Wild ride for Apple and its fans

Overall, it’s been an emotional week for Apple (AAPL).

Its revenues and profits are soaring, setting new records, but its visionary leader and CEO Steve Jobs is heading off for another medical leave, making fans and shareholders jittery about the future.

But in the midst of the roller coaster, there is more: Apple and Verizon Wireless (VZ) are on track for their Feb. 10 iPhone launch, but the pundits suggest a slight delay for iPad 2.

Can you hear the clock?

Tick tock. Tick tock.

The time when the Verizon iPhone 4 is available rapidly approaches. So app fans who want an iPhone on the Verizon network, synchronize your watches.

Tick tock.

The excitement builds. Verizon Wireless has launched its first TV ads for the second coming of the iPhone. (The first of course was on the AT&T (T) network in 2007.)

Genesis starts off with: “In the beginning.” And Verizon is taking a similar tack with its “It Begins” ads, featuring clocks ticking more and more intensely to the Feb. 10 launch. The tension builds a la Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart. But no murder here, just smartphone marketing.

Tick tock.

The ad eventually shows a clock striking midnight. A new day for app enthusiasts.

A woman smiles in the ad.

Verizon notes: “To our millions of customers, who never stopped believing this day would come… Thank you.”

“iPhone 4, Verizon, It Begins, 2.10.11.”

Check it out:

The dream of ordering anyway begins earlier for current Verizon customers. They can preorder the iPhone 4 on Feb. 3.

Some will greet the ad with joy. Angry Birds coming to iPhone 4 on Verizon. Happy, happy, joy, joy.

Some are less excited over the hype.

John Paczkowski  in Digital Daily blog, under the headline, “Agonizing Wait for Verizon iPhone Ends With Agonizingly Hyperbolic Advertisement” noted: “The wait for the Verizon iPhone won’t officially end until Feb. 10, but the company’s already thanking its customers for sticking with it until it was able to ink a carrier deal with Apple. How? With a hyperbolic new advertisement. How thoughtful…And, hey, we’re really looking forward to locking you into another two-year contract!”

Meanwhile, the clock appears to be ticking for the new iPad as well…albeit a bit behind the February or March delivery that had been rumored.

9to5Mac reports that iPad 2 will be shipped in mass quantities in April.

Tick tock. Tick tock.

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