Indeed it is the time of year when inevitability the lists appear and people pick their favorites of 2010. Some have already done their lists and some, like me, like to wait a bit. That said and since I don’t want to be accused of not following trends, I will also be making a list (or two) of my picks of the best of 2010. However, in the interest of clarity and brevity (or neither), I’m going to pick my top 5 (or so) things in the main categories we cover here at The Flickcast.

Although, as our own John Carle covered the best of 2010 in games so well already, I won’t make much (if any) a list of those and will just mention my two favorites. In case you’re not familiar with those main categories we cover, they are as follows: Movies, TV, Comics, Games, Tech and all things Geek.

So, to that end, here’s my list (or lists really) of my picks of the top stuff of 2010.

Movies

Inception – I love smart movies and this one is pretty damn smart. Featuring great performances, a mind-bending plot and twists galore, director Christopher Nolan delivers with one entertaining ride I was talking about for weeks (and months) afterward. And with all the ways I can get distracted by other things, to still be taking about this movie now is a testament to just how great it is.

True Grit – I love Westerns and this one will go down as truly one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and the rest of the cast are superb and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld owns the screen. She is definitely one to watch. Plus, the Coen brothers have a genuine love and reverence for the classic Western conventions, even when they twist and turn them into new and even more compelling shapes.

The Social Network – When I first heard of this movie I was skeptical, as probably most were, about how interesting a movie about Facebook really could be. I had nothing to worry about. This brilliant film, directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, delivers on all levels and tells a compelling story of one of the most impressive success stories in history. Along the way it also shows us a little something about the nature of greed, friendship and the real cost of success.

Winter’s Bone - This tale of a real heroes journey to find out what happened to her father before the bank forecloses on her home resonated with me for quite some time after watching this film. Jennifer Lawrence as the young mother and John Hawkes as her meth-snorting uncle really deliver top performances. Part crime movie, part thriller and part coming-of-age-story this film’s stark realism takes you into a world you didn’t know existed and holds you there until the lights come up.

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As of late last night (Mine came in around 11PM) Verizon Wireless began rolling out a new minor software update for the HTC Incredible. This update is more of a minor update that includes bug fixes and a few new features.

Chief among these new features is Verizon’s V CAST Apps store. The new store will allow HTC Incredible users to download and install applications to their devices. This new service works similarly to the current Android Market but also allows users to pay for new apps via their monthly Verizon cell phone bill instead of using a credit card.

The update, which is delivered over the air, is an 18 MB file and brings the software to Android Version 2.2 (3.26.605.1/Baseband Version: 2.15.00.07.28). It should be pushed out to all users over the next few days.

For the complete list of big fixes and improvements, click through.

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Are you a user of the the awesome and, well, incredible HTC Droid Incredible? Are you a little jealous of your iPhone 4 using friends who get to record video in 720p or of other smartphone users who can create hotspots with their devices? If so, time to forget those concerns and get happy.

HTC has confirmed an OTA update is on the way for the Droid Incredible that will not only fix a few security and grounding issues it will also, if the following pic is be believed, enable the device to create mobile hotspots and, wait for it, unlock the capability to record video in 720p HD, just like the upcoming DROID X. The update will also reportedly change the boot screen to the new Droid eye, as seen in the video we’ve got for you.

If the update actually unlocks these features, it’s not that surprising. HTC wants to make sure it can compete with the iPhone 4 and DROID X, so having this functionality up it’s sleeve and able to be unlocked via an update at an opportune time goes a long way to ensuring that.

Check out the video and pic after the jump. We’ll keep you informed on this update and also let us know if you get it and if it really adds this functionality.

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It’s no secret to any Android fan that the HTC Droid Incredible is one awesome piece of technology. This explains why, over two months after the phone’s release, it is almost impossible to get your hands on one. This is due largely to the fact that Samsung, who manufactures the AMOLED screens that HTC uses for the phone, cannot keep up with the incessant demand for the device.

While most people are ordering their phones and patiently waiting, Verizon is offering another option to those who’ve ordered the Incredible but just can’t seem to wait: the Droid X. Announced last week by Verizon, the Droid X has some impressive specs. With a 1 GHZ processor, a 4.3″ display, 8 MP camera with 720p video capabilities, and a multitouch keyboard, the phone certainly rivals both the HTC EVO 4G and iPhone 4.

Verizon will be releasing the Droid X on July 15th, while if you order the Incredible today it won’t be shipped until at least July 27th. Verizon is now allowing those who’ve ordered the Droid Incredible online to switch their order to the Droid X in order to get an Android device in their hands as soon as possible.

It’s definitely nice that Verizon is offering this to customers, especially those who jumped on the Incredible and realized they’d rather have the latest and greatest Droid X when it was announced a few days ago. But speaking from my experience with the Droid Incredible, it’s the best Android device I’ve ever used and is more than worth waiting a few weeks for.

Regardless, with the change from AMOLED to LCD and the release of the Droid X, the strain on HTC will helpfully be alleviated and those who are waiting for the Droid Incredible will finally be able to get one.

UPDATE: We were contacted by Verizon and they sent us this official statement regarding Incredible pre-orders:

“The Droid Incredible by HTC, as you know, definitely lives up to its name and is a fantastic device. It has proven to be very, very popular with our customers. Should a customer who has ordered a Droid Incredible decide that the Droid X (or any other device) better meets his/her needs, he/she can take advantage of the Verizon Wireless Worry Free Guarantee and choose the Droid X when it goes on sale July 15. Customers cannot pre-order the Droid X with us.”

There you have it. Does that jive with your experiences? Let us know in the comments.

If you were one of the many people waiting for Google’s Android powered Nexus One smartphone to hit Verizon so you could finally get your hands on one, you’re not going to be very happy after reading this post. Sadly, it seems, Verizon has decided to get out of the Nexus One business and instead, will stick with HTC and the pending release of the DROID Incredible.

While this move may not come as a surprise to some, particularly the folks over at Tech Crunch, it did seem to come out of left field a little. After all, up until the last few days, the release of the Nexus One was trumpeted as coming soon by Google at the site where they sell the phone. Now it directs potential customers back to Verizon’s website to buy a competing product in the Incredible? Again, seems a bit out of left field.

As highlighted over at Tech Crunch, it seems Verizon is choosing to offer the latest and greatest device to its customers and doesn’t seem to think the Nexus One is that device. When it came out, it was the best Android phone on the market. Then, Motorola released the DROID, which has reigned supreme. Now, the Incredible looks to be the top Android phone, at least for now.

Competition is a good thing and often leads to great innovations as companies strive to come to market with better and cheaper products. I the end we may not understand Verizon or Google’s reasons for making certain decisions, but in this case at least, it looks like Verizon’s decision will benefit consumers who want the best Android phone they can get.

Today Verizon announced the phone that many disgruntled iPhone and AT&T users have probably been waiting for. No, not the iPhone for Verizon, which may or may not ever happen. I’m talking about the seemingly as amazing HTC Droid Incredible.

This pretty cool sounding phone will drop April 29th and be $199.00 with a two year agreement. But wait, that’s not the really, um, incredible part. Check out this list of specs and then check out the full Verizon press release after the jump. That’s what may make you finally say goodbye to AT&T. I know it will for me.

Key Specs

• 1GHz Snapdragon processor

• Android 2.1

• 8 megapixel camera

• Wi-Fi (b/g)

• Integrated GPS

• HTC’s Sense UI

• 3.7 Inch WVGA AMOLED display

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