The CultCast
This week: it’s our WWDC 2016 predictions! We’ll tell you what hardware and software to expect.  Plus: Apple makes huge changes to the prices you’ll pay for apps; this year’s Back to School specials are some of Apple’s best yet; and Steve Jobs... the opera?  Don’t miss more weird and wild stories from the Cult of Mac.
 
This episode supported by
 
Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster.  And I can vouch for this from experience, it also makes tax time a cinch.  Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and please enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section!
 
The critically acclaimed #1 New York Times Bestseller about the real Steve Jobs, is now available in paperback. BECOMING STEVE JOBS will be available June 7, 2016, for $18, wherever books are sold. For more information, visit becomingstevejobs.com.
 
Casper’s American-made mattresses have just the right amount of memory foam and latex, and people everywhere love them.  Learn why and get $50 towards any mattress at Casper.com/cultcast.
 
We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a thanks for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
@erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / david@cultofmac.com
 
Intro - Welcome to the App Store
 
Read all about it! Teen’s news app scores him a WWDC scholarship
 
5K Thunderbolt Display will be a no-show at WWDC
Buster
  • Apple will not be updating its old ass Thunderbolt display anytime soon, despite rumors that suggested the company was planning to unveil a new 5K Thunderbolt display with a built-in GPU at this year’s WWDC.
  • Apple’s WWDC 2016 keynote will focus mostly on software, according to a new report from 9to5Mac.
  • "WWDC this year will be a ‘software year’, indicating the show will be light on new hardware announcements in general.”
  • Another report from iMore confirms that the 5K monitor will be a no-show.
 
 
Apple is making huge changes to how much you’ll pay for apps
Buster
  • Starting next week Apple will roll out major changes to the App Store that will effect how, and how much you’ll pay, for your favorite apps.
  • Apple plans to open subscriptions to all apps. In the past, the iPhone-maker only allowed apps for news, cloud services, dating and streaming to offer a subscription that’s billed automatically through iTunes.
  • When developers are able to maintain a customer for more than 12 months, Apple will drop its take down to 15 percent, giving developers another small pay raise.
  • The internally-dubbed “Subscriptions 2.0” model isn’t expected to roll out until this Fall when the company also plans to unleash search ads for apps in App Store search results
 
Apple kicks off back to school promo with big savings on Beats
  • Apple has kicked off its latest back to school promotion.
  • Apple is giving away a set of Beats Solo2 headphones  ($300 with MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Pro purchases.
  • You can also get free Beats Powerbeats2 wireless headphones worth $200 when you buy an eligible iPad or iPhone.
  • Apple’s offer runs through September 5, and you can take advantage of it when purchasing from retail stores throughout the U.S. or from the Apple Online Store.
Direct download: CultCast_235_-_2Legit2Quit.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:04pm PDT

This week: Macbook Pro spy photos reveal some juicy new features, but some old favorites go bye-bye…  Plus: Apple may finally update its ancient Thunderbolt display; why moving iPhone to a three year update cycle would suck; and stay tuned for more weird and wacky super-fan stories from the Cult of Mac.  
 
This episode supported by
 
Build a beautiful, responsive website quick at Squarespace.com.  Enter offer codeCultCastat checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful.
 
TunnelBear, the simple privacy app that makes it easy to browse privately and enjoy a more open internet. Visit GetTunnelBear.com to get your free TunnelBear today.
 
We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a  thanks for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
@erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / david@cultofmac.com
 
Intro - Steve Jobs introduces Apple’s new gem, the G4 Cube
 
The British Fabio!
 
 
Apple may finally update its old ass Thunderbolt Display
  • It’s been over five years since Apple updated its standalone monitor
  • Thunderbolt Display stock is limited or unavailable at several Apple Stores in North America, Europe, Australia according to a new report
  • Dwindling supplies of Apple’s current Thunderbolt Display could indicate that the company plans to launch a gorgeous new monitor in the near future.
  • It appears that Thunderbolt Displays are still in ready supply in some major cities, so the changes in supply could also simply indicate that Apple is dealing with fluctuations in its inventory.
 
You better get used to waiting 3 years for big iPhone upgrades
  • According to one report, Apple is switching its big upgrades to a three-year cycle, which is why this year’s iPhone 7 will look just like its predecessors
  • This year, following last year’s iPhone 6s series, we should be getting another major refresh — but we know that’s not going to be the case. Leaks have revealed the iPhone 7 is almost identical to the iPhone 6s
  • a report from Japanese newspaper Nikkei warns we should get used to this three-year wait for big upgrades. Apple has reportedly decided to extent its cycle because of slowing market demand and due to “smartphone functions having little room left for major enhancements.”
 
Spy photos all but confirm 2016 MacBook Pro’s OLED touchpad
  • Leaked photos of what is claimed to be Apple’s next-generation MacBook Pro all but confirm it will ship with a new OLED touchpad above its keyboard.
  • The images sent to Cult of Mac also hint at four USB-C connectors.
  • Loss of SD card reader, Thunderbolt, HDMI out, and MagSafe?
  • Adopts the arrow keys of the new butterfly keyboard
  • No touch ID
Direct download: CultCast_234_-_Macbook_Pro_spy_photos.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:51pm PDT

This week: Macbook Pro about to get its biggest refresh ever!  Plus: Apple’s plans to rival Amazon’s Echo; Apple gets serious about iCar charging stations; more great stories from the Cult of Mac; the state of gaming in OS X, iOS, and tvOS; and we set aside our agendas to discuss YOUR topics in an all-new As You Wish.
 
This episode supported by
 
Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster.  And I can vouch for this from experience, it also makes tax time a cinch.  Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and please enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section!
 
TunnelBear, the simple privacy app that makes it easy to browse privately and enjoy a more open internet. Visit GetTunnelBear.com to get your free TunnelBear today.
 
We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a  thanks for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
Apple plans to make Amazon Echo rival by opening Siri
  • Apple is reportedly planning to make a rival to the Amazon Echo, but the in order to compete with the device’s incredible array of features and services, Apple plans to open up Siri to third-party apps.
  • According to The Information, Apple to open up Siri to apps made by others. And it is working on an Amazon Echo-like device with a speaker and microphone that people can use to turn on music, get news headlines or set a timer.
  • Opening up its Siri voice assistant to outside app developers is the more immediate step [to competing with Echo],” reports the Information. Apple is supposedly preparing to release a Siri SDK that could arrive at WWDC 2016 
 
MacBook Pro to get Touch ID in biggest ever refresh
  • Apple is set to give its MacBook Pro lineup their “most significant upgrade ever,” according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities.
  • New Macs will be thinner and lighter
  • Will also include Touch ID and an OLED display touch bar to replace physical function keys on the keyboard, Employ the same metal injection molded hinges and butterfly mechanism keyboard seen on the 12-inch MacBook.
 
Apple is already working on charging stations for iCar
  • Apple appears to be preparing the ground work for its charging infrastructure, according to a new report claiming the company is scooping up engineers that specialize in electric charing stations.
  • “Apple is investigating how to charge electric cars, talking to charging station companies and hiring engineers with expertise in the area,” reports Reuters
  • Apple has hired at least four charging specialists to help it create a competitive charger, including former BMW 
 
If you’ve broken your iPhone, Parry Gripp’s music will comfort you
 
Leander’s been testing out the Eero router and talked about the Luma too
Direct download: CultCast_233_-_Mr._Meme.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:50pm PDT

This week: Apple makes a curious investment in China’s version of Uber; iPhones that charge wirelessly in your pocket; Siri is coming to a Mac near you; more weird and wacky stories from the Cult of Mac; and we tell you what we like (and what we don’t) about the gadgets we’re currently testing in an all-new Under Review.
 
This episode supported by
 
Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster.  And I can vouch for this from experience, it also makes tax time a cinch.  Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and please enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section!
 
TunnelBear, the simple privacy app that makes it easy to browse privately and enjoy a more open internet. Visit GetTunnelBear.com to get your free TunnelBear today.
 
We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a  thanks for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
Intro: Your future computer, The Knowledge Navigator
 
Apple invests $1 billion in Chinese Uber rival
  • Apple has invested $1 billion in Chinese Uber rival Didi Chuxing
  • Tim Cook says the deal “reflects our excitement about their growing business … and also our continued confidence in the long term in China’s economy.”
  • Cook told Reuters: “We are making the investment for a number of strategic reasons, including a chance to learn more about certain segments of the China market,” 
  • Jack Kent of tech analytical firm IHS Technology said partnering with Chinese companies is a common way for international companies to get into the massive Asian market.
 
  • In the last four months Apple has hired two former uBeam engineers with expertise in wireless charging and ultrasonic technology
  • The Verge did some investigating, and discovered that in fact the in the last two years Apple has hired more than a dozen staffers with expertise in wireless charging.
  • Earlier this year Bloomberg reported that Apple was hoping to add wireless charging to the new iPhone it releases in 2017.
  • According to Bloomberg's sources, Apple wants to implement a much more advanced technology that would allow you to walk around a room and have your phone charging the entire time.
  • Is the smart dock a stop gap?
 
Siri for Mac icons leak ahead of WWDC
  • Apple’s digital assistant Siri is expected to finally arrive on Macs later this year with the next OS X update
  • Cool icon in dock, plus accessible via the menu bar and Hey Siri option
 
Buster’s reviewing the Garmin Phoenix 3
 
Leander’s been listening to the Moshi Avanti on-ear headphones
 
Erfon’s lighting his house with the illumi smart bulbs
 
 
The three Apples that changed the world, featuring Jimmy Page and Fiona Apple
Direct download: CultCast_232_-_Techno-Utopian_Baloney.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:02pm PDT

This week: Apple aims to end music downloads; you can now live stream your aerial drone flights to iDevices worldwide;  staggering facts about who’s making money in the app store; creators of Siri demo an even smarter AI; the ridiculous resale value of old Apple tech; and we reveal our Lust List of the gadgets we currently coveting.
 
This episode supported by
 
Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster.  And I can vouch for this from experience, it also makes tax time a cinch.  Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and please enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section!
 
TunnelBear, the simple privacy app that makes it easy to browse privately and enjoy a more open internet. Visit GetTunnelBear.com to get your free TunnelBear today.
 
We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a  thanks for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
@erfon @lkahney / “At” David Pierini
 
Intro - Introducing, iPod
 
All the maidens shall be mine!
 
  • 1903: Wright Brothers. 1907: Model T
  • Now you can stream live from your drone when you take to the skies with Periscope, Twitter’s service that lets you broadcast live video, provided you have the app on iOS and a DJI drone.
  • You’ll be able to narrate the broadcast from your iPhone, and even Sketch right on the broadcast itself to annotate your flight.
 
Apple Aiming to End iTunes Music Downloads in Two Years [Update: Apple Says 'Not True']
  • Citing sources with "close and active business relationships" with Apple, Digital Music News says Apple allegedly has an aggressive plan to "terminate" music downloads from iTunes within two years
  • their sources say, "keeping [iTunes music downloads] running forever isn't really on the table anymore." 
  • Apple rep Tom Neumayr contacted Recode and said the report that Apple would stop iTunes music downloads in two years is "not true."
  • Apple's iTunes business continues to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars each year, but it is on the decline due to the rise of streaming music services
 
94% of App Store revenue goes to just 1% of publishers
  • 94 percent of App Store revenue generated in the U.S. went to just the top 1 percent of app publishers, according to SensorTower
  • SensorTower found that around $1.34 billion of the estimated $1.43 billion in net revenue generated went to just 623 publishers.
  • That means the other 61,677 publishers had to share the remaining 6 percent of the revenue, which was approximately approximately $85.8 million. If it was divided equally, they’d have made less than $1,400 each.
 
Siri’s sequel beats the heck out of Apple’s AI assistant
 
The value of old iPods could be music to your ears
 
Direct download: CultCast_231_-_Age_of_wonder.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:16pm PDT

This week: why the iPhone 7s could have features you’ve never dreamed of"; Apple’s woes in China cause their stock to plummet; the community of fans keeping Apple’s history alive; our favorite Apple Watch faces; embarrassing stories of dates gone wrong; and Kool and the Gang steals our girlfriend!
 
This episode supported by
 
Build a beautiful, responsive website quick at Squarespace.com.  Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful.
 
Casper’s American-made mattresses have just the right amount of memory foam and latex, and people everywhere love them.  Learn why and get $50 towards any mattress at Casper.com/cultcast.
 
We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a  thanks for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
Submit your CultCast intro, win some CultCloth!
 
Intro - What is Newton?
 
The Light Camera is a slim cam with 16 sensors (16!)
 
Kool and the Gang will steal your girlfriend
 
Tim Cook promises iPhone features you’ve never dreamed of
  • Apple CEO appeared Monday on Mad Money in an effort to abate the company’s bleeding stock price
  • Future iPhones are going to be so amazing, you probably haven’t even thought of the features Apple is going to add, Tim Cook claimed in a recent interview.
  • Next year is the iPhone’s 10th anniversary
 
Apple stock suffers longest loss streak in 18 years
Buster
  • Apple’s meager Q2 2016 earnings report is continuing to wreak havoc on the company’s stock price, leading to the longest streak of losses since 1998.
 
Apple could get shut out of China
  • China has already become the second largest market for Apple in terms of sales, but the iPhone-maker could find itself banned from the country just like Facebook due to its privacy strategy that has already come under fire from government regulators.
  • iTunes and Apple Music launched in China 6 months ago, but the government decided to force Apple to shutdown the iBook Store and iTunes Movies last week after the government changed its mind.
 
Apple Forced to Share 'iPhone' Trademark in China With Leather Accessory Maker
  • Apple no longer has the exclusive rights to the "iPhone" trademark in China after the Beijing Municipal High People’s Court ruled in favor of leather goods manufacturer Xintong Tiandi Technology, who sells an “iPhone Case"
  • Apple filed for a trademark of the iPhone name in China back in 2002, specifically centering around computer software and hardware, but Xintong Tiandi didn't do the same for leather goods until 2007
  • Apple took them to Chinese court, but lost.
 
Mega-investor Carl Icahn gives up on AAPL
  • Apple’s biggest cheerleader on Wall Street, Carl Icahn, is getting rid of all of his AAPL shares after the iPhone-maker reported its first year-over-year decline in revenues for the first time in 13 years.
  • Investors’ fears of troubles in China aren’t unfounded. Growth in greater China dropped 26% last quarter. The country also recenty banned iTunes Movies and the iBookstore
 
Direct download: CultCast_230_-_The_MacGyver_Factor.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:13am PDT

This week: Apples 13-year record revenue streak is broken;  our best picture yet of iPhone 7 features; rumors point to a faster, untethered Apple Watch 2; Apple has a huge increase in R&D spending, but where’s the money going?  And stick around for more stories from the Cult of Mac.  This week: a 15-year-old mows lawns, then uses the money to build one of the world’s best Apple collections.
 
This episode supported by
 
Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster.  And I can vouch for this from experience, it also makes tax time a cinch.  Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and please enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section!
 
TunnelBear, the simple privacy app that makes it easy to browse privately and enjoy a more open internet. Visit GetTunnelBear.com to get your free TunnelBear today.
 
We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a  thanks for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
Submit your CultCast intro, win some CultCloth!
 
Intro - Hamilton Morris loves his iPod 
 
8 optimistic takeaways from Apple’s slumptastic earnings call
  • R&D spending at Apple increased by $1.1 billion dollars compared to the same six month period last year, according to a new SEC filing
  • The tech giant is fighting itself here, being forced to compare this year’s numbers to the killer iPhone 6 sales that drove 2015’s overwhelming revenue
  • Apple’s tablets are doing fine, really, selling 10.3 million units this quarter. But in general, tablets are stinking up the place.
  • Apple surprised by SE demand and can’t keep up
 
Apple Watch made $1.5 billion more than Rolex last year
  • The Apple Watch, which celebrated its first birthday this week, is just such a product. How much of an impact did the Apple Watch make in its debut year? Enough to bring in $1.5 billion more than Rolex did in 2015.
  • While Apple has yet to make its Watch sales public knowledge, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, the debut Apple wearable likely brought in around $6 billion in its first year. That’s considerably more than Rolex’s $4.5 billion in total revenue for the equivalent time frame.
  • Apple Watch also outsold the iPhone in both products’ respective first years by a margin of 2-to-1.
 
Apple Watch 2 Rumored to Include Cellular Connectivity Amid Push for iPhone Independency
  • The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is working on including cellular network connectivity and a faster processor in the so-called Apple Watch 2.
  • LTE would undoubtedly require an additional data plan, on top of one they might already have for both the iPhone and iPad, benefits like using GPS, making phone calls, and streaming Apple Music without an iPhone nearby could outweigh the cons for some users. 
 
iPhone 7 may make bigger splash than expected
  • Apple will supposedly make its next iPhone both waterproof and dustproof
  • Digitimes claims the device will also have a new touch-sensitive home button that sits flush with the rest of the screen
  • Other features Apple is rumored to be adding include a new Smart Connecter, dual lens camera, bigger battery, wireless charging, no headphone jack, and a cleaner rear shell design with minimal antenna lines.
  • Design will be pretty much the same as the 6 and 6s.
 
Direct download: CultCast_229_-_Alex_s_Apple_Orchard.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:05pm PDT

This week: why the new iPad Pro screen is “practically perfect”; stories from the "Cult of Mac"; our most anticipated WWDC 2016 announcements; a look at Apple’s newly updated MacBooks; Apple’s secret plan to create hit TV shows; and have you ever wondered how rich you’d be if you invested in Apple’s IPO instead of buying their computers?  We break down the numbers.
 
This episode supported by
 
Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster.  And I can vouch for this from experience, it also makes tax time a cinch.  Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and please enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section!
 
TunnelBear, the simple privacy app that makes it easy to browse privately and enjoy a more open internet. Visit GetTunnelBear.com to get your free TunnelBear today.
 
We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a  thanks for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
 
Apple unleashes improved MacBooks, now in rose gold
 
Apple is secretly planning to take over Hollywood 
 
What a $1,000 investment in Apple in 1996 looks like today
 
What are you most excited to see Apple unveil at WWDC 2016?
 
Greg Packer, professional Apple line squatter
Direct download: CultCast_228_-_Little_red_corvette_y_aaaall.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:17am PDT

This week: how Steve Jobs and the industrial design team saved Apple.  Plus: the reason Jony Ive now has a chauffeur; one year with the Apple Watch; and we reveal the strange cultural phenomenon we’ve been secretly loving in an all-new What We’re Into.
 
Join our new Reddit community to discuss current episodes and submit and vote on story topics for future episodes! http://reddit.com/r/TheCultCast
 
This episode supported by
 
Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster.  And I can vouch for this from experience, it also makes tax time a cinch.  Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and please enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section!
 
Let’s face it, CultCloth isn’t for everyone.  But if you’re obsessive about keeping your iPhone, iPad, Mac, DSLR, glasses, and other gadgets in sparkling clean condition, you’ll love ‘em.  Check them out now at CultCloth.co, and use code “CultCast” at checkout to score a free 8x8 CleanCloth!
 
We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a  thanks for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
Intro - Steve Jobs intros the iMac DV
 
Is this the Apple Car????
 
Why the departure of Apple designer Daniel Coster matters
 
A year after its launch, it’s now clear that pretty much no one needs an Apple Watch
 
Apple Watch shipments predicted to fall 25 percent this year
 
Direct download: CultCast_227_-_Viking_steel.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:53pm PDT

This week: we look into the past at some of the most pivotal moments in Apple’s 40-year history.  Plus: why the iPhone 7 Plus may be your only choice for dual cameras; what it’s like downsizing from the iPhone 6s to the SE; and we pitch our favorite new tech and vote on which is best in an all-new Faves N Raves!
 
Join our new Reddit community to discuss current episodes and submit and vote on story topics for future episodes! http://reddit.com/r/TheCultCast
 
This episode supported by
 
Build a beautiful, responsive website quick at Squarespace.com.  Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful.
 
Casper’s American-made mattresses have just the right amount of memory foam and latex, and people everywhere love them.  Learn why and get $50 towards any mattress at Casper.com/cultcast.
 
We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a  thanks for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
Apple might finally let you delete unwanted iOS apps
 
Dual Camera Said to Be Exclusive to 5.5-Inch iPhone 7
 
iPhone SE proves size doesn’t matter [Reviews]
 
40 moments that have defined Apple over 40 years
 
Our Fave N Rave Picks
Erfon
 
Leander
 
Buster
 
 
Direct download: CultCast_226_-_4_Inches_of_Magic.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:56pm PDT