Tim Cook TV interview airs same day as Samsung ban decision

How's this for timing: Apple CEO Tim Cook's first TV interview will air on the same day as he finds out if a host of Samsung devices have been banned because of his company's court case, CNET reports.

Sadly, we won't get any reaction shots to the news, as it's pre-recorded. Don't expect to see Cook punching the air or holding his head in his hands as the outcome is read down his earpiece. Shame.

NBC's Brian Williams -- one of those US TV men with a million-dollar smile -- chatted to Cook yesterday at Apple's Grand Central Terminal store in New York. It's Cook's first TV interview since taking over Apple in August 2011. He has appeared onstage at conferences though, such as D10, where he admitted that TV was "an area of intense interest" for the company.

Interestingly, Cook was able to stroll around Grand Central Station without being recognised -- something you can't imagine ever happening to Steve Jobs.

On Thursday, the court will convene to announce whether Apple has succeeded in having a list of Samsung devices banned from sale in the US. Apple already took Samsung to the cleaners for $1.05 billion, and is after another $700 million, too. Samsung will argue it needs a retrial, saying the original was subject to misconduct.

Samsung is claiming the jury foreman Vel Hogan concealed crucial information that stopped him being impartial. The Korean company says the foreman failed to disclose he was sued and bankrupted by former employer Seagate. Samsung has a "substantial strategic relationship" with Seagate, that it reckons would lead the foreman to side with Apple.

But I don't fancy Samsung's chances. Hogan did admit to Judge Lucy Koh that he'd been involved in a previous lawsuit with Seagate. He didn't give all the details, but then he wasn't asked.

What would you like to ask Tim Cook? And should Apple ban Samsung's devices? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.