Google’s Niantic Labs — the guys behind the life exploring Field Trip app — have created a new game, a game full of mystery, science, technology, and believe it or not — the real world!

It seems like forever ago that Amazon announced its Kindle Fire HD lineup and while they’ve been selling and shipping the 7-inch HD model for quite some time now, customers wanting the larger 8.9-inch model were left to wait until mid-November. Well, it’s mid-November and Amazon is making good on its promise.

Too expensive and too uncontrolled?

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was at the Churchill Club in Santa Clara this week to be interviewed by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. One of the most interesting subjects he talked about was Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform, and how it compares to its two main rivals, Apple’s iOS, and Google’s Android.

As you might expect, he didn’t have many good things to say about his competitors. In fact, he called Android “wild” and “uncontrolled,” before saying the iPhone is too expensive and too controlled. Windows Phone, he feels, sits in a sweet spot between the two.

Expedia launched an all new updated mobile app today for both Android and iOS. Bringing new flight info, an updated interface to browse and search across hundreds of hotel properties and airline flights, and special mobile-only deals. The updated app is only available in the US at this time, and brings functionality closer in line with Expedia’s web-based features.

If you’ve been following the smartphone market at all this past year, then you’ve already heard this song and dance. Regardless of this broken record, it’s still amazing at how Android managed to cannibalize the smartphone market in such a short time. With that being said, I bet you can guess what I’m going to say next. Yep, Android and Samsung are once again on top when it comes to worldwide smartphone sales.