Apple (AAPL -0.35%) is closing out 2015 with a fairly busy month. After years of litigation with Samsung (NASDAQOTH: SSNLF), a ruling against the South Korean company will award Apple $548 million for Samsung's infringement of design and technology patents. Apple's seeking additional money from Samsung, but the final payout is still up in the air, as Samsung is expected to appeal the verdict. 

Outside of the courtroom, Apple managed to add more than 100 new U.S. banks to its Apple Pay service and announced a partnership to expand Pay into China sometime next year. The company also made some major leadership changes late in the month, and added a few new labs for possible chip and display research. Click on the slideshow below to find out more. 

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