Ho Ho Ho, it's Christmas CultCast time!  This episode: a new deal in China hands Apple 770 million potential new customers; we cover some of the wackiest rumors of 2013; the Mac Pro delivers surprising results in performance tests; some of the best apps just went on sale; and we recall some of the best and worst gifts we've given or received!

Thanks to Lynda.com for sponsoring this episode!   With over 2,000 high quality video courses taught by industry-leading experts, Lynda.com will help you master virtually any application, all on your own time and at your own pace.  Learn all you want for free for 7 days with a free trial.  Try it now at Lynda.com/CultCast.  

This time: Apple has a new Christmas commericial, and some are hailing it as their best ad yet.  Mac Pro, Apple's most powerful computer ever, just went on sale, but can you stomach the price?  Beyonce's iTunes-only album release breaks all the records, proves we are indeed not ready for her jelly.  An alarming new study shows pervs can use your Mac camera to peep your naked bod.  Plus we choose on our favorite Christmas movies!

Thanks to DigiDNA and MacUpdate for sponsoring this episode.  Need an easy way to transfer movies, music, and data on an off your iDevice?  You need DiskAid.  Grab it at http://DigiDNA.net.

Plus check out Macupdate’s new holiday app bundle!  Get $400 worth great apps for only $40.  Peep the apps at https://deals.macupdate.com.

This week on the CultCast—its layout, its machinery, and the creative people and processes that build the amazing products we love—we go behind the veil of Apple’s insanely secretive design studio.

Plus, how to get great paid apps for free (it’s legal, promise!), and could an Apple/Microsoft merger be in our future?  One analyst thinks so…

Thanks to Lynda.com for sponsoring this episode!   With over 2,000 high quality video courses taught by industry-leading experts, Lynda.com will help you master virtually any application, all on your own time and at your own pace.  Learn all you want for free for 7 days with a free trial.  Try it now at Lynda.com/CultCast. 

Pro television editor and motion graphics artist Mike Gaines joins to tell us the Pros and Cons of Apple's new cylindrical beauty, the Mac Pro.  Plus, Darth Vader has an iPhone 4; your face might soon be your password; Apple patents wireless charging for your Mac and iDevices; and we pitch our favorite new apps on an all-new Faves 'N Raves app edition!

Thanks to Squarespace for making this episode possible.   Treat yourself to a brand new website with the help of Squarespace - a drag-and-drop, do-it-yourself site builder with everything you need to create an exceptional website. Head to http://Squarespace.com/cultcast to start a free trial. Use the offer code “cultcast12” when you decide to purchase, and you’ll receive a 10% discount off your order.

It’s our T-Day edition CultCast!  This time: Jony Ive’s golden touch makes millions for charity; Apple teases underwhelming Black Friday deals; how Apple’s blacklist keeps bad press at bay; the new money in old macs; and we pitch our favorite Thanksgiving Day foods on our holiday edition Faves ’N Raves!

And thanks to Lynda.com for sponsoring this episode!   With over 2,000 high quality video courses taught by industry-leading experts, Lynda.com will help you master virtually any application, all on your own time and at your own pace.  Learn all you want for free for 7 days with a free trial.  Try it now at Lynda.com/CultCast.

Apple and a 12.9-inch iPad; the first iOS 7 game controller is long overdue; Retina iPad Minis are *almost* perfect; strategies to backup all those iPhone photos you take; and Adam Christianson from the Maccast podcast joins us on this time on The CultCast!

Thanks to Squarespace for sponsoring this episode!  

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We made it guys!  Join us as we celebrate our 100th episode on this week’s CultCast.  We'll remember some of our favorite moments from CultCast's past, tell you how you can win a free signed copy of Leander Kahney’s new Jony Ive book,  plus, we also talk the new iPad mini Retina; killer Black Friday iPad deals; why dropping your unlimited data plan might be better for you; new iPhone 6’s with way bigger screens; and lots more!

Thanks to our sponsor, Reflector, the app that let’s you Airplay mirror your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch screen to any Mac or PC.  Demonstrate an iOS app on you’re working on, stream music to your Macbook's speakers—Reflector puts what you see on your iOS device onto the big screen of any Mac or PC. Try it free at www.airsquirrels.com, or unlock all its features and save 25% off with the code CULTCAST25.

Jony Ive, the private man who some say built Apple—with his new book hitting stores Nov. 14th, Leander Kahney reveals more inside information about the design icon, and how he and his teams create the world-renowned products we all use every day.  Plus, J.D. Power says, for the first time ever, Samsung tabs are better than iPads… we’ll debunk.

PSA: Don’t miss our live video episode for CultCast #100.  Head to live.thecultcast.com Wednesday the 13th at 3pm Pacific time to watch our 100th episode live!

Get your silver bullets and holy water dear friends, because our new CountCast is not for the fainthearted!

This time… some new Dell laptops omit a mysteriously pungent smell; iPad Air gets benchmarked, is murderously speedy; our fave photo app brings darkness… out of the shadows; Apple says some 5S batteries will die… faster than they should; Tim Cook says upcoming Apple products will blow… your mind;  and we chant... aloud our favorite apps so you can vote on which is best… it’s an all new Faves N Graves!

The big Apple event might be over, but there are still plenty of great Apple stories to chat over! On this CultCast: the iPhone stops giving motion sickness to the pukers; some of your favorite Apple apps just got big redesigns; the new Macbook Pro runs a tad slower than we'd hoped; and more!

Just us for second CultCast this week, and don't miss episode 96 for our MEGAsode coverage on all that was announced at Apple's big Oct. 22nd event.