• FTC is  going after AT&T for throttling customer’s data speeds, by filing an official complaint that the company has lowered speeds on LTE up to 95% on unlimited data plans.
• FTC also alleges that AT&T engaged in unfair or deceptive acts and practices that affected commerce. And they’ve got the numbers to back up their lawsuit, with claims that AT&T illegally capped users’ data speeds at 128 Kbps
• AT&T’s response
• • “The FTC’s allegations are baseless and have nothing to do with the substance of our network management program. It’s baffling as to why the FTC would choose to take this action against a company that, like all major wireless providers, manages its network resources to provide the best possible service to all customers, and does it in a way that is fully transparent and consistent with the law and our contracts.”

This week: the iPad Air 2 reviews are in, and not everyone’s in love; Cult of Mac spends a day with Apple Pay; Yosemite and iOS 8.1 Continuity blows. our. minds; a potential cure for the painful #6PlusPinch; some welcome changes rumored for Beats Music; and we wrap with our favorite movie trilogies of all time in an all-new Get To Know Your Cultist.

Thanks to Lynda.com for sponsoring this episode!  Lynda now has over 3000 high quality video courses taught by instructors who are experts in their filed. Lynda.com will help you master virtually any application, whether you’re a beginner, novice or, pro, all on your own time and at your own pace.  Learn all you want for free for 7 day with a free trial.  Try it now at Lynda.com/CultCast 

And Smile Software. TextExpander touch 3 for iOS saves you time and effort by expanding your short abbreviations into full blocks of texts, code and more. Plus now includes a custom keyboard so you can use your abbreviations in any iOS app, including Mail and iMessage. See it in action at smilesoftware.com/cultcast

We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com  a huge thanks for all the great music you hear on today's show. 

Links to this week's stories

Early reviews of latest iPads praise new hardware, but wish for more 

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/300493/ipad-air-2-ipad-mini-3-review-roundup/#6pJpRhGHdP6q3Lhi.99

• Malt Wossberg "They are, in most respects, the best iPads ever made. But for average users, they represent only a modest evolutionary improvement over last year’s models, not the kind of big change that the first iPad Air or the Retina display iPad mini did last year.”
• The Verge called the iPad Air 2 “a monumental achievement in the field of iterative improvement,” 

Cult of Mac’s day with Apple Pay
Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/300229/cult-macs-day-apple-pay/#rsLHeQbEOR3TDLzL.99

• Leander will be shopping around San Francisco. Alex is testing Apple Pay in the backwoods of Kentucky. Buster sputterered around Phoenix in search of a burrito shop with Apple Pay

Everything you can buy with Apple Pay starting today - buster
Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/300227/thing-can-buy-apple-pay-starting-today/#a7GRq10844WDRRFe.99

Continuity features we love

• Sms relay
• Call relay
• Hotspot
• iCloud Photo Library

New iOS 8.1 features you need to know
Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/300128/new-goodies-youre-getting-ios-8-1-today/#96Ar48bKpjTH5YfI.99

This store will enlarge your pockets to fit your new iPhone 6
Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/300208/store-will-enlarge-pockets-fit-new-iphone-6/#FeQi21lFPLLXYmyi.99

Apple and GT Advanced Technologies amicably part ways
Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/300481/apple-gt-advanced-technologies-amicably-part-ways/#PlKmvR6sp1hR6wrZ.99

• GT Advanced Technologies and Apple have reached an agreement that will see the two companies amicably parting ways,
• GTAT filed for bankruptcy and that it would work to preserve the sapphire plant in Arizona and the jobs it created, but lawyers for GTAT say the deal allows it to wind down operations at the plant and pay incentives to employees

Apple aiming for $5 Beats Music streaming subscriptions - luke
Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/300223/apple-aiming-5-beats-music-streaming-subscriptions/#2AUmM0ZTzLIw5kQQ.99

• Having helped pioneer the concept of the $0.99 music track on iTunes, Apple is now trying to bring down the price of streaming music.
• According to a new report published by Re/code, Apple is pushing music labels for extensive price cuts that would bring the cost of a Beats Music subscription from its current $10 price point all the way down to $5.

Learn our favorite movie trilogies of all time in our new Get To Know Your Cultist! 

Fresh off the Apple event, our impressions of iPad Air 2, the iPad Mini 3, the big beautiful iMac with 5K display, and the updated Mac Mini.  Plus, our favorite Continuity features of Yosemite and iOS 8.1; and HBO makes a move to offer all us cable cutters the a la cart TV we’ve always wanted.

Boom.  CultCast 149. Now ready for your listening pleasures.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode.  Squarespace 7 is now live, and it’s the biggest update in years.   Now building a beautiful website is easier than ever.  See it in action and grab a free trial at Squarespace.com and use code “CultCast” at checkout for 10% off any order.

And thanks to Sworl!  With the free Sworl iOS App you can print, frame and deliver beautifully wrapped photos, quickly and easily, all from your iPhone in less than 3 minutes!  They’re great, easy gifts, too.  Download the app from the App Store or learn more at GetSworl.com, and save 20% off your first order with code “CultCast” at checkout.

We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a huge thanks for all the great music you hear in today's show.

It’s official, friends: on October 16th, Apple will hold yet another hardware event, so ready your wallets, cause another round of gadgets is headed our way…  we’ll run through our list of iPad and Mac expectations.  Plus, ever wonder what it’s like to have a brand new iPhone 6 Plus stolen right out of your hands?  Well we can tell you first hand, and we want your help to catch the crooks.  All that and this week’s best Apple stories on our newest CultCast!

Thanks to Lynda.com for sponsoring this episode!  With almost 2997 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

And Smile Software!  TextExpander Touch from Smile let’s you expand short abbreviations you type on your iOS device into full blocks of text, code, pictures, and more.  Plus now it will work in any iOS app and it syncs perfectly with the snippets you create on TextExpander for Mac.  Visit smile software.com/cultcast and see it in action. 

This week's stories

It’s been way too long: Apple sends invites to October 16th event

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/299089/way-long-apple-sends-invites-october-16th-event/#KLwPAbL5q2LDCe0G.99


iPad Air 2 dummy unit reveals upcoming design changes 

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/299082/ipad-air-2-dummy-unit-show-apple/#6YtuBbKX72jfFwzw.99

Full iPad Air 2 details allegedly leak ahead of big reveal 

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/298866/full-ipad-air-2-details-leak-ahead-next-

Crazy rumor claims Apple’s 12-inch iPad will run iOS and OS X 

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/298932/crazy-rumor-claims-apples-12-inch-ipad-will-run-ios-os-x/#XpIspl2hJr4z81yb.99


iPhone 6 Plus proving more popular than even Apple expected

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/298927/iphone-6-plus-proving-popular-even-apple-expected/#J5xG4VBcTjxOBcmw.99


Visiting the cemetery where Steve Jobs was laid to rest

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/298782/visiting-steve-jobs-last-resting-place/#2h9Gq7G63CxqcXbv.99

iPhone prototype seller can’t wait for Apple to squash $100K eBay auction 

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/298887/seller-100000-iphone-prototype-looking-forward-apple-canceling-auction/#hVKVMMSt7jgTjEjr.99

This week: it’s no coincidence—your love for Apple and their pretty gadgets was Steve Jobs' master plan... Then, Bendgate might seem overblown, but where there’s smoke there’s fire; we love our iPhone 6 Pluses, but dear lord, they’re huge…  And finally, Jony Ive gains a counterpart in Apple's newest Industrial Designer.

Our thanks to Backblaze for supporting this episode!  Backblaze online backup is: $5 a month. Mac Native. Unlmited. Unthrottled. Uncomplicated. And setup takes a minute.  Try it free for two weeks at backblaze.com/cultcast

And Varidesk!  Get healthier by standing more during your workday with one of Varidesk's afforable standing desks. Check them out at Varidesk.com and enter CultCast in the "how did you hear about us" section.  

Bendgate! Some say it’s Antennagate 2.0, but is there a legitimate issue happening here? We’ll tell you what we think about these “bent” iPhones… Then, we’ve used it for a whole week—catch our updated impressions of iPhone 6. Plus, why you should hold off on installing iOS 8.0.1, and what you can do if you already have. And finally, it’s not just the big screen, there might be another reason the iPhone 6 has been impossible to buy. We’ll tell you our stories from launch day…

Thanks to Lynda.com for sponsoring this episode!  With almost 3000 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


And to Smile Software!  Did you know that, with PDF Pen Scan+ and your iPhone or iPad, you can easily scan your paper documents into single or multi-page PDFs?  You can OCR them as well so they’re fully searchable when you need to hunt them down. See it in action at Smilesoftware.com/cultcast.

Get bent: The shocking history of bent smartphones

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/297404/get-bent-shocking-history-bent-smartphones/#meDRYmDMUlBTZRd6.99

Insane stories of launch day

iPhone 6 in final approval stage ahead of China launch

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/297322/iphone-6-final-review-stages-ahead-china-launch/#zZ47kGckfiQhG27u.99


iPhone 6s being sold for insane amounts of money in China
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/09/22/iphone-6s-being-sold-for-insane-amounts-of-money-in-china/

Casey Neistat’s NYC iPhone line video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef_BznBwktw

Leander’s review of the iPhone 6
Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/297034/review-iphone-6/#RSoyXoTeRuuzASFx.99

Buster’s review of the iPhone 6+ (discussion)

iPhone 6 Plus has best LCD display you can hold in your palm - busterRead more at http://www.cultofmac.com/297186/iphone-6-plus-best-lcd-display-can-hold-palm/#RU6tYk5QOBeq5KiV.99


This killer trick will charge your iPhone 6 in half the timeRead more at http://www.cultofmac.com/297300/killer-trick-will-charge-iphone-6-half-time/#tJhXMzxHHd6iUhjT.99

Applecare Plus, Squaretrade, or no insurance? (discussion)

The reviews are in! We’ll tell you what people love and don’t about the iPhone 6...  Then, RIP, iPod Classic.  We remember the humble beginnings of the device that built the new Apple.  And finally, Apple announced a base price of $349 for the Apple Watch, sure, but the prices for the other editions might make even Rolex envious.  All that plus the lesser known features of iOS 8; how to get U2 out of your iTunes; and a new social video app has us taking more selfies than ever.

Thanks to Squarespace for supporting  this episode!  Need a beautiful website that’ll look good on any device that visits?  Try Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website, portfolio, and online store. For a free trial and 10% off, visit Squarespace.com and enter offer code “CultCast" at checkout.  

Free with space on your Mac with Clean My Mac 2 by Macpaw! http://macpaw.com/cultcast

And get up off your butt, stand during your workday with one of Varidesk's afforable standing desks! Check them out at Varidesk.com and enter CultCast in the "how did you hear about us" section.

Apple launches site to help you remove U2’s free album forever

http://www.cultofmac.com/295975/apple-launches-site-help-people-remove-u2s-shitty-free-album/#U2z0xVlLHli6WyP7.99 

A sad day for the people of 4Chan - Apple’s two-factor authentication now protects iCloud backups

http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/09/apples-two-factor-authentication-now-protects-icloud-backups/ 

Apple confirms iPhone 6 NFC chip is only for Apple Pay at launch

http://www.cultofmac.com/296093/apple-confirms-iphone-6-nfc-apple-pay/#xoYOeFJkifiIY8T5.99 

Apple will make 15 cents for every $100 spent on Apple Pay

http://www.cultofmac.com/296086/apple-will-make-15-cents-every-100-spent-apple-pay/#sfu9GDJdpOOZtSGi.99 

An illustrated history of the iPod and its massive impact

http://www.cultofmac.com/124565/an-illustrated-history-of-the-ipod-and-its-massive-impact-ipod-10th-anniversary/#GZ5TRFJhQwUSRFVX.99 

Gruber takes a stab at future  Watch Pricing

http://daringfireball.net/2014/09/apple_watch?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews 

Decision time:  Which iPhone 6 is right for you?  We’ll walk you though the features of both new iPhones and help you make that very decision in time for the pre-order.  

Plus, will Apple Pay be replacing our wallets?  We’ll tell you our thoughts and musings.  And of course, the Apple Watch—we’ll review it’s features and tell you our impressions.

And finally… he did it, guys. Tim Cook brought back one. more. thing.  Some of us are thrilled.  Some of us aren’t.   

Thanks to Lynda.com for sponsoring this episode!  With over 2,800 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 

And thanks to Smile Software!  Use your iPhone or iPad to digitize and create searchable PDFs from all the documents and paper bits in your life with PDFPen Scan+.  See it in action at smilesoftware.com/cultcast

This week: The Fappening!   How did so many high-profile celebrity nudies leak for all to see, and is an iCloud flaw responsible for the debacle? We’ll tell you what happened, how it happened, and how you can keep your nude selfies safe from prying eyes.  Plus, our predictions for Apple’s September 9th media event—we dust off crystal balls and reveal our predictions of the iPhone and iWatch models and specs  we expect to be unveiled on the big day.  

Thanks to Squarespace for support this episode!  Need a beautiful website that’ll look good on any device that visits?  Try Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website, portfolio, and online store. For a free trial and 10% off, visit Squarespace.com and enter offer code “CultCast" at checkout.  

And Automatic!  Plug Automatic into your car's data port, and with their beatiful app, you'll be able to find your parked car, learn how to save fuel with tips based on your actual driving, and even diagnose and turn off your car's check engine light.  See it out in action and save 20% off your new Automatic now at automatic.com/cultcast

This week: Mark your calendars for Sept. 9th, friends, cause iWatch is nigh!  Plus, an insanely accurate iPhone 6 leak hits Youtube; the apps we use to send our friends and family money; why everyone’s buzzing about Hyperlapse; rumors of a 12.9-inch iPad resurface; we discuss some listener feedback; and privileged apps that live in our menu bars.

Looking for the iPhone 6 leak video?  —> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34T80iLYojk

Thanks for Smile Software for supporting this episode!  Sign a contract, fix a typo, correct a price list, or fill out a form while you're on the go—PDFpen for iPad lets you edit PDFs anywhere you are, and supports popular Bluetooth styluses.  Find out more at www.smilesoftware.com/cultcast 

We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a huge thanks for the great music you hear in today's show. 

Link to this week's stories

iWatch will debut alongside iPhone 6 on September 9th

http://www.cultofmac.com/292911/apple-reveal-iwatch-alongside-iphone-6-september-event/#tfDMcHqtvBBkVp4R.99

Juiciest iPhone 6 leak ever
http://www.cultofmac.com/292800/funniest-iphone-6-leak-weve-ever-seen/


Cash is but a text away with Square Cash 2.0 http://www.cultofmac.com/292783/square-cash-update-lets-send-friends-money-via-text/#2JVZq21pYiK4ecXU.99

Speed is the only filter in Instagram’s new Hyperlapse app - buster/erfon http://www.cultofmac.com/292710/instagrams-new-app-like-15000-rig-iphone-camera/#MDljSK7pdE4IZ2rA.99


Apple’s supersized 12.9-inch iPad to land in early 2015 http://www.cultofmac.com/292758/apples-supersized-12-9-inch-ipad-land-early-2015/#Ek0E7dR8SwFR3cZY.99

Tim Cook’s 3-year report card at Apple: B - leander Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/292474/tim-cooks-three-year-report-card-b/#D6VxllGcBsZQiYcj.99

We read listener feedback (discussion)

Contribute yours at www.thecultcast.com/feedback

Which apps live in your menu bars?  We'll tell you ours (discussion)

This week: Steve Ballmer finally lands the perfect job; NFC and your iPhone make credit cards obsolete; iPhone 6 gets even faster data access;  new photos gives us our best look yet at a 4.7-inch iPhone 6; an Apple ad so good it wins an Emmy; APPL stock hits an all-time high; and, behold, Podcasting turns 10!  Oh, and it’s growing like crazy, too.

All that and more on this week’s CultCast. 

And be sure to check our new CultCast website for all the show notes and links to the products and apps we mention on the show! —> http://www.thecultcast.com <--- 

Thanks to Lynda.com for sponsoring this episode!  With over 2,800 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

And Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website, portfolio, and online store. For a free trial and 10% off, visit Squarespace.com and enter offer code “CultCast" at checkout. 

We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a huge thanks for all the great music you hear in today's show. 

This week: Robin Williams.  We remember the incredible passion, talent, comedy and heartbreak of one life’s great artists.  Then, stay tuned for this week’s best iPhone 6 and iPad rumors; Oculus Rift coming to OS X; the good, bad, and ugly of iTunes Family sharing; and we pitch our favorite tech and apps in an all-new Faves N’Raves.  
Join us and Youtube gadget-reviewer extroidinaire, Lewis Hilsenteger (aka UnboxTherapy), for this very fun and heart-filled CultCast. 

Our thanks to Smile Software for supporting this episode!  If you haven't tried TextExpander from Smile software, you’re missing out on one of the most useful apps available for the Mac and iOS. 

TextExpander saves you time and effort by expanding short abbreviations into frequently-used text,  pictures, code blocks, and more, and it's an application we use every single day.  Try it out for free at http://smilesoftware.com/cultcast

And Automatic!  Plug Automatic into your car's data port, and paired with their beautiful app, you'll be able to find your parked car, learn how to save fuel with tips based on your actual driving, and even diagnose and turn off your car's check engine light.  See it out in action and save 20% off your new Automatic now at Automatic.com/cultcast.

This week: iThieves, beware!  Find My iPhone is now a tool of vigilante justice; iPhone 6’s release date gets leaked; we reveal our favorite must-have apps for Mac and iOS; why the next iPhone could ship with 32GB standard; and we wrap’er up with all-new Get To Know Your Cultist: movie edition!

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

And Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website, portfolio, and online store. For a free trial and 10% off, visit Squarespace.com and enter offer code “CultCast" at checkout. A better web starts with your website.

This week: with over 300,000 followers, we welcome back professional (and paid!) Instagram’er Cory @WithHearts Staudacher to share his iPhone photo editing tips and reveal which camera apps he relies on daily.  Plus, why our cities deserve municipal internet; unlocking your iPhone gets legal… again; great changes on the horizon for Apple's Podcasts app; and our musings on the freshly-updated 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pros.

Cheerio, guvs!

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode!  Ahh, Squarespace, future home of Buster's Beard Kits, it's the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website, portfolio, and online store. For a free trial and 10% off, visit Squarespace.com and enter offer code “CultCast" at checkout. A better web starts with your website. 

And we couldn't forget a big thanks to TextExpander. If you haven't tried TextExpander from Smile software, you’re missing out on one of the most useful apps available for the Mac and iOS. 

TextExpander saves you time and effort by expanding short abbreviations into frequently-used text,  pictures, code blocks, and more, and it's an application we use every single day.  Try it out for free at http://smilesoftware.com/cultcast

This week: William Shatner is the coolest grandpa ever; to take on Apple, Microsoft doubles down on design; Apple inches closer to a digital wallet; why the Apple on your iPhone 6 could glow; iBeacons are a marketer’s best friend; and then… if you could ride any animal into battle, what would it be?  We’ll answer that question and more on an all-new Get To Know Your Cultist. 

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 

And a big thanks to Kevin MacLeod for all the great music you hear on this week's episode.

Links to todays stories:

OS X Yosemite beta goes public — here’s how to get it

http://www.cultofmac.com/288717/apples-os-x-yosemite-public-beta-live/#5TqpPA3ODgazIybP.99

William Shatner reviews Facebook apps… on his Tumblr

http://williamshatner.tumblr.com/

Microsoft makes design central to its future

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/microsoft-makes-design-central-to-its-future/

Apple’s mobile payments solution could arrive in the iPhone 6 this fall

http://www.cultofmac.com/288607/apples-mobile-payments-solution-finally-arrive-iphone-6-fall/#YtuFpUY3cdZYeBkJ.99

Apple orders insane number of new iPhones, but 5.5-inch model faces setbacks

http://www.cultofmac.com/288316/apple-orders-insane-number-new-iphones-5-5-inch-model-faces-setbacks/#FTtKB7oWcfRavQKE.99

Glowing Apple logo could serve up alerts on iPhone 6

http://www.cultofmac.com/288148/glowing-apple-logo-serve-alerts-iphone-6/#XvLprk5SVvBdgi0p.99

All the little tweaks Apple added to iOS 8 beta 4

http://www.cultofmac.com/288205/new-stuff-ios-8-beta-4/#GXlAAx0rCkmvz1IM.99

A look at the redesigned iTunes 12 in OS X Yosemite beta  

http://www.cultofmac.com/288212/itunes-12-tour/#siIZOsCFJShLeyFx.99

Apple’s iBeacons are paying off for advertisers in a huge way

http://bgr.com/2014/07/23/apple-ibeacon-advertising-stats/?

This week: Chicks on tech!  Plus, rumored Apple tech could give weeklong battery life to your iPhone; why your grandma will love the new iTunes; Apple and IBM kiss and make up; Kim Kardashian’s iOS app makes way more than it should; Beats brings the marketing magic back to Apple; and we pitch our favorite apps and tech then vote on which one’s best—it’s an all new Faves N Raves! 

Our thanks to Smile Software for supporting this episode!  If you haven't tried TextExpander from Smile software, you’re missing out on one of the most useful apps available for the Mac and iOS. 

TextExpander saves you time and effort by expanding short abbreviations into frequently-used text,  pictures, code blocks, and more, and it's an application we use every single day.  Try it out for free at http://smilesoftware.com/cultcast 

This time on The CultCast:  thirsty Germans drink the tears of Brazilian children!  Ohhh, sorry.  Too soon?  Also on the docket:  the secret Apple eBay store is back at it and selling iPhones at absurdly low prices; we pitch insanely great feature we hope Apple bakes in to Siri soon; a Youtuber gets his hands on the iPhone 6’s sapphire screen and its durability is hard to believe; and… GEEKN, the new segment where we divulge whatever gadget or activity we’re currently obsessing over.  Stay tuned till the end for that. 

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 week's stories:

Secret Apple factory outlet is the cheapest place to get an iPhone 5 

http://www.cultofmac.com/286607/apple-launches-new-secret-ebay-store-refurbished-iphone-5/#FdbhHhv6po5xSfuU.99


How Siri’s ultimate killer feature could be remembering

http://www.cultofmac.com/286521/siris-ultimate-killer-feature-remembering/#MEVH0hVBoZ7qG2lC.99

Steve Jobs was right: Tablet sales set to topple the PC market

http://www.cultofmac.com/286533/steve-jobs-right-tablet-sales-set-topple-pc-2015/#IGbC7kXHvhRmEFEK.99

Total iBeacon shipments will blow past 60 million units by 2019

http://www.cultofmac.com/286670/ibeacons-shipments-will-pass-60-million-2019/#Jg1D8XxZ1xPo3QAW.99

iPhone 6 Sapphire display emerges unscathed from brutal scratch test 

http://www.cultofmac.com/286467/iphone-6-sapphire-display-comes-scratch-test-completely-unscathed/#U4ojRrsVz8WrxhwQ.99

Battery life will still suck on ultra-slim iPhone 6

http://www.cultofmac.com/286352/thinnification-iphone-will-suck-battery-life/#qXpG6jbAE8OxdRqe.99


Foxconn is ready to release an army of robots to build the iPhone 6

http://www.cultofmac.com/286323/foxconn-ready-release-army-robots-build-iphone-6/#PeYEPBdHSxZLEEro.99

OS X Yosemite gets Dark Mode and other interface tweaks in third developer preview

http://www.cultofmac.com/286422/os-x-yosemite-gets-dark-mode-interface-tweaks-third-developer-preview/#sF6o1skpLPXmyLAW.99

All the tiny new tweaks added in iOS 8 beta 3

http://www.cultofmac.com/286369/tweaks-added-ios-8-beta-3/#WSIIWkBSwkbJBiQJ.99 

USA!  USA!  On this festive new episode, we reveal our favorite 4th activities and it’s clear Alex E Heath will be in jail by the 5th.

Plus!

A weird breakthrough app has us texting hodor to all our friends; Apple kills off Aperture and iPhoto; Siri might finally understand us after a rumored update; Apple maps is poised to finally get a whole lot better; and did you know Steve Jobs always ate lunch alone like a sad Keanu?  It’s true. Well, maybe.  Alex doesn’t believe a word of it.  We’ll tell you story coming up.   

Our thanks to Smile Software for supporting this episode!  If you haven't tried TextExpander from Smile software, you’re missing out on one of the most useful apps available for the Mac and iOS. 

TextExpander saves you time and effort by expanding short abbreviations into frequently-used text,  pictures, code blocks, and more, and it's an application we use every single day.  Try it out for free at s

This week on the CultCast: Leander’s Big Adventure!  Leander’s back to tell us about his top secret mission to Apple HQ.  CoM reviews editor Charlie Sorrell tells us about some cool gear he’s reviewing.  We also run through a list of all the great hardware we’re expecting Apple to dump on us in just a few short months… And we wrap up with an all new Get to Know Your Cultist, and this round has us diving into some of our favorite movies ever made.  Guess who has the weird choice?   You’re right it’s Leander…

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 

And our thanks to Slingbox for their support!

Slingbox is the best way to watch your TV anywhere, and brings your cable set-top box, satellite receiver or DVR, right to your favorite mobile device, wherever you are in the world. With no monthly fees.  Check it out at slingbox.com/cult, and get $50 off plus free shipping on a new Slingbox.  

We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a huge thanks for all the great music you hear in today's show. 

Links to today's topics:

Microsoft will pay you $650 to ditch your MacBook Air for a Surface
http://www.cultofmac.com/284788/microsoft-will-pay-650-ditch-macbook-air-surface/#SkXYvSdB74oSgYcE.99 

12 Inch MacBook Air to Begin Production in 3rd Quarter 2014
http://www.cultofmac.com/284866/apples-12-inch-macbook-air-enter-production-next-quarter/ 

iPhone 6 Said to Launch on Friday September 19 in 32 GB and 64 GB Variants
http://www.macrumors.com/2014/06/25/iphone-6-friday-september19-32gb-64gb/ 

Bloomberg: Apple’s Big IPhones Said to Start Production Next Month
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-24/apple-s-big-iphones-said-to-start-production-next-month.html 

Google reveals its real face: unfocused, unoriginal and a little bit evil

http://www.cultofmac.com/285112/google-reveals-real-face-unfocused-unoriginal-bit-evil/#oeZq3Ijlo1Bmkh2P.99 

There’s a fire in the Amazon!  Ok, but bad jokes aside, we’ll tell you what we love and don’t about Amazon's much-buzzed debut mobile phone.  Plus: the iMac just got a lot cheaper… and slower; another Weibo leak reportedly shows a huge 5.5-inch iPhone 6; the cool additions to iOS 8 and Yosemite's 2nd betas; this summer’s hottest mens’ bathing suit attire; plus, you asked, we answer—it’s an all-new CultCast Q&A!

Our thanks to Smile Software for supporting this episode!  If you haven't tried TextExpander from Smile software, you’re missing out on one of the most useful apps available for the Mac and iOS. 

TextExpander saves you time and effort by expanding short abbreviations into frequently-used text,  pictures, code blocks, and more, and it's an application we use every single day.  Try it out for free at http://smilesoftware.com/cultcast

And Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website, portfolio, and online store. For a free trial and 10% off, visit Squarespace.com and enter offer code “CultCast" at checkout. A better web starts with your website. 

OMG YAA'AALL, it’s CultCast time. This week we bring to thee some more cool iOS 8 features you didn’t hear about at WWDC, plus we'll tell you all about the new time-lapse video feature we've been playing with.  Then, with the rumors swirling that fall will bring us iWatch, we have to wonder what features and price point it will need to make want one adoring our wrists.  All that plus Apple’s marketing arm gets major renovations, and in honor of this weeks’ E3, we say why Nintendo absolutely needs to bring Mario to iOS to survive!

And our thanks to Slingbox for their support!
Slingbox is the best way to watch your TV anywhere, and brings your cable set-top box, satellite receiver or DVR, right to your favorite mobile device, wherever you are in the world. With no monthly fees.  Check it out at http://slingbox.com/cult, and get $50 off plus free shipping on a new Slingbox.   

We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a huge thanks for all the great music you hear in today's show.

Wow!  This year’s WWDC is one of the most important in years, and on this week’s CultCast, we unpack all the new features announced for Yosemite, iOS 8, and tell you which ones we can’t believe we ever lived without.

Plus, so many new developer APIs and a whole new programming language!  We think Apple in on the verge of something big, and if you thought they had cool products before… well, hold on to your butts.

We discuss it all on this our WWDC MEGASODE.

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

And our thanks to Slingbox for their support!
Slingbox is the best way to watch your TV anywhere, and brings your cable set-top box, satellite receiver or DVR, right to your favorite mobile device, wherever you are in the world. With no monthly fees.  Check it out at http://slingbox.com/cult, and get $50 off plus free shipping on a new Slingbox.  

It’s all happening!  WWDC 2014 is right around the corner, and if recent rumors are true, Apple’s about to make major moves into your home with iOS 8—we’ll fill you in.  Plus, the Apple/Beats deal is a reality, and the news hits right as we’re recording.  

And don't miss an all new CultCast 2nd Hour.  We'll be speaking to popular Youtuber Jonathan Mann, who, for the last five years, has written one song every. single. day.  We talk to Jonathan about the inspiration, perspiration, and agony of making art, and what it was like to have his songs unexpectedly featured by Steve Jobs at one of Apple's most infamous press conferences.

Our thanks to Slingbox for supporting this episode!

Slingbox is the best way to watch your TV anywhere, and brings your cable set-top box, satellite receiver or DVR, right to your favorite mobile device, wherever you are in the world. With no monthly fees.  Check it out at http://slingbox.com/cult, and get $50 off plus free shipping on a new Slingbox.

This week: two incredible Apple artifacts hit the auction block; the Govern-na-tah uses iPad for shirtless selfies; Oompa-loompas leak iPad Pro pics; why the Beats acquisition could be all about video; Woz sets the FCC straight on net neutrality; and a popular travel app you should definitely download like, right now.

Our thanks to Smile Software for supporting this episode!  If you haven't tried TextExpander from Smile software, you’re missing out on one of the most useful apps available for the Mac and iOS. 

TextExpander saves you time and effort by expanding short abbreviations into frequently-used text,  pictures, code blocks, and more, and it's an application we use every single day.  Try it out for free at http://smilesoftware.com/cultcast

WWDC Keynote - they’re gonna have one at 10am June 2nd

Apple’s original rainbow office signs hit the auction block
Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/279529/apples-sign-auction/#2hw6u2lJJgLFPITO.99

iPad selfies gone wrong: Arnold Schwarzenegger edition
Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/279926/caption-contest-arnold-schwarzenegger-taking-ipad-selfies/#m639ZUEZMv6OR71Z.99

Insanely huge iPad Pro dummy part leaks out of China
Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/279434/insanely-huge-ipad-pro-dummy-part-leaks-china/#MSPxC5j4SsgXZpT0.99

Apple bought Beats for video, suggests Steve Jobs’ biographer
Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/279728/apple-bought-beats-video-says-steve-jobs-biographer/#bOkq2ITUgoxR4cBG.99

Google snatches up Word Lens, the most magical translation app for iPhone
Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/279486/google-snatches-word-lens-magical-translation-app-iphone/#kgPHomBS 

If all the reports ring true, Apple is about to embark on their largest acquisition ever, and the ramifications could be massive. And on this episode of The CultCast, we dissect the Apple/Beats merger, and ask the questions: what could Apple possibly have planned for the worlds most popular headphone brand?  Are new wearable headphone tech a part of Apple's future?  And most importantly, could the Doctor D-R-E be Apple’s next CEO?  

Strap on ya gats, ya’ll...

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 http://lynda.com/CultCast

This time: No—those rumored new EarPods won’t measure your pulse—last week's biggest Apple rumor was a fake made up by a guy on a toilet! Plus, why you shouldn’t expect new hardware at June’s WWDC; iPhone warns you when the NSA wants you for drug trafficking; Apple’s newest executive gets a HUGE payday; Katie Cotton, Apple’s long time PR leader and Steve Jobs confidant, calls it quits; Cupertino will take on Samsung with more Guerrilla-style marketing; and since you asked, we reveal the jobs we’ve always wanted on an all-new Get To Know Your Cultist. 

Our thanks to Smile Software for supporting this episode!  If you haven't tried TextExpander from Smile software, you’re missing out on one of the most useful apps available for the Mac. TextExpander saves you time and effort by expanding short abbreviations into frequently-used text and pictures, and it's an application Erfon uses every single day.  Try it out yourself for free at http://smilesoftware.com/cultcast

And Audible, home of over 150,000 audio books from every genre you can think of.  Sign up for a free 30-day trial and get our own Leander Kahney’s book, Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple’s Greatest Products, for free!  Get started at http://audiblepodcast.com/cultcast 

This time: rumored new EarPods take your pulse and more;  Updated Macbook Airs get faster and cheaper; a leaked "iPhone 6" case indicates an iPod-inspired design; Google takes on Office with new iOS apps for Drive; we ponder the state of the iPod; and we pitch our favorite tech and apps then vote on which is best… it’s an all new Faves N Raves!

Thanks to Lynda.com for supporting 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. 

And Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website, portfolio, and online store. For a free trial and 10% off, visit Squarespace.com and enter offer code "CultCast" at checkout. A better web starts with your website.

Apple just made so much money, they’re splitting their stock 7-to-1, and other surprising (and non-boring) notes from their recent financial call.  Plus, the best way to get the Apple stuff you want at lower prices; OS X beta now available to even non-devs; Apple Maps spots Nessie; Apple celebrates Earth Day with some great new marketing; why we’re crazy about Apple Campus 2; and forget Ashton, how about Leonardo DiCaprio as the next Steve Jobs?

Our thanks to New Relic for sponsoring this episode!

New Relic, the all-in-one web application performance management (APM) tool that lets you see performance from the end user experience, through servers, and down to the line of application code. Put simply, New Relic helps the people who build modern software understand the stories their data is trying to tell them. If you’re ready to make your software run better, head over to http://newrelic.com/cultcast for a free 30 day trial.

Back in September, popular Youtuber Lewis Hilsenteger released a hands-on video of what he believed to be the outer shell of the iPad 5.  The video exploded on the internet, and 6 weeks later when Apple announced the iPad Air, it confirmed his video preview was spot on.

So how does someone get their hands on the parts of one of Apple's most anticipated gadgets weeks before it’s announced?

Our guest this episode is Lewis Hilsentenger, and he’s going to tell us exactly how he did it.

Plus, sightings iPhone 6 parts are ramping up; iWatch might come in two sizes; the new Steve Jobs movie just hit a setback, but it's ok, because one of the best movies of all time is getting a sequel.

Our thanks to our friends at New Relic for supporting this conversation.

New Relic, the all-in-one web application performance management (APM) tool that lets you see performance from the end user experience, through servers, and down to the line of application code. Put simply, New Relic helps the people who build modern software understand the stories their data is trying to tell them. If you’re ready to make your software run better, head over to NewRelic.com/cultcast for a free 30 day trial.

And iFixit!  You’ve seen their amazing teardowns of the hottest tech and gadgets, but did you know you can use iFixit's free step-by-step repair guides to fix virtually anything?  Free we say!  Check them out at http://iFixit.com/cultcast, and for the best tools around for fixing Macs and iDevices, pick up their Pro Tech Toolkit!  Get $10 off with code “CultCast” at checkout. 

And thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com for the music used in this episode.

Story links:

Leaked Image Appears To Show iPhone 6 Front Panel [Rumor]

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/274506/leaked-image-appears-show-iphone-6-front-panel-rumor/#4M9daeGKyek4W1iK.99

   * A single image showing what appears to be a larger iPhone screen has shown up on Chinese microblogging website Weibo.

   * The photo — posted by user jiezhixc on Tuesday — depicts what looks like a current generation iPhone 5s being held up as comparison, showing how significantly larger the iPhone 6 could potentially be.

Leaked Assembly Line Photos Could Reveal Big Battery Life For iPhone 6 - John Brownlee

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/274521/leaked-assembly-line-photos-reveal-big-battery-life-iphone-6/#UkssSuePdS0xHRgh.99

   * Hot on the heels of this morning’s leak of the alleged front panel of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, a new photo purportedly shows the battery of Apple’s next-gen smartphone.

   * Published by Nowhereelse.fr, the image shows a supposed iPhone 6 battery with its tell-tale metallic section (present on current iPhone batteries) in a different place

Leaked Foxconn Images Appear To Show iPhone 6 Chassis [Gallery]

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/274357/leaked-foxconn-images-appear-show-iphone-6-chassis-gallery/#El7xEvOjX2acSluk.99

   * New leaked images purportedly taken inside a Foxconn plant show the iPhone 6 chassis and a handful of manufacturing molds for Apple’s upcoming smartphone.

   * The photos, posted on Chinese microblogging website Weibo over the weekend, appear to confirm that Apple will increase the size of the iPhone.

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/274357/leaked-foxconn-images-appear-show-iphone-6-chassis-gallery/#El7xEvOjX2acSluk.99

LG To Be Sole Supplier Of Flexible Displays For iWatch [Rumor]

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/274515/lg-sole-supplier-flexible-displays-iwatch-rumor/#DlWDjve7GGRvZBGh.99

David Fincher Backs Out Of Directing Steve Jobs Movie For Sony

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/274427/david-fincher-backs-directing-steve-jobs-movie-sony/#GckSKiMwlPfYHMQb.99

   * David Fincher, who was previously rumored to direct Sony’s movie about Steve Jobs, is now out of the picture. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fincher and Sony have parted ways due to disagreements over “compensation and control.”

Google Glass Sells Out In First One Day Sale

http://www.cultofandroid.com/61562/google-glass-sells-first-ever-one-day-sale/

   * On Tuesday, Google began selling Google Glass to residents of the United States for a 24-hour period.

Queue the spy music, cause on this week’s CultCast, our very own Buster Heine sneaks into Apple’s under-construction Arizona Sapphire Crystal factory and reports back what he’s found.  Plus, WWDC dishes out golden tickets like they’re Willy Wonka; what you can do about HeartBleed; all that’s been revealed in the ongoing Apple V. Samsung trial; and you asked, so we answer: why we love Apple but would never want to work there.

Thanks to iFixit for sponsoring the show!

You’ve seen iFixit's amazing teardowns of the hottest tech and gadgets, but did you know you can use their free step-by-step repair guides to fix virtually anything?  Free we say!  Check them out at http://iFixit.com/cultcast, and for the best tools around for fixing Macs and iDevices, pick up their Pro Tech Toolkit!  Get $10 off with code “CultCast” at checkout.

And New Relic!

New Relic, the all-in-one web application performance management (APM) tool that lets you see performance from the end user experience, through servers, and down to the line of application code.   Put simply, New Relic helps the people who build modern software understand the stories their data is trying to tell them.  If you’re ready to make your software run better, head over to NewRelic.com/cultcast for a free 30 day trial.

This Week's Stories

Buster goes rogue, sneaks into Apple's Sapphire Crystal Plant (discussion)

Got A Golden Ticket? Apple’s WWDC Invites Are Hottest Thing Going

Heartbleed Security Bug: What Apple Users Need to Know

All we've learned from the ongoing Apple V. Samsung Trial (discussion)

You want iPhone rumors? Well CultCast's got'em, brotherrrr! This time: the rumored 5.5-inch iPhone 6 gets delayed; Foxconn iPhone photos leak; patents indicate a future of interchangeable iLenses. Plus, what FireTV has that AppleTV needs; iWork online gets an update; Office finally comes to iPad; and Facebook bought Oculus, but why?

Thanks to New Relic for sponsoring the show! 

New Relic, the all-in-one web application performance management (APM) tool that lets you see performance from the end user experience, through servers, and down to the line of application code.   Put simply, New Relic helps the people who build modern software understand the stories their data is trying to tell them.  If you’re ready to make your software run better, head over to http://newrelic.com/cultcast for a free 30 day trial.

And Squarespace!  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 to start a free trial. Use the offer code “cultcast” when you decide to purchase, and you’ll receive a 10% discount off your order.

This Week's Stories

Apple Buys iFixit and Other 2014 April Fools Jokes
http://www.macrumors.com/2014/04/01/april-fools-2014/

5.5-Inch iPhone 6 Suffers Production Setback [Rumor] 
http://www.cultofmac.com/272552/5-5-inch-iphone-6-suffers-production-setback-rumor/#iXXildXLS1PEmLhI.99

Alleged iPhone Images Show Slimmer Body, Protruding Camera
http://www.cultofmac.com/272413/alleged-iphone-images-show-slimmer-body-protruding-camera/#8swYvE6gWZI2DxU1.99

Future iPhones Could Feature Changeable Camera Lenses [Patent]
http://www.cultofmac.com/272573/future-iphones-feature-changeable-camera-lenses-patent/#GCQmUf9sP6SJ4pwR.99

Quickly Hide All The Icons On Your Desktop [OS X Tips]
http://www.cultofmac.com/272595/quickly-hide-icons-desktop-os-x-tips/#5A4EiMOQxSVZF8zE.99

Amazon Takes On Apple TV With $99 FireTV
http://www.cultofandroid.com/60621/amazon-takes-apple-tv-chromecast-firetv/

iWork for iCloud Gets Facelift, Thank Goodness
http://www.cultofmac.com/272635/iwork-icloud-gets-facelift-thank-goodness/#1hYaJYmE2oQWyKcP.99

We're excited to bring you all the hoot'n hollerin' good times from our first ever CultCast LIVE event!

Join us and several hundred of our closet friends as we talk our Macwolrd 2014 impressions; the state Apple today with a very special guest; why booths need babes-we get it straight from one very beautiful tradeshow model; we pitch our favorite tech from the floor on Macworld 2014-edition Faves N Raves; plus, don't miss your chance to grab a 100% free license for DiskAid 6.  No joke!  No BS. Stay tuned for the url to visit.

Thanks to DiskAid 6 for making this event possible, and to Macupdate!  Be sure to check out deals.macupdate.com regularly for significant discounts and daily deals on all kinds of popular Mac software. 

And a big thanks to our amazing listeners for their support insane enthusiasm at our first CultCast Live event.  We love you guys and gals.

We’ve descended upon San Francisco for Macworld 2014!  Join us for our show expectations, plus plenty of news, rumors, and discussion on: why 2014 might be the year for Retina Macbook Airs; Apple’s plans for a streaming TV service with Comcast; Office coming to iPad; the problem with emojis; and why iTunes needs to be more like Spotify.

Thanks to Sanebox for sponsoring this episode!  Do you get too much email? Then SaneBox is for you. It moves unimportant emails out of the Inbox into a separate folder and summarizes them in a digest. Try it out for free at http://sanebox.com/cultcast

And Lynda.com! 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 

Secret sauce—it’s the reason Apple keeps winning where others fail, and on our newest CultCast, we discuss the recipe that keeps Apple ahead of the pack. Plus, iOS 8 rumors detail some powerful new features; whispers of an impossibly thin iPhone 6; A-list musicians praise Pono as the digital music player for audiophiles; iPad 4 makes a comeback; and we reveal our favorite Cult movies on a all-new Get To Know Your Cultist!


FreshBooks, the simple online accounting solution built for small business owners – just like you – who want to skip the headache of tax time. For a limited time, try FreshBooks free 60 days. To get started, visit getfreshbooks.com now and enter CultCast in the “How Did You Hear About Us” section. 

On this ep. ya'aaall: All that we love about iOS 7.1; rumors of a 4.7 and 5.7-inch iPhone 6 gets more credible; CultCast Studios gets a new home; why Flappy Bird might fly back into the App Store; 2014 brings a new MS Office; iTunes Radio is taking over; and an intriguing new iPod challenger gets a lot of buzz...

Thanks to our sponsors!

FreshBook, the simple online accounting solution built for small business owners – just like you – who want to skip the headache of tax time. For a limited time, try FreshBooks free 60 days. To get started, visit getfreshbooks.com now and enter CultCast in the “How Did You Hear About Us” section.

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.  

Hallelujah, iOS has come to the car! On this week’s CultCast, we’ll tell you all we love and don’t about Apple’s new CarPlay-enabled automobiles.  

Plus: why Apple’s best years are still to come; why iOS 7.1 could drop at any moment; why new iPhones might drop every six months; and we pitch our favorite tech and apps on an all new Faves 'N Raves.

Thanks to Backblaze online backup for supporting this episode!  Founded by ex-Apple engineers, Blackblaze was built to work seemlessly with all the Macs in your life.  Get simple, easy-to-use, unlimited backup for your Macs and external hard drives.  Try it for free at  http://Backblaze.com/cultofmac.

And thanks to Squarespace for making this episode a reality. 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/ to start a free trial and use the offer code “cultcast” to save 10% off any order.

This week's stories

Oscars Host Ellen DeGeneres Ditched Her Galaxy Note For An iPhone 

Apple To Finally Discontinue The Non-Retina MacBook Pro This Year [Rumor]

Apple CFO Joins Goldman Sachs Board of Directors

Apple Poaches HTC Engineers To Speed Up Product Development

iOS 7.1 Rumored To Launch By Next Week

CarPlay: iOS Comes to the Car (discussion)

This time: The mysterious life of Timothy Cook; exciting rumors around the new Jobs movie; Mavericks 10.9.2’s features and fixes; why you should install iOS 7.0.6 like, right now; Netflix pays off Comcast; and we’re too sexy for this podcast.

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. 

And Sanebox.com!  Do you get too much email? Then SaneBox is for you. It moves unimportant emails out of the Inbox into a separate folder and summarizes them in a digest. Try it out for free at http://sanebox.com/cultcast

This week's stories

Hipster Beard Transplants Are All the Rage These Days

http://gizmodo.com/hipster-beard-transplants-are-all-the-rage-these-days-1530786332

Why iOS 7.0.6 Is A Way More Important Update Than You Think - Alex

http://www.cultofmac.com/267501/ios-6-0-6-way-important-update-think/#EhF4380S3Xw3ogw8.99

Netflix Tosses In The Towel, Will Pay Comcast To Stream Video To You

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/24/business/media/comcast-and-netflix-reach-a-streaming-agreement.html 

Tim Cook’s ROBERTSDALE Alabama Youth  Profiled

http://blog.al.com/live/2014/02/tim_cook_--_apple_ceo_and_robe.html

Greetings comrades!  This time on CultCast: for first time, Apple brings iTunes Festival to United States, but why not mother Russia?  Facebook buys WhatApp for cool 19 billion Ruples… but why?  Then, like enemy of Putin, Jony Ive vanishes from Apple website; Apple and Tesla make secret talks, could this mean iCar?  Only the KGB knows for sure.  And don’t miss all new Faves N Raves where men pitch favorite tech and apps then supreme leader chooses with one is best!

Thanks to Fresbooks for sponsoring this episode! FreshBooks, the simple online accounting solution built for small business owners – just like you – who want to skip the headache of tax time. For a limited time, try FreshBooks free 60 days. To get started, visit getfreshbooks.com now and enter CultCast in the “How Did You Hear About Us” section .

And thanks to macupdate.com - You know what we love?  Getting big discounts on Mac apps.  Be sure to check out deals.macupdate.com regularly for significant discounts and daily deals on all kinds of popular Mac software.

We'll never stop Flapping!  On this episode, we investigate the worldwide obsession with the iOS wünder-game, Flappy Bird, plus, the bizarre story of why the game's developer pulled the wildly popular game so abruptly from the App Store. 

Plus, some new iPhone 6 rumors surface, and a Macintosh super-grid you've never heard of is hunting down a cure for cancer.

Thanks to our sponsors!

Freshbooks, the simple cloud accounting solution that’s helping thousands of new entrepreneurs and small business owners savetime billing and get paid faster. Sign up free today at GetFreshBooks.com and join over 5 million users running their business with ease.

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With rumors of a new Apple-made “fitness app” in iOS 8, secrets meeting with the FDA, and murmurs of more sleep and fitness expert joining the Apple ranks, the iWatch rumors are heating up on this week’s CultCast!  Plus, a classic Nintendo game makes its way to iOS; Microsoft says goodbye to the one and only Steve Ballmer; and new job openings in Cupertino could mean big upgrades in battery life for future MacBooks…

Thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode!   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 “CultCast” when you decide to purchase, and you’ll receive a 10% discount off your order.

This time: iBras make the world a better place; Apple TV is your tele’s next gaming console; iPhone 6's get huger screens; Net Neutrality and why you should care; and Erfon pitches the best Fave N Rave pick EVER...

Thanks to SaneBox for sponsoring this episode! 

Do you get too much email? Then SaneBox is for you. It moves unimportant emails out of the Inbox into a separate folder and summarizes them in a digest. Try it out for free at http://sanebox.com/cultcast

And Ting!  The straight forward wireless carrier who doesn't overcharge. With Ting, you only pay for the data, minutes, and text messages you use.  Plus, no contracts, ever! See how much could be saving on your wireless bill at http://cultcast.ting.com. 

This time: the Mac and its iconic ad turns 30! We’ll recall the vintage models of yore.  Plus, Google contacts make you a cuter nerd; Beats music has a feature others should copy; why Jailbreaking is losing its luster; and a trusty iOS app makes watching unsupported video formats a cinch.

Thanks to Ting for support this episode!  Finally, an honest, straight forward wireless carrier who doesn't overcharge. In fact, did you know 98% of people who switch to Ting save money?  See how much could be saving on your wireless bill at cultcast.ting.com.

And Freshbooks, the simple cloud accounting solution that’s helping thousands of new entrepreneurs and small business owners savetime billing and get paid faster. Sign up free today at GetFreshBooks.com and join over 5 million users running their business with ease.

This time: Finally, a full-size iOS controller for manly hands! Tim Cook just loves China so much ya’ll; Google buys Nest and their 100 ex-Apple employees, but why? Aaron Sorkin’s Jobs movie finally gets a script, Kutcher just gets a Razzie nod.

Thanks to Ting for sponsoring this episode!  Finally, an honest, straight forward wireless carrier who doesn't overcharge. In fact, did you know 98% of people who switch to Ting save money?  See how much could be saving on your wireless bill at cultcast.ting.com. 

We’re live from Las Vegas talking about the best and worst gadgets and tech from the 2014 Consumer Electronics show!  We’ll call out some of our favorite Apple accessories too, and some will surprise you.

Plus, did you hear about the Michael Bay meltdown at the Samsung keynote?  Well we were there, and things got weird.  We’ll tell you the story.

Thanks to FreshBooks for supporting this episode!  FreshBooks is the simple cloud accounting solution that¹s helping thousands of new entrepreneurs and small business owners save time billing and get paid faster.  Sign up free today at GetFreshBooks.com and join over 5 million users running their business with ease.

If you had to pick one app, piece of tech, and one movie as your favorite of 2013, what would they be?  We'll tell you ours on this first episode of the year!

Plus, we all know NSA likes backdoor action, but are they really spying on us via our iDevices, and worse, is Apple in cahoots?  We'll tell you what we think...

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 “cultcast1” when you decide to purchase, and you’ll receive a 10% discount off your order.