Today’s mobile news roundup features: Apple’s requesting the courts to rule in their favor; Apple’s Smart Cover with built-in display; Samsung readies Galaxy Note successor; HTC expects weak Q3 due to Apple-Samsung dominance, and Google’s Google Wallet kerfuffle.

Apple requests courts to rule in their favor

After the much controversial media release of court documents being ruled as inadmissible evidence by Samsung, Apple is now requesting the court to rule in favor of them as Samsung thinks they are above the law in this trial.

Overseeing Judge Lucy Koh wanted to get to the bottom of the media leak and asked Samsung who was responsible for it.   John Quinn, a member of Samsung’s legal team, was apparently behind the leak, after his plea to have the evidence approved for court use was turned down.  His explanation for what transpired was vague, so now Apple is seeking court sanctions for their actions stating that it was the South Korean’s intention to influence the jury and the court.

“Samsung already has been sanctioned four times in this case for discovery abuses.  Most recently, Samsung was sanctioned for destroying evidence,” Apple’s legal team wrote. “Litigation misconduct is apparently a part of Samsung’s litigation strategy — and limited sanctions have not deterred Samsung from such misconduct. Now, with so much at stake, Samsung has taken the calculated risk that any sanctions arising from its attempt to influence the jury with its excluded arguments are a price it is willing to pay.”

Apple’s point is simple: if Samsung cannot abide by court rules, it shows that they are capable of infringing other’s patents.  So the ultimate sanction they’re requesting is for the court to side with Apple.

“[S]erious misconduct can only be cured through a serious sanction—and here, Samsung’s continuing and escalating misconduct merits a severe penalty that will establish that Samsung is not above the law,” Apple’s statement added.

Apple readies Smart Cover with built-in display

When Microsoft launched the Surface, we were quite intrigued with their Touch or Type Cover that doubles as a screen cover when not in use.  So iPad owners got to thinking, “Why didn’t Apple think of that?”  Well, they did and it could be something better that what Microsoft has to offer.

Apple filed for a patent regarding a Smart Cover that doubles as almost everything.  It can either be a Smart Cover that features a keyboard much like the Type Cover of the Surface, but it also features a built-in display screen, so you have two screens.  The screen can also function like a mouse or use it in creating graphics on your iPad.  But further investigation notes that the patent also includes a Smart Cover that has solar panels.  If so, I’m sure this will be a very popular iPad accessory.  The Smart Cover could also double as a reminder screen for your Calendar appointments or write notes on them.  Apple’s Cover Attachment With Flexible Display patent application covers almost anything you could possibly think of for a great add-on for a tablet cover.

Samsung to launch Galaxy Note successor

Samsung is not letting their legal brawl with Apple, nor the rumor of the iPhone 5 release in September, slow them down.  They just sent out invites for an event in Berlin, Germany on August 29.  As usual, the UnPacked invite is vague, with just “When Magical Moments Come Alive”, the date – August 29, time – 18:00, venue – Tempodrom, Berlin, and will be live-streamed on Samsung’s Facebook Page.  No clue as to what they’re going to unveil at the said event.

A spokesman from Samsung stated that, “We plan to unveil the next Galaxy Note at the Samsung Mobile Unpacked event in Berlin on August 29,” but no further details were given.

Samsung’s event is just ahead of the 2012 IFA which will kickstart on August 31 and run until September 5.

The Galaxy Note, though mocked by others because of the S-Pen, is one of the greatest contributors to Samsung’s revenues, along with their Galaxy line of smartphones and tablets.

Apple-Samsung dominance takes a toll on HTC

Taiwanese electronics company, HTC, is expecting to have a sharp decline in their third quarter revenue as Apple and Samsung dominate the market.

HTC Chief Financial Officer Chia-Lin Chang said in an online forum that they know they will be facing more intense competition from Apple and Samsung but they’re preparing for it by streamlining their operations and product portfolio to ensure they have adequate resources to support potential areas of growth.

Analysts see that the problem relies on HTC’s unlikeliness to produce a flagship smartphone during the third quarter.  Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 5 and iPad mini on September 12, and Samsung just announced that they’ll be unveiling the new Galaxy Note on August 29.

Google Wallet kerfuffle

Google proudly announced that all major credit and debit cards, such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover, are now supported by Google Wallet.  But that’s not actually the case.  Turns out, American Express never actually gave Google their approval.

In an interview with TechCrunch, AmEx social media VP Bradley Minor stated that, “We want to make sure Google’s mobile wallet product meets the standards we set for our Cardmembers in terms of transparency and clarity about transaction detail.  Right now, American Express does not have an agreement with Google for our cards to be used in the Google mobile wallet.”

Though AmEx cardholders can load their cards to Google Wallet, they have the right to block any transactions since they haven’t agreed on anything with Google.