According to the latest news Apple has launched the iTunes Music Store in 56 new countries including Russia, Turkey, India, South Africa and 52 additional countries. All these countries now have access to an incredible selection of local and international music from all the major labels and thousands of independent labels. » Apple Launches iTunes Store In 56 New Countries Including Russia, Turkey and India

Apple has just released the third beta of iOS 6.1 with build number 10B5117b to developers. Some changes in iOS 6.1 include the way developers can integrate Apple’s new mapping service in their apps, as well as an improvement to how boarding passes are handled in Passbook, and a few minor changes to Safari. » Apple Released iOS 6.1 Beta 3 To Developers

Apple currently offers music in its iTunes Store in over 60 countries. According to TechCrunch, Apple is holding a small media event in Moscow tomorrow “December 4”, presumably to announced the launch of the iTunes Music Store in Russia as well. » Small Apple Media Event Tomorrow In Moscow To Launch Russian iTunes Music Store?

Apple has just announced that the iPhone 5 will be available in South Korea on Friday, December 7, with more than 50 additional countries being added in December, including Brazil, Russia and Taiwan. The iPhone 5 is currently available in 47 countries around the world and including these new countries the iPhone 5 will be available in at least 100 countries by the end of this year. » iPhone 5 Coming To More Than 50 New Countries This Month

Next week, Tim Cook will be the center of a feature on NBC’s Rock Center news show where Brian Williams will have the first major interview with Apple’s CEO. In this brief preview, Williams notes that Tim Cook was able to walk around Grand Central Station unrecognized until he got to the Apple Store there. Not much is known about Tim Cook, so it will be interesting to see his first major interview that will air on NBC next Thursday night, December 6.

ComScore created a report showing key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three month average period ending October 2012. They surveyed more than 30,000 U.S. mobile subscribers and found Samsung to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 26.3 percent market share and Apple coming in second at 17.8% and LG .2 points behind in the number three slot with 17.6%. They also checked the top Smartphone platforms and results show that Google Android continued to lead among smartphone platforms, accounting for 53.6 percent of smartphone subscribers, while Apple secured 34.3 percent. » Apple Second In October 2012 U.S. Mobile Phone Market Share

Apple has just announced that the Wi-Fi versions of iPad mini and fourth generation iPad will be available in China on Friday, December 7, and the iPhone 5 will be available on Friday, December 14. “iPad mini and the new fourth generation iPad with Retina display are currently available in 42 countries, and iPhone 5 is available in 47 countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the UK.” Chinese product launches have typically lagged well behind those in other countries, but the company has been working to shorten those gaps, since China now accounts for 15% of Apple’s revenues. » Apple Will Launch iPhone 5, iPad Mini, & Fourth-Generation iPad In China This Month