Who’s really ahead in innovation? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

In an effort to prevent rivals from stealing its ideas, Apple patents everything it invents — from the iPhone and the iPad, to app icons and even “magic” tactile gloves. But compared to its biggest competitors, Apple’s patent portfolio from 2015 looks surprisingly bare.

Microsoft, Sony, Google, and LG have all outrank Apple in the patent department this year, while arch rival Samsung has absolutely crushed it.

Let Google help you find your next phone. Screenshot: Cult of Android

Struggling to decide which Android-powered smartphone is right for you? Google wants to help.

The search giant has launched a new website that helps you find the perfect phone based on how you tend use your device. Simply tell it which features are most important to you and it’ll suggest devices that you should check out.

BlackBerry finally succumbs to Android. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

BlackBerry could finally turn to Android in an attempt to save itself having failed to gain any traction with its BlackBerry 10 platform over the past two years.

A new report claims the Canadian company is working on a new “slider” device with a retractable physical keyboard.

The Photos app on iOS. Photo: Apple

Google made it even easier to select images photos in its new Google Photos app by giving users a simple drag gesture. It works so well, in fact, that Apple stole it for iOS 9.

Prepare yourself for a Hangouts overhaul. Photo: Google

Google is in the process of giving its Hangouts app for Android a much-needed Material Design makeover. We’ve been hearing about it for several weeks — since the app was spotted on a Googler’s Nexus 5 at Google I/O — and now we get to take a sneak peek at it before its rollout.