Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails says that he's been a life-long Apple consumer, fan and advocate. He's now working on a secret project with Apple. REPORT UPDATE WITH NEW VIDEO NOV. 5, 2014.

In August we reported that David Howard – Microsoft's Corporate Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, wrote on their legal blog that they didn't take lightly filing a legal action against Samsung, a company with which they enjoyed a long and productive partnership with over the years. Unfortunately, as Howard noted, "even partners sometimes disagree. After spending months trying to resolve our disagreement, Samsung has made clear in a series of letters and discussions that we have a fundamental disagreement as to the meaning of our contract." Late Yesterday Samsung filed their official response to Microsoft's claims in court.

A new report today began by noting that "Forty years ago, the Swiss watch industry nearly died. The advent of Japanese quartz watches, cheaper and more accurate than their mechanical Swiss rivals, drove many traditional watchmakers out of business. Two generations on, a new question is occupying the country's watch industry: will Apple's new smartwatch be the prelude to a similar upheaval?

Today the European Trademark Office published Apple's latest trademark filing for "Handoff" under number 013420203. Apple's marketing for the new OS X Yosemite feature called Handoff states that a user can pick up where they left off when their devices are near each other and will automatically hand off activities to each other. For example, if you're writing an email on your iPhone and walk up to your Mac, your email is ready for you to pick up on your Mac — exactly where you left off. That's true, but with my 2011 iMac, I was out of luck. Bluetooth 4.0 only debuted on the iMac in 2012. REPORT UPDATED NOV. 6 2014 Apple files US trademark applications.

A bold if not crazy Indian Company is asking India's Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) to remove Apple's "iPhone" trademark from the Trademark Registry. I read about this case last week and decided not to cover it thinking that the request would be instantly quashed by IPAB. I was wrong. Report Updated

It's being reported today that in Apple's annual 10-K filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, they note that while most of the company's hardware was manufactured in Asia, the company also performs final assembly of certain products at its manufacturing facility in Cork, Ireland. "Due to economic and political conditions, tax rates in various jurisdictions may be subject to significant change," the company wrote in its filing.

Yikes, distractionitis! Today the US Patent Office revealed a patent from Google for a micro projector for a future version of Google Glass. Technically you'd be able to project your email onto your windshield while you're driving. That's all we need today, more distracted drivers to dodge on the freeway. Beyond that possible application, Google is very vague as to what advantages their new invention will bring to tech fans, so you'll have to use your imagination here – batteries not included.

The Market is flooded with cheap unprofitable tablets: Today a new IDC report was published regarding the top five tablet vendors for Q3 2014. Despite a continued shipment decline for its iPad product line, Apple maintained its lead in the worldwide tablet market, shipping 12.3 million units in the third quarter.

ABI Research has a new report out about Apple's CarPlay vs. Android Auto. They note that just as in the smartphone industry, Apple and Android are now tough rivals in new the battle for automotive dashboard integration. While CarPlay from Apple (the software platform that synchronizes iPhones to vehicle infotainment systems) was first-to-market and had the backing of OEMs such as BMW, Citron, Ferrari, Jaguar/Land Rover, Mercedes, Peugeot, and Toyota and sixteen others. Yet ABI's Senior Analyst Filomena Berardi appears to be cheering on Google's Android Auto. He notes in this report that a few car manufacturers are delaying their rollout of CarPlay as if there's some major problem with CarPlay instead of it just being a new project that is experiencing a normal bump in the road with scheduling conflicts for this year's models.

Cook states in a new Bloomberg report that "I don't consider myself an activist, but I realize how much I've benefited from the sacrifice of others. So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it's worth the trade-off with my own privacy." While I think everyone can understand this to a certain point, recent activities could be seen as contrary to his statement of not being an activist. Hopefully his testimony that's now openly and loudly on the table will now be put to rest and get on with just being Apple's CEO, period.

The US Patent & Trademark Office published two patent applications from Apple today that reveal their ongoing work regarding advanced haptics and new iOS interface elements and metaphors for consumers and the enterprise. At a basic level, Apple's advanced haptics invention may have played a role in Apple's new Apple Watch.

CNN reports that Samsung earnings plunged in the third quarter as the company's smartphone business was squeezed by competitors at both ends of the cost spectrum. The South Korea-based firm posted operating profit of 4.1 trillion won (US$3.9 billion) for the third quarter -- a 60% decline from the previous year. The CNN video shows how shoppers in Hong Kong strongly favor Apple's new iPhone 6 and 6+ over any smartphone from Samsung.

On October 30, 2014, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a continuation patent application from Apple that reveals their ongoing work on an advanced 3D imaging and display system. The timing of this updated application that includes 3D scanning is very interesting in light of HP's new advanced desktop computer system called Sprout that launched yesterday that integrates a unique 3D scanning capability.

For Apple, Iran's 77 million people offer a particularly attractive new market. Iran's population is relatively young, with 42% of its people under age 25. Iran also boasts a relative large middle class. And despite decades of animosity between Tehran and the West, many well-off Iranians still embrace Western brands and trends.Today, Samsung is successfully selling their mobile devices in Iran and Apple wants in on the action.

For some it's the addictive CrackBerry: BlackBerry's CEO John Chen quoted an old adage in an open letter recently saying that "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." BlackBerry's CEO just announced in an interview with Walt Mossberg that they'll be bringing back the BlackBerry Bold Classic with it's small sized physical keyboard and trackpad. It'll have updated software but take on the BlackBerry Bold's look and feel. For some lawyers and politicians it's a welcomed announcement. The addictive BlackBerry was once called the CrackBerry and Kim Kardashian just happens to be one those addicts. You'll hear all about her addiction in our report.

HP is about the shake the PC world like it hasn't in years. HP introduces Sprout, a revolutionary PC that's for 3D printing. HP's video called Hands noted above captures the spirit of Apple's Think Different ad run many years ago. I think this could be something very inspiring for artists and it could truly be the beginning of a new direction for PCs. It gave me Goosebumps just thinking about where this can take us. Report Updated at 2:33 and 7PM PST.

 

During one of Re/Code's <code/mobile> event interviews, Walt Mossberg and Ina Fried interviewed Apple's VP of iPhone marketing Greg Joswiak. Fried gave Joswiak the scenario of Android being 19 out of 20 smartphones in a few years out and wondered if Apple cares about being marginalized. Joswiak said that Apple doesn't focus on market share but rather on customer experiences with their devices from the Mac to the iPhone and future iWatch.

A new Korean report published today was refreshingly honest and rather upbeat about Apple's iPhone 6 landing in Korean stores this Friday. The report noted that "The worldwide craze over the new iPhones will hit the South Korean market on Friday when the iPhone 6 and its variant the 6 Plus go on sale here. This time, the so-called iPhone effect will have a more significant impact on the Korean smartphone market than ever before."

Dominic Sunnebo, strategic insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech reports that their latest data covering just the first few days of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have shown a nice little pop for iOS smartphone market share in most major centers. The marketplace with the largest boost from iPhone 6 sales just might surprise you.

In our report covering Apple's latest Financial Conference Call we noted that Apple had sold 5.5 million Macs. Cook had stated that for Macs, it was a "blowout" quarter and that "it doesn't get better than that" at 21% growth year over year. Apparently Apple's surging Mac sales and Google's Chromebook gaining ground, Microsoft has decided to go into emergency mode to protect their only stronghold remaining, Windows PCs.

Earlier this month we posted a report titled "Are we on the Cusp of a Revolutionary Shift in Television?" We noted that "two possible major television properties are saying that they're getting ready to offer online programming away from the cable subscription model that's been holding back a la carte programming choices for consumers. It seems like we're on the cusp of a revolutionary shift, even though we can't fully see it yet." With the advances of 4.5G coming to market over the next 3 or 4 years that will be able to deliver 3D Movies, video games in real-time and many other advantages, the FCC has now stepped in to get ahead that curve to allow companies like Apple, Aereo and others to offer TV programming once locked by cable companies. This will allow for the revolutionary shift in TV that we described in our earlier report to take place.

During one of Bloomberg TV's latest business video reports posted yesterday, Emily Chang discussed Apple's mobile payment technology known at Apple Pay with Piper Jaffray Senior Research Analyst Gene Munster and Bloomberg's Editor-at-Large Cory Johnson. Apple Pay, which now works at Walgreens, the number one pharmacy chain in the U.S, was purposely disconnected by a rival pharmaceutical chain store(s) CVS (and Rite Aid) which has erupted into an online war over the mobile wallet of the future.

The Financial Times reports today that Apple's spending on research and development leapt by a third in the past year, reaching its highest level relative to revenues since 2007, the year the iPhone was released.

Yesterday we reported just how well Apple's iPhone 6 pre-orders were doing in South Korea. Analysts estimated that total presale figures for the new iPhones had reached roughly 100,000 units, which topped an estimated 30,000 units for the Galaxy Note 4 over a similar time frame. Today the Korean press revealed Samsung's ongoing problems. It's not just a matter of losing smartphone market momentum; it's about their disastrous business plan that was laid out four year ago. 

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 39 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover three inventions. The first covers Apple's iDevice chemical tempered glass. The second covers a halogen-free flame retardant material for Apple hardware. The third patent covers Apple's secure enclave used to protect both a user's fingerprint and information regarding safe transactions for Apple Pay. We wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple today.

Apple's CEO Tim Cook was proud to state during their last Financial Conference Call that Apple's iPad held 90% of the education market. Tonight it's being reported that Apple plans to dole out $100 million in grants to U.S. schools as part of the Obama administration's "ConnectED" program, targeting those that lack access to education technology and reliable broadband Internet.

During one of Bloomberg TV's business videos posted today, Emily Chang had Ben Huh, CEO of Cheezburger on to talk about Google, Amazon and Motorola. Yet at the 3:26 mark of this 4:39 minute video, the topic surprisingly shifted to an Apple mind share vs. Android market share discussion that was quite interesting.

The Korean press reported earlier today that LG Uplus, the nation's smallest mobile carrier, has come under attack for its "excessive" marketing strategy in its bid to sell more Apple iPhones. Apple's iPhone 6 pre-orders have sold exceedingly well in Korea which has made one particular Apple partner a little more agressive than they should have.

Earlier this morning we were greeted with the good news about iPhone 6 pre-orders in India and South Korea over the weekend. In India, Apple pre-orders of the iPhone 6 sold out in 72 hours. In South Korea, the numbers for the iPhone 6 were phenomenal, outpacing presales of Samsung's new smartphones handily. But that good news didn't sit well South Korea's press who immediately began to attack Apple on their neglect of the Korean market as being arrogant.

On October 17 we posted a report titled "While the New Apple SIM didn't get any Coverage during Yesterday's Event, CNBC sees it as a Knockout Feature." Apple downplayed this feature knowing it would cause some ripples from their foreign telcos partners. Today we've learnt that in Europe, where consumers can order the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 from Apple's online stores, only one carrier—EE—has signed up to offer its services to Apple's universal SIM. That's one operator out of dozens of carriers. Though in context, Apple has said that their new SIM is only available in the US and UK.

On Friday we reported that "Apple Takes the Smartphone War to Korea with Pre-Orders. Today the results are in on how well Apple did. According to a new report this morning, in less than an hour, South Korean carriers reported that the iPhone 6 pre-orders had reached tens of thousands, outpacing the rate reported for Samsung's Galaxy Note 4 model at its launch in September. Can you say OUCH?

Apple slowly gaining ground in India: Today an Indian publication's headline reads "Apple's India revenue jumps 10-fold in just four years." Apple sold 1 million iPhones between October 2013 and August 2014. As the momentum grows, India's first allotment of the iPhone 6 was sold out in a record 72 hours, a first for India.

Over the last two months we've been noticing how the Healthcare industry is paying more attention to Apple's iOS and/or iDevices (the iPhone and/or iPad). With Apple's new HealthKit now available to developers in the Healthcare industry we'll be keeping an eye out for new apps and/or processes that will take advantage of Apple's platform. Today we present you with a list of developers in the Healthcare industry who are thinking Apple. We'll continue to list future patent applications in this area every week as we stumble upon them to help you see what could be coming around a future corner.

Self-driving and autonomous vehicles, in particular, are much closer to reality than most people and businesses realize, according to a new Gartner study. Over the next six years, self-aware vehicles will emerge first that are increasingly also able to autonomously sense, interpret, decide, act and communicate with other automobiles, infrastructures, businesses, people and organizations. As this self-awareness matures into the next decade, vehicles will become progressively smarter and autonomous, leading to the most fundamental change in transportation, mobility and society.

Although the iPad Air 2 teardown from iFixit has been available for days now, we wanted to post their video of it for those who prefer to review the teardown over a coffee without any reading, especially on a relaxing Sunday. Enjoy. 

During our research in foreign databases this morning we found an Apple patent application filed in South Korea this month relating to a next-gen heat sink made of liquid metal.

In July 2013 we reported that Microsoft's Surface tablet was a 900 million dollar flop. With Surface tablet web traffic on a steady decline for the first half of the year, Microsoft launched their spanking new Surface Pro 3 tablet. This time they switched marketing tactics to position their new tablet as a hybrid notebook that was better than Apple's MacBook Air. Panos Panay, Microsoft's Corporate VP for Surface, constantly hammered home that their Surface Pro 3 was better and lighter than the MacBook Air to the point of being obnoxious. In August, Microsoft continued their Surface Pro 3 campaign against the MacBook Air instead of the iPad in a video comparison ad. So, how well has all that marketing and reinventing done for Microsoft? Well, not very.

Tim Cook Focused on Apple Pay Services in China: We previously reported this week that Apple's CEO had attended a top level meeting in China over security. Today, speaking with Xinhua, China's official news agency, Cook confirmed that he had "very open" talks on privacy and security. Yet Cook's top priority on his trip to China was to find out how to fast track "Apple Pay" services in China.

Today Apple takes the smartphone war to Korea with pre-orders of the iPhone 6 starting this afternoon. KT and SK Telecom made the announcement late yesterday. KT will take the pre-orders through their Olleh Shop or through text messages. The pre-orders for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will also be available through SK Telecom's online store called T World Direct for only 3 hours starting late today.

Amazon's smartphone is fired: Amazon introduced their new Fire Phone back in early July with a lot of hope. They introduced a very cool set of 3D home screens to choose from, 3D mapping, a neat new app called Firefly (a sort of an all-purpose Shazam) and Mayday which is free phone service to educate users on Fire features. But in the end it was too expensive and just another Android phone. With Apple's iPhone 6 mania sweeping the globe, Amazon's Fire smartphone is only going to fall further during the holiday quarter. Today Amazon had to admit to a massive write-down for their Phone.