Hints of an Apple blowout this quarter

Last quarter, the unthinkable happened to Apple. The Mac maker -- gasp! -- missed Street expectations for its fourth-quarter report. How dare Cupertino not blow estimates out of the water in continuation of its long string of beats?

Kicking off 2012 with first-quarter results will commence promptly after market close on Jan. 24, so mark your calendars accordingly. Will the darling whiff again? Or will it resume its habit of handily destroying projections?