Sponsored by Apple

Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), the No. 1 search engine, Wednesday showed its first tablet, the Nexus 7, priced at $199, as part of its annual Google I/O developers conference.

If you hoped pre-ordering a new MacBook Pro with Retina Display would make you the first one on your block with Apple's latest, greatest laptop, think again. Many customers that placed orders for Apple's 15-inch Retina Display-powered MacBook Pro were originally quoted a 7-10 day waiting period. Those same customers are now receiving e-mails from Apple, stating their beautiful new laptops won't ship until or after July 25.

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), the world's most valuable technology company, has won a U.S. district court injunction against its supplier and rival Samsung Electronics (Seoul: 005930), which should help sales of the iPad.

After a failed attempt to ban the Samsung Galaxy S3's sales in the U.S., Apple finally has managed to stop sales of its South Korean rival's Galaxy Tab 10.1, deemed by many as the top contender to the iPad.

Several tech sites claim that Apple has built smaller dock connectors for its new phone, dubbed the iPhone '5,' by some. Three independent manufacturers have agreed the 19-pin port is in the works, but one extremely interesting fact mentioned was the size of the 19-pin port: Apparently, the new mini dock connector is very similar to the size of the Thunderbolt port available on many current MacBook laptops. That got me thinking: What if that is a Thunderbolt port?

Apple has released a stand-alone podcast app that gives users direct access to their podcasts without having to go through iTunes.

Passbook will be formally introduced with iOS 6, but Apple may also announce an expansion of that software, specifically for an NFC-capable iPhone. With the recent discovery of iPhone prototypes embedded with code that specifically mentioned near-field communication components, there's an excellent chance the company's next iPhone, which many have already crowned the iPhone 5, will feature Apple's patented iWallet technology.

Apple?s new Retina Display MacBook Pro line boasts high-definition images and resolution, but that doesn?t mean the new laptops are picture perfect. Some owners have reported an image persistence issue with the recently-revealed MacBook Pro, according to Apple Insider.

The controversial move comes after Orbitz found that Mac users on average spent 30 percent more than Windows users on hotels and decided, in a trial, to offer them more expensive options, according to a published report.

Apple wants to protect us from Big Brother, and it has invented a useful clone making technology to do so. The patent, which is designed to throw government agencies and businesses off the scent of individual, private citizens, describes a unique method to help users keep their personal information hidden in cyberspace by creating false clones of personal information, which are stored and executed via your iCloud ID.

Apple quietly lifted part of Steve Jobs' famous reality distortion field on Sunday, switching out a statement that claimed its Mac computers were completely immune to viruses with a less-forward statement: It's built to be safe. Apple can no longer say its Macs are perfect, but the company is making great strides to improve the honesty of its PR while making users and developers feel safe all the same.

In the 1950s, a consumer who wanted to buy eyeglasses borrowed $40 from the bank. Fast-forward to 2012: how about using your digital wallet to buy those glasses with your mobile phone? Maybe later this year.

Who said computer guys don't enjoy sports? On Thursday night, Apple's senior VP of Internet software was spotted celebrating with the Miami Heat organization after winning its second NBA Championship, and Twitter user Mike Cragg (@mcragg726) uploaded a photo as proof.

Apple introduced some stunning new products and software at WWDC 2012, but pro users felt particularly neglected at the June event in San Francisco. Despite a few bumps in the specs, the iMac and Mac Pro were largely untouched this year, but Apple CEO Tim Cook promises something really great later next year. We're hearing a new desktop may come even sooner, but sans Retina Display.

Stereo systems. Clock radios. External speakers. In-car entertainment. It's possible that none of these iPhone accessories will be compatible with Apple's upcoming sixth-generation iPhone, presumably called the iPhone 5.

Apple Inc. has become embroiled in controversy after reports that Atlanta-area Apple Store employees refused sale of iPads and other merchandise to Farsi speakers and people of Iranian descent. At the center of the accusations of racial profiling is how the company is interpreting the U.S. embargo on Iran.

It?s no secret that screen protectors keep your phone clean from dust, fingerprints, and anything else that may contaminate your screen. But what about bullets?

After allegations of racial profiling by Apple Inc. employees against Farsi-speaking customers at Apple stores, the company issued a statement Friday saying it doesn't discriminate against anyone, but it failed to address accusations of specific incidents at Atlanta-area stores.

As expected, the App Store has officially launched in 32 new countries as of Friday, including Albania, Fiji, Namibia, Nepal, and Ukraine. This means that app developers can now sell or distribute their applications for gaming, productivity, news, business, education and entertainment in a total of 155 countries around the globe.

Analyst Shaw Wu of Sterne Agee said in a note to investors Thursday that Apple's next generation iPhone is expected to arrive in October, full 12 months after the release of the iPhone 4S last October, with support for China Mobile's proprietary 3G network, making it a true world phone.

Apple's shining white façade is picking up grime in the year after the death of genius CEO Steve Jobs. Recent weeks have brought a marketing gaffe at the World Wide Developers Conference and accusations of racial profiling against Iranian-Americans and Farsi speakers by Apple Store employees.

The National Iranian American Council joined the Council of American-Islamic Relations in denouncing Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) and asserted that Apple Store employees who have refused to sell iPads and other products to customers speaking Farsi, the language of Iran, have been clearly engaging in racial profiling.

The Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says it's talking to Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) about an official response to reports employees have been refusing to sell iPads and products to customers speaking Farsi, the Iranian national language.

Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), the world's biggest software company, has won major support from smartphone makers led by Samsung Electronics (Seoul: 005930) to battle Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), the world's most valuable technology company.

It may not be the sexiest feature, but it may be one of the most rumored. Although Apple doesn't discuss product pre-releases, several tech sites claim that Apple has built smaller dock connectors for its new phone, dubbed the iPhone 5, by some. TechCrunch is the latest to report on the mini dock connector, but the first to confirm it.

Rumors about Apple ditching the current 30-pin dock connector in favor of something smaller are nothing new. Reports surfaced last month suggesting that Apple would bring the change to its upcoming iPhone iteration, presumably called the iPhone 5.

Paul Simon once crooned: Every generation sends a hero up the pop charts. But the heroes of the latest generation of young music-hungry consumers are finding it difficult to get them to actually buy their work.

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), the world's most valuable technology company, said service had been restored to the iCloud after several hours of disruption on Wednesday.

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), the world's most valuable technology company, has won a small victory in its battle against rival and supplier Samsung Electronics (Seoul: 005930).