Apple

An operational Apple-1 will go on the auction block later this month, and the rare computer is expected to fetch as much as $392,000.

The 37-year-old machine -- thought to be one of only six in working condition -- is expected to sell for between $261,000 and $392,000 at the current exchange rate, according to German auctioneer Breker, which is conducting the sale. As impressive as that range may sound, it's far off the record mark of $640,000 set last December for Apple's first production computer.

Constructed in 1976, the Apple-1 is one of only 200 produced. British auction house Sotheby's estimates that only 50 still exist.

In a time when most personal computers were sold as self-assembly kits, the Apple-1 broke new ground as the first personal computer sold with a fully assembled motherboard. However, at a retail price of $666.66, the Apple-1 didn't include a casing, power supply, keyboard, or monitor. A cassette storage option could be purchased for an additional $72.

Read More: Rare working Apple-1 to go on auction block this month

Apple buyers eyeing an iMac now have a choice between a conventional hard drive and a solid-state drive.

Speedier than their mechanical counterparts, solid-state drives are available as options on both the 21.5-inch and the 27-inch iMacs. The 21.5-inch iMac offers a 256GB SSD for an extra $300 and a 512GB SSD for an extra $600. The 27-inch model presents the same options and throws in a 768GB SSD for an additional $900.

If those figures seem too pricey, buyers can stick with a regular serial ATA hard drive. Apple includes a 1TB hard drive in the overall price of both model iMacs and offers a 3TB drive option on the larger-screen model for an extra $150.

Read More: iMac buyers can now opt for a solid-state drive

Apple had a field day with its first debt offering since 1996.

Investors hungrily gobbled up $17 billion in Apple bonds, the largest offering in corporate history. The proceeds will be used to help fund the company's ambitious plan to return value to shareholders through share repurchases and dividend payouts.

The bond sale comes on the heels of Apple's plans to double its capital return program, which involves spending an additional $55 billion in dividend payments to investors. Apple also said it would be spending an extra $50 billion in repurchasing company stock along with increasing its quarterly dividend.

The bond offering was split up into six parts with varying maturity dates. Apple benefited from historically low interest rates, which are set by the U.S. Treasury.

Apple brings a little cool -- and stability -- to the bond market. The company's debt is considered safe because of its cash hoard, which it said grew to $145 billion in the last quarter. Of that total, roughly $100 billion is held overseas, and Apple would have to pay a hefty tax to bring it back into the U.S.

Read More: Apple sells a record $17 billion in debt

Apple should now be able to win custody of the "iPad Mini" trademark as long as it adds a disclaimer to its application.

In a letter apparently sent to Apple last week, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office said Apple would need to make it clear that it seeks only to trademark the term "iPad Mini" and not the actual word "mini." Such a disclaimer would ensure that other companies could add the word "mini" to their own product names.

"Applicant must disclaim the descriptive wording 'mini' apart from the mark as shown because it merely describes a quality, characteristic, or feature of applicant's goods," the USPTO said.

The alleged letter was obtained and posted online by MacRumors.

Read More: U.S. Patent Office withdraws refusal of iPad Mini trademark

Apple is close to striking a streaming deal with two of the major music labels that could end up far sweeter for the music industry than what the labels currently get from Pandora, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.

Much has been made in recent weeks of Apple trying to squeeze the labels on terms, and the deals do have Apple paying the labels a per-stream rate that's half of what Pandora pays. But CNET has learned that Apple's planned music service would offer new revenue streams as well.

That includes a quick way for consumers to buy a song they hear, potentially boosting download sales from iTunes, as well as a revenue share of new audio ads Apple is planning to add to the free service, according to sources.

The product would be tied to iTunes, and available on mobile devices.

Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr declined to comment.

Apple could sign deals with both Warner Music and Universal Music Group within the next week, according to the sources. But both people caution that the deals have not yet been made and could still fall apart. In addition, Apple still needs to get Sony Music Group on board, as well as the music publishers.

Even so, Apple has told the labels it's determined to get all its deals signed in time for a summer rollout. In addition to the U.S., Apple is hoping to quickly unveil the service in up to a dozen territories, according to sources, including the U.K, France, Germany, Australia, and Japan. Apple's annual developers conference, where it first introduced iCloud and iTunes Match in 2011, typically happens in early June.

Read More: For labels, Apple's iRadio deal could be sweeter than Pandora

Despite Apple CEO Tim Cook having knocked the idea of a convertible MacBook-iPad hybrid device, the company has filed a patent application for just that. The proposed patent, titled "Wireless display for electronic devices," was published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today.

The application describes a computer display that is removable from its base -- basically a convertible laptop. But, what's different about this idea from other convertibles made by other companies is that it has wireless display technology. That means the device could be charged wirelessly.

Here's how Apple describes it in its patent application:

The base includes a processor, a base wireless chip, and a power source. The display includes a screen for displaying a video output, a display wireless chip in communicating with the base wireless chip, and a power wireless chip in communication with the power source. The base wireless chip transmits data from the processor to the display. Also, when the display is at least in one position with respect to the base, the power source transmits power to the power transition member of the display.

Convertible devices are nothing new, but they've never really caught on. Lenovo has its Yoga convertible, and Dell created its XPS 12, both of which run Microsoft Windows.

Read More: Apple patent envisions wireless charging on convertible laptop

Apple released "the magical and revolutionary iPad" three years ago today.

So, what's trending on its anniversary? Well, there's the iPad Death Watch, which highlights what non-believers have said through the years.

Here are some of the comments:

Unnecessary: "It seems like a high priced, unnecessary trinket to me." Paul Thurrott, SuperSite for Windows, January 2010. (Note: this kind of comment wasn't that unusual in 2010. Though I quickly became a heavy user, I dismissed it initially as inadequate in some respects. And, even today, while some might consider excessive dumping on the iPad heresy, laptop devotees still don't buy into the tablet paradigm.)

No Flash: "No Flash, that's right, you can't watch NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX or HULU." -- Los Angeles Web Design Blog, January 2010. (That same article also slammed the iPad for "no multitasking.")

The name: "Before you shell out upwards of $500 for the new Apple Tablet, check out the Nine Worst Things about the device...[including] its name." Bianca Bosker, Huffington Post, January 2010.

Is it just another laptop? "I've been to too many meetings with journalists who spent the first 10 minutes of the meeting setting up iPad to look like a laptop." -- Steve Ballmer, CEO Microsoft, July 2010.

Read More: Apple's iPad, 3 years in: Magical? Some beg to differ

Topeka Capital's Brian White went on the road, visiting the China-Taiwan tech supply chain to glean some intelligence on what Apple will launch in the coming months, and he found the "iRing."

In his latest research note, issued today, the analyst reaffirmed his prediction that Apple will introduce a 60-inch iTV system in the later part of 2013 for between $1,500 and $2,500, depending on configuration and accessories. He added that it would include an iRing, a small device placed on the finger that serves as a navigational pointer, taking over some of the functionality of a traditional remote control.

He also predicted that the iTV system will come with optional iPad-like "mini iTV" screens for viewing TV content as well as other applications, such as home security and video conferencing. White wrote:

Essentially, we believe the "mini iTV" screens will be able to capture content from the 60-inch "iTV" across a distance of up to 200 meters, allowing a user to view "iTV" content in the kitchen, washroom, garage, bedroom, backyard, etc. We believe Apple will offer one "mini iTV" per "iTV" but package options will include up to four screens (i.e., one screen is part of the standard package and pay extra for each additional).

Read More: Analyst: Apple 60-inch iTV with iRing motion controller to launch in 2013