That’s right Apple haters, the company is now the most valuable public company in history. It’s combined value of all shares has now exceeded the previous record holder Microsoft.

At close of business in NYC, Apple’s shares closed at $665.15. This closing price pushed its market value to $623.52 billion, surpassing the $616.34 billion set by Microsoft on Dec. 27, 1999. Yes, that’s a lot of money.

Of course, much of this is due to the inevitable launch of the iPhone 5, reportedly set to drop in September. It also has a lot to do with the rumors of a smaller iPad as well as Apple’s potential entry into the TV business with either an actual TV or new set top box.

This is another in a serious of interesting developments for Apple, a company that was basically dismissed and assumed out of business not that long ago. What a difference time exceptional leadership and innovative, amazing products makes.

Just one of the many contributions by the late genius Steve Jobs. As a fan of Apple and it’s products we hope this never changes.

Every one with their fingers on the pulse of the gaming community knows today is Mass Effect 3‘s release date. Midnight launches around the nation were held, and right now most gamers are either playing or day dreaming about playing the epic final chapter of Commander Shepard.

What might be a little less known is that an iOS companion game for the hit to be has released on the app store today. Normally ‘little brother’ mobile games don’t make to much of an impact on our rader, but this release has two major things going for it. One it is Mass Effect, and two it was developed by Iron Monkey Studios, the folks behind the fantastic Dead Space iOS game.

EA is promising a console like experience for this game, and with Iron Monkey involved we are inclined to give this a shot. The game looks to be a concurrent adventure to the main title:

As Commander Shepard battles Reapers across the galaxy, veteran Cerberus agent Randall Ezno procures aliens for illicit experiments at a secret facility. But when the Director of the facility goes too far – Randall fights back and vows to bring Cerberus down! 

Can you fight your way off the hostile Cerberus base and deliver their secret research to the Alliance? 

Hop on your prettiest iOS device and download Mass Effect Infiltratior today for $6.99.

Anyone that’s been to a department store in the past two weeks has noticed that Halloween decorations and costumes were only shadowed by the overwhelming Christmas and holiday products taking over the shelves. We here at The Flickcast are taking that as a cue to start our famous Holiday Gift Guide leading up through the holiday shopping season.

One of the main categories for most guys (and gals) this holiday season is something to go along with their nifty iPod or iPhone. That’s where the world of Apple sound and science fiction find a nice home in Speakal’s new iKurve starship-like docking station & speaker station.

The image above gives you the money shot of how cool this space-age looking speaker can really be. It’s not just for looks, however, the device also has some pretty great features that will make this the only docking station and sound system you’ll need moving forward.

You can currently get this bad boy in black at Speakal’s website for $79.99, with a bunch of different colors on the way later down the road. Check out the complete list of features for this guy after the jump, and grab it while its hot this holiday season!

If you’re a fan of Apple and its products you know that they are not really on the inexpensive side. Sure, they are well made, well designed and work pretty flawlessly. Of course, all that comes with a price.

Fortunately, Apple too must realize consumers need a deal once in awhile and what better time to offer it than the end of this week during the madness known as “Black Friday.” So, to make this a reality Apple will be offering deals on its website and online store according to a teaser up at the company’s website.

Except for the cryptic text touting “dozens of great iPad, iPod, and Mac gifts for everyone on your list” we’ve really got no clue what these deals may actually be. Still, its just nice to see that even Apple understands the economics of today’s world. People don’t have the money they used to have but they still want to get their hands on Apple’s latest shiny devices. With this sale on Friday, let’s hope they can.

This all starts on Friday, November 26th. If you do plan on taking advantage of these deals, start early as they probably won’t last.

Today, everyone’s favorite movie and TV streaming service that also sends you programming on DVD and Blu-ray announced that beginning today the company will offer a new, streaming-only service option for $7.99 per month. The plan, which does not include any by mail content rentals, allows users to stream available titles to their televisions, mobile devices, and computers.

According to the company, they are “Creating the best user experience that we can around watching instantly is how we’re spending the vast majority of our time and resources.” Mmmkay. Sounds good.

Unfortunately, with good news also, on occasion, comes bad. The company also announced an increase to monthly plan prices by from $1 to $8. Netflix did not offer any reason for the increases, but did say price of its two most popular plans — one DVD and 2 DVDs — will only rise by $1. Thanks for that. Click through to see how the new Netflix plans work.

Will this change cause most people to switch to the streaming only plan? Maybe. What about you guys? Will you switch or do you still l like getting physical media?

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.

At a packed media event today Apple announced some new things that were met mostly with enthusiasm by the attending crowd. Among these new things was iOS 4.1 and 4.2, new iPods and a new version of the Apple TV.

Here’s a summary of the announcements:

iOS 4.1 – iOS 4.2

• High Dynamic Range photos: Takes three photos and combines them to form one better one.

• Proximity sensor, Bluetooth and the iPhone 3G.

• High-definition video upload over Wi-Fi.

• TV show rentals and purchase

• Game Center debut

iOS 4.2

• Brings iPad up-to-date with iPhone 4 including folders, better multitasking, etc.

The iOS 4.1 update will be available next week through iTunes. iOS 4.2 will come in November.

New iPod Nano

• New square design
• Touchscreen interface
• VoiceOver
• FM radio
• Nike+ and pedometer
• 24-hour battery life
• Six colors
• $149 for 8GB and $179 for 16GB
• Preorder today, shipping in a week

Netflix is one great service, and while it’s been available for streaming from devices like the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii, it’s never been available for anything portable other than the iPad. That is, until now. As of today, users of the iPhone and iPod Touch can now stream Netflix straight to their devices.

The application is available from the App Store at no charge. All you’ll need is a subscription to Netflix, iOS 3.1.3 or later and a working internet connection.

Using the application, you’ll be able to access your Instant Queue, browse through your favorite genres, and search by title.

The only issue facing the Netflix app is due to Apple and AT&T’s new data plans. While users that have had an iPhone for quite some time have unlimited data, newcomers to the iPhone and AT&T will have a bit of an issue keeping their data under the cap while still being able to use the Netflix service to their leisure.

Android users are sure to be seething with envy, as it is unknown when, or even if, an application will ever be available for their devices.

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.

With several comic book publishers, including Marvel, already heavily invested in the digital comics space, it seems DC has now decided to get into the world of digital publishing as well. Today the company and its parent Warner Bros. announced it would partner with digital comics platform comiXology, and in a separate deal PlayStation Network, to begin offering comics in digital form to consumers.

In addition, the company will offer a free an application to read comics on iPhone, iPod and iPad devices. This application will launch today and be available in Apple’s iTunes Store.

Some of the comics that will be available digitally include classic DC, Vertigo and Wildstorm titles such as Batman: Hush, Green Lantern: Rebirth, Fables: Legends and Exiles, Planetary: Legends, Exiles: All Over the World and more. In addition, The Justice League: Generation Lost mini-series will be available via both platforms day and date with each issue’s printed release.

Pricing for the digital titles will be tiered from $.99 to $2.99 an issue. Check out the full press release for the announcement after the jump.

So, now that DC has entered the digital space along with Marvel and other publishers, what will this mean for comics retailers? Will we soon see the end of comic book stores?

We don’t often cover straight business news here at The Flickcast, but this one is pretty amazing. Sure, as Apple fans, we expected it to happen eventually, but not quite this quickly. As of yesterday, Apple, Inc.’s market capitalization now exceeds that of longtime “friendly” rival Microsoft.

Yes, you read that right. Apple is now worth more than Microsoft. As of the close of market yesterday, Apple’s total share value stood at $222.5 billion, while Microsoft was at $219.53 billion. What does this mean? Well, it means that in terms of market capitalization (determined by multiplying all outstanding shares by their value) the only company based in the U.S. that’s more valuable than Apple is Exxon, who’s market cap is at $278 billion.

Although this news is pretty impressive, it’s not entirely due to the awesomeness of Apple. In fact, it probably has more to do with Microsoft’s problems than Apple’s successes. Recently, Apple’s market cap has grown by less than $10 billion, while Microsoft’s has shrunk by almost $40 billion.

So, even though Apple is doing many things right, obviously Microsoft is doing more things wrong — or it is at least perceived that way by investors. But no matter how you look at it, the news is still pretty impressive. Made even more so by the fact that we can still remember a time, not that long ago, when most business stories about Apple were discussing its impending death. Nice work Mr. Jobs. Nice work indeed.