According to StatCounter.com, mobile internet usage has sky-rocketed up to 8 1/2 percent this year; way up from only 4.3 percent last year comparatively. The graph below shows what it looks like compared to desktop use.

CEO of StatCounter.com, Aodhan Cullen had this to say:

“While global internet usage through mobiles is still under 10%, the pace of growth is remarkable.”

Cullen went on to say:

“Following repeated requests, we’ve decided to make our new mobile vendor stats publicly available. As the mobile space is constantly evolving, we keep our detection under constant review.”

The website has been gathering and compiling data for some time now to present this information. Nokia is a front runner due to its popularity in India, they say. Globally speaking, Apple is in second place, but they remain on top in US and UK markets.

Mezzmer has put out the following infographic looking at how mobile devices might be impacting your body:

They are showing allegedly leaked documents from “an authorized Verizon retailer” which display a 12/9 release date following a 12/6 shipping date. Other info from the document includes:

- Each store will be direct shipped a minimum of 15 phones

- On 12/9, the planogram will be loaded on the intranet

Again, to be clear, we can’t confirm the legitimacy of the document, but it is certainly worth noting, especially since the date is so close.

Recently, we saw indication that Best Buy would be getting the device on December 11.

Other reports have indicated that the device will not support Google Wallet. More on that here.

View more daily video round-ups here.

iPad 2 Halloween costume:

Pumpkin explosion:

Siri hacked onto iPhone 4:

Google’s Halloween Doodle:

Apple’s new iPhone 4S/iCloud TV spot:

Kitchen knife nunchucks:

The Kinect Effect (note the symphonic version of “Where is My Mind” playing in the background):

Google Chrome Movember (this is why Matt Cutts is growing a Moustache):

C3 Technologies (mapping company now owned by Apple):

The company reported a 68% year-over-year increase in after-tax profit at $625 million (US). Total revenues grew for the sixth consecutive quarter and hit $4.54 billion – a 79% increase year-over-year.

“We aim to lead the way as the smartphone market continues to expand and change rapidly,” said CEO Peter Chou “We pride ourselves on anticipating market and consumer needs and
addressing them before they are realized. We are growing rapidly and responsibly around the globe and continue to expand our leadership in new areas, such as LTE.”

The company says it expects Q4 revenue to be around $4.18 billion to $4.51 billion, up 20% to 30% year-over-year. It expects to ship between 12 and 13 million units (up 31% to 42% year-over-year).

HTC reports to have sold 13.2 million smartphones in Q3, 93% more than the same period last year (9%more than the second quarter of this year).

Sony then wants to integrate that into its own platform of network-connected consumer electronic products.

PlayStation Network anyone?

“This acquisition makes sense for Sony and Ericsson, and it will make the difference for consumers, who want to connect with content wherever they are, whenever they want,” said Sony President and CEO Sir Howard Stringer. “With a vibrant smartphone business and by gaining access to important strategic IP, notably a broad cross-license agreement, our four-screen strategy is in place. We can more rapidly and more widely offer consumers smartphones, laptops, tablets and televisions that seamlessly connect with one another and open up new worlds of online entertainment. This includes Sony’s own acclaimed network services, like the PlayStation Network and Sony Entertainment Network.”

Stringer added that the acquisition will afford Sony operational efficiencies in engineering, network development and marketing (among other areas).

“We can help people enjoy all our content – from movies to music and games – through our many devices, in a way no one else can,” he said.

Ericsson President and CEO Hans Vestberg said “Ten years ago when we formed the joint venture, thereby combining Sony’s consumer products knowledge with Ericsson’s telecommunication technology expertise, it was a perfect match to drive the development of feature phones. Today we take an equally logical step as Sony acquires our stake in Sony Ericsson and makes it a part of its broad range of consumer devices. We will now enhance our focus on enabling connectivity for all devices, using our R&D and industry leading patent portfolio to realize a truly connected world.”

The transaction awaits regulatory approvals, but has been approved by the “appropriate decision-making bodies of both companies”. The two companies expect the deal to close in January.

Here’s an early look at the device:

Verizon talks it up:

The DROID RAZR not only shreds through the Web at blazing 4G LTE speeds, it does it in style with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Advanced display and measuring 7.1 mm thin. DROID RAZR is also packed with brains and security giving customers apps like MotoCast and features like remote wipe, pin lock and government-grade encryption for email, calendar and contacts.

DROID RAZR customers can take advantage of the Super AMOLED Advanced display and 4G LTE speeds to stream videos with NFL Mobile, only from Verizon. Fans can stay up to date on news, schedules and scores from their favorite teams. NFL Mobile is included at no additional charge for 4G LTE customers for the remainder of the 2011 season. DROID RAZR customers will have access to Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network that now covers more than 186 million Americans coast to coast with additional markets planned before year end.

The device can be ordered here, in stores, or by calling 1-800-2JOININ.

The device will ship buy November 10.

Rumors picked up more steam this week when CNET reported on an analyst claiming that the next-generation iPhone “was the last project that Steve Jobs was intimately involved with from concept to final design”.

Now, PC Magazine is quoting Apple partner Masayoshi Son, CEO of Softbank, as saying, “I visited Apple for the announcement of the iPhone 4S [at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California]. When I was having a meeting with Tim Cook, he said, ‘Oh Masa, sorry I have to quit our meeting.’ I said, ‘Where are you going?’ He said, ‘My boss is calling me.’ That was the day of the announcement of the iPhone 4S. He said that Steve is calling me because he wants to talk about their next product. And the next day, he died.”

The publication says the speculation that the iPhone 5 will be “Jobs’ final master stroke of product innovation now seems more credible”.

As I said before, one would think he would’ve been involved with the design of the next-generation iPad (there are already iPad 3 rumors going around as well), since it’s been over 7 months since the unveiling of the iPad 2, but who knows?

As previously reported, Apple has launched its tribute site for Jobs, which features messages that have been sent to Apple in the time since his passing. The company said it has received over a million of them in that short time.

During Apple’s earnings call, CEO Tim Cook expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of support.

Here are a couple of cool, recent tributes to Jobs:

The device is selling so well, that if you want to get it at the Apple Retail Store, you’ll have to reserve one. If you go to Apple’s “how to buy” page for the iPhone 4S, it now presents you with two options (hat tip to MacRumors): “Buy now” at the Apple Online Store or “Reserve” at the Apple Retail Store.

With the second option, the message says, “iPhone 4S is available in store by reservation only. Reserve your safter 9:00 p.m. tonight for pickup tomorrow. When you come in, you’ll choose a carrier and plan, and we’ll get your iPhone up and running before you leave the store.”

Once you click on the button to reserve, you are prompted to choose a store to pick up the iPhone. You’re also presented with another message that says, “iPhone 4S is available at the Apple Store by reservation on a first-come, first-served basis.”

Once you choose a store, you’re presented with 18 options: The 16, 32, and 64GB versions in white or black, for AT&T, Sprint or Verizon. Here, you see that for the store I selected, they’re all marked as “unavailable”:

Presumably, that will change after 9:00 PM.

On top of that, over 25 million customers are already using iOS 5 in the first five days of its release. Over 20 million customers have signed up for iCloud.

“iPhone 4S is off to a great start with more than four million sold in its first weekend—the most ever for a phone and more than double the iPhone 4 launch during its first three days,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s SVP of Worldwide Product Marketing. “iPhone 4S is a hit with customers around the world, and together with iOS 5 and iCloud, is the best iPhone ever.”

The new camera and Siri have been big draws for consumers in purchasing the iPhone 4S. It’s hard to deny that Siri is just fun to mess with. I see the appeal. Case in point: iPhone 4S’ Siri: Now with More Easter Eggs.

Of course the 4S is the first iPhone available for Sprint customers. That has to be huge on its own in terms of boosting sale. The addition of Verizon to the iPhone availability roster was certainly helpful when that first happened.

The iPhone 4S is currently available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the UK. It will be available in 22 more countries on October 28, and in over 70 countries by the end of the year, the company says.

View more iPhone 4S coverage here.