With all the hype about electronic health bands and the iWatch, especially an iWatch with a round interface, you'd think that it's a done deal. But who are you going to believe on this matter? Do you believe a fairly unknown analyst at Rosenblatt Securities shooting darts at the wall or what Apple's CEO stated on the topic of a smartwatch? At last year's D11 conference (between the 19-21 minute marks of the Walt Mossberg interview) Cook grumbled at the idea of a watch of any kind, though later admitted that "other wearables" could be interesting down the road. Does anyone believe that Apple is really going to be just another copycat designer? I guess they do considering the frenzy of reports out there on the topic that now extends the iWatch to having wireless charging coils. Next we'll be seeing reports with fuzzy photos like the Lock Ness monster appearing any day now – yes it's real, look at this crazy photo we found in a back alley in Taiwan. Really: are you buying into the iWatch being real for Q4?

In late February 2014, Chitika Insights observed that iOS 7 users generating the vast majority of Web traffic from U.S. and Canadian iPhones (84.3%) and iPads (78.5%). These high rates of adoption for the company's latest OS versions have been a frequently touted selling point for Apple in its efforts to maintain its strong developer community. With iOS 8 expected to be at least partially unveiled during Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) Keynote on Monday, Chitika revisited overall iOS version distribution on each respective device type. Expectedly, the latest data indicate indicates that share growth for iOS 7 across both iPhones and iPads in North America is at a high going into the conference.

Back in March Bloomberg reported that China Mobile faced a triple whammy of apps, iPhone subsidies and regulations that would likely cost them as much as $1.8 billion in profit this year. The state-run phone company is contending with falling income as customers flock to free messaging applications such as Tencent Holdings Ltd.'s WeChat and buy Apple Inc. devices at a subsidized price. The report noted that the government would impose a new telecommunications tax as part of an effort to lower prices and improve customer service. The reduction of smartphone subsidies and talk of it isn't new and is certainly not in concrete yet despite a new UBS report.

Last March we reported that Samsung introduced their version of Apple's online iTunes store that's simply called Samsung Content & Services. The Korean report stated that the newly-launched portal would provide one-stop contents and service that could be enjoyed through Samsung's Smartphone, Smart Pad and Smart TV. Today it's being reported that their iTunes copycat service is shutting its doors.

According to a new Kantar Worldpanel study, 88% of iPhone owners in the US who plan to change/upgrade devices over the next 12 months say that they'll stick with Apple. In Apple's other largest market, China, 41% of iPhone owners who intend to change devices in the next 12 months say they will stick with Apple. In other statistics, the study shows that Apple is wining the "switchers" battle with Samsung in the US and China and shows us which iPhone models are being sold in China. Kantar also states that the iPhone 6 is expected to sell well and that an iPhone with a larger display will sell better in China than it will in the US.

On May 29, 2014, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple titled "Biometric Sensor for Human Presence Detection and Associated Methods." The object of this present invention is to provide human presence verification with increased speed and accuracy, and with reduced user interaction using biometrics.

On May 29, 2014, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple titled "Earphones with Cable Orientation Sensors." The earphones incorporate multi-user sensor structures that determine whether or not the earphones are being shared by multiple users and will allow each EarPod to play different the same or different content simultaneously. I'm sure that dating and married love birds will love this.

On May 29, 2014, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals their plans to add presence sensors to both future versions of their current EarPods and Beats Headphones. The timing of this patent coming to light is perfect in light of Apple's acquisition of Beats yesterday. Our cover graphic illustrates that Apple was thinking of applying their new technology to over-the-ear headphones. The presence sensors will be able to stop streaming media from Apple's iTunes Radio and/or Beats Music along with iTunes services such as watching TV programming or Movies the second that the user removes their earphones from their head and instantly resume play of the media whenever they're worn again.

On Monday we posted a report titled "Apple may Surprise the Market with a New Smart Home Platform." The report was about a news leak to the Financial Times. They stated at the time that "Apple is preparing to announce a new software platform that would turn the iPhone into a remote control for lights, security systems and other household appliances, as part of a move into the "internet of things." Today, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals their ongoing work regarding networking residential consumer electronics devices. In particular, the invention provides integrated establishment and control of communication sessions between these consumer electronics devices. One scenario is to conduct a phone call or possible FaceTime call on your television. The timing of this patent couldn't have been better.

What began as a leak to the Financial Times in early May that "Apple Could be on the Verge of Acquiring Beats Electronics," is now official. This afternoon Apple put out a press release titled "Apple to Acquire Beats Music & Beats Electronics." Jimmy Iovine, a recording engineer that worked with John Lennon and helped to produce the great "Born to Run" Album by Bruce Springsteen stated that "I've always known in my heart that Beats belonged with Apple. The idea when we started the company was inspired by Apple's unmatched ability to marry culture and technology. Apple's deep commitment to music fans, artists, songwriters and the music industry is something special." Apple is acquiring the two companies for a total of $3 billion, consisting of a purchase price of approximately $2.6 billion and approximately $400 million that will vest over time. The acquistion will now be etched into Apple's history book as the largest to date.  

According to a new report published by the Sydney Morning Herald, multiple users on Apple Inc's online support forum and Twitter have reported an unusual smartphone and tablet hack in which cyber attackers were said to have locked Australian users' smartphones and demanded payment in return for unlocking them.

According to a press release issued by Apple today, NTT DoCoMo and Apple announced that the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display will be available on the DoCoMo network beginning on Tuesday, June 10. Japan is one of Apple's strongest foreign markets for iDevices. In the first quarter, the numbers for Japanese carriers were strong. Apple secured 81% of Softbank sales, 59% at KDDI AU and 42% of smartphone sales on NTT DoCoMo. DoCoMo now supporting Apple's iPad is big news.