This week: The first reviews of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 are in and they are not kind!

Plus: new details elude to a new MacBook that may be a hybrid between an MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, iOS 16 is adding a MUST-HAVE SMS feature, and an odd Apple show becomes one of most popular shows streamed on any streaming service.

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CultCloth will keep your Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPhone 13, 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.

This week's stories

M2 MacBook Pro review roundup: Powerful chip, archaic design

• The first reviews of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with an Apple M2 processor are not kind. It gets called a “Pro in name only” and “literally a processor update and nothing more.”

15-inch MacBook with M2 Pro might launch in spring 2023

• A 15-inch MacBook will debut in less than a year that offers either an M2 or an M2 Pro processor, according to a reliable Apple analyst. That could make it one of the first with the upgraded version of the M2.

Apple M2 is fast, but not faster than M1 Pro or M1 Max

• The first real-world benchmark tests of the Apple M2 processor show that the just-launched processor is about 20% to 25% faster than the original M1, which is welcome news for anyone in the market for a MacBook or iPad in the next few years.

Win a 65W GaN mini charger that packs a punch [Cult of Mac giveaway]

• The Cult of Mac giveaway prize this week is a perfect fit for anyone who needs a powerful yet compact charger. We teamed up with Lululook to give five lucky winners a chance to get their hands on a three-port, 65W gallium nitride charger.

Apple’s New CarPlay Is the Foreshock to Releasing Its Own Vehicle

iOS 16 beta 2 improves SMS filtering on Messages to iPhone users

• Apple had already teased in a WWDC 2022 session that iOS 16 would add 12 new subcategories to the SMS filtering API. With beta 2, they’re now available to developers to use.

Apple TV+ sci-fi drama For All Mankind rockets to popularity

• For All Mankind is one of the most popular shows available on streaming, according to a ratings tracker. Season three of the alternate-history sci-fi series premiered on Apple TV+ in early June, and it’s been a Top 10 show both weeks since then.

This week: The M2 benchmarks have leaked and this new chip is even better than we hoped. Plus: new details on iPhone 14, a 12 and 15-inch MacBook Air, and new 14-inch iPad Pro MAX.

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Remotely manage your Mac, iPhone, or iPad with Jamf. Manage 3 devices for FREE at jamf.com/beyond

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 Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPhone 13, 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.

This week's stories

First MacBook Pro with speedy M2 chip goes up for preorder June 17 - Lewis, and then Erfon takes the benchmarks?!?

• Preorders for the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro packing the powerful new Apple M2 processor will begin Friday, June 17, two weeks after it was announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

iPhone 14’s front camera could get some much-needed upgrades

• The iPhone’s front camera was last upgraded in September 2019 with the iPhone 11’s release. Apple bumped the camera resolution to 12MP and paired it with an f/2.2 lens. Since then, Android smartphones have added 40MP selfie cameras with autofocus, but iPhones have stuck with the same setup.

Win a multi-device charger with built-in MagSafe battery pack [Cult of Mac giveaway]

• Worth $130, the MagEZ Slider from Pitaka is great way to charge your iPhone and AirPods on your desk or nightstand. But better yet, the charger has an integrated battery pack that attaches magnetically to your iPhone to continue charging away from home.

Apple pushes ahead with 15-inch M2 MacBook Air and 12-inch M2 MacBook

• Apple is developing new form factors and planning upgrades for its MacBook lineup, Bloomberg reported Thursday. That should result in a 15-inch M2 MacBook Air and a new version of a 12-inch M2 MacBook arriving by late 2023 or early 2024.

Apple may launch 14.1-inch mini-LED iPad Pro with M2 chip

• Apple is working on an iPad Pro with a 14.1-inch mini-LED display, ProMotion and Face ID, sources suggested on Thursday. Unfortunately for folks who are already salivating at the idea of such a big Apple tablet, it probably won’t arrive until early 2023.

Apple TV will stream all Major League Soccer games for 10 years

• Cupertino unveiled a major new sports deal Tuesday, saying Apple TV will be the exclusive streaming destination for all Major League Soccer (MLS) games for 10 years, starting with the 2023 season.

This week: iO16, macOS Ventura, Stage Manager, M2 MacBook Air — our reactions to all WWDC22's best announcements!

This episode supported by

Remotely manage your Mac, iPhone, or iPad with Jamf. Manage 3 devices for FREE at jamf.com/beyond

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 Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPhone 13, 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.

This week's stories

These big surprises blew our minds at WWDC22

13-inch M2 MacBook Pro sneaks into WWDC22 with new MacBook Air

Meet the svelte new M2 MacBook Air

Continuity Camera admits MacBook cameras need help

• Continuity Camera, a new feature coming in iOS 16 and macOS Ventura, will upgrade video calls by bringing the iPhone’s pristine camera to the Mac.

CarPlay kicks into high gear

• The next-generation system is able to display metrics like speed, distance, engine RPM, gas levels, oil temperature and engine temperature.

Massive Home app makeover brings Matter support and more - erfon

• Among the many new products and features Apple showcased at WWDC22 came news of a revamped Home app for the HomeKit smart-home platform.

iPad finally gets floating windows in Stage Manager on iPadOS 16

• The new multitasking system is called Stage Manager. “With Stage Manager activated, I can now resize windows exposing a powerful new way to work with apps on iPad,” said Craig Federighi. “And the dock is visible so I can easily get to all my apps.”

Ming Chi Kuo says Apple's mixed reality headset will be announced at a special event in January.

watchOS 9 brings massive upgrade to Workout app and other health improvements

This week: With WWDC22 RIGHT around the corner, we're talking hardware and software predictions and expectations.

This episode supported by

Remotely manage your Mac, iPhone, or iPad with Jamf. Manage 3 devices for FREE at jamf.com/beyond

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 Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPhone 13, 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.

This week's stories

Analyst says Apple’s AR headset and realityOS will be a no-show at WWDC22

• Apple is unlikely to showcase its long-rumored AR/MR headset — or even demo the realityOS that powers it — at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference, according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Maybe new MacBook Air - range of colors, possibly with M2 (but that probably doesn't make sense, does it? Maybe a new version of M1?)

Win a mophie 3-in-1 MagSafe travel charger [Cult of Mac Giveaway]

• This week’s Cult of Mac giveaway is a 3-in-1 MagSafe travel charger from mophie. The compact charger is perfect for anyone with a busy schedule who’s on the go. You can charge multiple devices simultaneously with this great fold-up Apple accessory.

iOS 16 could make your iPhone’s lock screen more useful

• In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says Apple will overhaul the iPhone lock screen with new wallpapers that offer widget-like features. The report is light on details about this, but it looks like Apple intends to improve the lock screen’s usability with the upcoming iOS release.

Under Review!

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