Apple decreasing dependence on Samsung for memory components

Apple has increased orders for DRAM and NAND flash memory from two Japanese component manufacturers in an effort to further decrease dependence on Samsung for various components. Industry sources say Toshiba is handling Apple’s NAND flash parts while Elpida Memory is responsible for supplying Cupertino with mobile RAM, according to a report from DigiTimes.
Apple was reportedly courting vendors to provide LCD screens for iPhones and iPads last month when it was rumored that they were prepared to invest up to $1 billion in Japanese corporation Sharp. It was unclear at the time if the news simply indicated that Apple was looking for a more diverse supplier portfolio or if they were specifically trying to cut ties with Samsung. This most recent development points to the latter. 
This isn’t surprising as Apple and Samsung have battled it out in various courts around the globe this year regarding patent infringement from both parties. Apple sued Samsung over Galaxy phones and tablets in California last April, claiming that Samsung has been riding Apple's coattails with devices such as the Galaxy S 4G, Epic 4G, Nexus S and Galaxy Tab by copying design elements from the iPhone and iPad.
Further litigation came in August when Apple successfully blocked Samsung from releasing their Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia, claiming that the tablet violates no less than 10 patents and is too similar to the iPad. Specific patent claims include the “look and feel” and touchscreen technology.

Apple may face damages of $25.5 million in Korean suit

Earlier today we reported that Apple and Samsung were tangled in a legal battle in Australia where Cupertino had prevented the Korean company from releasing their Galaxy Tab 10.1 in that country. In an unrelated story, the tides have turned on Apple as they are facing damages of $25.5 million in a Korean class action lawsuit.
The suit, handed by the Miraelaw law firm, contests that Apple’s iPhone violated domestic laws on privacy. The complaint stems from accusations earlier this year that Apple had been tracking user’s locations in iOS 4 without consent.
Apple released a statement a few days later explaining that they were not tracking the location of devices but rather “maintaining a database of Wi-Fi hotspots and cell towers around your current location” to help devices calculate their location when requested.
As of July 31, nearly 28,000 iPhone customers had signed up as plaintiffs in the class action suit. According to the Korean Herald, when the lawsuit was first announced, Korean iPhone users overloaded and crashed the server hosting the sign-up website.
If successful, the lawsuit would require Apple to shell out 27 billion won ($25.5 million), resulting in 1 million won ($949 based on today’s conversion rates) per plaintiff named in the suit. There are over 3 million iPhone users in the country according to the Korean Herald story. Currently, nearly 1 percent of Korean Apple mobile phone owners are participating in the lawsuit.
Miraelaw is planning to file the lawsuit against Apple Korea by the middle of August.