I know, reading that headline you may be skeptical because you haven’t received your iPhone 4 notification of shipment yet from Big Red. However, as I got mine last Friday night, I can assure you that Verizon is indeed sending out the iPhone 4 a little earlier than they originally let on. Actually, several days early.

In fact, the news for those of us who stayed awake until midnight West Coast time to order is even better than that. According to an update at Fedex, my particular iPhone 4 is actually on a truck and out for delivery today. See, miracles do happen.

Of course I realize that the iPhone from Verizon is exactly like the iPhone from AT&T and isn’t exactly revolutionary, more like evolutionary. Also, I realize it will actually have some subtle, but potentially problematic, differences from the AT&T version. However, that doesn’t stop me from being pretty excited about the prospect of the best smartphone on the best wireless network.

So, once it arrives in my hands expect a full report and maybe even one or two unboxing photos. In the meantime, if you’ve ordered yours via the Verizon pre-order, don’t lose hope. Your shiny new goodness is probably on the way very soon too.

Another potential nail in the coffin of traditional publishing was announced today as News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch revealed his company’s newest publication The Daily at a news conference this morning. This iPad only newspaper has been in the works for some time and today marks the first time consumers can actually get a look at it.

Here’s what you need to know: The Daily will be available only on the iPad to start and new issues will be available 365 days a year. In addition, The Daily will be interactive and feature 360-degree photos and original video content. Some articles will even be read aloud within the app.

The Daily app is available in the Apple App store now. It will cost you $0.99 per week or $39.99 for a one-year subscription. However, the first two weeks will be free thanks to a sponsorship deal with Verizon.

So, now that it’s finally here, who’s going to buy it?

If you’re an aspiring screenwriter, a veteran of multiple TV shows or pretty much any kind of entertainment writer, you’ve probably heard of, and most likely use, a piece of software called Final Draft. The screenwriting program has become industry standard on TV series and feature films and has helped writers bring their ideas to life for many years.

Currently, the program is on version 8 for Mac and Windows, which is great. However, many writers who use the program every day have been asking for a version that works on Apple’s iPad and patiently waiting for the company to develop one. Well, it seems that wait is over as the company has announced plans to release a version of its software for the iPad, iPhone and other iOS 4 devices.

Exact details and features of the iPad version of Final Draft are still a bit vague. However, according to the company the iPad and iPhone version of the app, dubbed Final Draft version 8 mobile, will “work with Final Draft version 8 FDX files and allow you to make edits and notes on the go for greater mobility. Plus, you can easily move the same script from iPad or iPhone to desktop and back.”

Sounds pretty cool to me. Guess I won’t be selling my iPad after all. Expect to see Final Draft version 8 mobile sometime this Spring.

As we get closer to the release of the Verizon iPhone 4, details of the voice and data plans available for it are starting to emerge. Yesterday, we told you about Verizon’s intention to offer an unlimited data plan with the iPhone. Now, other details have been revealed at Apple’s website which pretty much complete the picture.

On Wednesday, the company posted details on its website showing voice, data and messaging plans that will be offered with the upcoming device. The company also posted a utility to check subscriber eligibility for the discounted prices. If you’re eligible for upgrade pricing you will get to pay $199 for 16 GB and $299 for 32 GB. If not, plan on spending $599 for 16 GB and $699 for 32 GB.

Also, as we thought, the Verizon iPhone will have two data plans at launch: unlimited data for $29.99 per month and unlimited data with 2GB of Personal Hotspot and tethering services for $49.99 per month.

Here are the full details:

Voice

• 450 minutes/month: $39.99
• 900 minutes/month: $59.99
• Unlimited minutes/month: $69.99

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One of the most important things when you own and use a smartphone is the data plan. Sure, having the phone to make calls is great (that is when you can make calls. I’m looking at you AT&T) but the real purpose of all that cool phone goodness is to do other things like check email, post on Facebook and Twitter and surf the web while in line at Trader Joe’s.

When the iPhone first hit AT&T, the company offered an unlimited data plan for it. That plan has changed over the years and now features tiered pricing with the word “unlimited” left for the level of frustration many users feel when trying to make a call or, in some cases, send a simple text message.

Fortunately it seems Verizon understands the data needs of smartphone users and will offer a $30 unlimited data plan for the iPhone 4. This was confirmed to The Wall Street Journal by the company’s CEO Lowell McAdam who also said that offering the iPhone with a capped data plan would create an unnecessary barrier for customers looking to switch from AT&T.

“I’m not going to shoot myself in the foot,” he said. Smart man. Verizon will launch the iPhone on February 10th. Will you be getting one?

It’s no secret people have been waiting patiently (well, somewhat patiently) for Verizon to finally get the iPhone on its network. That time has now arrived and the phone is set to launch early next month.

With new product launches as important as this comes new ways to promote said launches. With that in mind, Verizon has releases its first commercial touting the big event.

We, of course, have that new commercial for you right here. It’s pretty good, actually, and helps feed the excitement that probably doesn’t really need to be fed. Everyone’s already about ready to explode. Or maybe that’s just us around here?

Anyway, check out the new commercial after the break. The Verizon iPhone hits stores on February 10th.

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Even though many people prefer to read comics printed on paper that hasn’t stopped Marvel from having an iPad Application on which fans can read many of their favorite comics. This week some new comics come to that device for your reading pleasure.

Some of the ones we’re most interested include Ender’s Game: War of Gifts, Loki #3, X-Men: Messiah Complex #1-13 and the free comic New Mutants #1. You can find the Marvel Comics App either at the company’s website or directly at iTunes. Check out the list (and some cool cover art) below.

Digital Comics On-Sale:

AVENGERS VS. PET AVENGERS #3

BLACK WIDOW #7

ORSON SCOTT CARD’S ENDER’S GAME: WAR OF GIFTS

(Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game: War of Gifts Special #1, Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game: Mazer in Prison #1, Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game: Recruiting Valentine #1, and Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game: The League War #1)

IRON MAN: RAPTURE #3

LOKI #3

MARVEL 1602: NEW WORLD

(Marvel 1602: New World #1-5)

NEW MUTANTS VOL. 1: RETURN OF LEGION

(New Mutants #1-5)

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You can’t always believe what you read on Twitter. I know, shocking, right? However, when news comes directly from the verified account of none other than Playboy Magazine founder and publisher Hugh Hefner, we take notice.

So, what did Mr. Hefner have to say? Well, in a recent couple of messages the man himself revealed that his magazine which got millions of young men through adolescence would be coming soon to Apple’s iPad. And as if that wasn’t enough, according to Hef, the magazine will be completely uncensored. Nice.

This development is very convenient for those out there who like their tech and their naked women to be closely tied together. It’s also a good deal for Hefner who is able to get his magazine into the hands of potentially millions more subscribers.

No word yet on potential pricing or subscription models available but we can hope it will be in line with current print edition — or even cheaper.

Update: It seems Hef wasn’t talking about a new iPad App Playboy App as some had suggested. Instead, he was referring to a web based subscription service available on the iPad. That’s the version that will be uncensored. I guess you really can’t believe what you read on Twitter.

According to Apple PR, Steve Jobs sent out an email to Apple staff this morning stating that he is taking a medical leave of absence. In the email he says Tim Cook is in charge of Apple’s day to day operations. Jobs will remain CEO and weigh in on strategic decisions. The text of the email is below:

Team,

At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company.
I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for all of Apple’s day to day operations. I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we have in place for 2011.

I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy.

Steve

As you probably know, Jobs had a liver transplant in 2009 to treat complications from pancreatic cancer. What does this announcement mean for Apple? At least Jobs waited until after the Verizon announcement, which is smart. Plus, the company seems to have a definite roadmap for the next year at least, so it will probably take a stock price hit but keep on going strong.

But whatever happens with Apple, we wish Mr. Jobs all the best and we hope he makes a speedy and complete recovery.

Now that the iPhone on Verizon cat is out of the proverbial bag we can turn our attention to other important matters like what the next generation of i-devices from Apple might look like. Speaking to that is information published over at BGR wherein they cite rumors and reports that the next gen iPhone and iPad will be minus one major feature: the home button.

According to the report, the reason Apple added multitouch gestures for the iPad in the latest iOS 4.3 beta is because the iPad will be losing the home button. In addition, the big change in design will also make its way to the iPhone as well. These make sense considering the legend of Steve Jobs and that he never really wanted any buttons on the iPhone or iPad in the first place.

The source giving BGR this info also said that Apple employees are already testing iPads and iPhones with no home buttons on the Apple campus. So it is entirely possible we will see this change come with the next-generation iPad and iPhone launching later this year.

As if that wasn’t news enough, the report also goes on to say that Apple’s photo-taking application, Photo Booth, will be appearing on the next iPad. It’s also possible that new iLife apps for iOS will drop round the iPad 2 release as well. Lots of exciting stuff to be sure.

What do you think? Will you miss the home button on your iPhone or iPad? Sound off in the comments.

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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With all the iPhone/Verizon rumors it’s nice to see rumors concerning another Apple product pop up sometimes. This time around it’s the iPad 2 which, according to Japanese Mac blog MacOtakara, will have a flatter back and smaller bezel compared to the original iPad.

The site also indicates the device will feature larger “wide-ranged speaker” located behind a mesh speaker grille. These will, presumably, offer much better sound quality than current generation device.

In addition, the next iPad will be three millimeters smaller than the original, but the display will stay the same size. That means the bezel surrounding the iPad’s display will probably shrink substantially, improving the devices overall appearance — at least to us. The rear case has been flattened to be more like an iPod touch, which should make it easier to lay on a flat surface. Yeah, that “bump” in the middle has always been a bit of a pain.

No word on if the new iPad will feature a camera, or cameras, but as often is the case, we’ll get more rumors and information as the device gets closer to release. Speaking of that, Apple’s next-generation iPad is expected to begin shipping from manufacturers in January or February, with a release likely soon after.

Steve Jobs famously referred to Apple’s set-top box as “just a hobby.” Then again, Apple seems to enjoy bragging about their sales numbers. Case-in-point: the Cupertino company issued a press release saying that it expects to sell 1 million new Apple TVs by the end of the week.

With three months of sales under its belt, the 2nd generation Apple TV is certainly selling well by all accounts, but not quite on par with some of the company’s top sellers like the iPad and iPhone. Don’t take it from me, here’s what the official Apple PR had to say:

“Apple® today announced that it expects sales of its new Apple TV® to top one million units later this week. The new Apple TV offers the simplest way to watch your favorite HD movies and TV shows, stream content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr and MobileMe℠, all on your HD TV for the breakthrough price of just $99. iTunes® users are now renting and purchasing over 400,000 TV episodes and over 150,000 movies per day.”

As an Apple TV owner, I have to say the features that really sold me were the great sub-$100 price-point, the ability to stream Netflix Instant movies and shows, and while I didn’t know it at the time, the new AirPlay features available via iOS 4.2 devices, makes tossing streaming video from my iPad to the flat-panel TV so amazing and easy.

Now, when I stumble on todays’s viral video on YouTube, I don’t have to keep it to myself. My significant other has become quite used to me blurting out, “You have to watch this, NOW!” And AirPlay makes that happen smoothly with a couple of jabs of my finger.

Still, for such a humble price-point, I keep expecting more out of Apple TV. For instance, where’s the browser? Sometimes, it would be handy to pull up a website on the plasma. Or how about apps? Why can’t I run Angry Birds on my Apple TV? Perhaps Jobs is saving that for a future update. You know, when Apple TV finally graduates from tinkering in the garage and goes out and gets a real job?

As an Android-powered phone user have you been jealous of your friends who get to enjoy reading comics on their iPhone or iPad? Well, time to feel better as comiXology has announced a Beta release of its industry-leading comics reader for Android.

The new beta is available in the Android marketplace and enables fans to read comics on devices running Android 2.1 or higher. The Comics by comiXology beta app gives users the ability to discover, purchase, and read more than 2,500 digital comics and over 300 free comics from 40 publishers.

Launch partners providing content for the app include DC Comics, Image Comics, Vertigo, Top Cow, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Archie and many more. Users can search and browse through comics based on titles, creators, publishers, genre and ratings, and find local comic book retailers with the built-in retailer finder.

“Our enthusiastic community has been asking us for an Android app and it’s with great pleasure that we bring it to them in time for the holidays,” said David Steinberger, CEO of comiXology. “Comics by comiXology on Android delivers comic books to mainstream audiences on even more devices. Now, more people who want to read a comic will have the opportunity to do so, when and where they want, while giving our content partners another major distribution outlet.”

Comics downloaded to the Android app will be available on the iOS and Web version as well through cross-platform synchronization so users can enjoy comics purchased on all their devices. So, great news for Android users. Even better news when those Android-powered Tablets start arriving in quantity.

When it first arrived on the scene many people probably scoffed at the iPhone and iPod touch as unsuitable gaming platforms. After all, what can you do, graphics-wise, on the devices to make gaming worthwhile? Well, I’m happy to report that you can, at least in the hands of the folks at Epic Games, do quite a bit.

Since its debut on December 9th, Epic Games’ game Infinity Blade has grossed over $1.6 Million. Based on data from Apple’s Game Center, there were over 271,000 different users who played the game as of Sunday night.

Now here’s the math part, sorry if it hurts your heads. Infinity Blade costs $5.99 for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, which means the title grossed well over $1.6 Million in that short time span. Quite a success for the team at Epic.

Infinity Blade is the first Unreal Engine 3-based iOS game and, along with titles like Rage HD (Which also rocks, btw), it is helping to change the perception that the iPhone, iPad and such are not “real” gaming platforms. Lets hope the trend continues.

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