TC Roundup: Apple ordered to pay $533M for patent infringement

Apple ordered to pay $533 million for patent infringement: Apple Inc has been ordered to pay $532.9 million after a federal jury in Texas found that its iTunes software infringed three patents owned by patent licensing firm Smartflash LLC.

Though Smartflash had been asking for $852 million in damages, Tuesday night's verdict was still a blow to Apple. (Reuters)

Xiaomi Mi Note review: Changing the smartphone game from China: There's a new phone from China that quashes the myth that a smartphone must cost a fortune to be any good.

And also the notion that Americans get all the best stuff first. (The Wall Street Journal)

Tech startups put off Canadian IPOs amid private cash: Canadian technology startups are remaining private longer as an abundance of private capital allows them to strengthen their businesses outside the scrutiny and expense of an initial stock sale.

D2L Inc., Builddirect.com Technologies Inc. and Hootsuite Media Inc. are among the Canadian firms that have valuations in excess of the traditional $200-million target that would have seen them go public in the past. (Bloomberg)

Google acquires Facebook marketing startup Toro: Toro, a startup that helps developers promote their apps on Facebook, just announced that it's been acquired by Google.

The company was originally known as Red Hot Labs, and it's led by Amitt Mahajan and Joel Poloney. They previously co-founded MyMiniLife, which played a key role in the creation of FarmVille (and was acquired by Zynga). (Tech Crunch)

Twitter's global developer lead Jeff Sandquist departing: Twitter's global head of developer and platform relations, Jeff Sandquist, is leaving the company at the end of the week, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

Sandquist joined Twitter less than a year and a half ago after more than 15 years at Microsoft. A Twitter spokesperson declined to comment. (Recode)