The CultCast
This week, it's our epic final episode of 2016!  We’ll wrap up the year with our hands-on review of the hottness themselves, Apple’s AirPods.  Then… is Apple’s “Golden Era” drawing to a close?  We discuss.  And finally, ya’ll know we review a lot of products during the year—we’ll reveal our absolute favorite gadgets of 2016!
 
This episode supported by
CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can get 20% off your order with code JETBLACK at CultCloth.co.
 
On the show this week
 
Tim Cook calls AirPods a ‘runaway success’
  • During a short interview, Cook told CNBC the new AirPods are a “runaway success” and that the company is making them as fast as it can. Cook didn’t divulge details on how well the company is doing, but he did hint that the holiday was really good to Apple.
 
Every Apple store worldwide is sold out of AirPods
  • According to airpods.isinstock.com, and istocknow.com, Airpods are sold out at every Apple Store in the world
  • Apple stores have been getting in very limited quantities and they “sell out in minutes”
 
All the ways Apple disappointed us in 2016
  • Some are saying 2016 is the year that appl's 'golden age' drew to a close
Our favorite gadgets of 2016!
 
Leander
 
Erfon
Buster
Direct download: CultCast_264_-_Best_gadgets_of_2016.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:06am PST

This week: everything we like (and dont) about AirPods; the insider way to lock down your own AirPods without waiting 6 weeks; Apple’s Mac division has a falling out with Jony Ive; and we remember the best of Apple, 2016.

This episode supported by

 
CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can get 20% off your order with code JETBLACK at CultCloth.co.

On the show this week

@erfon / @lewiswallace / “at” David Pierini

 

Mac division has ‘lost clout’ with Jony Ive and Apple design team
  • Apple’s Mac team has reportedly “lost clout” with the company’s industrial design group and software team, claims a new report
  • The picture painted by Mark Gurman as Bloomberg is a Mac division with a lack of clear direction from senior management, departures of key employees, and technical challenges — all conspiring to make the Mac one of Apple’s forgotten divisions.
  • The article notes that ever since last year’s reshuffle of Apple’s design team, meetings between the Mac team and the industrial design team have become less frequent.
  • It also notes more than a dozen engineers and managers working on the Mac have left over the past 18 months, with at least a sizable percentage put off by their lack of clarity about the “future of Mac hardware.”
  • One possible problem is the lack of a singular vision driving the division. Instead of having one concept to work on, increasingly engineers are — in the words of one source — “asked to develop multiple options in hopes that one of them will be shippable.” The result is that resources become more thinly spread than ever, while products ship later.
  • Mac generates about 10 percent of Apple sales
 
 
Don’t worry, Tim Cook says new iMacs are coming
  • The iMac didn’t get much love in 2016, but according to Apple CEO Tim Cook, killer new desktop Macs are coming.
  • In a note to Apple employees, Cook assured staff that desktop computers are still “really important” and that they shouldn’t worry about future machines.
  • “Some folks in the media have raised the question about whether we’re committed to desktops,” Cook wrote according to TechCrunch. “If there’s any doubt about that with our teams, let me be very clear: we have great desktops in our roadmap. Nobody should worry about that.”
 
The 10 best Apple ads of 2016
Direct download: CultCast_263_-_AirPods__The_good_the_bad_the_amazing..mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:12am PST

This week: an honest look at Mario Run; better-sounding AirPod alternatives; the cool new stuff in the iOS and tvOS updates; and we reveal the hands-down best tv shows of 2016!

 

This episode supported by
 
Jamf Now's cloud-based Mobile Device Management is the affordable way to manage the iPads, iPhones, and Macs in your workplace, and you can manage 3 devices free at jamf.com/CultCast.
 
CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can get 20% off your order with code JETBLACK at CultCloth.co.

On the show this week

@erfon / @lewiswallace / @lkahney

 

Mario Run to the Apple store to snag Nintendo’s first major iOS game.
AirPods finally available with shipping in time for Christmas
  • Apple’s long-awaited wireless AirPods are finally available to buy through Apple’s online store — priced at $159.
  • While it’s not known when they’ll be available for sale in brick-and-mortar Apple retail stores, you can breathe a sigh of relief, since orders placed through Apple’s online store are currently showing a pre-Christmas delivery date of December 21
  • Apple said AirPods will be available for purchase at Apple stores by next week, as well as authorized resellers, and select carriers. Apple also said stores will receive "regular AirPods shipments”
 
iOS 10.2 is out with new emoji, TV app and wallpapers
  • iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus users get a couple of new wallpapers in the new update. There are also more than 100 new emoji, including new characters for shrug, avocado, gorilla, shark and bacon.
 
tvOS 10.1 update brings Apple’s TV app to the living room
  • TV fans can binge on all their shows in one place with Apple’s new TV app, which simplifies the experience. With the new single sign-on feature, you can quickly access your subscribed content on all your devices. (Here’s how to set up single sign-on for Apple TV and iOS devices.)
 
Lewis reviews these IQBuds AirPod alternatives
 
The best shows of 2016!
  • Peeky Blinders!
  • Sherlock!
  • The Walking Dead!
  • Westworld!
  • Stranger Things!
  • Boogie2988 (Youtube)!
  • People Vs. OJ Simpson!
  • The Crown!
Direct download: CultCast_262_-_AirPod_alternatives__the_BEST_shows_of_2016.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:05am PST

This week: why Apple is done chasing big hit products.  Plus: the demise of Pebble Watch is a bad omen for wearables; Foxconn secretly prepares to make more Apple products in the US; and we remember our favorite movies of 2016!

This episode supported by
 
Harry’s super-sharp, German-made razors ship free right to your door and for way less than the drugstore razors. Get a free trial set at Harrys.com and score free post shave balm with code CultCast at checkout.
 
CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can get 20% off your order with code JETBLACK at CultCloth.co.
 
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 / @lewiswallace / @lkahney

 

Apple stops swinging for the fences
http://www.cultofmac.com/456698/apple-stops-swinging-fences/#more-456698
  • Apple analyst Horrace Dediu says Apple’s cultural identity is undergoing a dramatic shift
  • Instead of being in the “new hit product business”, Dediu told said that Apple is trying to become a “services and recurring-revenue business.”
  • Dediu argues that constantly trying for home runs has been demoralizing for employees, so Apple CEO Tim Cook move away from that attitude.
  • Will Apple ever have another “iPhone”?

Apple Says 35% of U.S. Merchants Accept Apple Pay
  • Apple Pay vice president Jennifer Bailey has announced that 35% of U.S. merchants now accept Apple Pay.
  • Bailey says the new EMV chip cards are annoying customers and have helped drive adoption.
  • New chip cards are the worst!!

 

Fitbit Buyout Will See Pebble's Time 2 and Core Wearables Canceled, Refunds Issued
Bloomberg has report that Fitbit is buying out Pebble
  • The buyout will cost "less than $40 million" and is only for Pebble's software assets, which Fitbit wants "in a bid to better compete with Apple”
  • Pebble watch hardware is dead, with support ending sometime in the future.
  • All pending orders will be canceled and refunded.
  • I’m still not convinced smart watches will be around in 5 years.
  • Tim Cook has just announced that Apple Watch sales are “off the charts,” but Sales of Apple Watch are down more than 70 percent, according to IDC Research.

iPhone Assembler Foxconn in Early Talks to Expand U.S. Operations
  • According to Reuters, Apple manufacturer Foxconn is in the beginning stages of building a collection of assembly plants within the United States
  • CNBC has alleged that Foxconn will be investing $7 billion into its U.S. expansion and aiming for the creation of 50,000 jobs
  • After being outed by CNBC, Foxconn simply has states that more details will come after its finished talks with "the relevant U.S. officials”
  • In a call made to Trump by Apple CEO Tim Cook, Trump mentioned told Tim that one of his goals would is be to "get Apple to build a big plant in the United States” 
  • Foxconn does have manufacturing facilities on a very small scale in the U.S., in Virginia and Indiana, along with logistic locations in California and Texas
  • Will Apple every had major manufacturing back in the US?
Direct download: CultCast_261_-_Apple_s_next_big_thing_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:49pm PST

This week: why building a Hackintosh can get you the monster Mac youve always wanted.  Plus: Apple analyst Ming-Chi Quo reveals iPhone 8’s marquee feature; AirPods ship date is finally revealed; and stick around for our top Apple Airport router replacement picks!

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’s long-awaited AirPods will ship in ‘next few weeks’
  • Apple revealed the earbuds alongside the iPhone 7, promising an October delivery date, but anxious customers have not been able to buy a set.
  • In  email obtained by MacRumors, a customer asks Tim Cook where his AirPods are.
    • Customer’s comment: “Give us a release date. I really bought in to the wireless vision you painted….Let us know if it’s a month or 6 months, because then I’ll just buy some other wireless headphones.”
    • Tim Cook’s response: “Thanks for your note. Sorry for the delay—we are finalizing them and I anticipate we will begin to ship over the next few weeks.”
 
Innovative iPhone 8 could shatter sales records
  • Apple has big plans for the iPhone 8, claims KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
  • According to Kuo, Apple will be scaling up iPhone production 120-150 million units in the second half of 2017. If true, this would would be well above the 110-120 million units Apple ordered of its bestselling iPhone 6 generation handsets.
  • Kuo claims this “unprecedented” demand will be centered around the myriad big improvements Apple has planned for its next-gen iPhone series.
 
iPhone 8’s glass design will finally bring wireless charging
  • The rumored decision to adopt a glass chassis for the next-generation iPhone is reportedly fueled by a desire to improve wireless charging, another key feature supposedly coming to Apple’s 2017 phone.
  • The report comes from notable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who claims that all 2017-era iPhones will boast the long-awaited wireless charging tech.
  • Earlier this year, a report from Bloomberg said Apple was working with partners to overcome current technical barriers with wireless technology, including loss of power over distance. If successful, innovation could make Apple’s version of wireless charging considerably more advanced than Samsung’s.
 
How to watch Netflix offline
  • An update to the official Netflix app lets you download TV shows and movies so you can view them without munching through your data allowance.
  • Not all titles are available for download,” according to Netflix. “If you have a particular title in mind, you can search for that title and look for the download icon.
 
People love Apple’s doomed AirPort more than any other router
  • According to the more than 3,000 customers polled in J.D. Power’s 2016 Wireless Router Satisfaction Report released today, please love Apple’s routers more than any other.
  • The top gripes were how often users had to reset their routers, general data speeds, and the difficulty of getting them set up.
  • Apple was the only company to receive a 5-star Power Circle consumer rating, which places it "among the best" according to J.D. Power.
 
Direct download: CultCast_260_-_Hackintosh_Monster_Mac.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:12pm PST

This week: is a secret Apple project stalling Mac updates?  It wouldn’t be the first time… Plus: Apple teases Black Friday deals; Airport routers are dead, and the Mac Pro might be next;  the future of Time Machine; why iPad should be iOS/OS X hybrid; and Jony Ive’s new role designing Apple itself.

This episode supported by

Might Tees’ artful Steve Jobs, Woz, Apple and Star Trek tees are worn Will Wheaton, LeVar Burton, co-founders at Bad Robot, Chris Hardwick, Veronica Belmont, and even Steve Wozniak himself.  And without Might Tees, there’d be Leander have Erfon would have never met.  Grab a piece of CultCast history!  While supplies last, get 60% off any order at MightTees.com and use code CultCast at checkout.

CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can get 20% off your order with code JETBLACK at CultCloth.co.
 
And check out Cult of Mac’s new, free fitness eBook! This ebook is your practical how-to guide, covering step by step everything you need to know about getting fit with Apple’s devices.
 
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 is teasing a one-day shopping event for Black Friday that could bring tasty discounts on its latest products.
  • Apple chose not to participate in Black Friday sales last year, so fans were forced to look elsewhere for price cuts on Apple products.
  • In 2014, Apple took a different approach to Black Friday, offering free gift cards with certain purchases instead of cutting prices. Customers got up to $150 for buying a Mac, up to $75 with an iPad, and up to $50 with an iPod.
  • It’s also worth remembering that over the holiday period, the company offers free two-day shipping on almost all online purchases, while its retail stores are open longer.
 
  • According to Bloomberg, Apple has disbanded the division dedicated to developing its Airport wireless routers.
  • The product line — which spawned the AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time capsule, which Apple continues to sell — hasn’t been updated since 2013.
 
  • He’s killing ports and headphone jacks left and right. The latest MacBooks value form over function. He’s designing gold watches for the 1 percent.
  • And now his glossy new photo book, Designed by Apple in California, looks like a $300, linen-bound ego trip.
  • "I see why some people think Designed by Apple in California could be Ive’s goodbye to Apple. But it feels to me like Ive’s heartfelt goodbye to his best friend and colleague, five years gone. I don’t think Jony Ive is going anywhere."
 
  • Having previously been announced as the co-designer (with BFF Marc Newson) of the Christmas tree at London’s famous Claridge’s hotel, Ive’s creation was unveiled over the weekend, and — surprise — it’s a plain tree with no decorations, set on a white background.
  • “There are few things more pure and beautiful than nature, so that was our starting point, layering various iterations of organic forms with technology,” Ive and Newson said. “Our aim was to create an all-enveloping magical experience that celebrates our enormous respect for tradition while recognising our excitement about the future and things to come.”

Direct download: CultCast_259_-_Secret_Apple_project_stalling_Mac_updates_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:04am PST

This week: the reviews are in! We’ll tell you what praises and complaints reviewers have about new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.  Plus: the one Touch Bar feature you’ll absolutely covet; why the new “Designed by Apple in California” book is an artifact Apple fans will love; Apple quietly rebuilds a library of their gadgets long past; how to get the best Black Friday deals; and Buster reviews the hawt new Mavic Pro drone by DJI, then crashes it into a cliff. 
 
This episode supported by
 
Harry’s super-sharp, German-made razors ship free right to your door and for way less than the drugstore razors. Get a free trial set at Harrys.com and score free post shave balm with code CultCast at checkout.

 

Might Tees’ artful Steve Jobs, Woz, Apple, Star Trek, and Star Wars tees are worn Will Wheaton, LeVar Burton, co-founders at Bad Robot, Chris Hardwick, Veronica Belmont, and even Steve Wozniak himself.  And without Might Tees, there’d be no CultCast, as Leander and Erfon would never have met.  Grab a piece of CultCast history!  While supplies last, get 60% off any order at MightTees.com and use code CultCast at checkout.

CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can get 20% off your order with code JETBLACK at CultCloth.co.
 
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
 
MacBook Pro reviews roundup: Promising, not groundbreaking
So what do the early reviews make of Apple’s new pro laptop? In a nutshell, that it’s futuristic, but maybe not an entirely successful device for present-day users.
  • Wired: The new MacBook Pro is a terrific laptop and, like the super-skinny MacBook, a clear indication of where most of the computing world is going. But comes with growing pains
  • Techcrunch: The less celebrated spec bumps are what make the new Pro a worthy upgrade. Better processors, more storage, a brighter display and better speakers are all wrapped up in a sleeker and lighter package than before… The Touch Bar feels like a nice bonus for the time being.
  • ArsTechnica‘s Andrew Cunningham writes, “The more I use the Touch Bar, the more I become convinced of its potential utility” — although a lot of its ability to replace the old function buttons remains hypothetical for now.”
    • Industry-leading storage performance.
    • Touchbar get 1.3Gbps WiFI (like 2015 model) instead of 867Mbps.
  • Walt Mossberg describes the Touch Bar as having “potential, but it’s not magic.”
  • ARS: CPU performance increases by an amount that’s roughly proportionate to the 200MHz maximum clock speed increase, and GPU performance increases by around 10 percent. It’s not nothing...
  • WSJ:  “it’s a dongle nightmare.” The SD card slot is particularly missed.
  • WSJ: A Touch Bar, Touch ID and new design are tempting, but you’ll get the same performance and battery with the older model… So how do you decide? Do you invest in the present—the “old” MacBook Pro with performance, good-enough portability, a keyboard to cherish and lots of ports? Or do you invest in the future—a beautiful, highly portable machine with new tricks? Or maybe you do what I’m doing: Stare down at your three-year-old laptop and wonder if you can tough it out another year or two while this sorts itself out.
 
MacBook Pro Touch Bar lets users skip through YouTube ads
  • First spotted by users on Reddit, at present the fancy new Touch Bar lets users scrub through otherwise unskippable ads so you can start watching videos straight away.
  • “In Safari, the touchbar [sic] will pop up a scrubbing control whenever a video begins to play,” Redditor RomansFiveEight writes. “Amazingly, you can use that to scrub THROUGH an ad, even a non-skippable 30 second pre-roll ad; and begin your video right away!”
 
Apple chronicles 20 years of iconic design in pricey new book
  • Apple has announced that it will be debuting a new hardbound book, entitled “Designed by Apple in California,” chronicling 20 years of its groundbreaking designs — boasting 450 photographs of past and present Apple products.
  • The book, which is dedicated to the memory of Steve Jobs, will also include exclusive details on the design processes used by Apple’s design team under the leadership of Jony Ive.
  • The photos contained are all shot by photographer Andrew Zuckerman, a filmmaker and photographer who has previously shot portraits of Judi Dench, Clint Eastwood, Ted Kennedy, and others.
  • “Designed by Apple in California”
  • it is available in two sizes — including a small 10.20” x 12.75” edition for $199 and a large version sized at 13” x 16.25” — costing $299.
  • Specially milled German paper
  • Gilded matte silver edges
  • Low-ghost inks
 
Jony Ive goes inside Apple’s design lab in new video
  • Going inside Apple’s design lab is a rare privilege some Apple execs don’t even get, but Jony Ive is giving the world a glimpse inside his lab to celebrate the company’s new book.
 
Apple had to buy back old products featured in its new design book
  • According to a new interview with Jony Ive, Apple had to actually go out and buy copies of its old products in order to photograph them for its new $300 coffee table book
  • “[W]e’ve been so consumed by our current and future work we came to realise we didn’t have a catalogue of the physical products,” Ive told design journal Wallpaper*. ” … Many of the products that you see, we actually had to go out and purchase. It’s a rather shameful admission, but it’s just not an area that we really invested much time or energy in.”
  • Shortly after he returned to the company in the late 1990s, Steve Jobs gave Apple’s historical archive — comprising records that management at Apple had kept since the mid-1980s — to Stanford University Libraries because he didn’t want Apple to be fixated on the past.
  • A few years after that, in 1996, an ex-Apple employee named David Pakman who had worked there from 1991 through 1997 emailed Steve to suggest staging a celebratory event for Apple’s thirtieth birthday. He received a simple answer: Apple is focused on the future, not the past. —Steve
  • Fortunately, things are changing, Ive said. Around eight years ago, the company felt an “obligation” to go out and start building up an archive of every product it had released.
 
Liveblog: The best Black Friday deals for 2016
 
Mavic Pro—10 years ago you’d need a helicopter to get footage like this
Direct download: CultCast_258_-MacBook_Pro_w_TouchBar__the_good_the_bad_the_ugly.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00pm PST

This week: early reviews show new MacBook Pro is a video editing powerhouse; Apples massive interest in augmented reality; rumors of a Jet White iPhone; AirPods to finally start shipping; new dongle discounts; and finally—is Apple still developing an electric car?

This episode supported by

Might Tees’ artful Steve Jobs, Woz, Apple and Star Trek tees are worn Will Wheaton, LeVar Burton, co-founders at Bad Robot, Chris Hardwick, Veronica Belmont, and even Steve Wozniak himself.  And without Might Tees, there’d be Leander have Erfon would have never met.  Grab a piece of CultCast history!  While supplies last, get 60% off any order at MightTees.com and use code CultCast at checkout.

CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can get 20% off your order with code JETBLACK at CultCloth.co.
 
Learn how to get in shape using your Watch and iPhone! Sign up for Cult of Mac's new FREE Fitness ebook.
 
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
 
AirPods supposedly land in Apple stores next week
  • According to one Apple fan, who spoke to an employee at Conrad, an Apple authorized reseller in Germany, AirPods will be delivered to stores next Friday, November 17.
  • “I have just talked with an employee of the Conrad Online Store, since I am there on 14.10 the AirPods ordered and I wanted to cancel today,” he explained to Apfelpage.de. “According to information from the employee, they have stockpiles from 17.11, I will then have them between November 18-19.
 
MacBook Pro with Touch Bar moves one step closer to shipping
  • “Multiple reports collated by AppleInsider and other sources show that Apple is gearing up for the first wave of shipments of the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, in every configuration,”
  • The first wave of shipments is expected to reach customers as early as November 11. Those who ordered before the shipping estimate slipped should expect to receive them by November 17, though some could be waiting until November 25.
 
New MacBook Pro has already outsold every other notebook in 2016
  • latest model generated over seven times the revenue that the MacBook 12-inch did during its April 2015 launch. The new model’s sales already equal 78 percent of all the revenue generated by the MacBook 12-inch since it became available, and has accumulated more revenue than any other laptop this year.
  • Slice Intelligence found 40 percent of Apple laptop owners who purchased a MacBook in 2014 bought their next laptop with another brand. Dell and Asus computers were the most popular laptops for people who previously purchased a MacBook.
 
The truth about the 2016 MacBook Pro 13” (@JonnyLewisFilms)
  • Jonathan Morris pits a specs’d out HP Specter to a 13” MacBook Pro
  • Premier takes 9+ minutes to export, Final Cut 1:20
 
Dongle Discount!  Apple Drops Prices on USB-C Adapters
In response to Mac outrage, Apple has temporarily dropped the prices on their adapters.
USB-C to USB Adapter - Was $19, now $9
USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter - Was $69, now $49
USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter - Was $69, now $49
USB-C to Lightning Cable (1m) - Was $25, now $19
USB-C to Lightning Cable (2m) - Was $35, now $29
- Apple has also introduced some significant price cuts to the 4K and 5K LG UltraFine displays that were announced at its October 27 Mac event.
- The LG UltraFine 5K Display is now priced at $974, a $325 price cut from its original price of $1,299.95.
- The LG UltraFine 4K Display is now priced at $524, a $175 price cut from its original price of $699.95.
Direct download: CultCast_257_-_Apple_augments_reality.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:59pm PST

This week:  we’ve canceled our MacBook Pro order! It’s true, and we’ll you why...  Plus: we compare new MacBook Pro’s performance to older models and similarly priced machines;  Apple call it quits on external displays;  and, the end of an era—one of Mac’s most iconic features gets retired.
 
This episode supported by
 
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.
 
CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can get 20% off your order with code JETBLACK at CultCloth.co.
 
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
 
Professional Mac Users' Complaints List Grows After 'Disappointing' Apple Event
It seems like everyone’s pissed!
 
 
This week’s notes and links
  • Hiked prices really make you think about what you’re getting, especially compared to how much better it is to what you already have (or what’s available on the market).
  • Raw Power differences/Speed increases in new MBP (compared to 2012 model)
  • We specs aren’t everything as Apple optimizes everything.
  • Felix Schwarz on twitter
  • CPU
    • Only ~30% increase in Geekbench Single and MultiCore increases if buying the same speed processor you have no.
    • Skylake processors are already a year old, but Kaby lake isn't due out until January and Cannonlake due in 2017 as well.
  • GPU
    • You get 100-180% increase in GPU performance over 2012 dedicated GPUs
    • AMD Pro 400 series is used for low power consumption.  4 year old architecture.
      • it’s a mobile version of a budget graphics card
      • AMD claims "the thinnest graphics processor possible”
      • ideal for artists, designers, photographers, filmmakers, visualizers
    • Not on par with Nvidia GPUs
      • Nvidia’s budget card, GTX 1060, performs at 4.2 teraflops a second vs AMD Pro 460’s 1.8 Teraflops.  455’s 1.2 Tflops 450’s 1 Tflop.
  • Nickel and dimed
    • New cables or dongles for all your USB devices, your iPhone, your peripherals and Thunderbolt 2 devices, maybe your existing monitor.
    • No power brick extension cable.
    • Funny enough, Phil Schiller noted the new MacBook Pro still has a 3.5mm headphone jack because it is a "pro machine," but lacks an SD card reader because it's a "cumbersome" slot best left to adapters or wireless transfers. 
  • Take into account the $400-$500 price increases, it’s hard to get on board.
  • Next year’s upgrade will address a number of my concerns
    • Much newer Intel CPUs.
    • More availability of USB C and Thunderbolt 3 tech.
    • Lower prices.
    • Touch Bar bugs worked out (if any).
    • Cheaper SSD upgrades.
  • Again, specs aren’t everything.  Apple says the new MacBook Pro has:
    • 130% better 3D graphics performance.
    • 60% better gaming performance
    • 57% better video editing performance
 
Performance comparison of the 2012 and 2016 15” Retina MacBook Pro
 
MacBook Pro’s two biggest problems may get fixed in 2017
  • The KGI Securities analyst told investors in a recent note that he expects Apple will bring big price-cuts to the MacBook Pro along with some internal upgrades. Kuo also claims the 2017 update will finally give the MacBook Pro up to 32GB of RAM.
  • KabyLake CPUs will be used if Intel’s Cannonlake chips aren’t ready. That will keep max RAM support at 16GB for another year.
  • Price cuts on the next MacBook Pro won’t arrive until the second half of 2017 though.
 
 
Apple is officially done making displays
Buster
  • The days of Apple making its own stand-alone displays for the Mac Mini and Mac Pro are dead.
  • Apple revealed a new 5K 27-inch Thunderbolt 3 display during its “Hello Again” keynote yesterday, only instead of being made by Apple, the company partnered with LG to create the monito
  • The Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel tweeted that, after asking about it at the Hello Again event, was informed by Apple that “it’s out of the stand-alone display biz.”
  • Apple did add some tech to LG’s display so that it integrates better with Macs. You can adjust the brightness settings on the LG 5K UltraFine display from your Mac, rather than pushing buttons on the display itself.
  • $1300, or $700 for a 4K model
 
2016 MacBook Pro loses the iconic startup chime
  • The new MacBook Pro jettisons the iconic F-sharp sound Apple uses to show a Mac is booting up.
  • The use of an arpeggiated chord when you started your Mac dates back to the Macintosh II, when software engineer Mark Lentczner incorporated it into the system.
  • The sound was later revised by Jim Reekes, Apple’s senior software engineer in charge of the audio and system sounds, during the 1990s. Over the years, its tone has changed further and the instrumentation has also varied,
  • The reason for getting rid of the sound instead has to do with the fact that the new laptops now turn on from a fully switched-off mode if they’re opened — meaning you can save all that energy you would otherwise have expended pressing the power button.
  • There’s hope!  You can reactivate the sound via a terminal command.
 
Nvidia GTX 1060 Laptop vs Desktop Benchmarks – Is Pascal Really a Game Changer?
 
How to restore Mac startup chimes on 2016 MacBook Pro
 
How Faster are the Intel processor and Radeon Pro 450 / 455 / 460 GPU on the New MacBook Pro 15 2016?
 
Apple Has Received More Online Orders for New MacBook Pro Than Any Previous Generation
 
Direct download: CultCast_256_-_Why_we_re_canceling_our_MacBook_Pro_order.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:09pm PST

This week: Happy?  Disappointed?  Downright pissed off?  Don’t miss our Hello Again Mac event reactions!  Plus: everything we know about Apple’s new MacBook Pro, and the two big omissions in Apple TV’s new TV app.
 
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.
 
On the show this week
 
What do YOU think of the new MacBook Pros?  Tell us your thoughts on The CultCast sub Reddit.
 
 
Pros
 
  • The new MacBook Pro won’t ship for another 2-3 weeks, but members of the media who got their fingers on the new Touch Bar came away from Apple’s event with rave reviews.
    • Techcrunch: The Touch Bar is, in a word, neat…The strip itself is glossy. Not quite slick, but frictionless enough so as to run a finger across with little effort. It’s quick and responsive, reacting to multi-touch and the amount of pressure the user applies. It also adapts quite quickly as you toggle between different apps.”
  • Versatile - You know get Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, Display Port, and charging abilities on every port.
  • Brighter screen with better color
    • Engadget was particularly impressed by the screen on the new MacBook Pro models, calling it "stunning" when in person and "a noticeable upgrade" from the previous generation of MacBook Pros.
  • Massive new trackpad.
  • Headphone jack!
  • Upgraded GPU and processor.
  • 60hz refresh rates on 4K and 5K displays
  • Second-generation “fine tuned” butterfly mechanism keyboard.
  • Now available in Space Gray and Silver
 
Nos
  • Previous MacBook Pros started at $1299 (13”) and $1999 (15”).  New MBPs start at a whopping $1799 (13”) and $2399 (15”).
  • USB C only ports mean dongles for everything, including regular USB peripherals.
  • No SD card slot.
  • No HDMI out.
  • Your current iPhone cable won’t work.
  • Your Thunderbolt cables and peripherals won’t work without Apple’s new $50 adapter.
  • No Magsafe 😥
  • Dongles for literally EVERYTHING:
    • iPhone
    • AirPods
    • SD Card readers
    • Ethernet
    • Thunderbolt 2 peripherals
    • Displayport monitors
  • No other Macs announced or updated
  • AirPods delayed
  • 13" Macbook Air not updated but will continue to be sold for time being.  11” retired.
  • So long non-retina MacBook Pro.
  • Previous gen MacBook Pro with Intel graphics still for sale but at the same price.
 
Apple’s TV app doesn’t work with the two best streaming services
  • Apple revealed its plan to own your TV screen today with a new app called TV. The new service aims to unify your TV experience on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV by taking you straight to content, but the two best streaming services won’t be available.
  • Both Amazon Prime Video and Netflix won’t participate in Apple’s new feature. 
  • Netflix confirmed "we are not participating and evaluating the opportunity”
Direct download: CultCast_255_-_Our_Hello_Again_Mac_Event_Reactions.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:16pm PST

This week: is Apple is about to make massive updates across the entire Mac line?  Don’t miss our Oct. 27 Mac event predictions!  Plus: everything we know about Nintendo Switch, and why we already love it.
 
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.
 
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On the show this week
 
Event predications
 
Macbook Pro
It’s been 528 days since its last update (average is 268), and 4 years since its last major overhaul.
We expect an:
  • OLED display bar.
  • Touch ID power button and 4 USB-C ports (with Thunderbolt 3 compatibility)
  • The MagSafe port reportedly will be scrapped.
  • Upgrade to 4K 4096 x 2160 resolution from current 2880x1800 res.
 
Macbook Air, Apple’s cheapest computer
It’s been 591 days since its last update (average is 350).
Overall design of the MacBook Air will likely remain the same.
The machines are expected to be updated with USB-C support, according to a new Bloomberg report.
Updated internals for sure.
Retina display is possible but may not happen since this is now Apple’s budget machine.
According to Macotakara, no more 11 inch.
 
Macbook
Nuthin - The MacBook was updated with Intel Skylake processors and a new Rose Gold color option in April of 2016.
 
iMac
374 days since its last update, with an average of 317.
We haven’t heard a peep about updates.
Likely just updated internals, but possibility of larger screen with curved display.
 
Mac Pro
1037 days since since the Mac Pro released.  No updates since.
Average update is 449 days.
Major internal updates expected with possibly design overhaul.
 
Mac Mini
No rumors.
735 days since last update, average is 438.
We’re expecting internal updates, but that’s probably it.
 
New Cinema Display
In June of 2016 the Cinema display was officially discontinued.
There have been rumors of a new ‘Thunderbolt Display’ that will feature a 5K display and an external GPU in the display itself so under-powered Macs can still run it.
 
A Magic Trackpad 2 with multi-touch and Force Touch was announced on October 13, 2015 along with the Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Keyboard, so probably no updates.  It’s possible we get an updated Magic Keyboard with OLED display bar.
 
First Look at the Nintendo Switch
 
 
Direct download: CultCast_254_-_Hello_indeed.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:29pm PST

This week: tips, tricks, and techniques to take beautiful iPhone photos and build a following on Instagram. Plus: the crazy exploding Samsung Galaxy Note saga ends in a strange twist; rumors point to Macs with radically new e-ink keyboards;  and an honest look at Siri vs. the AI competition.
 
This episode supported by
 
CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can get 20% off your order with code JETBLACK at CultCloth.co.
 
And check out Cult of Mac’s new, free fitness eBook! This ebook is your practical how-to guide, covering step by step everything you need to know about getting fit with Apple’s devices.
 
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 - Freedom of choice!
 
Earin wireless earbuds
 
Apple may be working on keyboard with e-ink display keys
Buster
  • A Redditor namede Foxconninsider recently posted about a new Smart Keyboard claimed to be a working e-ink keyboard prototype potentially coming to both iMac and MacBook devices sometime in 2018.  
  • The Guardian is now corroborating the keyboard with a claim that Apple CEO, Tim Cook has met with Sonder founder Serra-Martins in while in China.
 
Samsung mercifully puts Galaxy Note 7 out of its misery
  • Samsung has permanently stopped production of its once-acclaimed new smartphone flagship. Owners will be able to return their phones for a refund or to swap it out for another Samsung device.
  • The handset was allegedly rushed to market due to Samsung’s confidence that the iPhone 7 would turn out to be a box office dud.
 
LOL: Galaxy Note 7 return kit includes fire-proof box and gloves
  • If you bought your Note online from Samsung,returning it could be tricky. In the United Kingdom, the Post Office won’t even accept packages that contain the device.
  • Fortunately, Samsung has a solution. Its special Note 7 return kit was designed with explosions in mind, and it includes thermally-insulated packaging with a ceramic fiber paper lining, and gloves that ensure you won’t suffer burns while handling the device.
 
Mossberg: Why does Siri seem so dumb?
  • When was the last time Siri delighted you with a satisfying and surprising answer or action?
  • Siri started as an iOS app in 2009, then was purchased by Apple and introduced again in the iPhone 4S
  • It seems to me that Apple has wasted its lead with Siri. And now Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook and others are on the march
  • If you try and treat Siri like a truly intelligent assistant, aware of the wider world, it often fails
  • (Weather on Crete, Presidential Nominees) Google Now, on the same Apple devices, using the same voice input, answered every one of these questions clearly and correctly
  • Siri is too limited and unreliable to be an effective weapon for Apple in the coming AI wars. It seems stagnant
Direct download: CultCast_253_-_Eatercising.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:32am PST

This week: revamped iPads coming this spring; Apple lays the groundwork for the next era of personal technology; how smart homes get hacked; Google’s Pixel phone vs. iPhone 7; and we reveal our favorite new iOS and Mac apps!
 
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.
Easiest
 
Casper’s American-made mattresses have just the right amount of memory foam and latex, and people everywhere love them.  Learn why at Casper.com/cultcast and get $50 towards any mattress with code "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
 
Intro - Do you even scan, bro?
 
We’re glad to see they’re putting them to good use
 
Replacement Galaxy Note 7 catches fire on a plane
  • Southwest Airlines was forced to evacuate a flight from Louisville to Baltimore this morning before it hit the runway, thanks to a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone that caught fire.
  • The owner of the Galaxy Note 7 said he got the new phone on September 21st at an AT&T store. Before the flight left the gate, the owner says he powered it down and put it in his pocket when it started smoking.
  • Thick grey-green smoke poured out of the device after the owner dropped it on the floor. In a matter of moments it had burned through the plane’s carpet.
  • “All passengers and crew exited the plane via the main cabin door and no injuries were reported,”
 
 
With new hardware trio, Google makes major play for your home
  • During an event in San Francisco today, Google unveiled a new Wi-Fi router, an improved Chromecast with 4K support, and a new Google Home device that’s a lot like Amazon’s Echo smart speaker, only it’s powered by Google Assistant.
  • Google Home allows owners to use voice commands to do stuff like play music on YouTube, Google Play Music or Spotify. You can also ask Google Home to play podcasts or news feeds.
 
AirPods point to Apple’s domination of ‘ambient paradigm’
 
Three new iPads Pro are coming early next year
  • Apple is set to debut a trifecta of new iPad Pro models in Q1 2017, according to a new report
  • Mac Okatara suggests that the 12.9-inch and 7.9-inch iPad Pros will get the same 12MP iSight camera and True Tone technology that the 9.7-inch iPad Pro currently has. All three models will also supposedly receive quad microphones and, in something of a pleasant surprise, 3.5mm headphone jacks.
  • If Apple’s yearly product cycle wasn’t enough of a hint that a new iPad was on the way, Apple’s iPad Pro tablets both received discounts of up to $100 after Apple’s iPhone 7 media event last month. This announcement coincided with a storage upgrade for other iPad models.
 
Let’s talk about apps, man
 
Leander
 
Buster
 
Erfon
Direct download: CultCast_252_-_Galaxy_Grenades.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:28am PST

This week: reports point to a big Mac event coming in October!  We’ll tell you why we expect more than just overhauled MacBook Pros...  Plus: we remember Steve Jobs, and what made him so damned good; why the jet black iPhone 7 is impossible to find; and stay tuned for drone chat, where we discuss the super cool new drones hitting the market.
 
This episode supported by
 
Dollar Shave Club delivers amazing razors right to your door for a third of the price of what the greedy razor corporations charge.  Try it yourself with your first month free at DollarShaveClub.com/CultCast.
 
Withings Body Cardio scale helps you assess overall cardiovascular health with Heart Rate and Pulse Wave Velocity, a medically-accepted measurement that tracks the speed at which heartbeat-generated waves move along the arteries.  Learn more at Withings.com.
 
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 - The Extraordinary Powerbook
 
Long-awaited MacBook Pro update might land in October
  • MacRumors has reported that Apple is moving rapidly toward a launch of the new MacBook Pro models, with current development work on macOS 10.12.1 focused largely on preparing the operating system to support the updated hardware's new features
  • Apple hasn’t made a significant update to the MacBook Pro lineup since May 2015
  • According to MacRumors‘ report, Apple is just waiting for development of macOS 10.12.1 to finish so it can support the updated hardware’s new features. Apple is supposedly planning to seed one more beta version of macOS 10.12.1 early next week. That version will then be polished and loaded onto hardware currently being produced.
  • rumored by several sources to include Touch ID support and an OLED "touch bar" replacing the current row of function keys across the top of keyboard. Apple is also said to be shifting to "Polaris" graphics chips from AMD on the higher-end 15-inch models. 
  • iMac 352/317 (days since update/average)
  • MBP 500/268
  • MBA 570/350
  • Mac Mini 714/438
  • Mac Pro 1015/449
 
Here’s why jet black iPhone 7 is impossible to find
  • Apple’s new jet black iPhone 7 is nearly impossible to find at stores, and the shortage isn’t going to get better anytime soon, according to one of the most accurate Apple analysts in the game.
  • KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told investors in a research note today that Apple is having trouble with production of the jet black cases.
  • A substantial number of cases don’t meet quality standards for the jet black finish, which is already susceptible to scratches.
  • Apple had to create an entirely new process to produce the high-gloss black finish, which is why it’s so hard for manufacturers to get their yield rates up.
 
 
DJI’s tiny Mavic Pro drone will land at Apple Stores
  • The battle for droning supremacy is heating up today after DJI revealed its tiny new Mavic Pro drone that will take on GoPro’s new Karma drone system.
  • DJI’s new Mavic Pro drone features a folding design that can compress the device down to the size of a water bottle.
  • DJI strapped a 4K video camera on a 3-axis gimbal. It can also take 12MP RAW stills in either portrait or landscape mode thanks to the gimbal that can be controlled via an iPhone.
  • $750 - drone only
  • $999 drone with remote
  • $1300 with extra batteries, quick charger, propellers, bag, etc
  • Ships Oct. 15, in Apple Stores in November
 
Casey Neistat loves the DJi Mavic Pro drone
Direct download: CultCast_251_-_Big_October_Mac_event_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:24pm PST

This week: seven days with iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2—well tell you what we love (and don’t) about Apple’s newest iPhone and Watch.  Plus: Hissgate, explained; auto-unlocking your Mac with an Apple Watch; and if you’re wondering how to use picture-in-picture mode on Youtube videos in macOS Sierra, we’ll reveal just how to get it working.
 
This episode supported by
 
Dollar Shave Club delivers amazing razors right to your door for a third of the price of what the greedy razor corporations charge.  Try it yourself with your first month free at DollarShaveClub.com/CultCast.
 
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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
 
Let the lovely lady Lisa enchant you
 
iPhone 7 display is the best LCD ever tested
  • Apple’s new LCD display was rated as “visually indistinguishable from perfect” when it comes to image contrast and intensity. The tiniest amount of color variation, seen when viewing the screen from an angle, also yielded top marks.
  • The DisplayMate report calls the touchscreen display the “crown jewel of the smartphone”
  • One thing that gives the iPhone 7 display a competitive advantage is its adoption of two standard color gamuts: The new DCI-P3 wide color gamut used in 4K UHD TVs, and the smaller sRGB/Rec.709 gamut traditionally used in digital cameras, TVs, computers and most other consumer devices.
  • The test also found that the iPhone 7’s peak brightness can only be achieved when Automatic Brightness is turned on. This prevents users from draining their battery in a flash by accidentally keeping the slider all the way up.
 
Hissgate: iPhone 7 Plus emits strange noise when under heavy load
  • Some iPhone 7 Plus owners are reporting that Apple’s new devices emit a strange hissing noise when performing processor-intensive tasks. And no one is sure what’s causing it.
  • It appears that Hissgate only effects a small number of devices. Cult of Mac has not been able to replicate the hissing problem on any of our new iPhones.
  • Engadget theorized that it could be a “coil whine” and is likely a small manufacturing defect instead of an overall design flaw.
  • Apple looks to be replacing phones which present the issue
 
Apple Watch Series 2 review: A tick closer to perfection
Buster
  • For the past 16 months, Apple’s wearable and I have had an on-again, off-again relationship.
  • Apple Watch Series 2 is supposed to be wicked fast at this, but there’s just one problem. The device’s screen never shows “GPS” or another indicator to prove it’s connected. You just have to take it on faith that there’s a connection behind the scenes.
  • It still can’t track your elevation. There’s a huge difference in difficulty between running 5 miles on flat roads verses 5 miles with a 2,000-foot elevation gain.
  • The only way to get your elevation data is to pack your iPhone along for the ride.
  • This watch is screaming fast.
  • I didn’t notice any major gains in battery life, so it’s likely that all the extra juice is being used to power the new GPS chip and display.
Direct download: CultCast_250_-_Seven_days_with_iPhone_7.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:44pm PST

This week: should you buy Airpods?  The reviews are in, and we’re excited.  Plus: the iPhone 7 carrier deals you need to know about; iPhone 7 smashes pre-order expectations; Series 1 vs. Series 2 Apple Watch; and, Apple, the new NASA?
 
This episode supported by
 
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Audible, the home of over 150,000 audio books from practically every genre in existence.  Grab Leander's book, Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products, for FREE with a 30-day Audible trial.  The book is yours to keep even if you decide not to keep your Audible subscription.  Get started at audible.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
 
Intro - Whole Earth Access has the Macintosh you’ve been looking for!
 
T-Mobile CEO: iPhone 7 is shaping up to be a smash hit
  • According to charismatic T-Mobile CEO John Legere, reports about a supposed lack of interest in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are way overblown.
  • “So I don’t know what everyone is doing, but it’s like four times bigger than the iPhone 6 for us at this order stage,” he said, calling orders thus far a “phenomenon.” 
 
Apple won’t have any iPhone 7 Plus models for sale in stores on Friday  
  • It’s completely sold out, as is the smaller iPhone in Jet Black
 
Our pre-order experiences (discussion)
 
AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon iPhone 7 deals are bonkers (discussion)
 
Thoughts on watchOS 3 and the Apple Watch Series 1 vs. Series 2  (discussion)
 
AirPods review roundup: A nice idea with room for improvement
  • We’ll have to wait until October to get our hands on Apple’s new wireless AirPods, but select reviewers have been granted early access to help us decide whether they’re worth their $159 price tag.
 
Impressions
  • “There’s nothing to break or tangle, nothing to plug in, nothing to get caught on a stranger’s backpack on the train every freaking day. Just sweet aural freedom.”   “sit in my ears, actually better than EarPods, and remained in place even while running” David Pierce at Wired
  • Chris Velazco of Engadget writes that he’s “stunned Apple squeezed as much tech into the AirPods as they did.”
 
 
Sound
  • Most reviewers concluded that AirPods sound almost exactly like EarPods.
  • Engadget review. “In general, the AirPods gave mids a little more meat than EarPods did, and drum fills felt crisper and more precise. My test tracks… came across warmer than I would have expected.”
  • Another review wrote “I’m no audiophile, but to me, the AirPods sound nearly identical to Apple’s wired EarPods.” 
 
Siri
  • “Having Siri two taps away isn’t just the best thing about the AirPods. It’s the reason they exist,” writes David Pierce. “It’s easy to imagine Apple making the AirPods the centerpiece of how you interact with all your devices, particularly as Siri becomes more important.”
  • “Consider this the first step towards a future where we no longer have to stare at a screen to get things done,” adds Business Insider. “Siri… can always be there, responding to your queries by buzzing in your ear, almost like in the movie “Her.”
 
 
Direct download: CultCast_249_-_JazzHands.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:20pm PST

This episode: our iPhone 7 event reactions! iPhone 7, AirPods, the new Apple Watch—we’ll cover everything Apple announced this week, and tell you what we like, what we don’t, and what we’ll be spending our own hard-earned monies on.  Plus: Nintendo's big move into iOS, and how to lock down the exact iPhone you want when the pre-orders go live..
 
This episode supported by
 
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.
 
And our thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
Shot on iPhone - Tim Cook’s exquisite football photo
Direct download: CultCast_248_-_iPhone_7_event_reactions.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:28pm PST

This week: what new hardware will Apple bestow upon us at the iPhone 7 event next week?  Don’t miss our predictions!  Plus: new video shows iPhone 7 Plus in the wild;  and we explain Apple’s Irish tax woes, then argue about it.
 
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.
Easiest
 
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
 
What do you think we’ll see at Apple’s iPhone 7 event?  Join us on Reddit!
 
Intro, who needs a desk?
 
Apple sends out invites for iPhone 7 event on September 7
  • Apple just sent out press invitation to a special event to be held September 7 at 10 a.m. Pacific. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are expected to be unveiled at the event.
  • dual-lens camera on the iPhone 7 Plus could be the most groundbreaking new feature added this year. Other additions are likely to include a new pressure-sensitive Touch ID button, a faster A10 processor, an improved camera on the iPhone 7 Plus, and a new casing with fewer antenna lines. The iPhone 7 will also boast faster LTE, a bigger battery and more.
 
Apple will package Lightning EarPods and adapter with iPhone 7
  • A new image circulating online, purporting to be insert documentation for the upcoming iPhone 7, appears to confirm that Apple will be bundling Lightning EarPods as part of its next-gen handsets.
 
New video shows working iPhone 7 Plus in the wild
  • Notorious Apple leaker Sonny Dickson posted a short video of the three plus-size iPhones this morning, confirming many of the rumors that have claimed this year’s update won’t contain any huge design changes.
  • The back of the iPhone 7 Plus in Dickson’s video reveals that the device will indeed come with a highly anticipated dual-lens camera, though it won’t pick up a Smart Connector
 
Tim Cook: Apple’s tax bill will have a ‘harmful’ effect on investment in EU
  • Tim Cook has written an open letter addressing Apple’s enormous tax bill
  • The European Union recently ruled that Apple owes  €13 billion ($14.52 billion) in back taxes
  • Cook also states that suggestions Apple has an illegal sweetheart deal in Ireland, “has no basis in fact or in law,” confirms Apple will appeal the European Commission’s ruling
  • The Irish government has said it is happy with its tax arrangement with Apple and doesn’t want the money.
  • Ireland’s finance ministry has sided with Apple, and said it “disagrees profoundly” with the decision.
  • The European Commission's issue is really not with Apple but with Ireland.
  • The commission is not a tax authority; instead, its job is to maintain fairness between the EU member states.
  • Countries are able to set their own tax rates, but country can’t offer something special that's seen as benefiting an individual company.
  • In 1991,  Ireland (who’s economy was struggling) signed off on a plan in which Apple would move money to a stateless "head office”.
  • "Apple entered into a deal with Ireland to not pay tax on all those profits,” and Apple paid "an arbitrarily small amount to Ireland in return for a promise to keep jobs in Ireland.” (The kept 6000 there.)
  • Low corporate tax was one way Ireland improved its economy and attracted big companies, and Apple was one of the early companies to benefit.
Direct download: CultCast_247_-_Kahney_s_Shady_Banana_Tree_Holdings_LTD.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:28pm PST

This week:  You’ve heard of Samsung’s Galaxy Edge… but is an iPhone 8 Plus Edge on the way?  Some respected analysts say yes.  Plus: iPhone 7 Plus with dual lens was just spotted on the streets; iOS 9.3.5 fixes one of the most invasive iOS exploits to date; Tim Cook just made FAT STACKS of cash; and if the rumors prove true, Apple is working on a new social network… to take on Snap Chat.  No, seriously.
 
This episode supported by
 
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.
 
And our thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
Drink it in, my friends
 
Galaxy Note 7 vs iPhone 6S Speed Test
 
Taiwanese superstar posts picture of himself using iPhone 7 Plus
  • Taiwanese actor and singer Jimmy Lin has been photographed using what appears to be a new iPhone 7 Plus, complete with its rumored dual-lens camera and LED flash.
  • Lin previously managed to get his hands on advance units of the iPhone 5 in 2012 and iPhone 6 in 2014 — both of which turned out to be the real deal.
 
Apple's 2017 Curved OLED iPhone to Be a New Premium Model
  • Apple is planning to release at least three new iPhones next year, including a high-end model with a 5.5-inch-or-larger OLED display that is curved on both sides like Samsung's Galaxy S7 edge, according to Nikkei
  • Ming Chi Kuo's research note this week outlined three new iPhone models are coming, including LCD-based 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models and a high-end OLED-based 5.8-inch model, as one possibility providing supply of AMOLED displays is sufficient. 
 
Apple rolls out iOS 9.3.5 to beef up security [Update]
  • iOS 9.3.5 fixes a serious vulnerability that allows our devices to be snooped on. Software created by Israeli company NSO Group took advantage of the hole to read text messages and emails, to record calls, and to steal contacts.
Tim Cook just unlocked a monstrous bonus
Buster
  • Today marks Tim Cook’s five-year anniversary as the CEO of Apple, and as a reward for making it this long in the top spot he just unlocked a monster bonus. $100 million!
  • Apple awarded Cook 980,000 Apple shares for his performance as part of the larger compensation package he signed in 2011. Based on Apple stock’s Tuesday closing price of $108.85, the shares are currently worth around 106.7 million.
  • Despite the big pay day, Cook’s estimated wealth of $650 million is relatively modest by Silicon Valley standards, but he’s planning to donate most of it to charity anyway.
 
Apple could go head to head with Snapchat in 2017
  • A new report from Bloomberg is claiming that Apple is in the process of developing its own Snapchat rival.
  • The company, "seeking to capitalize on the popularity of social networks," will focus on video in the new app, letting users record a video, edit it, apply a filter, add doodles, and then send it out to friends.
  • The app is being developed in the same Apple department that developed Final Cut Pro and iMovie software
Direct download: CultCast_246_-_iPhone_8_Plus_Edge_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:16pm PST

This week: leaks point to some excellent upgrades coming to the smaller iPhone 7—we’ll give you the scoop.  Plus: get ready for iPhone 7, we have a launch date; Apple Watch 2 leaks points to the arrival of a sorely-needed feature; new models and “revolutionary” upgrades are coming to the iPad line; and stick around for CultCast Choices, the game that pits one bad choice against another.
 
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.
 
If you’re obsessive about keeping your iPhone, iPad, Mac, DSLR, glasses, and other gadgets in sparkling clean condition, you’ll love CultCloth.  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 - Things to do!
 
The Apple Store is dead
  • The Apple Store is no longer called the Apple Store.
  • Apple has begun dropping “Store” from the name of its 479 retail locations worldwide, so they are now referred to simply as “Apple.”
  • The store pages on Apple’s website now refer to its locations using names like “Apple Union Square,” “Apple Fifth Avenue,” and “Apple The Grove,” as opposed to the former “Apple Store, Union Square,” “Apple Store, Fifth Avenue,” and “Apple Store, The Grove.”
 
iPhone 7 may launch on September 23
  • Apple’s next iPhone could be available to the public as soon as September 23rd, based on a new leak that reveals AT&T plans to do a big “Merchandising Reset” at all stores that day.
  • The unveiling of the iPhone 7 is rumored to take place on September 7th with pre-orders to follow two days later
  • The leaked AT&T scheduling information shows that stores will need to spend up to three hours on a merchandising reset September 9th, indicating advertisements for iPhone 7 pre-orders will go on display that morning.
 
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus won’t be joined by an iPhone 7 Pro this fall
Killian
  • Japanese blog Macotakara, whose sources have been reliable in the past, confirms that this year’s iPhone’s will be labeled iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus — just as expected.
  • They also promise that the devices will bring “greatly improved” cameras, Apple’s A10 chip, and a capacitive home button that’s expected to be pressure-sensitive
 
iPhone 7’s second speaker grille may be just for show
Killian
  • iPhone 7 housing schematics acquired by NowhereElse suggest the speaker grilles on one side of Apple’s upcoming handsets is purely cosmetic to make the bottom edge look more symmetrical, though it won’t be totally useless.
  • It appears Apple will place the iPhone’s microphone behind this grille, so some of the holes will serve a purpose.
 
Leaked iPhone 7 camera hints at big improvements
Buster
 
  • While most of this years iPhone camera rumors have focused on the dual-lens module coming to the iPhone 7 Plus, a leaked iPhone 7 rear camera part hints at some big improvements coming to the smaller device.
  • The image below leaked by NowhereElse claims to show the iPhone 7’s iSight camera which appears to include the addition of optical image stabilization to make photos sharper than ever.
  • Other leaks have revealed that the lens on the iPhone 7 iSight camera will be larger than previous models which should have a big impact on how much light it can capture and the quality of pictures.
 
Apple Watch 2 will get GPS but no LTE
Buster
  • Although Apple plans to add a number of much needed features to the Apple Watch 2, a new report claims the company hit roadblocks when trying to make a major change that would have added LTE or other cellular data connection capabilities to the device.
  • “The company still plans to announce new watch models this fall boasting improvements to health tracking,” reports Bloomberg. “The updated versions will also be able to integrate GPS-based location tracking.”
 
10.5-inch iPad Pro coming in 2017, OLED upgrade in 2018
  • Apple will ship three new iPads next year, according to well-connected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo — including a low-cost 9.7-inch iPad, upgraded 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro variant as well.
  • But 2018, that’s the year in which Kuo promises “revolutionary” upgrades, which will include a “radical” change in form factor as well as an AMOLED display.
  • Interestingly, there’s no mention made of the 7.9-inch iPad mini, which could conceivably be phased out in order avoid direct competition with Apple’s larger plus-sized iPhone models.
Direct download: CultCast_245__-_Tuck_tails.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:32pm PST

This week: new Macbook Pros, incoming!  We have even more details to share on the “significant” updates coming soon to Apple’s Macbook Pro line.  Plus: iPhone 7 may get a Quad HD display and pressure-sensitive home button; Apple’s plans for a “killer” new health device; and we review our favorite new hover boards and smart scales on an all new Under Review.
 
This episode supported by
 
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.
 
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.
 
And our thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
Apple said to be developing ‘killer’ health device for 2017
 
Apple ditched plan to make three iPhone 7 models
 
Direct download: CultCast_244_-_The_new_Pros_Cometh.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:16pm PST

This week: the controversy around iOS 10’s new gun emoji;  we compare Instagram’s new stories feature to Snapchat's; Gwyneth Paltrow brings her coding skills to ‘Planet of the Apps’; we attended a 5-day Apple II festival, we’ll tell you the cool parts; and stick around for the best ways to find specific Pokémon in 'Pokémon GO’.
 
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.
 
If you’re obsessive about keeping your iPhone, iPad, Mac, DSLR, glasses, and other gadgets in sparkling clean condition, you’ll love CultCloth.  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
 
Gwyneth Paltrow is bringing her coding skills to ‘Planet of the Apps’
Paltrow will be joined by will.i.am and serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk on the show where all three will serve as mentors and advisors to app developers in the series that will reportedly act as a launch pad to exceptional developers.
 
iOS 10 adds 100+ emoji to promote gender equality
  • The latest beta build of iOS 10 seeded to developers this morning brings more gender options to existing characters like the surfer, runner, weightlifter, detective, construction worker and much more.
  • The pistol emoji has been changed to a water gun, too
 
Apple is replacing the pistol emoji with a squirt gun
  • Emojis are not made by Apple. They are selected, designed and coded by a nonprofit organization called the Unicode Consortium.
  • Platforms like Apple, Microsoft, Samsung and Facebook decide exactly how those characters will appear on the device you're using.
  • Apple is reinterpreting how it will "read" the pistol emoji. Instead of depicting it as a metal revolver, it will show the green toy water pistol.
  • In June, Apple asked the Unicode Consortium to exclude a scoped shooting rifle from the upcoming set of emojis. Unicode complied, and the rifle was scrapped.
  • Emoji are funny, but they’re also a powerful way to communicate. This move by Apple communicates that tools of violence and death shouldn’t be part of our light-hearted, ubiquitous lexicon. (the Guardian)
 
Instagram’s new feature is a ripoff of Snapchat Stories
  • company introduced Instagram Stories, which lets you share multiple photos and videos in a single slideshow. It can be shared with select followers without showing up on your more public profile. It then disappears 24 hours later.
  • It functions in the same way as the Stories feature on Snapchat
 
There's a new way to find specific Pokémon in 'Pokémon GO,' and it works
Direct download: CultCast_243_-_Bustin_a_squirt.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:40pm PST

This week:  iPhone 7 gets a new 3D Touch home button and a September 9th launch date!  Plus: why we may be only weeks away from Apple’s Macbook Pro and Apple Watch 2 launch event; the big gun is back—Apple puts Big Bob Mansfield at the helm of their top secret Apple Car project; one of the internet’s best web series is now an Apple Music exclusive; and stick around for apps, man—we’ve got some sweet picks for you.
 
This episode supported by
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
 
James Cordon carpools with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and it’s magical
 
Apple just sold its billionth iPhone!
  • One billion iPhone devices have officially been sold now since Steve Jobs unveiled the magical smartphone back in 2007, the company revealed today.
 
iPhone 7 pre-orders will reportedly open on September 9
  • The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will reportedly be made available for pre-order on September 9, according to well-connected tipster Evan Blass.
  • Keynote on Monday the 5th or Tuesday the 6th
 
iPhone 7 might not go by the name you’re expecting
  • A new rumor coming out of China suggests that September’s next-gen iPhone won’t be called the iPhone 7 as expected, but rather the iPhone 6SE — continuing the naming scheme Apple introduced for its 4-inch iPhone SE earlier this year.
    • so far it’s just a rumor citing Chinese supply chain sources. 
  • A separate report, meanwhile, suggests that it’s likely to debut on Friday, September 16. That’s just two months’ away…
  • The slightly-earlier-than-usual launch date was “revealed” by tipster Evan Blass, who has a strong track record when it comes to this type of information.
 
iPhone 7 may get 3D Touch home button
  • Apple allegedly plans to replace its physical home button on the iPhone 7 (or iPhone 6 SE) with a new 3D Touch button that won’t move when you press it, but well instead give users a haptic feedback to replicate the feeling of pressing a button, like on the Magic Trackpad 2.
  • Macotakara claims to have heard from supply chain sources that the company will indeed include the feature on this year’s model, making it a bit more interesting than anticipated.
  • The new home button design will supposedly be flush with the rest of the body, making the iPhone more waterproof than ever now that there are fewer paths for water to enter the device and destroy the internal components.
 
Surprise! Apple Watch 2 set to arrive this fall
  • The long-awaited next version of the Apple Watch will supposedly be unveiled this fall
  • Apple Watch 2’s big unveiling will happen in either September or October, claims DigiTimes
  • Future Apple Watch updates are expected to add LTE data, GPS, longer battery life and faster performance.
 
Apple puts Bob Mansfield in driving seat for secret car project
  • Bob Mansfield has been chosen to head up Apple’s “secret” electric car project three years after stepping down from his executive role, according to a new report.
  • Mansfield first joined Apple in 1999 and retired in June 2012, but just two months later, it was confirmed that he was staying on to work on “future projects.” Mansfield was then named senior vice president of technologies in October 2012.
  • Mansfield was previously in charge of Mac hardware at Apple and led development of products like the MacBook Air, iMac and iPad.
  • Mansfield was previously making only occasional visits to Apple; however, employees recently noticed in the company directory that all senior managers working on the car project are now reporting directly to him.
  • “Apple now has Mr. Mansfield running the company’s secret autonomous, electric-vehicle initiative, code-named Project Titan,” reports The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter.
 
‘Carpool Karaoke’ TV show will be an Apple Music exclusive
  • James Corden’s popular ‘Carpool Karaeoke’ segment from The Late Late Show on CBS is set to become its own show later this year and you’ll only be able to watch in on Apple Music.
  • The viral segment has been a breakout hit of 2016 thanks to appearances from the likes of Adele, Justin Bieber, Michelle Obama, Elton John and dozens of other stars who drive around Los Angeles singing popular songs.
 
Our Apps, Man picks
Buster - Photo pills
 
Erfon - Tinycards
 
Leander - Ultimate ears speakers and their companion apps
Direct download: CultCast_242_-_Big_Bobs_Back.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:59pm PST

This week: leaked codenames might mean no iPhone 7 Pro; a new trademark alludes to a new wireless version of your white-wired EarPods; forget the debit card, Apple Pay is coming to an ATM near you; and, have you outgrown Apple’s Calendar, Mail, Notes, or other native apps?  We’ll tell you our favorite replacements!
 
This episode supported by
 
If you’re obsessive about keeping your iPhone, iPad, Mac, DSLR, glasses, and other gadgets in sparkling clean condition, you’ll love CultCloth.  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
 
AirPods trademark appears to confirm Apple’s wireless future
Buster
  • it appears that Apple is definitely planning to make some wireless earbuds of its own, based on some recently discovered trademark filings.'
  • MacRumors have found evidence that appears to confirm Apple will be releasing wireless EarPods, dubbed, Airpods
  • An amendment filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office review process shows that Apple used a shell company called Entertainment in Flight to trademark the term “AirPods.”
  • Apple used similar tactics to register the “iPad” and “CarPlay” trademarks. It did the same for “iWatch” too but discarded the name.
 
iPhone 7 code names leave no room for ‘Pro’ model
  • Apple leaker Evan Blass has taken to twitter to alert the world that there will be only two iPhone 7 models coming up, Sonora and Dos Palos.
  • This would imply there will be no iPhone 7 Pro, just your regular iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
  • He’s got a great track record.
 
Our favorite replacements to the native apps
 
Direct download: CultCast_241_-_Hands_off_our_pokballs.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm PST

Guest Blake J. Harris, author of Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation, regales us with the story of the 90s video game battle that pitted newcomer, Sega of America, against Nintendo, an unstoppable force, and maker of Mario Brothers, Duck Hunt, and the beloved Nintendo Entertainment System.

Direct download: CC2ndHour-The_Console_Wars_with_Blake_J._Harris.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:25pm PST

This week: why Pokemon Go is the smash iOS hit Nintendo needed;  iPhone 7 may get the extended battery life we’ve all been asking for;  Cult of Mac’s bizarre connection to Apple’s new Planet of the Apps TV show; and... which is manlier summer attire, mid-rift shirts or short shorts?  We answer life’s most intriguing questions on an all-new Get To Know Ur Cultist.
 
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.
 
If you’re obsessive about keeping your iPhone, iPad, Mac, DSLR, glasses, and other gadgets in sparkling clean condition, you’ll love CultCloth.  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 - The new Apple IIc
 
 
iPhone 7 might finally bring the feature everybody wants
Buster
  • The upcoming iPhone 7 may pack a juicy 1960mAh battery inside its simplified shell, according to a new rumor from OnLeaks.
  • The often-reliable Apple leaker says he’s not 100% sure it will happen, but he’s right, it would be about a 15% increase in capacity over the 1715mAh battery in the iPhone 6s.
 
Apple posts open casting call for Planet of the Apps TV show
Buster
  • Apple is looking for a few talented developers to star in the inaugural season of its first ever reality TV series that will focus on the hard knock life of developers and the apps they create.
  • Helmed by executive producers Will.i.am, Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens of Biggest Loser fame, the series has teamed up with Product Hunt to go on a four city tour to find the country’s best up-and-coming app developers. The producers are touting Planet of the Apps as not just a reality TV show, but also as a “launch pad and accelerator for exceptional developers.”
  • Upcoming casting calls are scheduled for San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin and New York. Interested developers must apply by Friday, August 26 with an app for either iOS, tvOS, watchOS or macOS.
  • Apple says those selected will be given the chance to receive guidance from some of the tech community’s top experts. They’ll also get premium placement on the App Store and access to funding from Silicon Valley VCs.
 
Pokémon Go continues its global invasion this week
The game is officially available only in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand right now, but it is already a huge success. According to data from analytics firm SimilarWeb, the game already has more users than Tinder.
Pokémon Go will continue its global invasion later this week as it expands its reach into Europe and Asia.
The title has already become a smash hit, causing Nintendo shares to rocket 25 percent despite the game only being available in a small number of regions.
 
Get to know your Cultist
  • A movie we've seen at least 25 times and still love.
    • Leander - Apocalypse Now, Wild bunch, Onion field
    • Buster - Step brothers, Pineapple Express, Night at the Rockbury
    • Erfon - Star Trek VI the Undiscovered Country, Indiana Jones The Last Crusade
  • Albums we love listening to from start to finish.
    • Leander - Sandinista by The Clash
    • Buster - Explosions in the Sky
    • Erfon - Ten by Pearl Jam, Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too by the New Radicals
Direct download: CultCast_240_-_Pokemania.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:12pm PST

This week: the best ways to get your gadgets the AppleCare protection you want, but without the AppleCare prices you don’t.  Plus: the iPhone 7 may have more storage than you expected; taking over Tidal could mean CD quality streaming is coming to Apple Music; hands on with the iOS 10 and macOS Sierra betas; “the fappening” hacker heads to the slammer; this year’s iPhone Photography Award winners prove your iPhone is all your need to create captivating images. 
 
This episode supported by
 
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.
 
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
@erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / david@cultofmac.com
 
Intro - iPhone camera changes the game
 
iOS 10 and macOS Sierra betas are now open to the public
Buster
  • Apple is now letting members of its public beta program install the new software, which debuted last month at WWDC.
  • If you haven’t already signed up to get in on the betas, you can still do so at the Apple Beta Software Program site. Once you’re in the program, you’ll get an email with a link to download the latest builds.
 
Apple might buy struggling competitor Tidal
Buster
  • A new report claims that the iPhone-maker is in exploratory talks to acquire the music streaming service.
  • “The talks are ongoing and may not result in a deal,” reports the Wall Street Journal, which says Apple is considering buying the company as a way to bolster its strategy to spend tons of cash on artist exclusives.
  • Tidal was launched in 2014, purchased by Jay Z in 2015, and promised artists greater revenues than those offered by Spotify and Apple Music.
  • Both Apple and Tidal are remaining silent about rumors of the talks. Terms of the possible deal haven’t been revealed
 
iPhone 7 might kill measly 16GB storage option at last
Buster
  • The cheapest model iPhone 7 units will come with 32GB of storage by default, reports the Wall Street Journal in a wide-ranging article that covers possible features Apple’s latest smartphone will have.
  • The increase in storage has been rumored for a few months now, with other reports claiming Apple will also add a 256GB option for those who need even more storage.
  • Other new features expected to be added include a simplified case design, new dual-lens camera, better waterproofing, no headphone jack and Lightning EarPods.
 
‘Celebgate’ hacker pleads guilty to cracking iCloud accounts
 
  • A hacker who broke into more than 30 iCloud accounts has pleaded guilty for his role in the “Celebgate” leak of 2014. Edward Majerczyk faces up to five years in prison for illegally obtaining private celebrity photos.
  • Majerczyk, 28, worked alongside Ryan Collins, who pleaded guilty to his role in the hack back in March, to create a phishing scam that tricked celebrities into entering login information into fake websites.
  • They then used this information to obtain access to over 300 Gmail and iCloud accounts.
 
Should you get Apple Care/Apple Care + 
 
Direct download: CultCast_239_-_FourChins.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:47pm PST

This week: You’ll laugh, you’ll cry—wait till you hear the latest lawsuit aimed right at Apple’s biggest products.  Plus: leaked photos of EarPods with a lightning connector look better than expected; why we may never get 3rd party Apple Watch faces; Netflix adding a feature they swore would never happen; and a man builds a vibrant photography career in the world of sports with nothing but his iPhone. Oh, and Val Kilmer dances with a carrot in his derriere.  Just hit play already.
 
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
@erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / david@cultofmac.com
 
Intro - Young Bill Gates, thoughts on the Macintosh
 
Netflix to add offline viewing by the end of 2016
  • Netflix is working to bring offline viewing to its smartphone and tablet apps by the end of 2016, according to sources familiar with its plans.
  • Netflix rival Amazon Prime Instant Video added this functionality last September
  • Now industry insider and Penthera COO Dan Taitz promises that “download-to-go” will be available by the end of the year.
  • Penthera specializes in providing video downloading technology to customers like Comcast, Charter Communications, and more.
John Gruber: Don't Ever Expect Third Party Watch Faces on Apple Watch
  • [Apple] they do fancy themselves to be a real watch company. And as a real watch company everything you’re going to see is going to be San Fransisco. Now they could enforce that for third-parties possibly.
  • Any analog dial is going to use those Apple-styled hands. The capsule-shaped hands. And watch  companies typically have things like that. For example, the hands on a Rolex are instantly recognizable. In the dials are unmistakably Rolex-styled dials.  And Apple fancies itself as a high end watch company.
 
Gaze upon iPhone 7’s Lightning EarPods in all their glory
  • New photos of what are claimed to be Apple’s next-generation EarPods all but confirm that its iPhone 7 series will ship without the beloved headphone jack.
  • The new EarPods, which surfaced on Chinese micro-blogging website Weibo, swap the 3.5mm jack we’ve been using for decades for a Lightning connector.

 
Apple sued by man who claims he invented iPhone in 1992
  • A Florida man is suing Apple for a whopping $10 billion and 1.5 percent of all future Apple earnings — because he claims to have come up with the idea for Apple’s breakthrough mobile device all way back in 1992.
  • Thomas S. Ross’ “electronic reading device” patent describes a “device so designed and aggregated as to have created a novel combination of media and communication tools,”
  • He claims this idea (allegedly) to have been “hijacked and exploited by Apple’s iPhones, iPods, iPads and others.”
  • The suit finally argues that the distress Ross has suffered as a result of seeing his iPhone everywhere without the proper credit being bestowed on him adds up to a “great and irreparable injury that cannot fully be compensated or measured in money.”
  • In the meantime, though, he’s happy to take $10 billion — plus the barely-significant sum of 1.5 percent of all future Apple earnings. It’s only right, isn’t it?
 
Meet the sports shooter who leaves heavy gear behind for an iPhone
 
Erfon mentioned these Sony XBA-H1 earphones!
 
Direct download: CultCast_238_-_Gruber__Gruber.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:31pm PST

This week: everything we think we know about Apples upcoming iPhone 7!  Plus: price leaks indicate we may get an iPhone 7 “Pro”; the one feature Android phones have that we envy; and we’ll tell you what we like and don’t about the gadgets we’re reviewing—it’s an all-new Under Review.
 
This episode supported by
 
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.
 
  • Apple has begun removing the 13-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro from its retail store displays
  • The non-Retina MacBook Pro is the only laptop left in Apple’s lineup with an optical drive. It’s also the most affordable MacBook Pro at just $1,099, but without the slimmer form factor, Retina display, and features like Force Touch
  • The machine hasn’t seen a refresh since 2012, which means it’s not too surprising to see that Apple is no longer pushing it
 
iPhone 7 will have more tiny design changes you won’t notice
  • The iPhone 7 is set to be one of the most boring updates Apple’s ever released. The new iPhone will look just like the iPhone 6/6s
  • The Wall Street Journal  called the changes set to be introduced in the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus "subtle," while Ming Chi Kuo has said the device will not have many "attractive selling points." 
  • Longer Earpiece cutout
  • Relocated ambient light sensor
 
iPhone 7 will be boring, according to WSJ
  • Rumors that the iPhone 7 will be a snooze-worthy update have been seemingly confirmed today by The Wall Street Journal, which claims Apple plans to break from its traditional pattern of redesigning its flagship device every year.
  • This year’s iPhone will come with plenty of minor upgrades, but according to the new report, some iPhone 7 features that Apple hoped to integrate just weren’t ready for a 2016 rollout.
  • During a meeting with an Apple executive last month, a China-based engineer asked why this year’s iPhone didn’t get a major design change. “The answer, one person at the meeting recalled, was that the new technology in the pipeline will take time to implement,” reports the Journal.
  • The WSJ says Apple hoped to implement a curved screen into the iPhone 7 but the technology wasn’t ready. The company supposedly hopes to integrate big new features next year, though, for the 10th anniversary of the iPhone.
  • A10
  • Blue color
  • Dual lens camera on the 7 Plus, larger camera on the 7
  • Better water proofing
  • Better looking antenna bands
  • Lightning headphone jack/dongle
 
Get your dongle on: iPhone 7 to include Lightning adapter
  • The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will ship with regular 3.5mm EarPods, according to a new report from Macotakara that claims Apple will include a 3.5mm to Lightning Adapter so you’re not force to buy new headphones with your new iPhone.
  • The report also claims that by removing the headphone jack on the iPhone 7, Apple will add a row of speaker holes on the right side.
 
iPhone 7 price leak promises Pro model, 256GB of storage
  • An alleged price list for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7 series suggests there will be a high-end “Pro” model after all. Fans could also get 256GB storage options, while 32GB of storage could become the minimum.
  • According to an iPhone 7 price list posted on Chinese micro-blogging network Weibo, there will be an iPhone 7 Pro in Apple’s lineup this fall.
Direct download: CultCast_237_-_Point_n_shoots_bro.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:31pm PST

This week: it's our WWDC 2016 reactions!  Plus: all the WWDC announcements worth getting excited about; the best hidden OS features not mentioned on stage; more confirmation that a Macbook Pro with OLED touch bar is imminent; and a very strange iPhone 7 rumor surfaces.
 
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.
 
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
 
  • According to a display leak from Mobipicker, a new home button will become part of the iPhone’s cover glass. It should will contain a Touch ID sensor for fingerprint scanning and will still be surrounded by a ring — but it won’t be made of metal.
  • Sources speaking to Mobipicker, say the new home button will continue to offer various functions, including tap and hold for Siri, and a double-tap for multitasking.
 
Clues in macOS Sierra point to OLED touch bar for MacBook Pro
  • Source code in the first beta build of macOS Sierra hints that Apple plans to add support for an OLED touchpad, seemingly confirming the accuracy of the leaked MacBook Pro photos Cult of Mac published last month.
  • Some new API changes hidden inside the source code for the next version of macOS also reveal Touch ID is in the works as well for Apple desktops.
  • The new APIs were spotted by Mac Generation and suggest that the rumored OLED touch bar on the next-gen MacBook Pro will dynamically adjust to show system information and soft keys related to other applications.
 
Photographers rejoice! iOS 10 lets you snap RAW images
  • For the first time ever, Apple is finally bringing RAW image files to the Camera app in iOS 10 
  • iOS 10’s RAW image capture is only available via the rear camera and you can’t use image stabilization when shooting RAW, but Apple did add the ability to shoot RAW + JPEG on a single snap and bracketed shooting.
 
Siri comes to Mac and opens up to developers
  • For the first time, Siri will be available on the Mac and will be opened to third-party developers on iOS.
  • Siri will be opened up to third-party developers on iOS. Developers will be able to use Siri for a number of tasks, including:
    • Messaging — send messages with apps like iMessage and Slack.
    • Ride hailing — call for a ride on Uber or Lyft.
    • Photo Search — search for images on Web or apps like Pinterest.
    • Workouts — Siri can call up workouts.
    • Payments — Siri can send payments to friends, say, in various payment apps.
    • VOIP calling — Siri can make VOIP calls in apps like Vonage and Skype.
    • Car — works with CarPlay.
    • Siri API limited to these  types of apps.
 
Concept imagines the magic of MacBook Pro’s OLED touch bar
 
MacBook Pro concept shows how useful an OLED touchpad will be
 
Everything from WWDC 2016 worth getting excited about
Leander
 
 
Direct download: CultCast_236_-_When_the_curtains_close....mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:58pm PST

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 PST

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 PST

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 PST

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 PST

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 PST

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 PST

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 PST

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 PST

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 PST

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 PST

CultCast #225 - Burrito Beard
 
This week: rumors point to an iPhone 7s with drastic redesign, facial recognition, and the return to a glass front and back.  Plus: folks around the world line up for the Tesla  Model 3; Apple’s making a show about apps hosted by megastar Willie AM; why the new iPad Pro is not a notebook replacement for the masses; in a bizarre plot twist, Apple seeks FBI’s iPhone unlocking secrets; and we’ll tell you why Cadbury Eggs are the worst thing ever on an all-new Get To Know Ur Cultist.
 
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!
 
Harry’s super-sharp, German-made razors ship free right to your door and for way less than the drugstore razors. Learn more at Harrys.com and save $5 off your first order with code CultCast.
 
On the show this week
 
Intro: Exotic Destinations
 
Review Roundup: 9.7 iPad Pro is a 'Powerful' Laptop Replacement for Casual Users
 
 
FBI cracks San Bernardino iPhone without Apple’s help
 
Apple wants the FBI to reveal how it hacked the San Bernardino killer's iPhone
 
Direct download: CultCast_225_-_Burrito_Beard.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:34pm PST

This week:  Apples new iPhone SE in an insane value; the significant differences between the big and small iPad Pros; more evidence affirms major Macbook Pro redesigns in June;  future keynotes need more Yak; and the cool features in the new tvOS 9.2 update.
 
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!
 
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
 
Intro: Macs do more and cost less!
 
New ultra-thin MacBooks rumored to arrive in June
 
What Apple product launches say about Tim Cook’s leadership
 
Apple Special Event in 90 Seconds
 
Direct download: CultCast_224_-_No_more_dongles.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:59pm PST

This week:  will we see new Macs?  Will there a One More Thing??  These are our March 21st Apple event predictions and expectations…  Plus: how Instagram is about to be ruined; reports of an Apple Car price and ship date surface; why pirates are excited for the AyeCar; and some new iPhone 7 leaks echo familiar rumors...
 
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.
 
Harry’s super-sharp, German-made razors ship free right to your door and for way less than the drugstore razors. Learn more at Harrys.com and save $5 off your first order with code 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
 
Intro - Maybe people won’t get along in the future, but our Macs will
 
 
Apple Car may ship in 2021, with a price tag of $75,000
 
iPhone 7’s redesigned antenna band revealed in leaked photo
 
This could be our first look at the iPhone 7
 
Everything Apple will announce at its March 21 keynote
Direct download: CultCast_223.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:58pm PST

This week: it’s official, Apple is gonna “loop us in” at their March 21 press event.  Join us as we decode the mysterious event invitation.  Plus:  some new leaks give us glimpses at the iPhone SE and iPhone 7 designs; why Apple’s new Spaceship campus is clearly home to a future post-apocalyptic battle colosseum; and we share the stuff we’re embarrassed to secretly love in an all-new Get To Know Ur Cultist.
 
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!
 
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’s March 21 event promises to ‘Loop you in’
 
iPhone 7 case hints at stereo speakers, no headphone jack
 
Upcoming iPhone SE may look just like an iPhone 5s
 
Close up with Apple’s new spaceship campus Theatre
 
Intro: Where are all the robots?
 
Erfon never chokes back the tears watching Meet Joe Black
 
Buster wants to hand out the Bachelor rose
 
This scene from Scrooged made Leander WEEP!
 
You need to try these.  Alone.  In your car.
Direct download: CultCast_222_-_Secret_man-tears.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:34pm PST

This week: rumors point to an insanely thin iPhone 7, but is that what we want?  Plus: our list of top, most-wanted iPhone 7 features; why only some of us are excited for iPhone SE; why the new iPad could have a killer new camera; and if want to hear Leander complain about Mariah Carey and Maroon 5, stay tuned for Leander Loves Pop!
 
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.
 
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!
 
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 - They finally figured out a way to make PCs easy to use!
 
Is this Drake??
 
Whitney Houston was a national treasure!
 
Rosanne Bar… well
 
This is basically Buster Heine’s theme song
 
Check out Rob Roy for some great “kilt action"
 
Apple event for iPhone SE, new iPad to take place March 21
 
Direct download: CultCast_221_-_Great_kilt_action.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:36pm PST

This week: with the FBI vs. Apple battle heating up, some lawyers say Tim Cook could land in jail; why Siri in the next version of OS X may point to redesigned MacBooks;  and, just how much would you pay for a box of Steve Job’s old crap?  Plus we pitch you our favorite tech and apps in an all-new Faves 'N Raves!
 
This episode supported by
 
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
 
This week’s intro: you need a family computer
 
Steve Jobs’s smelly old sandals just sold at auction
 
Siri-ously? Apple’s virtual assistant finally coming to Mac
 
 
From Fines To Jail Time: How Apple Could Be Punished For Defying FBI
 
Congressional ‘Crypto Commission’ may tackle Apple vs FBI debate - buster
 
Apple believes Congress should decide iPhone privacy case
 
Direct download: CultCast_220_-_Before_and_after.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:51pm PST

This week: major Macbook Pro and Air redesigns may be coming in June; the magic of the MagSafe adapter; the best Mac for college; Apple vs. the FBI; Apple explains "Error 53” and offers up a fix; and stay tuned for our favorite shows and apps in an all new What We’re Into!
 
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.
 
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!
 
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
 
A Mac is all you need!
 
Check the swagger level in listener Josh Holme's twitter profile!
 
Snowden says Apple security case is most important issue in a decade
 
How Apple could hack terrorist’s iPhone for FBI (if it wanted to)
Direct download: CultCast_219_-_Redesigned_Macbook_Pros_in_June_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:39pm PST

This week: neighbors complain of peculiar “motor noises" emanating from Apple’s secret auto labs; the strange error that’s bricking iPhones everywhere (and how to avoid it); and, has Apple lost their way?  Some pundits are arguing Cupertino needs to shape up and start shipping better products.  We discuss!
 
This episode supported by
 
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!
 
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!
 
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 - Alan Greenspan recommends the Apple IIc
 
‘Motor noises’ complaint at Apple’s auto campus fuels speculation
 
Direct download: CultCast_218_-_The_Beak_made_im_do_it.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:16pm PST

This week: new hardware, incoming! We’ll tell you our expectations of Apple’s rumored March 2016 event.  Plus, why the next iPad Air could be the best one yet; iPhone 7 may have far fewer features than expected; and, is Apple making a move into virtual reality?
 
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
 
This Coldplay music video makes Leander angry!
 
The amazing Word Lens app is now Google Translate
 
Apple plans March 15th event for iPad Air 3 and iPhone 5se unveiling
 
Schematic reveals iPad Air 3 will be slightly thicker than iPad Air 2
 
Apple Watch may get an ‘S’ upgrade in March
 
iPhone 7 design may ditch antenna bands and camera bump
 
Apple is spending lots of time at Stanford’s VR lab
Direct download: CultCast_217_-_Super_Brawl.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:05pm PST

This week:  a souped-up iPad Air 3 coming in March; iPhone 5se is a terrible name for a 4-inch iPhone; the iPhone 7 Plus PLUS is for those who demand only the best mobile camera; and why Apple is pumping the brakes on their electric car.
 
This episode supported by
 
Harry’s super-sharp, German-made razors ship free right to your door and for way less than the drugstore razors. Learn more at Harrys.com and save $5 off your first order with code CultCast.
 
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!
 
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
 
This week’s intro - Give your kids the universe!
 
The 5 biggest takeaways from Apple’s biggest quarter ever
 
Apple might unveil Pencil-ready iPad Air 3 in March
 
 
Apple may release special iPhone 7 Plus aimed at pro photographers
 
Direct download: CultCast_216_-_iPhone_7_Plus..._PLUS_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:39pm PST

This week: our legs are blown off by hover boards; our favorite ways to manage iOS photos; the new Music Memo and Garageband apps get our enthusiastic thumbs up; Bob Mansfeld is back to massage us; and we remember the hard, cruel, miserable realities of life before iPhone.
 
This episode supported by
 
Squarespace! Build a beautiful, responsive website quickly at Squarespace.com.  Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful.
 
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!
 
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
 
I rode a hoverboard around my office for a week, and here's what I learned
 
Apple introduces new Music Memos app, updates GarageBand
 
Apple’s new Music Memos app makes songwriting chimp-simple
 
$50 price bump for Trump’s U.S. iPhones is just as realistic as his hair
Direct download: CultCast_215_-_Hover_Board_Haters.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:55pm PST

This week: some useful new features are coming to iOS 9.3; the future of driving technology; the coolest, weirdest, and worst technology of CES 2016; Elon Musk says it’s “obvious” Apple is working on an iCar; and we’ll tell you what we love (and don’t) about the gadgets we’re currently testing—it’s an all-new Under Review.
 
This episode supported by
 
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” as checkout to score a free 8x8 CleanCloth!
 
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!
 
Harry’s super-sharp, German-made razors ship free right to your door and for way less than the drugstore razors. Learn more at Harrys.com and save $5 off your first order with code CultCast.
 
We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a huge thanks for all the great music you hear in today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
Tesla’s Elon Musk calls Apple Car an ‘open secret’
 
Everything new (and exciting!) coming in iOS 9.3
 
All the cosplay girls are going to want this fake electronic tail
 
Buster is scooting around on his new Priority Bike
 
Leander wants this CarPlay stereo
 
This steel Apple Watch band from Juuk is just as suave and 1/5 the price of Apple's
 
Erfon is living in the future with these home kit enabled Philips Hue lights
 
 
Direct download: CultCast_214_-_Tails_ONLY.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:20pm PST

This week on The CultCast: robot bartenders, smart coffee mugs, and the coolest of gadgets from CES 2016.  Plus, don’t miss our picks for the absolutely, positively, you-should-install-them-today, most essential Mac and iOS apps.
 
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.
 
On the show this week
 
Will Ferrel is a porn actor (and sells iPods) 
 
This supersized drone will fly you to work (or anywhere)
 
Booze bots, badass routers, high-flyin’ drones and more at CES
 
CES Day 3: Hoverboards, doggie ‘brain puzzles’ and beer
 
Chevy unveils its pure-electric Bolt
 
The Ember mug keeps your drink at the perfect temperature
 
Your movements charge Ampy so Ampy can charge your iPhone
 
Pico let’s you make craft beer at home
 
Sombabar is your home's app-controller robotic bartender
 
 
Deliveries Dashboard Widget
 
Erfon won’t live in a world without iStat Menus
 
SuperDuper! back and recovery tool
 
Byword 2 markdown tool
 
Spark is Adam’s email client of choice
Direct download: CultCast_213_-_Best_Gadgets_of_CES_2016.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:38pm PST

This week:  why 2015 was one of Apple's best (and worst!) years ever.  Plus:  everything Apple needs to improve in 2016; future tech that could change the world; and stick around for our deep-dive into The Force Awakens, our in-depth review of the magic, delight, and heartbreak of J.J. Abrams' new Star Wars universe.
 
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!
 
Harry’s super-sharp, German-made razors ship free right to your door and for way less than the drugstore razors. Learn more at Harrys.com and save $5 off your first order with code CultCast.
 
We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a huge thanks for all the great music you hear in today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
Why 2015 was Apple’s most important year since original iPhone’s unveiling
 
What would you like to see Apple improve in 2016? (discussion)
 
What technology could change the world around us in the next 5 years? (discussion)
 
Direct download: CultCast_212_-__Full_Dolphin_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:34pm PST

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