Another great quarter for Apple.

• Record Mac, iPhone, iPad Sales Drive Highest Revenue and Earnings Ever.

• Apple sold 4.13 million Macs during the quarter, a 23 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter.

• The Company sold 16.24 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 86 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter.

• Apple sold 19.45 million iPods during the quarter, representing a seven percent unit decline from the year-ago quarter.

• The Company also sold 7.33 million iPads during the quarter.

The number of iPads sold is the most shocking. A device introduced less than one year ago, today, has sold more units (in one quarter) than Macs have in any previous quarter. And the line that keeps us going,

“We had a phenomenal holiday quarter with record Mac, iPhone and iPad sales,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We are firing on all cylinders and we’ve got some exciting things in the pipeline for this year […]“

Suspend your Facebook account. If you are anything like me, and simply can’t (for the time being), Gawker has a great article to get you started on your journey to privacy.

Update: Facebook has announced that it has suspended the controversial feature and will be “making changes to help ensure you only share this information when you intend to do so.”

What I wrote still stands. I’m sorry if I sound like a parent, but your private information will soon be all you have left. Right now I am working on a personal Facebook replacement. Ben Brooks gave me the idea, now I have to work on the implementation.

John Gruber has shared his thoughts on the news, of which I agree wholeheartedly. Perhaps most importantly,

Jobs’s leave of absence is cause for concern — and for good thoughts and well-wishes. It is not cause for panic.

• Via conference call.

• Tuesday, January 18, 2011, 2:00 p.m. PST/5:00 p.m. EST

• Apple will provide live audio streaming of its FY 11 First Quarter Results Conference Call.

• The live webcast will begin at 2:00 p.m. PST on January 18, 2011 at www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq111 and will also be available for replay for approximately two weeks thereafter.

Some people said we shouldn’t have pursued cloud sync with this level of ambition. But then, that wouldn’t be us. It is not how we developed Things. We know that people are coming to Cultured Code because we take this approach. They like companies that care, companies that try – and that is what we will keep doing.

To this day, Things remains on my iMac (in the dock), on my iPad (in the dock), and on my iPhone (on the homescreen). I will admit, syncing cannot come any sooner, and I have considered switching to Omnifocus *multiple* times. However, like I said when Cultured Code released Part I of the series:

I have used Things since day one, and I do not plan on abandoning the Cultured Code team now. If anything, this update only solidifies my trust and appreciation for the team, and their willingness to push forward through what may seem like dark times.

As of today, nearly 10 billion apps have been downloaded from the App Store worldwide. Which is almost as amazing as the apps themselves. So we want to say thanks. Download the 10 billionth app, and you could win a US $10,000 iTunes Gift Card. Just visit the App Store, and download what could be your best app yet.

I rose this morning to this little number, a countdown to the ten billionth app download on (what I assume is) the iOS App Store. Here are some of the more interesting rules:

• Entries are limited to individual consumers only; commercial enterprises and business entities are not eligible.

• You will automatically be entered into the Promotion by downloading an app from the App Store.

• No purchase necessary to win. Click here to submit a free entry form.

• One (1) winner will receive one (1) US $10,000 iTunes Gift Card. Total US Retail Value of all prizes is $10,000.00.

• The winner agrees to allow Sponsor to use his or her name, photograph, likeness, voice, prize information, and biographical information for publicity and promotional purposes without further compensation where permitted by law.

The President speaks at a memorial event for the victims of the tragic shooting in Arizona, “Together We Thrive: Tucson and America.”

It was both a phenomenal and empowering speech for President Obama, and the people. Admittedly, I listened-in via audio. A transcript of the speech is available as well.

I laughed. I cried. This one is not for Instapaper.

Update: Looks like the site is down, here is a link to Google’s cache. If you are looking for more information, check here (Google’s cache) and here.

It is, for all intents and purposes, the same iPhone that people on AT&T are using except it works on Verizon. There is no Verizon branding nor any special new features to the iPhone. Except one: the mobile hotspot. […] And for those curious, I will not be switching to Verizon. AT&T service in Kansas City is just fine.

It’s not a world phone or an AT&T + Verizon phone, it’s just a Verizon phone.

Steven Sande:

When you get a phone call while using data on a CDMA phone right now, that phone call goes directly to voice mail. that phone call interrupts the data connection. Likewise, you need to hang up voice calls before trying to bring up websites or capture other data. Want to use that built-in tethering app to send a 3G signal to five devices? Just don’t try to talk on the phone at the same time.

Engadget has posted some great photos of the new CDMA iPhone 4, including Verizon’s exclusive ‘Personal Hotspot’ feature.

• Available on the Verizon Wireless network beginning Thursday, February 10.

• Qualified Verizon Wireless customers will be given the opportunity to pre-order iPhone 4 online on February 3.

• iPhone 4 on Verizon Wireless will also include new Personal Hotspot capabilities allowing customers to use iPhone 4 to connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices.

• Suggested retail price of $199.99 for the 16GB model and $299.99 for the 32GB model (with a new two year customer agreement).

Its the same iPhone, on Verizon – aside from the new CDMA antenna design – who knew?

I find it incredibly disheartening Sophia had to go through the pains of writing this apology/clarification letter at all. This seems to be a growing trend on the Internet; if no one can see me (and they really have no clue who I am), I can do, write or say whatever I want.

The thing that is so troubling about the Internet (which can be considered both a blessing and a curse) is it’s real-time effectiveness on people, and in this case, a developer. Ben Brooks commented harshly on Sophia’s decision to offer CoverSutra v3.0 (which read as v2.5) as a paid upgrade. A somewhat major influencer has jumped on the bandwagon of passing around the ridicule. Do you see the problem?

Lex Friedman argues for a more robust Mac App Store; one with tabs, more user-friendly animations and where “installed” actually means installed. We can all dream, can’t we?

You want creativity in schools? Let people try new things.

Frazier Spiers argues for a better education system (technology based). If I could, I would like to make one correction:

You want creativity [any-and-everywhere]? Let people try new things. [The teachers, office workers, mobile warriors–everyone.]

Perhaps a minimalist-approach to the Mac App Store.

Finally, I purchase Mac software much less frequently than I buy iOS software, and I don’t expect that to change with the Mac App Store’s release. For now I’m glad to have a convenient, attractive, curated place to shop.

Congratulations to Apple and all the developers who launched apps today.

Steven Heller:

This [does not] imply that in the wake of the shooting and critical wounding of Rep Gabrielle Giffords in Tuscon, Arizona, yesterday, that Palin’s symbols were responsible. But it does imply that the visual and verbal language of polarization has severe consequences.

Other than secret products he doesn’t want to talk about, Jobs doesn’t hide anything. Doesn’t dodge any questions, doesn’t hold back his opinion on the competition, and doesn’t use soft ambiguous words to say something he doesn’t want to be quoted on. He just says it. You know that he’s speaking his mind because there’s room for disagreement with his opinion. You don’t get that with other interviews.

Agreed. CES was (if nothing else) a PR machine, spreading the word about whatever product or service the various vendors were trying to sell. All presentations were scripted (which was expected)—even worse, they sounded scripted. Steve Jobs has a talent for bs. Occasionally he’ll throw a witty remark in here-and-there. He seems real, and most importantly, speaks the truth (which Milland describes as Job’s mind).

If all apps were as good as Camera+, all developers would be seeing sales like these. I would argue, however, some fantastic apps don’t get the recognition they deserve.

A sad truth.

I’m sure the number could have been much higher if the App Store were included as a separate download (or part of an iTunes update), instead of a Software Update. Most, like my girlfriend and my mother, don’t even realize the store exists, let alone has already opened.

What happened when Steve Jobs pitched the iPad in the Dragons’ Den?

If you are on an iPad, here is a link to the mobile-optimized video on YouTube.

[T]he App Store recognizes that you already own the app, but it doesn’t treat it as if you bought it from the App Store. Meaning, on the App’s page within the App Store you’ll see “Installed” instead of the purchase price. However, you won’t see it in your list of apps underneath the “Purchases” tab and you won’t get updates for that app via the Mac App Store.

The Mac App Store won’t let you buy apps that are already “Installed”. According to Cabel, if you want to purchase an app through the Mac App Store that you already own, you have to drag your current app into the trash.

My thoughts.

I have yet to use the app (on my desk), but rest assured it is the best “passive Twitter client” on the market.

Now comes CES 2011. Once again, Ballmer will take the stage for the keynote, giving him a chance to wash down the emptiness from last year. With the tablet floodgates opening, one would hope he’d have an easier time coming up with a few devices that actually work. Logic says he’ll try to wash away the bad memory with sheer quantity.

I give you exhibits a, b and c.