"All these dot-coms went out and bought lots of hardware, " Myers notes.

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Meanwhile, the research firm notes that Apple hardware is single-handedly keeping PC hardware sales about the flat line.

FORBES: Apple To Sell $17B In Macs, iPads To Corporate Market In 2012

Unlike previous Notes, the hardware keys (power button and volume rocker), IR blaster and S Pen all line the Note 8.0's right side, with a covered microSD port occupying the opposite edge all by its lonesome.

ENGADGET: Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 review

Also as previously rumoured, Bloomberg reports that Apple is pulling people from the Mac team to work on iOS in order to get it done in time, and that Ive has been encouraging collaboration between the software and hardware teams -- which, as Bloomberg notes, have previously been operating in separate silos.

ENGADGET

Misek notes in a new report that there are three key areas where patents are concentrated: hardware, software and wireless technology.

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