The CultCast
This week: with iPhone XR finally here, we’ll tell you 10 reasons why it’s the best iPhone you can get.  Plus: how iOS 12.1 solves beautygate; new Macs leak ahead of Apple’s big October hardware event; Ming Chi Kuo says new iPad Minis, AirPods, and the AirPower mat are on the way; and we wrap up with our favorite new gadgets in an all-new Under Review 💪🏼
 
This episode supported by
 
The National Security Agency plays a big part in protecting our country from cyber-attacks, and if you work in computer science, networking, programming or electrical engineering, YOU can help keep our country safe.  Learn more about careers at the National Security Agency today at IntelligenceCareers.gov/NSA
 
CultCloth will keep your iPhone X, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.
 
Thanks to Kevin McLeodfor the music you hear on today’s episode.
 
On the show this week
 
iOS 12.1 will improve selfies on iPhone XS and XR
  • You may remember that people were complaining that the iPhone XS/MAX cam were making them look too good.  Ugly people everywhere were very offended and prefer to remain ugly in their photos.
  • Issue was causing people to have “unnaturally” smooth skin times and reduces blemishes.  Sometimes it did look unatural, but that’s always what HDR has done.
  • Nilay Patel spoke to Apple about the problem and here’s what they told him the issue was actually a bug
    • “iOS 12.1 will fix a bug in its Smart HDR camera system that resulted in smoother-looking photos taken by the front camera on the iPhone XS and XR,”
    • What causes the Beautygate issue, Patel explains, is the Smart HDR system choosing the wrong base frame for HDR processing when a selfie is snapped. Rather than choosing a frame with a short shutter speed to preserve detail, it is choosing a frame with a longer shutter speed.  “This should all be fixed in iOS 12.1, which will pick the sharpest base frame for the HDR merge when taking selfies,”
 
New Macs spill in online database
  • The Eurasian Economic Competition database may have just confirmed more than one Mac will be unveiled at Apple’s upcoming more in the making hardware event
  • The online database has been updated with three new filings for desktop computers running macOS 10.14. These most likely refer to rumored upgrades of the iMac, Mac mini, and the new lower cost MacBook Air replacement Ming Chi Kuo has been talking about for the last 6 months.
 
The iPad mini might not be dead after all
  • The iPad mini hasn’t been updated since March 2017, but TFI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told investors today that an iPad Mini is in the works, though he doesn’t think it’ll launch on Oct. 30th.
  • He thinks AirPods could get updated during Q4 this year or during Q1 of next year, and claim AirPower could finally come out during the same period.
 
Standing in line now the only option to get an iPhone XR on Friday
  • If you haven’t already pre-ordered an iPhone XR, the only way to get one on its release date is to head to a nearby Apple Store and hope they have one in stock.
  • Pre-orders are now shipping around Nov 7th.
 
Under Review
 
CalDigit TS3+ Thunderbolt 3 Dock
 
AERZ - AIRPODS & APPLE EARBUDS SKINS
 
THE VEIL XT - IPHONE XS MAX Case
 
THE SHEATH - IPHONE XS MAX Case
Direct download: CultCast_359_-_10_reasons_iPhone_XR_is_the_one_to_buy.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:30am PDT

This week:  New AirPods?  AirPower Mat?  Don’t you dare miss our “More in the Making” hardware event predictions.  Then: 17 reasons the iPhone XR should be your next phone; the world’s largest Mac collection could be yours for free; and we pitch your our favorite games, shows, and scooters in an all-new What We’re Into!
 
This episode supported by
 
Casper makes the internet’s favorite mattress.  Learn why at Casper.com/cultcast, and use code "CultCast" at checkout for $50 off select mattress purchases.
 
A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters… go to LinkedIn.com/cultcast and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.
 
CultCloth will keep your iPhone X, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.
 
Thanks to Kevin McLeodfor the music you hear on today’s episode.
 
On the show this week
 
Apple sets ‘More in the Making’ event for Oct. 30
  • The second Apple event everyone has been expecting just became official. Looks like new tablets, laptops, and desktops could be unveiled October 30.
  • What makes this unusual is it won’t be at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, but at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
  • Keynote is at 10am EASTERN 😩
 
YouTubers get early access to iPhone XR, and it looks positively delicious
 
Time to pre-order your iPhone XR
  • Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo thinks the iPhone XR is going to be such a huge hit, he’s increased his esimtate for XR shipments in the fourth quarter by 10 perfect.
  • Pre-orders start Friday the 19th at 12:01am, so tonight! Will begin shipping on the 26th
  • XR features all the same powerful internals as the XS series.
  • The same faster FaceID and Truth depth camera system
  • The same A12 Bionic chip
  • Same 8-core neural engine
  • It features True Tone and a wide color gamut
  • It has dual sim
  • Same 25% louder speakers
  • Same wide angle rear camera with Smart HDR capabilities!
  • Computational portrait mode with wide angle lens
  • Battery life that is up to 25% longer than the XS.  It even bests or matches the XS Max in battery performance. 1.5 hours longer than iPhone 8 plus.
  • Starts at just $749
  • 64GB ($749), 128GB ($799), 256GB ($899)
 
 
World’s largest Mac collection goes up for sale
  • Roland Borsky has one of the largest and most comprehensive Mac collections in the world, but the costs of storing the collection is forcing him to sell it.
  • Borsky began repairing Apple computers back in the 1980s, and collecting them at the same time, to the point where his collection has grown to over thousand items. And there’s also printers, monitors, and more.
  • Most of the Macs are in a warehouse where Borsky owes €20,000 to €30,000 ($23,000-35,000) in back rent. He’s hoping someone will take the collection in exchange for paying off what he owes.
  • He warns that if he can’t find a buyer all the computers are going to be “shredded".
 
What we’re INTO
 
Super Nintendo Classic
 
Barry HBO Show / Bill Hader / Henry Winkler
 
Super Mario Odyssey
 
San Francisco electric scooter rentals
No links cause it’s a scooter rental
Direct download: CultCast_358_-_Our__More_In_The_Making__hardware_event_predictions.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:32am PDT

This week:
  • Why Apple’s October event could be totally insane!
  • Something very strange is going on with the Mac…  we’ll talk about it.
  • MacBook Pro Touch Bar: our brutally honest opinions
  • Surprise!  Apple’s planning to give away its $1 billion TV shows
  • And stay tuned for an all-new CultCast 2nd Hour: Siri Shortcuts, explained!
 
This episode supported by
 
Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
 
CultCloth will keep your iPhone X, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.
 
Thanks to Kevin McLeodfor the music you hear on today’s episode.
 
On the show this week
 
Mac sales declined in Q3, despite new MacBook Pros
  • The third quarter of this year wasn’t a particularly good one for Apple, with Mac sales dropping a significant amount, even though the new MacBook Pros debuted this summer.
  • Apple shipped 4.9 million laptops and desktops in the July-to-September period, according to preliminary figures from market-research firm Gartner. That’s an 8.5 percent decline from the same quarter of last year.
  • But Q3 is supposed to bring fairly strong sales, as it includes the back-to-school shopping season. Not so much this year. At least not for Apple. Its three biggest rivals all saw increases in laptop/desktop shipments.
 
Apple plans to give away its $1 billion TV shows
  • Apple’s new TV streaming service will allegedly debut in early 2019
  • Some have suggested the company would bundle it in with Apple Music for an extra fee or that it would create it as a separate subscription option like Netflix.
  • But according to a recent report, Despite planning to spend more than $1 billion on original content this year, Apple will supposedly give away its original content to customers that already own an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV.
  • Because Apple is giving the shows away for free it’s aiming to create “PG” quality content that has wide audience appeal. Apple is currently making TV shows that are free from gratuitous sex, profanity or violence, although some shows may break this standard.
 
 
How to create your first Siri Shortcut
 
This Siri shortcut keeps an eye on police during a traffic stop
 
Siri Shortcuts can now control your HomeKit devices
 
Use Siri Shortcuts to quickly send photos to your family
 
Use Shortcuts to download YouTube Videos
 
How to run Siri Shortcuts from Reminder alerts
 
Direct download: CultCast_357_-_Major_Mac_updates_in_October_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:17am PDT

This week:
  • How Chinese spy chips may be stealing secret data from Apple’s own servers!
  • Another week, another gate-we’ll you about #ChargeGate, the huge iPhone XS problem that ended before it even began.
  • Tim Cook reveals why Apple really banned Alex Jones, but can't explain why Siri still sucks
  • We’ve got another epic MoviePass update for you, and this is the weirdest one yet!
  • And we’ll pitch you a hot new electric skateboard, an uber premium keyboard for your Mac, a super portable keyboard for your iPad, and a an AI-powered bicycle light in an all-new Under Review!
  • And, in honor and remembrance of Steve Jobs, we conclude with one of his greatest keynotes.
 
This episode supported by
 
Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
 
CultCloth will keep your iPhone X, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.
 
Thanks to Kevin McLeodfor the music you hear on today’s episode.
 
On the show this week
 
The Governor’s Lounge awaits you, in The CultClub
 
iOS 12.1 beta fixes reported iPhone charging problems
  • What is charge gate?
    • Well, some, but not all, iOS 12 users have complained that their iPhone or iPad won’t begin charging if it’s in sleep mode when a Lightning cable is plugged in.
    • The charging issue doesn’t occur if the device is awake when the cable is plugged in. It only crops up when a phone or tablet’s screen is off.
  • Well this blew up this week when Tim Cook’s arch nemesis Lewis Hilsenteger, aka Unbox Therapy popularized the issue with a new video on his Youtube channel, titled: “iPhone XS has a serious problem”
  • But it turns out, the problem seems to be not so serious, as Apple has already introduced a new beta of iOS 12.1 that appears to fix the issue.
  • So if you’re experiencing the issue and want to solve it right now, install iOS 12.1 beta 2. Otherwise you could be waiting weeks until this 12.1 gets a final release.
  • “Gates’ should be limited to hardware issues!
 
Tim Cook talks privacy, Alex Jones and China in new interview
  • Appearing on VICE News Tonight on HBO, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked if Apple’s stance on privacy is hurting Siri from becoming more competitive with Alexa. Cook pushed back saying any company that says they need all of your data to make their service better is telling you a “bunch of bunk.”
  • About booting Alex Jones
    • “We think that what the user wants is someone that does review these apps, someone that does review the podcasts, someone that on like Apple news, where a human is selecting the top stories. And that’s what we do,” Cook told VICE. “We don’t take a political stand."
 
MoviePass is forcing some former customers to re-enroll unless they opt out (MiMeQu)
  • In an email sent to a select group of previous customers, MoviePass said: "Because we really hope you begin enjoying your MoviePass subscription again, we have chosen you to be a part of a select test group, who beginning Friday, October 5th will be restored to unlimited movies.”
  • "To be clear, unless you opt out, your unlimited subscription will be restored and you will begin enjoying unlimited movies again ...  at $9.95 per month, and your credit card on file will be charged on a monthly basis beginning Friday, October 5th, 2018,”
  • When Business Insider reached out to MoviePass about the bizarre move, MoviePass doubled down!  Saying it was a  "a terrific one-time promotional offer.”  "If [previous users] are interested in returning to their original unlimited subscription, they can. If they are not, they simply click the link below and opt out," the statement read.
  • Now I thought MoviePass would be out of business by now, the vultures are circling.  But they just announced about 65 million in new funding!  Someone believe’s they’ve got a future.
 
Under Review! 
 
Ace bike light by see,sense
 
Logictech Craft Keyboard
 
Logitech Keys-to-go
 
 Doto iPad Case
 
Boosted Mini X Battery-powered keyboard
Direct download: CultCast_356_-_What_you_need_to_know_about_ChargeGate.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:05am PDT

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