The news of late has Android taking over the world and Samsung dominating with Android phones and tablets with more than triple the volume over Apple's iOS. So why is it that Apple's iOS is beating the crap out of Android on the busiest shopping day of the year? – Because more people actually use their iDevices as Tim Cook has been telling Wall Street and their developers for months. Now more proof supports that reality.

In the blink of an eye another year has gone by and Patently Apple would like to wish our US fanbase a very Happy Thanksgiving. This holiday has always been a time of reflection for me and this year I'm thankful for a speedy recovery after my emergency surgery earlier this month. There are so many things to be thankful for in life, and I hope that you and your loved ones have much to be thankful for this year too. To all of our fans and visitors, Cheers!

Apple has been working on an iWallet or electronic wallet since 2010 if not earlier. They've built quite the body of intellectual property to support their future iWallet which you could view in our iWallet Archives. Today, a new in-depth iWallet patent was published by the US Patent & Trademark Office. Apple's latest invention generally relates to systems and methods for carrying out secure transactions. More specifically, the present technology relates to systems and methods for performing secure transactions using optical codes and optical code readers.

On November 28, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published two patent applications from Apple that reveal more details about the new Touch ID fingerprint scanner that's been incorporated into the Home Button of the iPhone 5S. The patent applications delve into extending the range of electric field based finger sensors so that they could image fingers through significantly thicker dielectric materials such as molded plastic structures. The patents also detail many other technical aspects behind Apple's Touch ID.

A Connecticut company by the name of Voice Domain Technologies has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple. The patent infringement lawsuit concerns Apple's Siri.

A Texas patent troll by the name of Long Corner Consumer Electronics has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple. The patent infringement lawsuit concerns Apple's iDevices using sensors related to auto-rotation.

Today, DSS Technology Management, a leading developer and integrator of security technologies has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple. The patent infringement lawsuit concerns Apple's Mac Mini and iMac computers that provide wireless Bluetooth connections to a plurality of peripheral devices that infringe on two DSS patents regarding "a data network system in which the server and the peripherals communicate in low duty cycle RF bursts." Report Updated Nov. 28, 2013

Earlier this month we reported that Samsung and Apple would restart to comply with a court-ordered Jan. 8 deadline to find an amicable solution to their patent dispute. Insiders close to the case added that Samsung's mobile chief and CEO Shin Jong-kyun and Apple's Tim Cook will meet soon. Yet now that a Silicon Valley jury ordered Samsung to pay Apple $290 million in damages for copying vital iPhone and iPad features, the mood at Samsung has soured and they're already hinting that nothing will come of their meeting with Apple.

Apple's production of iDevices for the all-important holiday season is cranking up to record highs. Earlier today we reported that iPad mini with Retina orders were getting back on track and were outpacing last year's production of the iPad mini. Now the news only gets better as the iPhone 5S is now flying off production lines at a rate of 500,000 units a day – a historic high for any iPhone model to date.

According to a new supply chain report, bottlenecks in making components for the iPad mini with Retina are now gradually being removed. The positive results equated to Apple ordering four million units in November. Currently, Apple's orders for the iPad mini with Retina have already surpassed those for the first-generation iPad mini, the sources noted.

A new Canalys study published today forecasts that tablets will almost out ship all other PC form factors combined next year, forming almost 50% of the total client PC market (desktops, notebooks, and tablets). The good news is that Canalys acknowleges that Apple is one of the only companies making any money from this boom.

Futuremark is a company that creates benchmarks that enable people to reliably measure, understand and manage computer hardware performance. People rely on Futuremark benchmarks to produce accurate and unbiased results. In order to retain their reputation, Futuremark announced that they've delisted new Android devices with suspicious scores.

Apple has topped the 'World's Most Valuable List' compiled by 'Forbes' magazine with a brand value of $104.3 billion, nearly double than the other technology major Microsoft which has a brand value of $56.7 billion. Coca-Cola, IBM and Google rounded out the top five brands.

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 43 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today including several multitouch related patents and two relating to business covering "Mobile IP over VPN communication protocol" and "VPN Multi-participant conferences." Yet the one granted patent that stood out most today relates to digital cameras that employ a plenoptic imaging system that will provide a refocusable mode after image capture. While the invention relates to future cameras integrated into iDevices, Apple notes that the technology may also relate to a conventional standalone camera as well. Apple revealed a standalone camera invention back in 2009 and hinted of such again twice this year (one and two).

This was the year that Apple put a lot of energy into developing technology to advance hearing aids in connection to the iPhone. Apple's first patent application surfaced at the US Patent Office in February and their most recent application came to light last month. Their work was obviously more aggressive than first thought. Today we've learned that Apple approached all hearing aid companies to introduce their ideas and technology and a next generation product from Denmark's GN Store Nord is now only months away from being the first to tap into technology that will work with Apple's iPhone.

Apple announced that NTT Docomo was a new partner of theirs during Apple's Special Event for the iPhone in September. After months of hesitancy, a senior official at the mobile phone carrier stated this week in Tokyo that they would begin selling Apple's iPad Air very shortly.

A new Class Action lawsuit has been initiated by Rendell Roman against Apple on behalf of individuals who purchased devices from Apple that use the Lightning connector that is prone to fraying, breakage, failure and beyond. The complaint alleges that Apple possessed knowledge of the defect prior to distributing the Lightning connector.

Vantage Point Technology has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple. The patent infringement lawsuit concerns Apple's use of ARM processors in products such as the iPhone, iPad and beyond. This patent troll is suing Apple with a 1995 patent once owned by Intergraph Corporation in an effort to gain an ongoing royalty from Apple.

Patent lawsuits are a fact of life for technology companies today, and profitable companies with popular products make tempting targets. Apple's own attempts to use patents, notably against Korea-based Samsung, have met with both success and failure, but here in LA Apple was purely on the defensive. Apple's late CEO Steve Jobs was invoked several times during the trial for his famous quote, "we have always been shameless about stealing great ideas", an item the plaintiff hoped would resonate with the 6-woman, 2-man jury. The case is now in the hands of the jury. Report Updated Nov. 26, 2013

When Apple introduced the new iPhone 5S with its Touch ID fingerprint scanner feature, Dan Riccio, Senior VP Hardware Engineering stated at the 2:19 mark of Apple's introductory video that "All fingerprint information is encrypted and stored inside a secure enclave in our new A7 chip. Here it's locked away from everything else, accessible only by the Touch ID sensor. It's never available to other software, and it's never stored on Apple servers or backed up to iCloud." One of Apple's latest patent applications published by the US Patent and Trademark Office reveals the mechanics and thinking behind this "secure enclave" and more.

After failed attempts by Samsung to get a mistrial, the Silicon Valley jury ordered Samsung to pay Apple $290 million in damages for copying vital iPhone and iPad features. In an e-mailed statement, Apple stated that the case "has always been about more than patents and money. It has been about innovation and the hard work that goes into inventing products that people love." Today's verdict is the fifth-largest jury award in the U.S. in 2013.

Last week we reported on the Galaxy Gear being an epic flop. We reported that Samsung had sold only 50,000 smartwatches. Then Samsung went on a PR offensive the following day screaming that the number was really 800,000. That was quickly doused by a Korean news report that noted that Samsung had "shipped" 800,000 but only sold 50,000. The Verge confirmed that to be a fact. To rub it in their face even further, a new Gartner study published today drives home the reality that "Despite the hype surrounding smartwatches, they are unlikely to be featured on many consumers' holiday wish lists this year." Obviously, other than giving them away when consumers purchase a Samsung washing machine, Samsung's so-called innovation is nowhere to be found. And what do you know; one week later and we get to laugh at Samsung's second flop of 2013: The Galaxy Round.

Texas based patent troll eDekka has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple. The patent infringement lawsuit states that Apple has infringed on claims 1 and 3 of their 1992 patent 6,266,674. More specifically, the company alleges that Apple's infringement involves their website's use of "shopping cart" functionality which is their technology. And like all good patent trolls, they also filed separate lawsuits against Symantec Corporation and Liberty Interactive on the same day.

Hong Kong-based market research firm Counterpoint Research announced late yesterday that Apple's 2013 flagship phone became the world's best-selling smartphone in September, even though it was on the market for just 10 days. Starting on September 20, the iPhone 5s became available in nine countries including the US, and it outsold any other smartphone. The launch of the iPhone 5s made the Samsung Galaxy S4 drop to second place. The next spot was taken by Apple's iPhone 5, followed by the cheaper 5c.

Today a new trademark surfaced at the US Patent and Trademark Office that Apple may want to challenge before it gets approved. The trademark is for a logo noted as "Swiss Apple Inc." which is a company out of Carlsbad California. The application was filed electronically under number 86031606.

Patently Apple was first to reveal Apple's Touch ID patents in Europe just days before Apple unveiled this new feature in the iPhone 5S in September. Today, the US Patent & Trademark Office published another Touch ID related patent application from Apple that covers the circuits and packaging for fingerprint sensors.

On November 21, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a new series of five liquidmetal patent applications from Apple. While all of the five patents are highly technical in nature, two of the patents focus on 3D printing.

As early as mid-October we reported that Apple had notified two assemblers that they'd be reducing orders for the new iPhone 5C and just last week we reported that Foxconn reduced iPhone 5C production to focus on the iPhone 5S. Today, yet another report has emerged claiming that Apple's main iPhone 5C partner is dramatically reducing production.

A patent troll by the name of TLI Communications has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple. The patent infringement lawsuit concerns Apple's iCloud, iPhoto, iMovie and Photo Stream products. According to the court document, TLI alleges that Apple's products use their patented technology without license or authority to classify images so that they can be easily uploaded, stored, organized, retrieved and shared. On the same day that they filed their lawsuit against Apple, TLI filed a similar separate lawsuit using the very same patent against Facebook.

Earlier in the quarter the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Samsung that relates to a possible future authentication system for devices like their Galaxy line of smartphones and tablets. The patent supports the rumors that we reported on in mid-October. The system provides Samsung with an alternative to Apple's iPhone 5S Touch ID fingerprint scanner, though I highly doubt that retailers will support such a form of authorization for future purchases in the near future.

A new class action came to light today that was officially filed against Apple late last Friday by Nancy Romine Minkler. The class action regards Apple's marred iOS Maps app. The class action lists seven cause of action ranging from unfair competition to violations of false and misleading advertising to breach of warranty through to negligent misrepresentations. It's a bit of a head-scratcher of a Class Action. I mean, who buys a new cellular phone solely on the basis of a maps app that's accurate 99% of the time? Can anyone really sue Apple for mapping information that is incorrect less than 1% of the time? Yes they can. But whether they'll win is another matter. Our report presents you with an introduction to the Class Action and the full list of the seven counts against Apple as represented in the court document.

Yesterday we noted that Samsung is working with Google in an effort to attack the education market sometime in the second half of 2014. We also noted that in May of this year we reported that Apple was working on 12.9" iPad for the same market. Today The Korea Times is reporting on new rumors that Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch iPad early next year.

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 37 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover what appears to be Apple's iPad Air invention along with two patents relating to key iOS user interface attributes.

According to a new ABI Research report, smartphones will change the face of retail technologies and shopping, enabling a whole new converging ecosystem to emerge. The report considers the evolving space of retail technology, taking the smartphone as a central component. Over 100 forecast tables in ABI's full report point to in-store analytics, indoor location, smartphone retail applications, digital signage & kiosks, POS, RFID, small cells, Wi-Fi, NFC, retail M2M, and gift cards as keys to this new market.

In early October we reported that "Samsung's Smartwatch Seen as a "Human Interface Train Wreck." We also reported a month earlier that "there was nothing there that was likely to compel many to actually buy it. It's bulky and delivers little to nothing in real value. I'm sure that Samsung thinks that this is a 'breakthrough' product, but it's just a super-charged wrist watch that's ugly." Well, we correctly called it out of the starting gate because a new Korea report published today claims that sales of Samsung's Galaxy Gear have proven to be a flop of epic proportions. Samsung's big move to prove that they're an "innovator" equal to Apple has ultimately failed as expected. Report Udated November 20, 2013 8:40 MST

According to industry insiders, Samsung Electronics has begun to check the supply chain management for materials and parts to ship over 100 million tablet PCs next year. We noted last month that Samsung had shipped 9.7 million tablets in Q3, up 123% year-over-year. We also noted that Samsung was hell bent on flooding the market with tablets so as to overtake Apple who's Q3 year-over-year stats were only up an anemic 0.6%.

While DigiTimes is reporting today that Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) will stop production of the iPhone 5c at its factory in Zhengzhou, northern China, and shift the capacity to iPhone 5s, China-based ctechcn.com reports that Foxconn will not stop production of iPhone 5c but will rather reduce weekly output slightly. This adds the drop in production of the iPhone 5C as reported by Reuters last month.

In July we reported that an Israeli website had reported that Apple had 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 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 Israeli report then hinted that Apple was in the running for acquiring PrimeSense. Today the news is that Apple has finalized the deal. Updated 7:30 PST

On November 15, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's latest trademark filing for their iOS 7 Newsstand icon. Apple's Newsstand is a built-in application on iOS devices. It's dedicated to downloading and displaying digital versions of newspapers and magazines. In September Apple released the newly redesigned iOS 7 which included new icon designs. Newsstand is only one of the new designs. Apple's filing includes a jumbo image of the new icon.

A new Canadian report today states that while Apple remains the most popular smartphone choice in Canada, Samsung is closing the gap as the second ranking brand, according to Ipsos Reid's Mobil-ology study conducted in August 2013. While 33% of Canadians use an iPhone, 29% now use a Samsung device. Samsung has tripled its market share in Canada in the past two years. Samsung's market share in Canada stood at a meager 5% in early 2011.