If you read this:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/01apr_deepsolarminimum.htm
you’ll find that we’re still in the middle of the minimum. Solar Cycle 24 can’t be said to have started when sunspot counts are still dropping. See my comments regarding last year’s spotless day count, versus this year’s.
Saying when a new cycle started is really only possible in retrospect, and we’re clearly not there yet.
A new sunspot/solar cycle is determined by a reversal in the magnetic polarity of sunspot pairs, not the number of sunspots appearing.
"New solar cycles always begin with a high-latitude, reversed polarity sunspot," explains Hathaway. "Reversed polarity" means a sunspot with opposite magnetic polarity compared to sunspots from the previous solar cycle. "High-latitude" refers to the sun's grid of latitude and longitude. Old cycle spots congregate near the sun's equator. New cycle spots appear higher, around 25 or 30 degrees latitude.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2247604/posts?page=4#4
Cycle 24 has started. It began in Dec. The solar flux is also gradually creeping up. Don’t get discouraged though Cycle 24 is so weak it’s re-tracing the Dalton Minimum. Woohoo, freezing, famine and a Great Recession!