Irishteen
Blue Crack Addict
I don't believe that. U2 is very proud that they are nearly independent and have the final say in almost anything and everything. And since Jimmy Iovine and Bono were holiday-ing together (as some people over at Pleba pointed out) you don't have to worry about the record company going awkward
But the Record Company would never allow a January release; I'd say March would be the earliest; and even then they'd try to convince the band to push it back more.