NetMarketShare’s desktop Operating System Market Share metrics for December 2011 show the Mac OS slipping back another tenth of a point on the month, with Windows posting exactly the same share for two consecutive months. Linux made another proportionally significant gain, continuing its recent positive streak.

From market share to battery problems to being being banned in Syria, the iPhone is being talked about all over the world. Here are just a few of the most notable stories. Of note, you’d better hurry and place an order if you want to give you as a holiday gift. The iPhone is apparently more popular than Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry and Jennifer Lopez.

It seems like everyone is suing everyone else, mostly over patents, and it can be hard to keep up with what’s been happening. Starting this month, Appletell will summarize all the twists and turns in the legal dramas so you’ll be informed with what’s been happening. This, month we take a quick look at Lodsys, Software Restore solutions, Openwave Systems, Motorola, Samsung and more.

The Korea Times is rumoring the iPad 3 will feature a much higher resolution display; 2048×1536 to be specific. The display would maintain the current iPad’s 4:3 aspect ratio but still be capable of full HD (1080p) with pixels to spare. Does this mean iPad 3 will be billed as having a Retina Display? It’s very likely, despite the rumored pixel density being lower than that of iPhone 4 at “just” 280 ppi.

Apple Computer and Samsung have had a complicated relationship lately, what with Apple suing Samsung over copying their designs and Samsung countersuing saying Apple is the real design thief. Therefore it should come as no surprise that Apple is looking for other manufacturers for iPad and iPhone components, which has potentially led them to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

Recently on Appletell, we covered Samsung countersuing Apple for patent violations in South Korea, Japan and Germany, and wondered why they didn’t file a lawsuit in America as well. On April 27th they did just that in San Jose, California, claiming Apple is infringing 10 patents. Samsung is seeking to prevent Apple from using its technology as well as cash compensation.

Apple recently sued Samsung for violating 16 trademarks and 10 patents. Now, it’s Samsung’s turn, as it has countersued Apple for allegedly violating 10 of its patents relating to “power reduction during data transmission, 3G technology for reducing errors during data transmission, and wireless data communication technology.”

As if officially confirming Steve Jobs’ claim that Apple has overtaken RIM, IDC has just published their Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. True enough, amidst the growing mobile phone market, IDC’s figures show that Apple is now the no. 4 mobile phone vendor, with RIM following it closely at no. 5. Nokia continues to be at no. 1, followed by Samsung and LG. Apple’s 3Q shipment of iPhones is at 14.1 million, from 7.4 million in the same quarter in 2009. RIM, on the other hand, managed to sell 12.4 million units from last year’s 8.5 million.

According to a Korean reporter, Apple has signed a deal with Samsung to purchase 3 million more 9.7 inch touch screen displays for their iPad device. The deal is worth $240 million, with each of the screens costing around $80—five times as much as the iPhone and iPod Touch displays. The reasoning behind this deal is most likely to give Apple some wiggle room should supply shortages or problems occur.

In a lawsuit filed by Typhoon Touch last Monday, Apple, Inc.—along with ten other companies—were implicated in the proceedings. The lawsuit was focused on Dell, but Apple, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Lenovo, Panasonic, HTC, Palm, Samsung, Nokia, and LG were all mentioned. The lawsuit involves patents filed by Typhoon Touch, specifically numbers 5,379,057 (“Touch Screen and Computer more »