In November 2012 we posted an in-depth report introducing ISIS, an e-wallet service project developed by AT&T, Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless. For the last nine months the ISIS venture has tested their system out at more than 4,000 locations in Austin Texas. They're now preparing to take the system live nationally this fall. According to a new report, the mobile payment system that works primarily with NFC technology will also work with Apple's iPhone.

The App Store opened on July 10, 2008 via an update to iTunes. On July 11, the iPhone 3G was launched and came pre-loaded with iOS 2.0.1 with App Store support and zipping through to the present, Apple recently celebrated their new 50 billionth app download record. To capture the buzz about the App Store, Apple originally created an ad back in 2009 coining the phrase "There's an App for That," and even filed a trademark for it in that same year. Now even the Indian Government is getting into the App Store craze.

On Sunday we posted a special report titled "The Perfect Storm: All Eyes are on Apple's Strategy for China covering current trends and possible moves to unfold later this year. Apple has been in secret talks with China Mobile for the past four years and in January China Mobile admitted to a confidentiality agreement with Apple which was the first sign that a plan could be in place for the iPhone to debut on their network within the next year. Now Cook is back in China making new headlines.

On a slow summer day, the US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 16 newly granted patents for Apple covering such things as a mystery handheld device designed by the late Steve Jobs along with others related to the iPhone, iPhone camera and more.

Buried within a new scathing report on labor conditions found at Apple iPhone supplier plants, we find two references about Apple's entry-level mid-range iPhone. The report states that "Pegatron (Shanghai) Ltd Co. is part of the Pegatron Group, which was a subsidiary of Pegatron Group until 2010. Pegatron primarily assembles cell phones and tablet PCs for Apple. Its assembled products include iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, and low-priced plastic iPhones."

The latest smartphone sales data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, for the three months to June 2013, show Apple's iOS has surged 5.2 percentage points to 30.5% of the British smartphone market, driven by first-time smartphone buyers opting for the iPhone 4.

Today, Network World decided to run a headline that reads "US patent office rejects claims of Apple 'pinch to zoom' patent." Of course that's only true in part, as Apple has 60 days to appeal the ruling. Is this a case of Déjà vu? Yes, more than likely.

Today, China Labor Watch (CLW) published an investigative report detailing the labor violations of three factories of Pegatron Group, a major supplier to Apple. In 2013, Apple has increased its orders to these factories, which have benefitted from and relied upon labor violations to increase their competitive edge. In a CLW video provided for in our report, you'll hear the claim that one of the plants violating China's labor laws is a plant now making Apple's new mid-level iPhone. Report Updated July 30, 2013.

During Apple's F3Q 2013 Conference call on Tuesday Tim Cook tried to explain away Apple's decline in China this past quarter as being attributed to Hong Kong being "an international shopping haven." That was the only reasoning given for a 20% decline in iPhone sales in Hong Kong. Cook later resigned to saying that he wouldn't get discouraged over a 90-day cycle that could have economic factors and other things in it. For being a statistics man, his response was a little vague if not odd.

While Patently Apple does post some reports based on rumors emanating from Taiwan and Chinese supply chain sources, we shy away from the bizarre, the truly unbelievable or the ridiculous. Yet some sites don't mind stepping over the line and this week's rumored iPhone lite photos were clear proof of that. The rumored photos were simply over the top stupid. To some, they were just insulting.

In May, Nuance CEO Paul Ricci confirmed in an interview with Walt Mossberg that their technology was in fact behind Apple's Siri (See the 6:28 mark of this video interview). Whether that admission violated their contract with Apple isn't known. But what we can confirm, is that Apple now has a new advanced voice recognition team set up in Boston. Whether this is a move to break away from their reliance on Nuance in the future is unknown at this time.

According to the IDC's latest report, Apple posted its second-lowest year-over-year iPhone growth rate in almost four years as some buyers presumably held off on iPhone purchases in advance of an expected next-generation device launch this fall. Nonetheless, the 31.2 million iPhones Apple shipped last quarter was impressive as its flagship iPhone 5 model, which has been in the market for three quarters, was faced with additional global competition in the form of Samsung's Galaxy S4 and HTC's critically-acclaimed One models.

On July 25, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals a new feature coming to Safari that advances the nature of tabbed browsing. When you have a sea of open tabs before you, it's difficult if not impossible to find that one tab that you want to access quickly. Apple introduces a new Carousel concept to advance tab browsing and eliminate that problem. Today's report concludes with the listing of a few other minor patent applications that were published today by USPTO that some of you might find interesting.

On July 25, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals charging techniques for Solid State batteries. Solid State batteries fall into low-power density and high-energy density categories. On the latter side of the equation, Toyota is working on a Solid State battery for 2020 vehicles that will deliver 3 to 4 times battery life. Obviously Apple is interested in the low-power side of Solid State batteries for iDevices and likely future wearable computers. According to Wikipedia, Solid Sated batteries "are easy to miniaturize and can be constructed in thin film form," which would be great in context with bendable devices and those with flexible displays. They also eliminate the problem of electrolyte leakage found in traditional batteries. This kind of batteries also tends to have very long shelf lives and usually don't have any abrupt changes in performance with temperature, such as might be associated with electrolyte freezing or boiling. At the end of the day, we'd like to see battery life extended for iDevices in the 3 to 4 times range like the goal Toyota is aiming for. Now that would be great news.

On July 25, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals methods for forming three-dimensional structures which may be configured to provide desirable characteristics with respect to light, sound, and fluid travel therethrough. Further, the three-dimensional structures may be configured to define desired stiffness, weight, and/or flexibility within a device. The three-dimensional structures may be employed in embodiments including heat sinks, housings, speaker or vent covers, springs, etc. Apple's patent FIG. 5 noted in our cover graphic illustrates an example embodiment of a three-dimensional structure that includes connecting members defining a box structure. Hidden within Apple's patent is the fact that it relates to liquid metal applications.

A new report out this morning states that an estimated four million MacBooks will be shipped in the third quarter of 2013, increasing over 10% on quarter, but significantly decreasing from previous years, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers. Yet the report doesn't acknowledge the bigger context. 

In April we reported that Apple was having trouble trying to find a coating material that wouldn't interfere with their upcoming iPhone fingerprint sensor. The glitch was serious enough that it could cause the technology to be delayed. A new report out today claims that the problems could be deeper in nature.

While Apple's next-generation 9.7-inch iPad is expected to continue with the same Retina quality display, the new model will have a slimmer bezel design and use GF2 touch screen technology, which is technically double-sided ITO film. The switch in screen technology will make the iPad thinner and lighter.

Apple's results for its fiscal third quarter came in with revenue of $35.3 billion and quarterly net profit of $6.9 billion, or $7.47 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $35 billion and net profit of $8.8 billion, or $9.32 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 36.9 percent compared to 42.8 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 57 percent of the quarter's revenue.

In May we reported that Apple's iPad lead in web traffic had increased to an all-year high of 82.4%. Today, Chitika's newly published tablet web traffic statistics for June have Apple leaping to 84.3% despite Samsung launching their new Galaxy Tablets products in May.

It's a huge day for Apple in respect to newly granted patents. The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 49 granted patents for Apple this morning. The patents cover a wide array of technologies such as Apple's lightning connector, the Mac mini, five camera patents and a few patents relating to the iPhone. We also provide you with two graphics from a recent European patent filing that illustrates the iPhone's face camera positioned in a new location. We close out our report illustrating five design patent wins for Apple and a full accounting of the patents that we didn't cover in today's report.

According to a new report today, Apple has dropped AUO, a Taiwanese display supplier, from its list of suppliers for IPad mini 2. AUO had supplied LCD for iPad mini along with LG Display and Sharp, but could not secure orders from Apple since it had failed to develop a high penetration LCD for iPad Mini 2.

On July 22, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's latest trademark filing for the Logic Remote logo. Logic Remote was released on July 16 and available at the App Store for free. Logic Remote is an iPad companion app for Logic Pro X on the Mac. Designed to take full advantage of Multi-Touch on iPad, Logic Remote offers new ways to record, mix, and even perform instruments in Logic Pro X from anywhere in the room, turning your iPad into a keyboard, drum pad, guitar fretboard, mixing board, or transport control.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple and its Asian suppliers are testing larger screens for iPhones and tablets. In recent months, Apple has reportedly asked for prototype smartphone screens larger than 4 inches and has also asked for screen designs for a new tablet device measuring slightly less than 13 inches diagonally. However, this type of iPhone rumor has been around for a while. In early June Reuters reported on iPhones in the 4.7 to 5.7 inch size.

The latest trend to beat Apple to the punch on any single technology relating to smartphones or tablets prior to Apple's classic iPhone Event held every September is gaining another entrant, Samsung.

News that Apple acquired their second location based application company in the last 24 hours came in late last night. Apple has acquired New York based HopStop which is the number one ranked transit app in iTunes and Google Play with over three million downloads to date. In April HopStop launched HopStop Live! – the only free, real-time social transit app backed by the power of millions of highly-engaged mobile users across seven countries, 700 transit agencies, 20,000 lines and 750,000 stops. "HopStop Live!" is the first social navigation platform that allows public transportation riders to contribute, receive and share real-time transit information about the stations, lines and transit systems that matter most to them. The new service launched exclusively on the iPhone platform first and later added Android.

Apple has been on a roll lately winning a series of new design patents in Hong Kong China. The Hong Kong IP Office has awarded Apple with 20 design patents in July alone covering such things as new iMacs, iPhones and the battery for the MacBook Pro. As of today, Apple could add two additional designs to that list that just happen to be their loopiest to date.    

According to a new report this afternoon, Apple and Samsung have held a series of private negotiations about their numerous patent disputes since a court victory by Apple in one case last summer. The negotiations included face-to-face meetings in Seoul, South Korea, in December, one document states. The two companies even appeared to come close to a settlement in February before talks cooled off. There is no indication that the two sides are close to a settlement, but talks between the companies are still going on, the people familiar with the discussions said. Report Updated July 21, 2013 7:35 AM MST

Yes, it was a huge miss. Microsoft's earnings per share expectations were $0.75 but came in at a painful $0.59 yesterday. While the shortfall was in-part due to the decline in their general PC business, the real kicker was the news about their new Surface Tablet. Report Update 9:30 AM MST

Apple spokesman Steve Dowling has confirmed that they've acquired Toronto based "Locationary" stating that "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans." Last year Locationary's CEO and Founder Grant Ritchie laid out 5 big map issues that Apple had to solve, showing that he had a deep understanding of the underlying problems at hand. Locatioinary's claim to fame is their Saturn project which is a revolutionary real-time blending technology that can merge data from multiple sources as quickly as you can download it.

DigiTimes is reporting today that LG Display expects to ship 2.5-3 million 9.7-inch panels a month for the iPad in the third quarter of 2013 and that 1-2 million of the panels will be for Apple's fifth-generation iPad, with the rest for previous iPad models.

Copycats just can't help themselves. It's an addiction to want to be so much like their competitor that they'll do anything to blur the lines between their competing products. They'll resort to ripping off their competitors whenever possible and/or just repeat the lie loud enough that they're the inventor of something - just to give the public the distinct impression that it's actually theirs. Recently Google has tried to mimic the MacBook Pro with Retina to blur the lines and now they're thinking of adding presence technology to their Chromebook Pixel. The problem is that they just ripped off one of Apple's granted patent figures to an embarrassing point that you have to see for yourself. I appreciate Google for their efforts on Google Glass and other projects – but let's get real here. Sometimes copying is like getting a pie in your face. You just look stupid. Even Google could do better than that.

On July 18, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published two patent applications from Apple that reveal the details behind their "Book Proofer" and Social "Game Center" applications.

According to a new report today, Apple has stepped up its pace of chip orders indicating that Apple is gearing up to launch new products. IC orders placed by Apple for the third quarter have nearly doubled over the prior quarter, according to sources at its supply chain partners.

On July 18, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that generally relates to the field of image processing. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, it relates to techniques for determining an orientation of an image via the use of image processing techniques, such as face detection and optical character detection (OCD). In a nutshell, Apple's patent covers improved techniques for device display orientation that are in the works.

On July 18, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals the technology behind their new fingerprint sensor which will be used in a future fingerprint scanner for the iPhone and possibly other iDevices and Macs. The technology revealed is from Apple's acquired AuthenTec. Apple's interest in fingerprint scanners for the iPhone and Mac first surfaced in a 2009 patent application. Apple's project was then advanced in 2012 illustrating that a fingerprint scanner could be combined with face or eye recognition (or Retina recognition) to enhance security needs. Then in May of this year, Apple revealed yet another patent filing describing a fingerprint scanner that could be concealed beneath a touchscreen and only surface when needed in a particular application. One of Apple's last patent filings on this subject matter revealed that a fingerprint scanner could also be hidden within a future MacBook or an iDevice bezel. Apple appears to be covering every conceivable application for a future fingerprint scanner. At the end of the day, the race is on to find new authentication methods that will provide users with a secure e-commerce transaction process within their hardware while simplifying the user login process. Today we get to the heart of the actual technology behind Apple's future fingerprint sensor/scanner.

The Wall Street Journal has a report out this morning titled "Smartphone Upgrades Slow as 'Wow' Factor Fades." The report states that "the rates at which American cellphone users have traded in their devices for more advanced models have declined over the last few years. Last year the decline was 9% and industry analysts see this trend continuing this year. The report goes on to state that consumers are looking for 'Wow' features to motivate them to upgrade. The PC sector is likewise under the same pressure with sales rapidly in decline. In the bigger picture, the tech industry as a whole is in the middle of a massive shift from a central home computer to the ubiquitous computer era. While change of this magnitude takes time to work its way to market, it seems that we're about to see yet another wave of exciting innovation come our way in 2014.

Apple was granted a patent for a media centric Spiral UI for iTunes and beyond back in October 2012. Apple has several other patent pending designs on this future user interface that some have reported could be used for a future wearable's computer from Apple. Apple also just received a design patent for the Mac mini just two weeks ago as well as back in 2011 in addition to winning a patent for technical aspects of the Mac mini. But intellectual property means little to a psychopathic copycat designers like Samsung who are rewarded by the slow paced legal system in copying whatever it can before any punishment ever reaches them. Today, the US Patent Office granted Samsung two designs patents that mirror Apple's very own patented Mac mini and Spiral user interface.

According to an Israeli website, Apple has become one of the leading tech companies in Israel with three R&D centers employing 300-400 employees. Apple's first acquisition of an Israeli company happened in 2011 snatching up Anovit Herzliya, a Flash storage company for $390 million. Apple's Israeli centers are currently working on next generation wireless technologies for iDevices in the field of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Yet the bigger news is that Apple's Tel Aviv research center is reportedly working on sensing technologies specializing in three - dimensional analysis of body and facial movements and conversion of computer activity.

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 40 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover patents relating to a self-adapting haptic device, a virtual tools application and a auto exposure for iOS cameras. We close out our report with a list of the remaining granted patents that were granted today.