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October 2013

Will Samsung Outdo Apple's Touch ID with a Retina Scanner?

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Only a month ago, Apple released its premium handset iPhone 5S with a fingerprint scanner feature called Touch ID. Now, archrival Samsung is rumored to be going the extra mile to introduce a new authentication system into their next smartphone so as to avoid being called a copycat. After blaming the US firm Validity for their not having a fingerprint scanner out on time for their Note 3, Samsung may take the gamble and shoot for integrating advanced eye-scanning technology into their Galaxy S4 successor.

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Will Apple use Sharp's new 8G Glass IGZO Displays for the iPhone 6 in 2014?

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In July we reported on a rumor that Apple was going to make a huge shift to IGZO displays in 2014. Sharp announced earlier this month that they were producing IGZO display for notebooks and today they're announcing that volume production for IGZO based smartphone displays will begin before the end of the year at their Kameyama Plant number 2.

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Invalidation Theorists go Down in Flames as US Patent Office Reaffirms a Key Apple Patent in the Apple v. Samsung Patent War

1. Cover - Steve Jobs Patent upheld
The anchor of Apple's suit against Samsung, once invalidated by the US Patent and Trademark office, has been reaffirmed and is now likely stronger, believes one patent lawyer. Apple's US Patent 7,479,949, entitled, "Touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for determining commands by applying heuristics," lists Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs and 24 other prominent current and former Apple engineers as inventors. Apple applied for the patent in April 2008 and was granted the patent less than a year later. Apple's patent covered close to 300 patent figures covering key elements of their invention. Apple's latest victory once again mocks the pipe dream of Samsung supporters who think that Apple has invented nothing. We laugh as we watch their crazed "invalidation theories" go up in flames.

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Samsung's Galaxy S3 Battery Problems now Plaguing the S4

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Yesterday we reported about Samsung's Galaxy S3 battery problems that were outraging customers. Today we learn that Samsung's battery plague is striking the Galaxy S4 in huge numbers.

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Apple's Magnificent New Round of Manufacturing Process Patents

1A - Cover - Apple's Magnificent New Round of Manufacturing Process Patents
Anyone who loves Apple's products knows that all of Apple and especially Jony Ive and his band of merry men go to extraordinary lengths to design products with precision and attention to detail far beyond your typical technology company. Apple fans around the world always enjoy Jony Ive and his team putting together short videos that showcase various manufacturing processes involved in making insanely beautiful products such as the current iPhone 5C or 5S. We even get a kick out of Ive's meticulous mannerisms and vocabulary for describing new Apple products. This week the US Patent Office published a series of new patent applications from Apple that allow us to dip into Ive's pool of delights. Apple's latest manufacturing process patents allows us to take a peek behind the magic that goes into Apple's cool products. They reveal Apple's fanaticism and attention to unthinkable detail. In Apple's new round of magnificent inventions we see Apple working on new materials, advanced adhesives that you'd never imagine and much, much more. If you're one that appreciates Apple's detail and have a fascination for manufacturing processes, then you're in for a real treat.

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Apple Reveals New Laser Manufacturing Process for the iMac

1a. Cover - New Method for Mfg iMac
On October 17, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals that their 2012 ultrathin iMac was manufactured by using a very sophisticated robotic force. The insane design precision didn't come about by accident. Apple's latest patent application describes a robotic solution created by Apple for the iMac and beyond. Apple's iMac webpage as noted above states that Apple re-imagined everything, re-engineered everything about the iMac and today's patent filing proves that out. This is Apple's second robotic invention. Apple's first design was for a robotic arm for manufacturing the iPhone that we covered back in January. Lastly, we present you with a secondary patent published today titled "Cosmetic Defect Reduction in Anodized Parts." It's Apple's new "finishing" bath designed to degrease, de-smut, anodize and chemically polish the iMac and other future iDevices until they reflect Apple's aesthetically insane finish so that they can give it their official stamp of approval: Designed by Apple in California.

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Galaxy S3 Customers Outraged Over Swollen Battery Problems

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A new Korean report this morning revealed that industry insiders acknowledged yesterday that many Samsung Galaxy S3 owners have seen their phone's batteries swollen. S3 phone owners claim that their cell phone turn off when the battery swell due to contact failure and in some cases the rear cover is bent open and unable to close. Most of these customers are experienced the swollen batteries after one year after purchase which is six months after the warranty expired and they're outraged.

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Apple to Beef Up their iPhone Hearing Aid Compatibility Features

1. Cover - Apple invents iPhone with voice & separately amplified telecoil channels
On October 17, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals improved technology coming to future iPhones that will further their support for Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) which began with the iPhone 4.

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Four New Siri Patents filed under Tom Gruber Come to Light

PA - Title Bar - Patents
On October 17, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a series of four new Siri patent applications that were filed under Tom Gruber who was one of the original co-founders of Siri. Gruber was the man behind an in-depth Apple patent application which we covered back in January 2012 titled "Apple introduces us to Siri, the Killer Patent." While Apple has yet to take assignment, you could be assured that they will. Our report briefly covers the four Siri related patents that include coverage of Siri for vehicles. This is going to be a part of Apple's forthcoming iOS for the Car application debuting in 2014.

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Apple Reveals More Details of Touch ID for iPhone, iPad & beyond

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On October 17, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals more details behind Apple's new Touch ID fingerprint scanner. Apple reveals that they added a method to the sensor that would allow it to scan a fingerprint at a much higher resolution than other sensors on the market without electrically shocking the finger. Apple also notes that their Touch ID technology could eventually apply to an iPad, MacBook and beyond. Technically speaking, Apple's patent relates to circuits that may be used to support fingerprint sensing, including boost circuits, such as inductive boost circuits.

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History in the Making: Apple's Campus 2 Gets Approval

1. cover -  Apple Campus 2 approved Oct 16, 2013
Apple's CEO Tim Cook tweeted the good news bright and early this morning: "Our home for innovation and creativity for decades to come. Cupertino City Council Gives Unanimous Approval for Apple's New Campus."

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Korean Consultant says that Apple has no Experience in Chicken Game Competing with Samsung

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With Apple about to introduce the iPhone 5S and 5C to the Korean market, Samsung Electronics began to bring lots of new smartphones to the market. In fact, according to the Korean byline "Samsung Electronics is flooding the market with new smartphones." To defend the domestic market, Samsung is pressing Apple with the launch of multiple models. The Korean report states that "Apple unveiled two new models with different price tags, which Apple has never done before. Whether Samsung's strategy will work attracts our attention."

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Samsung's Application Processor Business to Suffer Decrease in Market Share while Apple's AP Business Remains Strong

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A new Korean report out today states that Samsung Electronics lost more share in mobile application processors (AP) market in the second and third quarters of this year. At the same time, Apple's AP business remains strong.

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Current Production Cuts to the iPhone 5C are Understandable

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It's being reported by the Wall St. Journal (WSJ) that Apple has notified two assemblers that they'll be reducing orders for the new iPhone 5C. However, the WSJ later notes in their report that "While Apple's Asian supply chain is widely interpreting the cuts as proof of slack demand for the iPhone 5C, component orders don't correlate directly with end demand. Apple has also previously cut component forecasts to suppliers over the past years."

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Samsung Set to Deliver Smartphone's with Built-In Wireless Charging in 2014. Is Apple Far Behind?

PA - Title Bar - News
Samsung tried to beat Apple to market with a fingerprint scanner for their Note 3 in September and failed. Yet Samsung was so determined to beat Apple at something this year so as to validate their false innovative leadership title, that they rushed a smartwatch to market. They were jumping at Apple's shadow fearing that Apple had one for their September iPhone Event. We called Samsung's Gear smartwatch a disaster in our report and in October the Wall St. Journal's David Pogue agreed with us by calling Samsung's smartwatch a Human Interface train wreck. So what is one of Samsung's next big move's for 2014 to show that they're the undisputed leader in the mobile industry? Well, according to a new report out today, one of Samsung's next moves will revolve around wireless charging solutions. Will Samsung get a big leap on Apple on this front? Our report sheds a little light on this matter and  shows you what Samsung is up to.

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Apple Getting Aggressive with iPhone 4S Pricing in India

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As Q4 began we reported that Apple would soon be slugging it out in the trenches with Samsung and other smartphone rivals as Apple's lead in India, Maneesh Dhir, and telecom business chief, Sanjay Kaul, would be rapidly increasing the pace of growth in India via a new Shop-in-Shop retail strategy. Today we learn that Apple is going to put the screws to Samsung and others by aggressively pricing the iPhone 4S.

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Apple on Target to Hit 50% of North American Smartphone Traffic by New Year due to new iPhone 5 Models

PA - Title Bar - Statistics
Apple's release of two new iPhone models on September 20, 2013 was the company's latest salvo in the smartphone market. The two respective models, the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, were aimed to appeal to different sets of customers with two separate price points and some feature differences. Initial domestic sales estimates for both devices have been positive, and based on the latest usage figures, the iPhone 5S and 5C have already made a significant impact on the iPhone ecosystem.

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Apple Hires Brilliant Retail Star to Expand Apple Stores

1. Cover - Angela-Ahrendts Joins Apple
Late yesterday Apple announced that Angela Ahrendts, CEO of Burberry, would be joining Apple in a newly created position, as a senior vice president and member of our executive team, reporting to CEO Tim Cook. Updated 9:30 AM with New Photos & Video

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Apple Granted 41 Patents Covering Multitouch Event Handling, iDevice Security, Stir Welding, EarPod Design & More

1. Cover - Apple granted 41 patents covering EarPod design, iDevice Security & more
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 41 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. Our report briefly covers Apple's patents relating to multitouch event handling, iDevice security and a new method of stir welding used in the manufacturing of iDevices. Our report also covers 3 design patents and a master list of the remaining patents that we didn't elaborate on in our report.

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The iPhone 5S is Temporarily Doubling Sales of the iPhone 5C

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According to a new Consumer Intelligence Research (CIRP) report, the iPhone 5S has outsold the iPhone 5C more than 2 to 1. Yet it's far too early to know which iPhone model will be the holiday season winner as there are still too many factors holding back iPhone 5C sales at the moment.

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Apple Patent Covers New Machinery for Cover Glass Coatings for Anti-Smudge, Anti-Scratch & More Importantly Anti-Reflection

1A Cover  - Apple anti-reflective mfg process patent
In 2012 AppAdvice asked the question: "Will an Anti-Reflective Screen Ever Come to the iPhone and iPad?" Our September patent report covering Apple's patent application titled "UV Mask with Anti-Reflection Coating and UV Absorption Material," answered that question in respect to Apple working on a solution. The timing of this coming to market, of course, is another matter. This morning, Patently Apple was first to discover another Apple patent application on this very subject matter filed in Europe. This time around, Apple's patent pending invention discusses the manufacturing process and machinery associated with layering coatings unto the surface of device cover glass with such protective materials such as anti-scratch, color filters and most importantly, everything to do with anti-reflection materials for future products such as an iPhone, iPad or wearable computer.

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Apple Store Employee Files Class Action Lawsuit over Lost Wages

PA - Title Bar - Patently Legal
A full-time non-exempt Apple Store Specialist who worked at both Spokane and San Francisco stores over a two year period has filed a Class Action lawsuit against Apple on behalf of himself and all non-exempt employees who are employed by Apple as non-exempt Specialists, Lead Specialists and Expert Specialists and non-exempt Managers, Senior Managers, Developmental Managers and Business Managers. Specialists and Managers are collectively referred to as Hourly Employees. The nuts and bolts of the complaint revolve around the fact that employees that are paid hourly wages should be compensated for the time lost waiting in lines for mandatory Apple security checks every day. Considering this is a requirement by Apple, employees should be compensated. Apple was sued in a similar case in July by two former Apple Store employees from New York and Los Angeles. Our report covers the full basic complaint filed with the court in San Francisco.

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Apple Seeks 'Designed by Apple in California' and 'iTunes Radio' Trademarks in Europe and Hong Kong China

1. Cover - Apple Seeks Designed by Apple in California Trademark
Today the European Patent Office published Apple's trademark filing for 'Designed by Apple in California' which was officially filed for yesterday. Apple's trademark first appeared during a promotional video of a TV ad shown to their developers at the WWDC event held in June. The European filing was filed under three distinct International Classes of 009, 038 and 042. This is noted because their trademark filing for this very same trademark in Hong Kong China was only listed under International Class 009. The full specifics of these classes are presented in our report. Additionally, Apple filed for other trademarks in China covering iTunes Radio and the new iOS 7 Safari icon.

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Will Apple's 'Maniac' Customers Boost Sales in Korea & Asia this Holiday Quarter as Feared?

1. Cover Graphic - Will Apple's Maniac Customers boost sales in Korea & Asia as Feared
A new Korean report published today stated that the influence of the iPhone to be released in Korea at the end of this month is attracting their attention. Consumers are also paying attention to whether the iPhone, appearing in the market in a year, will be able to revitalize Apple in Korea. The report further stated that "as there are maniac consumers for the Apple iPhone in Korea, the question is how much replacement demand the new iPhone will generate."

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Apple's New Touch ID Feature Sets Off a Firestorm of Fingerprint Sensor Sales to Android OEMs

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Last week we posted a report titled "Oh, Big Surprise: A Wave of Android Smartphones with Fingerprint Scanners Arriving in 2014," where we quoted the president of the FIDO Alliance saying that "Since the iPhone 5S adopted fingerprint sensors, Android-based handset makers have been taking account the possibility of fingerprint functions." He went on to predict a huge wave of new Android smartphones coming to market in 2014 that would incorporate fingerprint scanners. Today we learn of one fingerprint sensor manufacturer who is expecting sales to leap 200 times in 2014 as Android smartphone OEM's try to match Apple's hot Touch ID feature. Our report also briefly re-examines Samsung's blame-game that their fingerprint sensor partner failed to pass the reliability test.

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ABI Thinks that Apple's iPhones Failed to Adopt Verizon and New High-End Wireless Standards

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A new report out today by ABI Research notes that Apple's new iPhone's still don't support Verizon's SVLTE or SVDO wireless variants as their other phone partners do. Yet the only one complaining thus far publically is ABI – unless of course, they're airing Verizon's complaints for them. ABI was apparently on a mission to put the iPhone in a poor light which is rather odd for a research company.

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Korea's Financial Regular Orders Apple to Adopt Korean Payment System on iTunes

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South Korea's main financial regulator on Thursday ordered Apple to adopt a Korean payment system for its online store. The Financial Supervisory Service ordered KG Inicis, the payment gateway service provider for Apple's iTunes store, to adopt a public key certificate for transactions worth US $268 (300,000 Korean won) or more.

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Copycat Samsung Blames their US Fingerprint Sensor Partner for their Delay in Delivering a Solution for the Galaxy Note 3

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In September we posted a report titled "Samsung Fails to Deliver a Fingerprint Scanner for the Note 3," where we clearly reported that Samsung failed to deliver a fingerprint scanner that was highly anticipated. Later that month we posted a secondary report titled "Samsung and LG on the Run to Integrate Inferior Fingerprint Technology into their Somewhat Smartphones," where we noted that the swipe type of fingerprint scanner "has a lower recognition rate than the area type" of scanner. We further noted that "Android OEM's will now scramble to use technology from Korea's CrucialTec." Well, today the Korean press is confirming that very point. Samsung was so fit to be tied that Apple pulled off a gigantic innovative leap over them with Touch ID that they're now telling the press that it wasn't their fault that they're late in delivering a fingerprint scanner. It's the fault of their US fingerprint sensor partner. Ha! – I love it: more Samsung Whining.

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Apple's AirPlay and Apple TV are targeted in new Patent Lawsuit

PA - Title Bar - Patently Legal
A Westford Massachusetts company by the name of Aylus Networks Inc. has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple. The patent infringement lawsuit primarily concerns all things related to Apple TV. Aylus alleges that Apple TV and Apple Macintosh computers, iPod Touches, iPhones, and iPads using AirPlay infringe the patent at issue in this case.

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Apple May Fine-Tune their Retina Display for Power Savings

PA - Title Bar - Patents
Earlier this month we noted in a report that that IGZO displays used in Apple's current and future products will not only be brighter but could eventually reduce power consumption by 50% or more. Getting more life out of our mobile devices is important to all of us and it's a priority at Apple who is working to advance displays that could continue to provide a power savings.

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Apple Redesigns the SIM Card Tray for Future Wearable Devices

1 cover - Apple redesigns the SIM card tray for Wearable Computers
On October 10, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple titled "Systems and Methods for Ejecting Removable Modules from Electronic Devices." Some will find Apple's redesigned SIM Card tray invention that utilizes a combination of magnets very interesting. However, the part that I found most interesting of all had nothing to do with the design. For me it was Apple's revelation that future wearable computers would be a candidate for their invention.

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Apple Seeks to Reinvent the Connector System

1. Cover - Apple Seeks to Reinvent the computer connector system
On October 10, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals their intent to one day reinvent the connector system for both Macs and iDevices. It's a universal desire for consumers to have a simplified connector system for computers or other electronics – and yet technically there are so many electrical standards in place today that it's close to impossible to think that we could have a utopian universal connector system. Yet Apple plugs away believing there's a way to be the first computer company to crack this nightmare of differing connectors; a way to keep the connectors on a Mac or iDevice super simple. Apple began this project back in 2011 and today we're getting more detailed information about how the reinvention of the connector system could one day be a reality.

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Apple Files Eye Tracking System with Advanced Gaze Controls

1. Cover - Apple eye tracking system with advanced Gaze Controls
Unlike any other time that I've known, technology companies are now engaged in several races to get new technology to market first and more importantly right. While Apple's Touch ID may not have been the first fingerprint scanner on the market, they definitely got it right and now all of the major smartphone vendors are scrambling to match Apple's success. Other races include indoor location services, advanced haptics, wearable computers, flex displays and the list goes on to include eye tracking and gaze control systems. Sony, Google and Apple are heavily researching this technology and today the US Patent and Trademark Office revealed a new Apple invention covering eye tracking that will apply to all future iDevices, the MacBook and more importantly, for use in your car, in a future gaming console or entertainment system. Controlling a system using advanced eye tracking is tricky and Apple's patent discusses how their system will overcome the number one problem facing eye tracking systems today: Troxler fading.

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Samsung Whining over U.S. Protectionism is the Business Joke of the Decade

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As expected, the Korean government expressed disappointment Wednesday with U.S. President Barack Obama's decision not to veto an import ban on some mobile products of Samsung Electronics. The Trade, Industry and Energy Ministry said in a press release that "It is regrettable that the U.S. government made different decisions related to patent infringement in a situation where Samsung and Apple are globally competing in the mobile telecommunications sector."

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IDC Stats: Apple's PC Sales Take a Nose Dive in Q3 2013

PA - Title Bar - Statistics
International Data Corporation's latest U.S. and Worldwide PC shipment stats were just released. Worldwide PC shipments totaled 81.6 million units in the third quarter of 2013. In year-on-year terms, the market contracted -7.6%, ahead of a projected decline of -9.5% for the current quarter. Although Lenovo inched out over HP, HP held up well in this tough market with a 0.4% growth which is in stark contrast to both Acer and ASUS who dropped more than 34% for the quarter. In the US, the only loser in this quarter was Apple.

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Apple's "iPad" now a Registered TM in Canada after 4 Year Battle

PA - Title Bar - Trademarks
Today the Canadian IP Office published documentation confirming that Apple has finally been granted a Registered Trademark for "iPad." The final approval of the iPad trademark was officially finalized on Friday October 04, 2013 under number TMA862033. Over the last four years Apple's legal team has been battling it out with both Acer and Knightsbridge Human Capital Management who opposed Apple ever gaining this trademark. Apple's victory comes only weeks after their win in Brazil enabling them to legally use their brand name "iPhone" in that country. Apple's win also comes two weeks prior to their iPad event that's reportedly set for October 22.

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Could Apple tap into Disney's New Haptics Technology?

1. Cover - Next Generation Haptics Arrive
A rumor errupted back in 2010 when a the reputable Japanese publication Nikkei Business Publications posted photos of an alleged iPod touch and iPad being equipped with Senseg haptics. Another rumor had surfaced even earlier on MacRumors. Coincidentally, shortly after the rumor surfaced, an Apple patent application published by USPTO came to light discussing a wildly intelligent multi-tiered haptics system. Apple's latest haptics related patent filing was published in March of this year discussing haptics using magnetically permeable materials. Even Samsung is aiming to bring advanced haptics to smartphones via a floating screen structure that is able to create spot-screen 3D effects. To date there's no major smartphone or tablet on the market that provides consumers with advanced haptics allowing them to experience unique touch sensations on their device touch displays. But a surprise revelation by Disney Research says that they have a solution in hand. Apple has had a close relationship with Disney due to Steve Jobs being the largest shareholder of Disney's due to his sale of Pixar years ago. The first question that comes to mind is: Being that Disney's not a tablet maker, could we see Apple license this technology for use with future iDevices?

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Samsung to Debut First Curved Display Smartphone Tomorrow

Cover - Samsung debuts curved display smartphone debuts tomorrow Oct 10, 2013
It's being reported today by the Korean Press that Samsung will officially launch the world's first curved display smartphone called the "Galaxy Round" Tomorrow. Our Patent Bolt blog first uncovered Samsung's design patent back in May of this year.

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LG is now able to Assist Apple with Flexible Displays & Batteries

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Future Apple products ranging from an iPhone to an iPod touch to a wristband wearable computer have been shown to incorporate displays with a slight curve right through to full wraparound designs. Apple even has a few patent pending battery designs on the books to support possible devices with cool curves. Today we learned that Apple has willing partners in both LG Display and LG Chem that are ready to assist them should they decide to revamp their current handset designs and/or introduce a new curvaceous wearable computer in the months or years ahead.

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National Geographic Photographer Thinks that the iPhone 5S Panorama Feature is Intoxicating

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Jim Richardson is an American photojournalist working primarily for the National Geographic Society and as a social documentary photographer. Richardson is also a contributing editor of National Geographic Traveler magazine, where he has contributed both writing and photographs. His latest project for National Geographic was taking photos on a trip to the Scottish Highlands with only an iPhone 5S as his camera. As a photographer who is a diehard Nikon fan, he wasn't sure what to expect. The results opened his eyes to just how good the iPhone 5S really is.

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