* A titillating in-depth look at Andrew Mason and Groupon’s inner machinations that allegedly reveals how the company rapidly evolved into a 10,000-strong organization, what Mason is really like, and why the company lost key executives like COO Margo Georgiadis earlier this year. (Business Insider)

* TechCrunch columnist MG Siegler reports that Google (GOOG) is prepping a “pretty fantastic” Gmail app for the iPhone. Meanwhile, the Internet giant unveiled a redesign for Google Reader, with Google+ integration. (parislemon and The Official Google Reader Blog)

* Bill Gates dismissed Steve Jobs’ criticism of him in Walter Isaacson’s biography. “None of that bothers me at all,” he said. (ABC News)

* Several ex-Engadget writers, including founder Joshua Topolsky, officially launched The Verge, a tech-focused web site Topolsky compares to a boutique hotel: “we have the same stuff everyone else has, but it is a much more elegant experience.” (All Things D)

* Phil McKinney, CTO of HP’s PC division, will retire from his post by the end of the year. (VentureBeat)

* Location startup SimpleGeo was reportedly acquired by Urban Airship for around $3.5 million in stock. (Uncrunched)

* Six key retail trends to look out for this holiday season. (Forrester Research via American Express Open Forum)

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