Apple sold more than 2 million units of its downsized (and some critics would readily chime in "downgraded") iPad during the iPad mini's first weekend on sale. News like this launches endless nights of sleep deprivation for executives of rival tech companies.

For everyone else, it marks just another market being redefined by Apple. Of course, for non-Apple fans, the Cupertino company's entry into the 7-inch tablet market (give or take a couple or so centimeters) has shown that it puts more value on profit than it does on its word.

The late Steve Jobs once disdainfully dismissed the 7-inch tablet as a market unworthy of his company's attention. Apple's co-founder declared such puny tablets should come with sandpaper to reduce their owners' hands in order to fit their screens.

For the record, the iPad mini doesn't come with sandpaper, or anything else that could be used to downsize Apple fans' hands or fingers.

Nevertheless, despite its critics' usual lamentations against Apple products, the iPad mini has just become a certified hit.

And why are we not surprised.

Apple Loses

United States District Court Judge Barbara Crabb dismissed Apple's lawsuit against Google's Motorola Mobility. Apple's lawsuit alleges the search giant's mobile technology unit is charging the iPhone creator too much for licenses to technologies deemed essential for mobile devices.

Initially, Crabb agreed with Apple's assertion that the concerned technologies should be licensed under terms that are fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory, otherwise known in the industry as FRAND. That means, the judge was not in favor of Motorola's claim that Apple should pay it 2.25 percent royalty on sales of Apple gadgets powered by the iOS software.

A week of pre-trial jockeying by the companies' respective lawyers, however, convinced the court that the trial was likely to go nowhere near resolving the dispute. Hence, Crabb decided to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Apple.

Android Wins

Google's Android mobile OS was "found on three out of every four smartphones shipped during the third quarter of 2012," according to the International Data Corporation's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.

Data from IDC revealed "Android smartphone shipments worldwide reached 136 million units," which means Android smartphones accounted for 75 percent of the 181.1 million smartphones shipped during the quarter.

IDC said Android smartphones grew 91.5 percent from year-ago levels, a rate that was almost double what the overall market posted (46.4 percent) during the same period.

Now, if only Android smartphones were sold as profitably as the iPhone.

Google Maps for iOS 6?

iPhone owners who are fans of Google Maps "should never hold their breath" for the map app's return to the iOS ecosystem.

Although Google engineers are busy developing a version of the map application compatible with the iOS 6, the online search giant is not overly optimistic about Apple approving the Google Map.

Apple replaced Google Maps with its in-house mapping application when it introduced the iOS 6 in September 2012. Rumors had it that Apple's decision was triggered by Google's move to not include turn-by-turn navigation and vector graphics in the iOS version of the map app.

For the next few months, iOS users relying on the native map app should expect to get lost on occasions. Or they could ask for directions from their Android-loving friends.

That's all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.