(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
@@ -662,7 +649,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Int16.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value != null) ? (short?)Convert.ToInt16(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
@@ -680,7 +667,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to UInt16.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value != null) ? (ushort?)Convert.ToUInt16(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
@@ -697,7 +684,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Byte.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value != null) ? (byte?)Convert.ToByte(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
@@ -711,7 +698,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator DateTime(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateDate(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, DateTimeTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to DateTime.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return Convert.ToDateTime(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
@@ -728,7 +715,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Int64.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value != null) ? (long?)Convert.ToInt64(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
@@ -745,7 +732,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateFloat(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Single.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value != null) ? (float?)Convert.ToSingle(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
@@ -759,7 +746,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator decimal(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateFloat(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Decimal.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return Convert.ToDecimal(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
@@ -777,7 +764,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to UInt32.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value != null) ? (uint?)Convert.ToUInt32(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
@@ -795,7 +782,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to UInt64.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value != null) ? (ulong?)Convert.ToUInt64(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
@@ -809,7 +796,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator double(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateFloat(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Double.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return Convert.ToDouble(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
@@ -823,7 +810,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator float(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateFloat(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Single.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return Convert.ToSingle(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
@@ -840,10 +827,15 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
         return null;
 
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateString(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, StringTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to String.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
-      return (v.Value != null) ? Convert.ToString(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) : null;
+      if (v.Value == null)
+        return null;
+      if (v.Value is byte[])
+        return Convert.ToBase64String((byte[]) v.Value);
+
+      return Convert.ToString(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -855,7 +847,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator uint(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to UInt32.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return Convert.ToUInt32(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
@@ -870,7 +862,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator ulong(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateInteger(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, NumberTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to UInt64.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return Convert.ToUInt64(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
@@ -883,10 +875,15 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     /// <returns>The result of the conversion.</returns>
     public static explicit operator byte[](JToken value)
     {
+      if (value == null)
+        return null;
+
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateBytes(v))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, BytesTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to byte array.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
+      if (v.Value is string)
+        return Convert.FromBase64String(Convert.ToString(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
       return (byte[])v.Value;
     }
 
@@ -898,10 +895,10 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator Guid(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateString(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, StringTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Guid.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
-      return (v.Value is Guid) ? (Guid)v.Value : new Guid((string)v.Value);
+      return (v.Value is Guid) ? (Guid)v.Value : new Guid(Convert.ToString(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -911,8 +908,11 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     /// <returns>The result of the conversion.</returns>
     public static explicit operator Guid?(JToken value)
     {
+      if (value == null)
+        return null;
+
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateString(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, StringTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Guid.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       if (v.Value == null)
@@ -929,7 +929,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     public static explicit operator TimeSpan(JToken value)
     {
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateString(v, false))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, StringTypes, false))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to TimeSpan.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       return (v.Value is TimeSpan) ? (TimeSpan)v.Value : ConvertUtils.ParseTimeSpan(Convert.ToString(v.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
@@ -942,8 +942,11 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     /// <returns>The result of the conversion.</returns>
     public static explicit operator TimeSpan?(JToken value)
     {
+      if (value == null)
+        return null;
+
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateString(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, StringTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to TimeSpan.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       if (v.Value == null)
@@ -959,8 +962,11 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     /// <returns>The result of the conversion.</returns>
     public static explicit operator Uri(JToken value)
     {
+      if (value == null)
+        return null;
+
       JValue v = EnsureValue(value);
-      if (v == null || !ValidateString(v, true))
+      if (v == null || !ValidateToken(v, StringTypes, true))
         throw new ArgumentException("Can not convert {0} to Uri.".FormatWith(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, GetType(value)));
 
       if (v.Value == null)
@@ -1242,6 +1248,56 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     {
       return new JValue(value);
     }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Performs an implicit conversion from <see cref="T:System.Uri"/> to <see cref="Newtonsoft.Json.Linq.JToken"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="value">The value to create a <see cref="JValue"/> from.</param>
+    /// <returns>The <see cref="JValue"/> initialized with the specified value.</returns>
+    public static implicit operator JToken(Uri value)
+    {
+      return new JValue(value);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Performs an implicit conversion from <see cref="T:System.TimeSpan"/> to <see cref="Newtonsoft.Json.Linq.JToken"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="value">The value to create a <see cref="JValue"/> from.</param>
+    /// <returns>The <see cref="JValue"/> initialized with the specified value.</returns>
+    public static implicit operator JToken(TimeSpan value)
+    {
+      return new JValue(value);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Performs an implicit conversion from <see cref="Nullable{TimeSpan}"/> to <see cref="Newtonsoft.Json.Linq.JToken"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="value">The value to create a <see cref="JValue"/> from.</param>
+    /// <returns>The <see cref="JValue"/> initialized with the specified value.</returns>
+    public static implicit operator JToken(TimeSpan? value)
+    {
+      return new JValue(value);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Performs an implicit conversion from <see cref="T:System.Guid"/> to <see cref="Newtonsoft.Json.Linq.JToken"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="value">The value to create a <see cref="JValue"/> from.</param>
+    /// <returns>The <see cref="JValue"/> initialized with the specified value.</returns>
+    public static implicit operator JToken(Guid value)
+    {
+      return new JValue(value);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Performs an implicit conversion from <see cref="Nullable{Guid}"/> to <see cref="Newtonsoft.Json.Linq.JToken"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="value">The value to create a <see cref="JValue"/> from.</param>
+    /// <returns>The <see cref="JValue"/> initialized with the specified value.</returns>
+    public static implicit operator JToken(Guid? value)
+    {
+      return new JValue(value);
+    }
     #endregion
 
     IEnumerator IEnumerable.GetEnumerator()
diff --git a/Src/Newtonsoft.Json/Linq/JValue.cs b/Src/Newtonsoft.Json/Linq/JValue.cs
index d9218b05..49a52e30 100644
--- a/Src/Newtonsoft.Json/Linq/JValue.cs
+++ b/Src/Newtonsoft.Json/Linq/JValue.cs
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="value">The value.</param>
     public JValue(Guid value)
-      : this(value, JTokenType.String)
+      : this(value, JTokenType.Guid)
     {
     }
 
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="value">The value.</param>
     public JValue(Uri value)
-      : this(value, JTokenType.String)
+      : this(value, JTokenType.Uri)
     {
     }
 
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ namespace Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="value">The value.</param>
     public JValue(TimeSpan value)
-      : this(value, JTokenType.String)
+      : this(value, JTokenType.TimeSpan)
     {
     }
 
diff --git a/Src/Newtonsoft.Json/Properties/AssemblyInfo.cs b/Src/Newtonsoft.Json/Properties/AssemblyInfo.cs
index 0b296de5..14c65067 100644
--- a/Src/Newtonsoft.Json/Properties/AssemblyInfo.cs
+++ b/Src/Newtonsoft.Json/Properties/AssemblyInfo.cs
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ using System.Security;
 // by using the '*' as shown below:
 [assembly: AssemblyVersion("4.5.0.0")]
 #if !PocketPC
-[assembly: AssemblyFileVersion("4.5.10.15519")]
+[assembly: AssemblyFileVersion("4.5.11.15520")]
 #endif
 
 [assembly: CLSCompliant(true)]