This week, M4 Macs are already incoming! Also: Apple’s next big thing, the AI tools that could turbocharge iOS 18, the disastrous Humane AI Pin, and an all-new What We’re Into!

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This week’s stories:

Macs with AI-focused M4 chip launching this year

• Mac users won’t have to wait until 2025 for the Apple M4 processor, according to a reputable Apple tipster. The replacement for the current M3 will put an emphasis on AI, and will start appearing in Macs this autumn.

Apple Is Rebooting Its Search for a New Next Big Thing

• Apple’s business remains heavily reliant on the iPhone, which accounts for more than half its revenue. And sales in that market have stagnated. That’s made it all the more important for the company to find a major new product category.

Apple’s Ferret-UI helps AI use your iPhone

• Apple’s new Ferret-UI multimodal large language model could help artificial intelligence systems understand your iPhone’s screen, according to a research paper released Tuesday.

Humane AI Pin

• The Verge: Humane AI Pin Review: Not even close
• Inverse: Humane’s Ai Pin Isn't Ready to Replace Your Phone, But One Day It Might

What We’re Into:

• Doctor Who (1963 – 1989) on archive.org
• Constellation on Apple TV+
• Fallout on Amazon Prime Video

It's Movie VS Movie in an all-new VS!

This week: Forget a car — Apple thinks personal home robots are their next big thing. Plus: iPhone 16 leaks, what comes next for the M3, a big new feature lands on Vision Pro, and our solar eclipse stories and photo tips!

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com . And if you would like to leave The CultClub, you can do so at unfork.thecultcast.com .

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This week’s stories:

With car junked, Apple robots could be Cupertino’s next moonshot

• Teams in Cupertino are working on Apple personal home robotic devices, including a mobile robot and a table-top device with a moving display, according to a new report.

iPhone 16 ‘dummy’ units give us glimpse of upcoming changes

• Images of iPhone 16 “dummy” units have been published by a tipster with an established record. They show the redesigned camera hump reportedly coming to the two non-Pro models and other changes.

New iPads won’t arrive until May and we can’t stop crying

• No new iPad models came out in 2023 at all, and the tablet drought continues. That’s why there’s so much excitement about the upcoming Pro and Air models.

Redesign could give Apple M3 Ultra processor wicked performance boost

• Apple's in the process of restructuring their Apple Silicon lineup. M3 Max no longer comes with the UltraFusion interconnect. This means that the M3 Ultra chip will be redesigned as its own standalone chip, no longer being made up of 2x Max dies.

Free-floating Spatial Personas arrive in visionOS 1.1 for Vision Pro

• Apple has made Spatial Personas, a more lifelike enhancement of the Persona feature for the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, available in the visionOS 1.1 update which came Tuesday.

How to take solar eclipse photos with iPhone

• Photographing the solar eclipse is hard without the right tools. Here’s how you can get prepared.
• YouTube video

This week: Apple just announced WWDC24, a big change coming to iOS 18, hackers found an exploit in M-series chips and more of the bizarre claims of the DOJ against Apple!

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

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This week’s stories:

Apple sets WWDC24 kickoff date for June 10

• WWDC24, this year’s big Apple developer conference, will start with a live-streamed event on June 10, the company said Tuesday.
• During the keynote, Apple undoubtedly will reveal its plans for iOS and its other computing platforms, with a rumored focus on AI.
• Griffin’s coverage of WWDC22

iOS 18 could introduce more customizable iPhone Home Screen

• Apple will allow for greater iPhone Home Screen customization in iOS 18, including the ability to place app icons anywhere on the screen, according to a new report.

Hackers can exploit flaw in Apple M-series processors

• Security researchers have found a serious exploit in all Apple M-series processors. The flaw exposes precious encryption keys, and it’s baked into the hardware — so it can’t easily be patched without a performance penalty.

‘Presto,’ your new iPhone comes out of box with fresh software update

• The next time you buy a new iPhone, it could come out of the box with a fresh iOS software update.
• A new proprietary system called “Presto” will update it right in the packaging before you buy it at an Apple Store.

iMore: DOJ lawsuit says failure of Amazon Fire Phone, end of Windows Phone, and HTC’s demise all Apple’s fault

• The DOJ states that Microsoft, HTC, and LG all exited the smartphone market because of Apple.

This week, breaking news! The US launches huge lawsuit against Apple. Also, Apple AI might be powered by Google Gemini, all the details on AirPods 4, Epic’s new game store, and a MUCH cheaper Vision headset!

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

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This week’s stories:

Get ready for ‘the biggest AirPods launch to date’

• Apple could launch the AirPods 4 in two flavors later this year: one with ANC and another without. Alongside updated internals, the new earbuds purportedly will sport a sleeker new design.

Blockbuster US antitrust lawsuit targets Apple’s ‘iPhone monopoly’

• The Department of Justice and 16 state attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit Thursday aimed at forcing Apple to open up many aspects of its ecosystem, from the App Store to Apple Watch.
• Extra Ordinary: Apple’s Platform Advantage

iOS 18’s generative AI features might use Google Gemini

• Apple could use Google Gemini to power the generative AI features reportedly coming this year in iOS 18. Apple and Google are reportedly in “active negotiations” about the possibility, but have not yet finalized a deal.

iPhone 17’s display could get a big anti-reflective upgrade

• A new rumor says that the 2025 iPhone might feature a “super-hard anti-reflective layer,” which is also more scratch-resistant.

MacRumors: Epic Games to Charge 12% Fee for App Sales From Alternative iPhone Store

• Epic Games in February said that it would launch an Epic Games Store on the iPhone in the European Union.
• For games distributed through the Epic Games Store, Epic will collect a 12 percent share of revenue, which is the same fee that it charges on Windows and Mac machines.

Tomsguide: Apple reportedly ‘accelerating’ entry-level Vision Pro — and it could cost $2,000 less

• Apple is aiming to cut the cost of the Apple Vision Pro from $3,500 down to as low as $1,500, according to a new report.
• How? Apple’s apparently going back to the drawing board when it comes to one of the headset's most expensive components: its two 4K micro-OLED displays.

The Return of VS - the segment where we pit one movie against another then argue over which is best - all while building our list of the greatest movies ever made!

This week: The new M3 MacBook Air is only missing ONE thing¦ Plus: Big changes coming to apps thanks to new EU regulations, why you better act fast on the new 11-inch iPad Pro, what's coming next for CarPlay, and how to pay with an Apple Cash card number!

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

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This week's stories:

Entry-level M3 MacBook Air uses significantly faster SSD

• Apple fixed the slow storage speed that plagued M2 Macs on the M3 MacBook Air. Early testing indicates the entry-level M3 MacBook Air delivers significantly faster read/write speeds than its predecessor.

No App Store needed: EU iPhone users can install apps directly from websites

• Initially, Apple's plan for compliance required iPhone apps to be on alternative app marketplaces, not directly available for download.
• That requirement, which brought complaints from developers, has now been rescinded.

11.1-inch iPad Pro supply shortage might push back launch

• Apple will soon debut the M3 iPad Pros with OLED screens, but perhaps not as soon as many had hoped. And a new leak indicates the smaller 11.1-inch model could be in short supply at launch.

MacRumors: Here's Everything We Know About Apple's Next-Generation CarPlay

• It has been nearly two years since Apple first previewed next-generation CarPlay at WWDC 2022, and it has still yet to become available in any vehicles. Below, we recap the latest information about the upcoming software system.
• Tim Cook cameo in Porsche event

How to pay with an Apple Cash card number

• You can get a temporary debit card number to pay with Apple Cash online in case you want to pay with your balance on a site that doesn't accept Apple Pay.
• If you have a lot of money sitting in your Apple Cash account, this can be a convenient way to pay without using your other cards.

Apple acquires fundamental AI smarts by buying DarwinAI

• Apple reportedly purchased DarwinAI, a small startup previously based in Waterloo, Ontario. The company developed software that might make artificial intelligence systems running on an iPhone or other computers more efficient.

This week, Apple dropped the M3 MacBook Air, and the specs look good! But where’s the iPad? Also, we have details on the CRAZY canceled Apple car prototypes and a folding MacBook that’s still in development, Apple’s $2 BILLION dollar legal fight with Spotify, and new features you’ll get in iOS 17.4!

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/CultCast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Backblaze offers unlimited cloud backups for Macs, PCs and businesses for just $99 a year. Access your data from anywhere in the world. Get a fully-featured no-risk free trial at Backblaze.com/CultCast .

This week’s stories:

New M3 MacBook Air gets big specs boost with same awesome battery life

• The 2024 MacBook Air lineup launched Monday by Apple runs on the company’s M3 chip, bringing a significant performance boost to the laptop.

Early benchmarks show M3 chip gives MacBook Air hefty performance boost

• Early benchmark scores found by mysmartprice show that the new Air scored 12,020 on the Geekbench multicore test. That’s 25% better than the M2-based MacBook Air earned on the same test, and 45% better than the M1 version from 2020.

MacBook with 20-inch folding screen still on track for release

• The product has been on the drawing board for quite some time, but isn’t scheduled for release until 2027.
• The (cancelled) Microsoft Surface Neo

How indecision and hubris killed the Apple car

• The history of the Apple car is littered with wild prototypes, astonishing hubris and a deadly dose of crippling indecision, according to a damning report that offers the best picture yet of the secretive Project Titan.

Get ready for new MacBooks and iPads at Apple March event

• Another product we can expect in the pipeline is the OLED iPad Pro and the first 12.9-inch iPad Air.

EU fines Apple 1.8 billion euros over ‘abusive’ treatment of Spotify

• The European Commission fined Apple more than 1.8 billion euros Monday for “abusing its dominant position on the market for the distribution of music streaming apps.â€
• Apple calls Epic Games ‘untrustworthy,’ blocks Fortnite rerelease in EU

Try these exciting iOS 17.4 features on your iPhone now

• Apple just dropped iOS 17.4, bringing a plethora of new features — some of which fundamentally change how the iPhone works.
• Monarch: Budget and track money

D. Griffin Jones is joined by Allison McDaniel to talk more about Mac gaming, what games she's playing, what gear we use and the Stardew Valley speedrunning scene.

Remember that you can support The CultCast at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com and you can employ Allison McDaniel as a writer and digital marketing specialist.

Links:

• Allison McDaniel on LinkedIn
• Allison's writing on The Punished Backlog
• Stardew Valley on Steam
• The Sims 4 for Mac
• The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog on Steam
• Mini Motorways on Apple Arcade
• Pocket Card Jockey on Apple Arcade
• Stray on Mac App Store
• Resident Evil Village on Mac App Store
• Lies of P on Mac App Store
• Baldur's Gate 3 on Steam
• Asphalt 8: Airborne on Apple Arcade
• 8BitDo controllers
• Onn gaming mouse
• Satechi X3 Slim keyboard

After 10 years and 10 billion dollars, Apple finally calls it quits on the Apple car. What happened!? Plus: Apple's FineWoven cases are aging like milk, how to set up the best Mac screen saver, the future for Apple Arcade, and what comes next for Vision Pro.

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

Notion AI can now give you instant answers to your questions, using information from across your wiki, projects, docs and meeting notes. Go to notion.com/cultcast to try the powerful Notion AI today.

This week's stories:

Apple car crashes to a halt

• In a somewhat shocking development, Apple reportedly completely canceled all development on its self-driving car program on Tuesday. The company is shifting its emphasis to artificial intelligence, instead.
• Lewis Wallace: Killing the Apple car is depressing and sad
• The New York Times: Behind Apple's Doomed Car Project: False Starts and Wrong Turns
• D. Griffin Jones: Canceling the Apple car is a sensible move we should celebrate

MacRumors: Not-So-FineWoven iPhone Case 'Browning Like a Rotten Banana'

• Apple's $59 FineWoven cases for iPhone 15 took heavy flak when they were released last September for being subpar compared to the leather Apple cases they replaced. Now, The Wall Street Journal columnist Joanna Stern has distilled customers' ire by sharing her own experience with the case after five months of use.
• Poll by John Gruber

Apple Arcade's future: Kids win, but devs fear ‘smell of death'

• Apple Arcade now focuses so heavily on family-friendly titles from well-known franchises that some indie game developers feel abandoned, according to a new report.

How to set up the best Mac screensaver, Aerial

• Screensavers fell out of fashion a long time ago, but Apple's Aerial screensaver looks so beautiful, it just might make you reconsider. In fact, with its stunning visuals, it might just be the best Mac screensaver around.

Don't expect Vision Pro 2 or Vision Air before 2027

• Vision Pro may be Apple's only AR headset until 2027. The company has yet to start work on Vision Pro 2 or Vision Air, according to a trusted analyst.
• Vision Pro returns aren't as bad as we feared