Today’s mobile news roundup features: the continuation of the Apple-Samsung trial; Samsung launching Music Hub in the US; Nokia’s sales surge; and an app to make Android photos picture-perfect.

Apple-Samsung lawyers delivered opening statements

The Apple Inc. vs. Samsung Electronics Co. trial started Monday with jury selection.  On Tuesday, the two parties were finally able to deliver their opening statements wherein both of the companies claim to be the innovator and accused the other of patent infringement.

In 2011, Apple sued Samsung for infringing their patents with the release of their Galaxy line of smartphones and tablets that run on the Android platform.  Samsung was quick to file a countersuit stating that the iPhone maker was the one guilty of patent infringement.  The court tried in vain to make the two parties settle, and so the trial ensues.

Apple’s lead attorney for the case is Harold McElhinny of Morrison & Foerster, while Samsung’s lead attorney is Charles Verhoeven of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.  McElhinny stated that Samsung copied Apple’s devices in terms of user interface, hardware design, and function because it was easier to just copy everything than start from scratch.  Verhoeven acknowledge the fact that their engineers were inspired by the iPhone and iPad’s design but they did not copy it, they made something even better than Apple’s products.  He also stated that Samsung was the one who infringed their technology, pertaining to the ability to email photos from a phone.

Samsung launches Music Hub in US

Though they’re a bit busy with the patent infringement trial against Apple, that doesn’t mean business comes to a stop.  Samsung officially opened the doors of their Music Hub service in the US today, which directly competes with the likes of Spotify, Pandora and other cloud music streaming services.

It features a cloud music locker, unlimited song streaming, a radio player and a music store for only $10 a month.  But here’s the catch: you need a Samsung Galaxy SIII to use Music Hub.  The launch of the service follows the acquisition of mSpot back in May, which was followed by the initial launch of Music Hub.  Though the service is available for SIII right now, Samsung will soon offer the service to all Galaxy users in the near future.

Nokia experiences biggest gain since 1991

The Finnish company is currently basking on the success of sales of their Lumia handsets.  Nokia’s stock surged as much as 17 percent to 2.28 euros today (about $2.80), extending their seven-day gain to 56 percent – the biggest increase the company experienced since 1991.  Their stocks have already risen more than 60 percent since hitting an all-time low last July 18.  Nokia reported Lumia sales that exceeded analysts’ expectations and has since influenced investors of the company.  Some analysts are actually saying that this might be the start of Nokia’s come back.

Android photos now Perfectly Clear

Though a lot of photo editing apps are available for Android devices, there’s one that wants to stand out from the rest: Perfectly Clear.  Perfectly Clear is another successful iOS app that’s made its way to the Android platform.  The app autocorrect photos to deal with fixing underexposures, poor white balance, soft details, or dull colors. It’s not like Instagram or other photo editing apps that lets you add filters or frames, but it does makes your photos appear picture perfect.  It also allows you to smooth the skin of the subject, whiten teeth and enlarge or enhance eyes to make your subject look stunning.  Perfectly Clear for Android is now available on Google Play for $1.99 but it’s now on sale and you can avail it for only $0.99 throughout August.  You can also add the Beautify Preset, which lets you whiten teeth, enhance and enlarge eyes, and smoothen skin for only $0.99.