Okay, in that Spanish interview that is still being deciphered by our good friend Dorian Gray, it said that they're in the final stages of recording the album. Take that however you like, but maybe the reason they are doing all these extra things, is because the album is progressing that well that they don't need to be in the studio the whole time. They had a few of the songs already written, if you remember, before ATYCLB came out. My guess is that they're moving fast on it. It actually could come out this year. Recent interviews have all said that the band hope to have it out sometime this year. Others have said that the band's new album, set for release later this year, will blah blah albakj....
I'd say there is a very good chance we might see the album this year. I'd give it a 50/50. If it does come out this fall, U2 will have broken a long tradition of postponing.
Here's hoping.