The CultCast

This week: we now have our best look yet at iPhone 13, and Apple is packing in tons of great features—we’ll give you all the juicy details.

Plus: Apple packed two hidden features into HomePod mini, Jon Prosser says so long to his eyebrows, and we’ll tell you how to get your old AirPods back to working like new!

Get 3 episodes of CultCast Off Topic each and every week for just $6! Off Topic is a new weekly variety show hosted by Erfon Elijah and friends, decidated to tech, gaming, culture, and more. Join Cult Support, good friend!

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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 12, Apple Watch, iPad, glasses and lenses sparkling clean, and for a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a free CarryCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.

Join us in the CultClub! discord.gg/BrKdnSK

On the show this week

@erfon / @lkahney / @lewiswallace

iPhone 13 may boast 1TB storage, LiDAR on all model

  • The iPhone 13 will boast a maximum storage capacity that’s double that of the iPhone 12, according to Wedbush analysts Strecker Backe and Daniel Ives in a new note to clients, seen by Cult of Mac.

Leaked iPhone 13 screen panel photo shows shrinking notch

  • The notch in this autumn’s iPhone 13 will slim down noticeably, according to pictures that supposedly show the front glass panels of the upcoming handset. None of the components will be removed, just rearranged.

Apple leaker Jon Prosser shaves eyebrows after missing key prediction

  • Prosser was so sure we’d get a March 23rd Apple event, he promised to shave his eyebrows off if he was wrong. Unfortunately for Jon, his prediction was as wrong as his face without eyebrows.

HomePod Mini Features Dormant Temperature and Humidity Sensor That Could Be Activated in a Future Software Update

  • Apple's HomePod mini includes a dormant hidden sensor that can measure temperature and humidity, potentially providing the means to power upcoming features that could arrive in a future software update, according to Bloomberg.

Two College Roommates and Some Robots: How Podswap Replaces AirPod Batteries

  • Like most AirPod owners, Emily Alpert found that, after 18 months, her wireless buds didn’t last, not even for one full run. Unlike most AirPod owners, Alpert, along with her best friend, got a robot to fix her problem.
Direct download: CC_485.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:12pm PDT

This week: Apple’s March hardware event ain’t happening, and may have been nothin but a trap to catch Prosser and his fellow leakers. But don't worry, it looks like a April Hardware event is incoming!

Plus: RIP to the beloved HomePod, one of Apple’s best products--what happened!? We discuss! And Justin “I’m a Mac” Long is now Schilling Intel PCs. Lol! You’re not gonna believe this… And Apple brought a LIFE CHANGING feature to the iOS beta--we’ll fill you in!

Get 3 episodes of CultCast Off Topic each and every week for just $6! Off Topic is a new weekly variety show hosted by Erfon Elijah and friends, decidated to tech, gaming, culture, and more. Join Cult Support, good friend!

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 12, Apple Watch, iPad, glasses and lenses sparkling clean, and for a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a free CarryCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.

Join us in the CultClub! discord.gg/BrKdnSK

On the show this week

@erfon / @lewiswallace

Apple’s rumored March event may have been a ploy to catch leakers

  • The misinformation about Apple’s March April special event may have been an attempt by Cupertino to catch out the people leaking information about the company’s plans.

Apple’s rumored March event reportedly will take place in April

  • Apple’s next product launch will take place in April, not March, a soon-to-be-eyebrowless Jon Prosser claimed Wednesday.

When the music stops: Apple discontinues full-size HomePod

  • The $299 version of Apple’s HomePod smart speaker has been discontinued. The company is already selling out of its remaining supply.

Justin ‘I’m a Mac’ Long now advertises Intel PCs

  • Intel has released a bunch of new ads promoting PCs… starring Justin Long. The new ads riff on the classic “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” ads by presenting Long in front of a white background, with tinkly music, comparing the finer points of Mac and PC. Except that, this time round, Long comes down firmly on the side of Wintel.

Why Apple Watch’s iPhone unlock will change your freakin’ face-mask life

  • iOS 14.5 will be the best update of the pandemic era because it works with your Apple Watch to remove the hassle of unlocking your iPhone while wearing a face mask. You don’t have to type in your passcode every single damn time. The phone just unlocks. Like it’s supposed to.
Direct download: cultcast_484.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:29pm PDT

This week: AirTags, AirPods, iPads, new Macs? Prosser says Apple’s next hardware event is March 23rd—we’ll tell you what to expect! Plus: iMac Pro gets discontinued is a great sign of things to come—we discuss!

Get 3 episodes of CultCast Off Topic each and every week for just $6! Off Topic is a new weekly variety show hosted by Erfon Elijah and friends, decidated to tech, gaming, culture, and more. Join Cult Support, good friend!

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 12, Apple Watch, iPad, glasses and lenses sparkling clean, and for a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a free CarryCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.

Join us in the CultClub! discord.gg/BrKdnSK

On the show this week

@erfon / @lewiswallace

Apple’s next big keynote could take place on March 23: Here’s what to expect

  • Get your wallets ready, because Apple will supposedly launch an array of new products on March 23. On the docket for the event will supposedly be an updated iPad Pro, AirPods and Apple TV, as well as the debut of AirTags.

Check out Apple’s sleek MagSafe power bank that might never launch

  • Two different leakers claim to give the world very early looks at Apple’s MagSafe power bank for on-the-go charging. This will allegedly attach to an iPhone with magnets so it can wireless juice up the handset. But there are questions whether Apple can fix problems with development and actually release the product.

iMac Pro discontinued: Get it before it’s gone

  • Apple discontinued the iMac Pro, which is still one of the fastest Macs available despite being more than three years old. Whether the move means an updated version of the all-in-one desktop is on the way is unclear.

Good riddance to iMac Pro and the era of underwhelming Macs

  • The iMac Pro is seemingly nearing the end of its natural lifespan — and good riddance to it. In fairness, the iMac Pro was not a bad computer. It was even, technically, a pretty great one. But it epitomized an era of Mac design that may have been the most uninspired and directionless in Apple history.
Direct download: cultcast_483.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:07am PDT

This week: according to two accurate leakers, an Apple event is coming our way in March, and AirTags will definitely be involved. Plus: in-screen touch ID is coming to iPhone, and the notch is going bye bye… And we’ll tell you about two insanely great features in iOS 14.5 beta!

Get 3 episodes of CultCast Off Topic each and every week for just $6! Off Topic is a new weekly variety show hosted by Erfon Elijah and friends, decidated to tech, gaming, culture, and more. Join Cult Support, good friend!

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 12, Apple Watch, iPad, glasses and lenses sparkling clean, and for a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a free CarryCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.

Join us in the CultClub! discord.gg/BrKdnSK

On the show this week

@erfon / @lewiswallace

John Prosser says we're getting a March Apple event

Replacing iPhone notch with hole-punch camera makes no damn sense

  • Apple might get rid of the screen notch in the 2022 iPhone.

iPhone 13 could boast the bigger battery you desperately desire

  • In a note to investors sent Monday and seen by Cult of Mac. Kuo says the four iOS handsets coming in the second half of the year will have much in common with the iPhone 12, including the same screen sizes and Lightning ports. But there will be a number of improvements, nevertheless.

Find My app gets ‘Items’ tab for gadget tracking in iOS 14.5 beta 3

  • Apple’s newest iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 betas add a new “Items” tab to the built-in Find My app that allows users to tracks Beats headphones, luggage and other third-party gadgets.

iOS 14.5 Beta 3 Includes 'Item Safety Feature' for AirTags and Other Tracked Items to Help Prevent Stalking

  • iOS and iPadOS 14.5 beta 3 includes a new "Item Safety Feature" that helps prevent someone from stalking or tracking you with item trackers such as AirTags.

Arizona Advances Bill That Will Let Developers Skirt Apple's In-App Purchase Rules

  • The Arizona House of Representatives today passed HB2005, a state bill that would provide developers with an alternative to Google and Apple's in-app purchase options by allowing developers to use their own payment solutions within apps.
Direct download: cultcast_482_3-4-21.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:38pm PDT

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