Best Buy, Indeed

Another gadget you don’t really need. Will not work once you get it home. New model out in 4 weeks. Battery life is too short to be of any use.

— From the fact sheet for a fake product entitled Useless Plasticbox 1.2 (an actual empty plastic box) placed in L.A.-area Best Buy stores by an artist called Plastic Jesus

Jawbone Hires Microsoft’s Mindy Mount as President to Turbocharge Ops

A new leader for the high-profile gadget maker.

Viral Video: “Star Trek Into Darkness”

Yay.

Voices

Is Sony Gaining Momentum in Smartphones?

While Japan’s ailing consumer-electronics sector struggles to regain momentum, it turns out that Sony Corp. actually climbed to the No. 3 position in the global smartphone market in the third quarter. Sony, which was the No. 6 player in the same quarter a year earlier, came only behind Samsung Electronics Co. and Apple Inc., according to the latest data from research firm IDC.

iPad Mini, Nexus 7 Square Off in SquareTrade’s Drop-and-Dunk Test

Go ahead, dunk your iPad mini in water — if you trust SquareTrade’s test.

Yahoo’s Marissa Mayer in Talks to Join Jawbone Board

Will famous techie Up the ante for wireless device maker?

All Things Hired: Bonnie Cha Is Our Latest ATD Reviewer

ATD adds another staffer to the team.

An Inside Look at the FCC’s Gadget Library (Video)

Aiming to make sure its workers are familiar with the products they regulate, the Federal Communications Commission has set up a gadget library inside its walls. We got a glimpse inside.

Meet the New Sony CEO, Kaz Hirai (Video)

Want to see the new Sony head in action? We’ve got the goods right here from an onstage interview at AsiaD.

Viral Video: “The Avengers”