We don’t always take rumors very seriously around here. When you’ve been in the news game as long as many of us have you tend to take most rumors with a Gibraltar-sized chuck of salt. So, it is with that caveat that we bring you news of the new Mac App store and its rumored launch date.

According to one of those infamous and anonymous “inside” sources, Apple plans to launch the Mac App Store one week from today, on December 13th. Why then? Well, as the source indicates, Apple CEO Steve Jobs actually wanted to launch the new store today but those pesky “delays” pushed the launch back to next week. I’m sure Jobs took that well.

In case you’re not familiar with the forthcoming App Store for the Mac, it will be OS X’s equivalent to the iTunes App Store for iOS devices. It won’t be the only place to get Apps for the Mac it will just make it more convenient and better for developers. . . hopefully.

Sometimes a game come out and fans just take to it in droves. Case in point: Rage HD from id Software. After only one day in release, the game shot to the number one spot on the top-grossing chart in Apple’s iTunes Store.

The highly-anticipated, and very coo,l first-person shooter only costs $1.99 and can be played on the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad or current-generation iPod touch. It’s a pretty amazing looking game and really shows how well iOS devices can be used as a gaming platform. A lot of potential there for sure.

Rage HD replaced Angry Birds as the App Store’s top-grossing app in less than a day, and it is already number 2 on the top paid app charts. This success will hopefully spur developers to make more games like this for iOS devices. If so, that’s good for iOS and, of course, good for gamers. After all, you can’t really carry around an XBox 360 console with you everywhere, now can you?

Rage HD is available in Apple’s App Store for $1.99. A standard definition version called RAGE is also available for $0.99.

In an announcement that’s not that surprising seeing as adoption of the premium service has been rather slow, Hulu has decided to drop the monthly price of its “Plus” service by $2. The new monthly bill for the service will now be $7.99, effective immediately.

According to Hulu: “The monthly price for Hulu Plus moving forward is just $7.99. Any current subscribers who joined during our preview period will receive a credit for the difference from the $9.99 preview price. This credit will automatically be applied to their next billing cycle.”

Good news. But wait, there’s more. The company also announced some cool promotions aimed, presumably, at generating new business. They are:

• One free week trials for all new subscribers. In addition, current subscribers who joined during the preview period will receive a credit for one week of Hulu Plus toward their next month’s subscription.
• Two free weeks of Hulu Plus for both current subscribers and friends they invite through our referral program. Subscribers can learn more by clicking on the “Referrals” tab on their Hulu profile page.
• 11 weeks ($20 worth) of free Hulu Plus with the purchase of a Sony BRAVIA connected TV or Blu-ray player through January 31, 2011.
• One free month of Hulu Plus with the purchase of a Roku device through December 15, 2010.

In addition , Hulu also announced that the service will be launching on Roku today and will be coming to “Internet-connected Vizio, LG Electronics, and Panasonic Blu-ray players and HDTVs; TiVo Premiere DVRs; the Xbox 360; and Western Digital’s WD TV Live Hub Media Center and WD TV Live Plus Network Media Player,” in the coming months.

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Today, Apple posted a mysterious message at its website teasing an event for tomorrow involving iTunes. The message also features a clock which, presumably, is counting down until the event happens.

What could this announcement be? Could it be that a certain band is going to finally have their music for sale in iTunes? Or, could it mean the beginning of cloud storage where Apple can finally use that big data center they’ve built?

Obviously, speculation among the Apple interested press has started in earnest. Our friends at TUAW (Where I’m also a contributor, btw) have put up an impressive list of possibilities. Fortunately, we only have to wait until 7AM Pacific tomorrow to actually find out what all the fuss is about.

Until then, let the speculation continue. What do you guys think Apple will announce?

Shhhhhhh! You hear that?

“Braiinnnnsssssssssssssssssssssssss!”

It’s AMC’s The Walking Dead arriving on your Apple iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad courtesy of the comiXology app. While the world anxiously awaits AMC’s Halloween premiere of the brand new zombie-destroying series, comiXology has launched a dedicated digital comic app in collaboration with Image Comics and the comic’s creator Robert Kirkman.

“Robert Kirkman and Image Comics have been great partners of ours and we love to see them continually pushing the envelope with The Walking Dead series,” said David Steinberger, CEO of comiXology. “Through this new app, zombie lovers everywhere will be getting a full dose of their favorite comic on their mobile devices all in one location. We’ve even added all the collected editions.”

In case you’re not familiar with the franchise, The Walking Dead is a mostly black-and-white comic first published by Image Comics in 2003, and created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore. The story arc focuses on Rick Grimes, a small-town police officer from Cynthiana, Kentucky, his family, and a number of other survivors who have banded together in order to survive a world stricken by a zombie apocalypse. The series won the 2010 Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series at the San Diego Comic Convention.

“Today’s app release will provide fans of The Walking Dead, new and old alike, another way to enjoy this series,” said Robert Kirkman. “The Walking Dead app will make the series that much more accessible to the new generation that, more often than not, experiences their entertainment completely digitally. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with comiXology, on the eve of the debut of the AMC television series, to bring this series in front of a whole new generation of readers.”

Interested in grabbing the dedicated app? Head over to iTunes and download it now. And don’t forget about the new series on AMC, premiering on October 31, 2010.

Sometimes, things happen in public that actually reflect things you’ve been discussing in private. In this case I was just having a discussion about TV show rentals the other day and was lamenting the fact that Apple didn’t offer that model for its Apple TV device. Cut to today and it looks like that problem might be remedied by Apple shortly.

According to Bloomberg, Apple is supposedly in “advanced talks” with News Corp., CBS and Walt Disney Co. to allow iTunes users to rent their programming for 99-cents an episode instead of, or in addition to, the existing model where you can only purchase content. From the article:

“The content deals would give Apple users access to some of the most-watched shows on TV and increase the appeal of its devices. . . Added programming also would build on iTunes’ role as the biggest retailer of music and mobile applications, and help Apple ward off companies like Netflix Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., which offer their own online video services.”

Not only that, Apple will reportedly announce this service, and potentially more, at an as yet unofficial press event on September 1st. Some of these other things could include an Apple TV re-branded as the iTV and/or new versions of the iPod. With Apple, really anything is possible.

As someone who’s just gone through this and only wanted to rent some episodes of a show and not own them, I hope the rental deal turns out to be true. It makes sense that companies would want to offer this option in order to get some revenue instead of none from people only looking to rent a show and not own it. Hopefully we’ll find out on September 1st.

Beginning today, retail juggernaut Wal-Mart is slashing the price of Apple’s 16GB 3GS iPhone to just $97 with a standard two-year contract. The new lower price will save consumers just over $100 off the normal $199 price-point.

Apple is widely expected to launch a brand-new iPhone model next month, and this new lower price-point could indicate they are working with retailers to clear out any remaining inventory of the soon-to-be-outdated model. Interestingly, other retailers have not yet followed suit. The 16GB 3GS is still priced for $199 on Apple’s Web site and that of its partners, including electronics retailer Best Buy.

Apple has reportedly sold 8.3 million iPhones during last quarter, more than twice the amount sold during the same period in 2009. A recent furor erupted when an Apple engineer reportedly left Apple’s newest iPhone model in a local bar near the company’s Silicon Valley headquarters. Popular gadget site, Gizmodo managed to acquire the iPhone, running dozens of pictures and performing a full tear-down and review of the upcoming model’s features.

According to Gizmodo’s extensive coverage on the subject, some of the new iPhone features may include a front-facing video chat camera, improved regular back-camera with a larger lens and flash, a micro-SIM instead of standard SIM, an improved display that seems to run at 960×640 resolution,  a secondary mic for noise cancellation, along with numerous other minor refinements and enhancements.

Wal-Mart is selling both white and black 16GB models and they are only available for sale in-store, not online.

Sure, the iPad is a great device and has a really amazing screen. In fact, the screen is so good its a pleasure to watch streaming movie and TV content via apps like the one from Netflix. But what if you want to watch said content on your giant plasma screen at home so others can enjoy it too?

Well, you’re in luck because as of this week, the Netflix app has been updated to version 1.0.2 which now allows you to connect a TV and stream movie and TV content from your iPad for viewing. This is accomplished using Apple’s Dock Connector to VGA adapter for the iPad and an audio cable.

Before you get too excited, one caveat: The video output won’t be as good as what you would normally see on your TV. In fact, in some testing the video does not fill the screen and looks about as good as standard def content on an HD.

Still, it does give you an option you didn’t have before. Of course, to take advantage of this new feature you also have to purchase Apple’s $29.00 adaptor and some audio cable. So even though the Neflix app is free, the iPad and accessories aren’t. Welcome to the revolution.

As we have in the past we’ve got another look behind the scenes of the Iron Man Extremis motion comic from Marvel. So far, these motion comics have been of very high quality and it looks as if Marvel is sparing no expense on their production.

This one involving Iron Man and the Extremis story is no exception. With superstar writing from Warren Ellis and art from Adi Granov, this take on Tony Stark and his legacy as Iron man is sure to be remembered as an important arc for the character. To support this motion comic we’ve got another behind the scenes video for you today.

And, like always, here’s the description from our friends at Marvel:

Experience Iron Man in a whole new way – IRON MAN: EXTREMIS Motion Comic. From the story by Warren Ellis & Adi Granov, this incredible epic blends seamless motion, dynamic voice acting, and stunning special effects, bringing to life the story that redefined Iron Man for the 21st Century. Now you can get an exclusive look behind the scenes with Magnetic Dreams, who bring Iron Man and Co. to life!

Check out the behind the scenes video after the jump. Iron Man Extremis Episode 3 is available at Apple’s iTunes Store now.

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As we’ve done with the last two episodes we’re pleased to bring you a preview of the next episode of the Iron Man Extremis motion comic. The episode, which will be available at Apple’s iTunes Store today, continues the Warren Ellis written story of a military-sponsored nanotechnology called “Extremis” that Tony Stark must take to save his own life.

It’s an interesting take on Iron Man as we explore Stark’s character and his guilt over creating weapons and being one himself. I’m enjoying it and if you haven’t checked it out, you should — especially if you’re a fan of Iron Man.

And, as we agree to do to bring you these little video treats, here’s the scoop on the video from Marvel’s own virtual lips:

Experience Iron Man in a whole new way – IRON MAN: EXTREMIS Motion Comic. From the story by Warren Ellis & Adi Granov, this incredible epic blends seamless motion, dynamic voice acting, and stunning special effects, bringing to life the story that redefined Iron Man for the 21st Century. Now you can get a sneak peek at the third episode of this breathtaking visual breakthrough in motion comics! IRON MAN EXTREMIS episode 3 goes on-sale Wednesday, May 12th!

Check out the preview of Iron Man: Extremis after the jump.

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If you’re waiting and hoping for a Verizon iPhone this year, you might be disappointed yet again. According to a recent analyst report highlighted over at Computerworld, the iPhone is going to remain an AT&T exclusive at least until the end of 2010. Why? Well, read on.

AT&T is offering data plans for the iPad on a non-contract basis at the reasonable price of $15 for 250MB of data and $30 for unlimited data. According to analyst Brian Marshall of BroadPoint AmTech, AT&T would not have agreed to those low prices, and no-contract plans, without receiving something big from Apple in return. That “something big”, he thinks, is an extension of the iPhone exclusivity agreement with AT&T.

“AT&T had to do something dramatic to get the iPad,” said Marshall. “For that pricing [on the iPad], AT&T was able to negotiate a six-month extension on the iPhone exclusive,” he continued.

So there you have it iPhone fans. If you’re as sick of AT&T as I was but still must have your iPhone, you’re just going to have to hang in there a a bit longer. Of course, this is just one person’s opinion, albeit an informed one. Still, he could be wrong and we may never see a Verizon iPhone.

After all, Apple usually does what’s in Apple’s best interest so going to the trouble of making a CDMA iPhone for just the U.S. market, where they already dominate the space, may be more than they are willing to do. If you believe Marshall, I guess we’ll find out at the end of the year. Until then, try not to be too hard on AT&T.

The Iron Man 2 hype machine is in full effect leading up to Friday’s release of this summer’s most anticipated comic book property to hit the big screen in 2010. This week alone, we’ve brought you news of the ‘Iron Man Central’ app hitting iTunes, as well as some of the ‘Iron Man 2′ easter eggs to keep an eye for while you’re watching the flick, and now Marvel Digital has released 4 new free digital comics for their free Marvel Comics App available in the iTunes App Store.

While the app is free to download, comics generally cost around $1.99/each, with Marvel releasing a batch of new freebies each week. This week, with all eyes on Iron Man 2, the free choices revolve around this popular franchise.

Two issues go into the way-back machine, all the way to 1968 for some classic silver-age Iron Man action with issues #225 and #280. The third issue is a bit more up-to-date with The Invincible Iron Man #1 which details some of the events of the first flick. And finally the fourth free issue from Marvel Digital this week, Black Widow Saga #1, gives readers an insight to this mysterious character from the second film.

So what are you waiting for? Fire up your iPhone or iPad and let’s get primed for all things Tony Stark! After the jump, take a closer look at these free issues. Free is good, right?

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