Since we know it’s going to be at least a few months until the next iPhone comes out and seeing as the “new” iPad just came out recently, that means it’s time for Apple MacBook Pro rumors and speculation. What fun!

The folks at 9 to 5 Mac have taken it to the streets (or, the Internets to be more precise) and have come up with some new info concerning the aforementioned new MacBook Pro lineup. According to the report, Apple is getting ready to launch an all-new 15-inch MacBook Pro with an ultra-thin design, USB 3.0, Ivy Bridge chipset, no optical drive or Ethernet port and “jaw dropping” Retina display. This info comes to them via a “trusted source in Apple’s supply chain.”

The new hotness is reportedly undergoing testing as you read this with an eye to a Summer launch. I, for one, can’t wait to check it out. Although, I’m probably more interested in a new 13″ MacBook Pro or MacBook Air with these specs. I just don’t need a 15 inch display and the weight that goes with it.

Unless, of course, it weighs the same as my current MacBook Air. In that case, I might have to give it a serious look.

Late yesterday Apple released an update to its desktop operating system. This update, dubbed OS X Lion 10.7.4, features several minor bug fixes as well as a security update addressing the FileVault password security issue. This issue made users’ passwords vulnerable by storing them in plain text format. Here’s what the update addresses in Applespeak:

The 10.7.4 update is recommended for all OS X Lion users and includes general operating system fixes that improve the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac including fixes that:

For information on the security content of this update, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222.

As always, we recommend you download and install via the combo updater instead of using Apple’s Software Update built into the Lion OS. Sure, it takes a bit longer and is a bit more effort, but in our experience, it usually yields better results.

Player created content. The land where the developer’s concepts are hopped up on a unique internet blend of creativity inspired by Red Bull, Jack Daniels and Ritalin. Whether in the form of Half-Life 2 mods, storylines in WWE 12 or levels in Little Big Planet 2, giving players a customizable aspect to their game has become a proven asset to developers to extend the life of their game. Portal 2 was lauded as having some of the most creative and inventive puzzles of 2011, taking game physics and concepts to the next level. Allowing for this kind of creative freedom to fans of the series is the logical next step.

Announced last October, the puzzle editor will be a part of the free DLC pack releasing to PCs and Macs on May 8th known as the Perpetual Testing Initiative. Using the Steam platform, players will be able to create, upload, download and rate creations from the player community. What could this mean? It means that you are giving PC gamers, the most “hardcore” gaming audience, free reign inside the most complicated but approachable world in gaming today.

While Portal focused mostly on creativity using gravity puzzles, Portal 2 took things to a whole new level using light bridges, propulsion gel and launching platforms. Now, players will be able to assemble their own Test Labs using these.

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After the initial announcement of Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure, there was mention of a mobile app in development alongside the proper console release. Just how the game’s plethora of characters and technology would tie between consoles, PC and Apple’s iOS was quickly debated by the toy and gaming communities. Once Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure was released, players were welcomed into two separate but interconnected worlds where their figures gained life both in a classic adventure style game on consoles and the minigame-centric PC community. Now, using those same unique character codes, players can import their Skylander into their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with Skylanders: Cloud Patrol.

Skylanders: Cloud Patrol is a shooting gallery style game with some inspirations from Fruit Ninja. Players take their Skylander, with the ability to unlock more through either gameplay or redeeming codes from purchased figures, and target the trolls that have escaped into the Skylands. Players group together shots to release combos while avoiding hitting bombs which end the game for them. At only 99 cents, Cloud Patrol is the cheapest addition to the Skylanders library for any player and provides a simple but fun burst of entertainment while utilizing characters players have already become familiar with.

“Skylanders is already a huge success both on consoles and the web with Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure and Skylanders Spyro’s Universe and we are excited to bring the franchise to the mobile platform,”said John Coyne, vice president, consumer marketing. “Now with Cloud Patrol, fans have a brand new way to interact with their favorite Skylanders characters on the go in fun a new form of gameplay.”

Check out the gallery of screen shots for Skylanders: Cloud Patrol for iPod touch, iPhone and iPad after the jump.

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If you’ve wondered why eBook prices always seemed so high even though you were just buying a digital copy of a book, now we might have at least part of the answer. In a move that surprised almost nobody who follows this kind of thing, the U.S. Justice Department has today filed an antitrust lawsuit against publishers including Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin and Apple alleging the companies conspired to fix electronic book prices.

According to the suit, the government wants publishers to let Amazon and other retailers decide what to charge customers, based on the wholesale price of the product. At the moment, publishers decide what price eBooks will be sold for.

This would, in theory, allow for more competition and see better pricing for consumers. Something, if true, most consumers would probably agree is a great idea.

What it will really mean is anyone’s guess at this point. You can bet Apple and other publishers will defend this suit with everything they have so don’t expect this to be resolved anytime soon.

Call it an Easter miracle, or whatever else you want, but it would appear, at least according to the folks at Engadget and BGR, that AT&T will indeed unlock user’s iPhones beginning this Sunday. Now before you go and get too excited, there’s a couple things to be aware of.

First, this has not been 100% confirmed by AT&T. Even though one spokesman did email a confirmation to BGR. So, take it with a big grain of salt until you see it actually happening. Second, if it turns out to be true, it won’t apply to every iPhone customer using AT&T.

Here’s the rules: A customer’s “account must be in good standing, their device cannot be associated with a current and active term commitment on an AT&T customer account, and they need to have fulfilled their contract term, upgraded under one of our upgrade policies or paid an early termination fee.”

So, there you go. If you meet the above criteria and have always wanted to jump ship from AT&T to another GSM carrier that can support the Micro SIM and has the same frequencies as AT&T (T-Moblie, for example), now’s your chance. Maybe.

I’ll believe it when I see it. Of course, there’s also other alternatives.

In what seems like a response to two websites claiming a virus “outbreak” on Mac computers which exploits a Java vulnerability, Apple today issued a new software update for Macs running Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. The update, which is called Java for OS X 2012-002, supposedly addresses this vulnerability, although Apple doesn’t say that in the info released with the update.

In fact, in true Apple fashion, the update only says it delivers “improved compatibility, security and reliability” and little else. Although, as this update comes cloesly after Russian anti-virus experts Dr. Web revealed earlier this week news of the “Flashback” trojan virus and its supposed infection of over 600,000 Macs worldwide, Apple’s timing of the update is a bit convenient if it isn’t targeted directly at this exploit.

According to the Dr. Web report, the trojan can intercept sensitive information such as passwords and transmit them to somewhere else. It also claims 57 percent of the infected Macs are located in the US and 20 percent are in Canada. There’s even some on Apple’s Cupertino campus which, if true, is pretty amusing.

Regardless of wether you think viruses exist for the Mac or not or think this is all a big hoax, there’s no reason not to update your Macs. It’s a simple process through Software Update. Why take a chance?

If you’re one of the millions of people who have and use an iPhone or iPad (or both) on a daily basis, you may have considered Jailbreaking it from time to time in order to take advantage of extra features, applications and more. However, if you haven’t done it up to this point, perhaps you just haven’t heard enough reasons why Jailbreaking is a great way to go for many people.

Fortunately, if you’re on the fence at all, a video from Mario Dabek of Jailbreak Matrix covering 100 reasons why you should crack it open may help convince you. Plus, it has a pretty girl in it, which is always a plus.

Sure, it’s still a dicey proposition to some people. But that doesn’t stop it from also being pretty amazing once you get access to all the great stuff out there in the world that people put together to help make your iPhone and iPad using experience that much better.

Because Jailbreaking your iPhone can cause problems, we can’t endorse it officially here at The Flickcast. However, we’ve heard about some people who’ve done it and it seemed to go okay. Proceeded at your own risk.

Check out the video after the break. If this video convinces you, let us know your Jailbreaking stories.

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When Steve Jobs passed last year there seemed to be a big push to commit his life story to film. Job’s story is incredibly interesting, and he eventually was a key contributor in many cultural milestones.

Variety is reporting that the independent production, Jobs, has landed its lead:

The King of Twitter is now the King of Apple, as “Two and a Half Men” star Ashton Kutcher is attached to play Steve Jobs in the indie pic “Jobs,” which Joshua Michael Stern (“Swing Vote”) will direct from a script by Matt Whiteley… The film will chronicle Steve Jobs from wayward hippie to co-founder of Apple, where he became one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs of our time.

At first glance Kutcher seems an odd choice to play one of the most beloved CEOs of our time, but when you really think about it could be an inspired choice. Kutcher has a pretty obnoxious personality, but he is a capable actor who certainly looks the part.

Jobs is only one of several Steve Jobs related projects that are trying to see the light of day, so snagging a big name actor to star is a good first step in making the independent production relevant against other larger profile competition.

Well, this is a bit disappointing. Granted, it will probably only affect a small percentage of you out there, but it’s still kinda lame.

According to reports, even if you have Apple’s shiny new iPad and want to engage in a little FaceTime with a, um, friend, you won’t be able to do it, even if you have super fast 4G LTE. It will only work over Wi-Fi.

If you try, you will be prompted to connect to an available Wi-Fi network. Curiously, if you are using your iPad as a Wi-Fi hotspot, which you can with the Verizon version, FaceTime will work if you initiate a call using an supported iPhone or iPod.

Apple has so far been moot on this issue but you can be sure people are going to be asking about it. After all, in many cases 4G LTE is as fast (or faster) than available Wi-Fi networks so the fact that FaceTime isn’t supported is difficult to understand.

Again, this isn’t a critical point for most of you, we just found it interesting as it gives a bit of insight into how Apple deals with wireless carriers. Of course, it could be a decision on Apple’s part. . . but we kinda doubt it.

If for whatever reason, chance, circumstances, sloth, you were not able to secure a pre-order on a brand new, shiny iPad when they were announced last week, redemption is at hand for you. Well, on Friday at least.

That’s right, for those of you without an iPad pre-order, the devices will arrive in Apple stores this Friday at 8AM local time. In addition, you can go to your local AT&T or Verizon Wireless store at 8AM and pick up a new iPad too.

But wait, there’s more. If you don’t happen to have an Apple, AT&T or Verizon store conveniently located near you, the iPad will also be available at Best Buy and Target stores in the US. The iPad will also be released in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Kingdom on Friday as well.

For all the details, check out the official press release from Apple after the break.

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It isn’t just movies and music at the South By Southwest event, there’s also comics. Comics and technology, to be exact.

That’s right, at SXSW in Austin, TX yesterday Marvel announced a new initiative, in the form of an iOS and Android app, and the first of many steps in its Marvel ReEvolution called Marvel AR. This new app, developed in conjunction with Aurasma “brings the world of print and digital media together for a comics experience like never before.”

Sound exciting? Well, if you want to know more, check out all the info below from the official press release.

Yesterday, at the SXSW Interactive Festival, Marvel Entertainment unveiled Marvel AR, the first major augmented reality app from a comic book company. As part of the recently announced Marvel ReEvolution, which brings the world of print and digital media together for a comics experience like never before, the Marvel AR app powered by Aurasma will be released on April 2 for iOS and Android devices. Fans can first discover the power of this new app in Avengers VS X-Men #1, arriving in comic stores on April 4 and kicking off the comic book event of the year in which the world’s most popular Super Heroes go to war!

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