1. The Daily

The Daily is the News Corp’s iPad-only newspaper that is set to launch in January with each daily edition costing $0.99 to download. News Corp has invested a lot resources by hiring some 100 journalists andattracting top talent. Rupert Murdoch is trying to reinvent the daily distribution model and move it to the iPad. Because it’s such a big investment and features original content for the iPad, it will be an app to watch.

2. Ge.tt

Since Drop.io was purchased and disbanded by Facebook, there’s certainly a need for free, web-based, acount-less and super simple file sharing. Ge.tt’s unlimited file size allotment, temporary URLs and elegant design make it a good candidate to fill Drop.io’s shoes – that is until Facebook or Google finally build something more powerful.

3. GetGlue

GetGlue is one of the few checkin apps that offers something the other major players (i.e. Foursquare, Facebook Places, Gowalla, SCVNGR, Loopt, etc.) don’t: checkins for activities performed mainly in the home. It also has one of the best recommendation engines I’ve come across. There’s considerable incentive for brands to partner here, which should bring GetGlue into the mainstream the way (if not to the extent) that Foursquare was brought in in 2010.

4. Bizzy

Fledgling startup Bizzy relaunched its website in 2010, focusing on customizing local recommendations based on a user’s favorite locations. In December, it also relaunched its iPhone app that enables users to find nearby recommendations on a simple Google Maps integration. The Bizzy team has more functionalities in store for us in 2011, which may make it as useful for finding local places to visit — if not more so — as Yelp, Google Maps and Foursquare.

5. Flipboard

Launched earlier this year as the iPad’s social magazine, Flipboard transforms social and news feeds into an interface nothing short of gorgeous, but the company and its founder Mike McCue have far bigger plans as they try to reshape news and journalism. Watch out for some big moves in 2011.

6. Kik

Kik is like BBM, but it works across iPhone and Android phones, which makes it infinitely more useful for staying in touch with friends. It’s a free, instantaneous alternative to text messaging that also allows users to see when their messages are received. No wonder more than 2 million people downloaded it within the first three weeks of its launch.

7. ShopKick

Although it currently lacks the consumer awareness or social utility of Foursquare or Facebook Places, Shopkick might have the most commercially viable model in the checkin space. Coupons are a concept that the mainstream inherently “gets” and wants. Retailers want to offer location-based programs that are verifiable (and Target and Best Buy have already signed on). And the ubiquity of smartphones will only increase. All of that leaves Shopkick in a position for a breakout year.

8. Path

With obile photo sharing becoming more popular and Path’s focus on being a personal network, and setting a limit to the number of connections you can add, will attract users looking to connect with their real-life connections. Also, focusing on mobile is smart, considering more users are now checking social networking sites on their mobile phone than e-mail. The founding team also has some star power with the likes of former Facebook senior platform manager Dave Morin, Macster co-creator Dustin Mierau and Napster co-founder Shawn Fanning.

9. Instagram

Instagram made a big splash in 2010, having created the first (successful) social photo experience for the iPhone, and thus making it a likely acquisition target in 2011.

10. GroupMe

If you think SMS is exploding, wait until you see what happens in 2011. Phone calls are going the way of the dinosaur for the less intrusive and more manageable stream of texts coming to our smartphones. GroupMe is poised to bring group texting to the masses with its $9+ million funding round and rapidly growing user base.