This week: Apple is entering the space game with their own fleet of satellites... but why? Plus, we wrap up 2019 with our final picks for Best of the Year!

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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.

Cult of Mac's watch store is full of beautiful straps that cost way less than Apple's. See the full curated collection at Store.Cultofmac.com

CultCloth will keep your iPhone 11, Apple Watch, Mac Pro 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.

On the show this week

@erfon / @lkahney / @lewiswallace

This week's stories

Apple exploring satellite network to beam data directly to iPhones

• Apple is building a larger research group to investigate ways to transmit data directly to iPhones and other devices, Bloomberg reported Friday.
• According to the report, Apple CEO Tim Cook has reportedly made the project a company priority.
• Apple is said to be hiring software, hardware, and aerospace engineers to find new methods of data transfer for the iPhone and other products. The goal is to reduce the dependence on traditional wireless carriers.

This week on The CultCast: From the hottest gift of 2019, to our favorite tech and travel locations, it's more of our picks for Best of the Year!

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.

Cult of Mac's watch store is full of beautiful straps that cost way less than Apple's. See the full curated collection at Store.Cultofmac.com

CultCloth will keep your iPhone 11, Apple Watch, Mac Pro 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.

On the show this week

@erfon / @lkahney / @lewiswallace

This week's stories

AirPods to hit quarterly sales of $4B, surpassing peak iPod sales

• AirPods is has grown into a massive business. How big?
• Last year, in Q4 2018, Apple Watch surpassed $4B quarterly in revenue in, overtaking the revenue earned during the best quarter of peak iPod sales, and now it looks like it may be AirPods‘ turn.
• Asymco published a research note this week estimates that AirPods could overtake the peak iPod revenue of $4 billion next quarter.
• Asymco also believes Apple will see over 50% growth year over year for Wearables.
• The research note also predicts a 51% increase y/y for Wearables and 24% growth in Watch. This results in a Watch revenues of about $5.2 billion.

This is your best shot at snagging AirPods Pro today

• Even though AirPods Pro are basically sold out everywhere, there’s still a chance you could snag a pair today. And with a simple Siri trick, Apple makes it easy for you to snag 2019’s hottest gift.
• If you absolutely want to get AirPods Pro by Christmas, and don’t want to pay a reseller a premium, here’s your best shot for finding a pair ASAP.

Apple joins rivals to create open standard for smart home devices

• Apple is teaming up with Amazon, Google, and the Zigbee Alliance to create a new open and royalty-free standard for smart home devices.
• Project “Connected Home over IP” aims to increase compatibility among smart home gadgets and make development easier for device manufacturers. It should also simplify smart technology for consumers
• This means it shouldn’t matter which smart home platform you’ve chosen to adopt; any and all smart home devices (in the future, at least) should work together seamlessly.

Get ahold of the hot new Cult of Mac book, V2.0!

This week on The CultCast: The new Mac Pro proves Apple’s still got it! We cover our first impressions, plus discuss some of the insane upgrades available for Apple’s new powerhouse Mac.

Plus, we reveal more of our favorite tech, shows, movies, and more in our Best of the Year, part 2!

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.

Cult of Mac's watch store is full of beautiful straps that cost way less than Apple's. See the full curated collection at Store.Cultofmac.com

CultCloth will keep your iPhone XS, 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.

On the show this week

@erfon / @lkahney / @lewiswallace

This week's stories

The Cult of Mac book giveaway!

Apple’s powerful Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR arrive at last

It costs $400 to add wheels to your new Mac Pro

• By default the Mac Pro ships with stainless steel feet. And that’s what you should stick with if your machine is going to be stationary most of the time. They look a lot better.
• But for a meager sum of just $400, Apple will install four wheels on the bottom of your Mac Pro that make it easier to cart around.

Apple doesn’t want you defiling Pro Display XDR’s special glass with a regular cloth

• Apple sure likes having its own proprietary version of things it doesn’t deem quite good enough.
• The same is true of the new Pro Display XDR with nano-texture glass for the Mac Pro. No, we’re not talking about the screen itself; but rather Apple’s insistence that you clean it using a special Apple-approved cleaning cloth. But there’s a good reason for it.

Best of the year, part 2!

• Choetech dual wireless charger
• Apple TV+
• Rodecaster Pro podcasting mixer
• Servant
• Roomba