The Apple vs Samsung trial in California is raging on unabated, as both companies try to prove that they didnt rip off the others designs. And, as well as all the expected wrangling – Apple demanding a record $2.5bn in damages, Samsung accusing the iPhone of not being particularly original in the first place – its providing a lot of fascinating insights into whats been going on behind the scenes at two of the worlds biggest smartphone manufacturers.

Samsung was forced to reveal that it has been working on two Windows Phone 8 smartphones – an interesting move away from its recent reliance on Android. Codenamed Odyssey and Marco, the devices both run on Qualcomm dual-core processors, and the Odyssey is also pencilled to feature NFC capabilities.

It also emerged that Samsung is working on a Tablet, codenamed P10, boasting a 11.8” screen – bigger than the iPad, and intended to better its Retina Display, with a higher resolution of 2560×1600 pixels.

Apple design chief Sir Jonathan Ive has also revealed that the iPhone was was almost axed at multiple points during the design stages, because of technological sticking points – including a feature that, it seems, would have triggered calls when the user put the phone next to their ear. Apple also discussed their design process, which apparently takes place around a kitchen table, with a team of 16 industrial designers.

Samsung has filed yet another legal complaint against Apple, meanwhile, this time in France. The complaint is over technology, rather than design, patents – presumably relating to the 3G connectivity patents it is accusing Apple of infringing in the US.