This week, surprise! iPads are finally coming with an Apple Event — we have all the details! Also, big news for iOS 18, capacitive buttons are making a comeback on the iPhone, and the huge Apple Watch redesign we’re all dreaming for!

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Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

This week’s stories:

Surprise! Apple sets May 7 event to launch new iPad Pro and iPad Air

• Apple just invited the world to a May 7 product-launch event with the theme “Let Loose.”
• What new features to expect in Apple Pencil 3
• Say goodbye to hopes for mini-LED iPad Air

Get 2 Free Months of Apple TV+

• Watch live MLB games every Friday, plus award-winning Apple Originals on Apple TV+. Code expires on September 27, 2024.

iOS 18 AI features could run entirely on-device

• Apple’s large language model that will power iOS 18’s AI features could run entirely locally. This would prioritize user privacy and offer faster response times.

Calculator app for iPad might finally launch in iPadOS 18

• In a long-overdue move, Apple reportedly will integrate a Calculator app into the iPad operating system.

Why iPhone 16 might dump physical buttons for capacitive ones

• The upcoming iPhone 16 series will have no traditional buttons at all, according to information leaking out of the company that will supply the capacitive buttons that will supposedly replace them.

Apple Watch Series X concept will make you want it now

• Apple Watch Series X is expected to bring a redesign, new sensors and other changes later this year. A designer created images of a concept device to showcase the leaked/rumored features.

Lewis, Griffin and Papa E discuss the state of theme parks and what's going with Disney.

This week, game emulators and alternate app stores are HERE! Also, the new camera features coming to iPhone 16, and a roundup of new Apple TV+ shows.

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

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This week’s stories:

First third-party app store goes live in EU

• The first third-party app marketplace, AltStore PAL, launched in the European Union Wednesday.

Delta all-in-one retro game emulator now out for iPhone

• The Delta retro game emulator is now on the iPhone App Store. Not only can it handle ROMs originally for the classic Game Boy handheld console, but it also emulates NES, SNES, Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS.
• Delta on the App Store

9to5Mac: iPhone 16 Pro: Four new camera features coming this year

• We’re expecting multiple noticeable improvements to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max camera hardware. Here are four things to look forward to this year…

Apple could finally fix iPhone’s longstanding camera flare problem

• Apple could finally eliminate lens flare, a longtime problem with the iPhone camera, with a new lens coating technology on the iPhone 16 Pro.

5 essential Mac settings you should change

• If you’ve been using the Mac for a long time, you’re probably used to the way things work on your particular computer. But changing a setting that you’ve had set one way for a long time can make your Mac feel completely different!
• Video on YouTube

Apple TV+ Roundup:

• Slow Horses author brings new thriller to Apple TV+
• Apple TV+ brings huge Hollywood scam to the screen
• Silo star drops major hints about sci-fi hit’s future on Apple TV+
• Apple TV+ renews For All Mankind, spins off Star City

This week, M4 Macs are already incoming! Also: Apple’s next big thing, the AI tools that could turbocharge iOS 18, the disastrous Humane AI Pin, and an all-new What We’re Into!

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

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This week’s stories:

Macs with AI-focused M4 chip launching this year

• Mac users won’t have to wait until 2025 for the Apple M4 processor, according to a reputable Apple tipster. The replacement for the current M3 will put an emphasis on AI, and will start appearing in Macs this autumn.

Apple Is Rebooting Its Search for a New Next Big Thing

• Apple’s business remains heavily reliant on the iPhone, which accounts for more than half its revenue. And sales in that market have stagnated. That’s made it all the more important for the company to find a major new product category.

Apple’s Ferret-UI helps AI use your iPhone

• Apple’s new Ferret-UI multimodal large language model could help artificial intelligence systems understand your iPhone’s screen, according to a research paper released Tuesday.

Humane AI Pin

• The Verge: Humane AI Pin Review: Not even close
• Inverse: Humane’s Ai Pin Isn't Ready to Replace Your Phone, But One Day It Might

What We’re Into:

• Doctor Who (1963 – 1989) on archive.org
• Constellation on Apple TV+
• Fallout on Amazon Prime Video

It's Movie VS Movie in an all-new VS!

This week: Forget a car — Apple thinks personal home robots are their next big thing. Plus: iPhone 16 leaks, what comes next for the M3, a big new feature lands on Vision Pro, and our solar eclipse stories and photo tips!

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com . And if you would like to leave The CultClub, you can do so at unfork.thecultcast.com .

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This week’s stories:

With car junked, Apple robots could be Cupertino’s next moonshot

• Teams in Cupertino are working on Apple personal home robotic devices, including a mobile robot and a table-top device with a moving display, according to a new report.

iPhone 16 ‘dummy’ units give us glimpse of upcoming changes

• Images of iPhone 16 “dummy” units have been published by a tipster with an established record. They show the redesigned camera hump reportedly coming to the two non-Pro models and other changes.

New iPads won’t arrive until May and we can’t stop crying

• No new iPad models came out in 2023 at all, and the tablet drought continues. That’s why there’s so much excitement about the upcoming Pro and Air models.

Redesign could give Apple M3 Ultra processor wicked performance boost

• Apple's in the process of restructuring their Apple Silicon lineup. M3 Max no longer comes with the UltraFusion interconnect. This means that the M3 Ultra chip will be redesigned as its own standalone chip, no longer being made up of 2x Max dies.

Free-floating Spatial Personas arrive in visionOS 1.1 for Vision Pro

• Apple has made Spatial Personas, a more lifelike enhancement of the Persona feature for the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, available in the visionOS 1.1 update which came Tuesday.

How to take solar eclipse photos with iPhone

• Photographing the solar eclipse is hard without the right tools. Here’s how you can get prepared.
• YouTube video

This week: Apple just announced WWDC24, a big change coming to iOS 18, hackers found an exploit in M-series chips and more of the bizarre claims of the DOJ against Apple!

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

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This week’s stories:

Apple sets WWDC24 kickoff date for June 10

• WWDC24, this year’s big Apple developer conference, will start with a live-streamed event on June 10, the company said Tuesday.
• During the keynote, Apple undoubtedly will reveal its plans for iOS and its other computing platforms, with a rumored focus on AI.
• Griffin’s coverage of WWDC22

iOS 18 could introduce more customizable iPhone Home Screen

• Apple will allow for greater iPhone Home Screen customization in iOS 18, including the ability to place app icons anywhere on the screen, according to a new report.

Hackers can exploit flaw in Apple M-series processors

• Security researchers have found a serious exploit in all Apple M-series processors. The flaw exposes precious encryption keys, and it’s baked into the hardware — so it can’t easily be patched without a performance penalty.

‘Presto,’ your new iPhone comes out of box with fresh software update

• The next time you buy a new iPhone, it could come out of the box with a fresh iOS software update.
• A new proprietary system called “Presto” will update it right in the packaging before you buy it at an Apple Store.

iMore: DOJ lawsuit says failure of Amazon Fire Phone, end of Windows Phone, and HTC’s demise all Apple’s fault

• The DOJ states that Microsoft, HTC, and LG all exited the smartphone market because of Apple.

This week, breaking news! The US launches huge lawsuit against Apple. Also, Apple AI might be powered by Google Gemini, all the details on AirPods 4, Epic’s new game store, and a MUCH cheaper Vision headset!

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

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.

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This week’s stories:

Get ready for ‘the biggest AirPods launch to date’

• Apple could launch the AirPods 4 in two flavors later this year: one with ANC and another without. Alongside updated internals, the new earbuds purportedly will sport a sleeker new design.

Blockbuster US antitrust lawsuit targets Apple’s ‘iPhone monopoly’

• The Department of Justice and 16 state attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit Thursday aimed at forcing Apple to open up many aspects of its ecosystem, from the App Store to Apple Watch.
• Extra Ordinary: Apple’s Platform Advantage

iOS 18’s generative AI features might use Google Gemini

• Apple could use Google Gemini to power the generative AI features reportedly coming this year in iOS 18. Apple and Google are reportedly in “active negotiations” about the possibility, but have not yet finalized a deal.

iPhone 17’s display could get a big anti-reflective upgrade

• A new rumor says that the 2025 iPhone might feature a “super-hard anti-reflective layer,” which is also more scratch-resistant.

MacRumors: Epic Games to Charge 12% Fee for App Sales From Alternative iPhone Store

• Epic Games in February said that it would launch an Epic Games Store on the iPhone in the European Union.
• For games distributed through the Epic Games Store, Epic will collect a 12 percent share of revenue, which is the same fee that it charges on Windows and Mac machines.

Tomsguide: Apple reportedly ‘accelerating’ entry-level Vision Pro — and it could cost $2,000 less

• Apple is aiming to cut the cost of the Apple Vision Pro from $3,500 down to as low as $1,500, according to a new report.
• How? Apple’s apparently going back to the drawing board when it comes to one of the headset's most expensive components: its two 4K micro-OLED displays.

The Return of VS - the segment where we pit one movie against another then argue over which is best - all while building our list of the greatest movies ever made!

This week: The new M3 MacBook Air is only missing ONE thing¦ Plus: Big changes coming to apps thanks to new EU regulations, why you better act fast on the new 11-inch iPad Pro, what's coming next for CarPlay, and how to pay with an Apple Cash card number!

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

Factor Meals. Treat yourself to Factor's delicious, high-quality, ready-to-eat meals delivered right to your door. Head over to FactorMeals.com/CultCast50 and use offer code CultCast50 to get 50% off.

Notion AI can now give you instant answers to your questions, using information from across your wiki, projects, docs and meeting notes. Go to notion.com/cultcast to try the powerful Notion AI today.

This week's stories:

Entry-level M3 MacBook Air uses significantly faster SSD

• Apple fixed the slow storage speed that plagued M2 Macs on the M3 MacBook Air. Early testing indicates the entry-level M3 MacBook Air delivers significantly faster read/write speeds than its predecessor.

No App Store needed: EU iPhone users can install apps directly from websites

• Initially, Apple's plan for compliance required iPhone apps to be on alternative app marketplaces, not directly available for download.
• That requirement, which brought complaints from developers, has now been rescinded.

11.1-inch iPad Pro supply shortage might push back launch

• Apple will soon debut the M3 iPad Pros with OLED screens, but perhaps not as soon as many had hoped. And a new leak indicates the smaller 11.1-inch model could be in short supply at launch.

MacRumors: Here's Everything We Know About Apple's Next-Generation CarPlay

• It has been nearly two years since Apple first previewed next-generation CarPlay at WWDC 2022, and it has still yet to become available in any vehicles. Below, we recap the latest information about the upcoming software system.
• Tim Cook cameo in Porsche event

How to pay with an Apple Cash card number

• You can get a temporary debit card number to pay with Apple Cash online in case you want to pay with your balance on a site that doesn't accept Apple Pay.
• If you have a lot of money sitting in your Apple Cash account, this can be a convenient way to pay without using your other cards.

Apple acquires fundamental AI smarts by buying DarwinAI

• Apple reportedly purchased DarwinAI, a small startup previously based in Waterloo, Ontario. The company developed software that might make artificial intelligence systems running on an iPhone or other computers more efficient.

This week, Apple dropped the M3 MacBook Air, and the specs look good! But where’s the iPad? Also, we have details on the CRAZY canceled Apple car prototypes and a folding MacBook that’s still in development, Apple’s $2 BILLION dollar legal fight with Spotify, and new features you’ll get in iOS 17.4!

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

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.

Backblaze offers unlimited cloud backups for Macs, PCs and businesses for just $99 a year. Access your data from anywhere in the world. Get a fully-featured no-risk free trial at Backblaze.com/CultCast .

This week’s stories:

New M3 MacBook Air gets big specs boost with same awesome battery life

• The 2024 MacBook Air lineup launched Monday by Apple runs on the company’s M3 chip, bringing a significant performance boost to the laptop.

Early benchmarks show M3 chip gives MacBook Air hefty performance boost

• Early benchmark scores found by mysmartprice show that the new Air scored 12,020 on the Geekbench multicore test. That’s 25% better than the M2-based MacBook Air earned on the same test, and 45% better than the M1 version from 2020.

MacBook with 20-inch folding screen still on track for release

• The product has been on the drawing board for quite some time, but isn’t scheduled for release until 2027.
• The (cancelled) Microsoft Surface Neo

How indecision and hubris killed the Apple car

• The history of the Apple car is littered with wild prototypes, astonishing hubris and a deadly dose of crippling indecision, according to a damning report that offers the best picture yet of the secretive Project Titan.

Get ready for new MacBooks and iPads at Apple March event

• Another product we can expect in the pipeline is the OLED iPad Pro and the first 12.9-inch iPad Air.

EU fines Apple 1.8 billion euros over ‘abusive’ treatment of Spotify

• The European Commission fined Apple more than 1.8 billion euros Monday for “abusing its dominant position on the market for the distribution of music streaming apps.â€
• Apple calls Epic Games ‘untrustworthy,’ blocks Fortnite rerelease in EU

Try these exciting iOS 17.4 features on your iPhone now

• Apple just dropped iOS 17.4, bringing a plethora of new features — some of which fundamentally change how the iPhone works.
• Monarch: Budget and track money

D. Griffin Jones is joined by Allison McDaniel to talk more about Mac gaming, what games she's playing, what gear we use and the Stardew Valley speedrunning scene.

Remember that you can support The CultCast at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com and you can employ Allison McDaniel as a writer and digital marketing specialist.

Links:

• Allison McDaniel on LinkedIn
• Allison's writing on The Punished Backlog
• Stardew Valley on Steam
• The Sims 4 for Mac
• The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog on Steam
• Mini Motorways on Apple Arcade
• Pocket Card Jockey on Apple Arcade
• Stray on Mac App Store
• Resident Evil Village on Mac App Store
• Lies of P on Mac App Store
• Baldur's Gate 3 on Steam
• Asphalt 8: Airborne on Apple Arcade
• 8BitDo controllers
• Onn gaming mouse
• Satechi X3 Slim keyboard

After 10 years and 10 billion dollars, Apple finally calls it quits on the Apple car. What happened!? Plus: Apple's FineWoven cases are aging like milk, how to set up the best Mac screen saver, the future for Apple Arcade, and what comes next for Vision Pro.

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

Notion AI can now give you instant answers to your questions, using information from across your wiki, projects, docs and meeting notes. Go to notion.com/cultcast to try the powerful Notion AI today.

This week's stories:

Apple car crashes to a halt

• In a somewhat shocking development, Apple reportedly completely canceled all development on its self-driving car program on Tuesday. The company is shifting its emphasis to artificial intelligence, instead.
• Lewis Wallace: Killing the Apple car is depressing and sad
• The New York Times: Behind Apple's Doomed Car Project: False Starts and Wrong Turns
• D. Griffin Jones: Canceling the Apple car is a sensible move we should celebrate

MacRumors: Not-So-FineWoven iPhone Case 'Browning Like a Rotten Banana'

• Apple's $59 FineWoven cases for iPhone 15 took heavy flak when they were released last September for being subpar compared to the leather Apple cases they replaced. Now, The Wall Street Journal columnist Joanna Stern has distilled customers' ire by sharing her own experience with the case after five months of use.
• Poll by John Gruber

Apple Arcade's future: Kids win, but devs fear ‘smell of death'

• Apple Arcade now focuses so heavily on family-friendly titles from well-known franchises that some indie game developers feel abandoned, according to a new report.

How to set up the best Mac screensaver, Aerial

• Screensavers fell out of fashion a long time ago, but Apple's Aerial screensaver looks so beautiful, it just might make you reconsider. In fact, with its stunning visuals, it might just be the best Mac screensaver around.

Don't expect Vision Pro 2 or Vision Air before 2027

• Vision Pro may be Apple's only AR headset until 2027. The company has yet to start work on Vision Pro 2 or Vision Air, according to a trusted analyst.
• Vision Pro returns aren't as bad as we feared

Griffin and papa ERF list the games they're currently playing and which ones they like best.

This week, surprising new designs for the iPhone 16 AND incoming iPad Pros! 

Plus: a new iPhone security issue steals your face to drain your bank account! We’ll tell you what you need to know, and we wrap with our review of a new mic we’re using on UNDER REVIEW.

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com.

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This week’s stories:

First-ever iOS trojan steals your face to break your bank

• For the first time, an iOS trojan has been spotted in the wild. It steals an iPhone user’s facial recognition data to go after money in banking and other financial apps.
• Original Post by Bleeping Computer

Apple fortifies iMessage to foil hackers of the future

• An iMessage upgrade with post-quantum cryptography will make Apple’s instant messaging platform ready to fend off future hackers. Today’s encryption methods likely won’t be able to stand up, which is why Apple is bringing in the cutting-edge protocol.

New Apple Sports app gives fans scores and stats for free

• The new Apple Sports app for iPhone gives fans access to real-time scores, stats and more for their favorite teams across a wide range of sports leagues.
• Apple Sports on the App Store

Woah! Is this the new iPhone 16 Pro camera?

• The latest iPhone 16 Pro camera rumor comes with an image that shows a radically redesigned lens module.

MacRumors: Apple's Upcoming OLED iPad Pro Models Rumored to Be Much Thinner

• Such a slimmed down body suggests a notable design change, which is enabled by an even more significant update — OLED display technology.
• Alongside the iPad Pro, Apple is expected to introduce two new iPad Air models, including a larger 12.9-inch version for the first time.

D. Griffin Jones: Why I don’t want to return my Vision Pro

• The two-week return window for my Vision Pro is fast approaching, so I need to make my keep it/toss it decision in a matter of days. And I desperately want to keep it.

Under Review: RØDE Wireless Pro

• The RØDE Wireless Pro is a whole set of microphones you can use for recording videos with high-quality audio on the go.

These are the strategies I use to get huge discounts on tech and most of my other online purchases!

CultCast Off Topic is our new podcast that's ad-free and free for all thanks to your support!  If you like us and want to support our future content, fork over $5 a month at support.thecultcast.com !

This week, we have Leander Kahney! It's our second-week thoughts on Vision Pro — after cooking, working out, typing tests and more, we've done it all. Are we keeping or returning ours?

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and your $5 helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com .

Factor Meals. Treat yourself to Factor's delicious, high-quality, ready-to-eat meals delivered right to your door. Head over to FactorMeals.com/CultCast50 and use offer code CultCast50 to get 50% off.

This week's stories:

People are returning Vision Pro in droves … or are they?

• Many early adopters seem set on returning their Apple Vision Pro headsets. As the 14-day return window approaches for people who bought the device on launch day, an avalanche of posts on X and other social media channels point to a wave of Vision Pro returns.

Mark Zuckerberg says Quest 3 is better than Vision Pro

• Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said his company's mixed-reality headset beats Vision Pro in almost every way, despite the fact that it costs far less than Apple's device. In a short video posted Tuesday on Instagram, Zuckerberg called the Meta Quest headset the “better product, period.â€
• Tweet by Azad Balabanian

Griffin's Vision Pro tests

• What's it like working out wearing a Vision Pro?
• What's it really like to cook with Vision Pro?
• Typing on Vision Pro: A scientific test with surprising results

MacRumors: iOS 17's AirPlay Feature for Hotel Room TVs Rolling Out ‘This Spring'

• Starting with iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3, you can wirelessly stream content from your iPhone or iPad to a compatible hotel room TV via AirPlay, and we have now learned that the feature should begin rolling out at hotels over the coming months.

They Are Coming!

• If you want the Fujifilm X100VI, I make a recommendation that I can't remember I've ever done in 12 years of blogging: pre-order it instantly.

CultCast Off Topic is ad free and free for all thanks to you!  Please help us with $5 a month and get access to our exclusive CultClub Discord and maybe even end up on the show!  support.thecultcast.com

These are our hands-on reviews of Vision Pro — everything that’s good, everything that’s great, and then the parts you won’t like.

We are RELAUNCHING CultCast Off Topic, a new ad-free weekly podcast covering our favorite weekly topics!  First new episode is coming soon.

We're also relaunching The CultClub, a way for listeners to support your friends at The CultCast.

Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast available for everyone, and it helps us secure our future as a podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show.

Your support also gives us back our creative freedom, freedom to make new experimental content in the style that you know but outside of our regular Apple topics.  Join us for just $5 a month at support.thecultcast.com.

This week’s BIG story:

Our Vision Pro Hands-on reviews.  

Plus:

• Apple Vision Pro: In the wild!
• Can you get real work done inside Vision Pro?
• Vision Pro teardown finds pixels smaller than a red blood cell

Win a rugged and waterproof Apple Watch sport band [Cult of Mac giveaway]

• You might win a super-cool and rugged new Lululook Waterproof FKM Sport Band. We’re giving away one orange band and one blue one, and anyone in the world can enter to win.

<p>This week we’re talking Vision Pro reviews, the good, the bad and the ugly! Also, we have some details on iOS 17.4 — and did Vanity Fair leak an image of the new iPad?</p>

<p><strong>This episode supported by:</strong></p>

<p>Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at <a href="https://squarespace.com/cultcast">Squarespace.com/cultcast.</a>  Use offer code <strong>CultCast</strong> at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.</p>

<p>If you like fresh tech, check out <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hanselminutes-with-scott-hanselman/id117488860">Scott Hanselman’s Hanselminutes</a> wherever you get your podcasts! Scott finds fresh tech and fresh faces and shares them with you, like clockwork, every week. It’s like NPR’s Fresh Air for the tech set.</p>

<p>CultCloth will keep your Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPhone 15 Pro, guitars, glasses and lenses sparkling clean! For a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a two free CarryCloths with any order $20+ at <a href="https://CultCloth.co">CultCloth.co</a></p>

<p><strong>This week’s stories:</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.cultofmac.com/844748/vision-pro-review-roundup-magic-a-revolution-not-finished/">Vision Pro review roundup: ‘Magic’ and ‘a revolution,’ but definitely unfinished</a></p>
<ul><li>The first reviews of Apple’s Vision Pro gush compliments on the augmented-reality headset, with one reviewer calling it “mind-blowing” and another “stunning.”</li><li>However, there’s also plenty of criticism for the high price, weight and slim collection of software available when the product launches later this week.</li><li>Vanity Fair: <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/tim-cook-apple-vision-pro">Why Tim Cook Is Going All In on the Apple Vision Pro</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cultofmac.com/845093/apple-vision-pro-addictive/">Apple Vision Pro’s biggest problem: It’s highly addictive!</a></li></ul>

<p><a href="https://www.cultofmac.com/845065/lululook-fkm-sport-band-for-apple-watch-giveaway/">Win a rugged and waterproof Apple Watch sport band [Cult of Mac giveaway]</a></p>
<ul><li>You might win a super-cool and rugged new Lululook Waterproof FKM Sport Band. We’re giving away one orange band and one blue one, and anyone in the world can enter to win.</li></ul>

<p><a href="https://www.cultofmac.com/844407/ios-17-4-beta-features-changes/">iOS 17.4 beta 1: All the new features and changes</a></p>
<ul><li>The first beta of iOS 17.4 is here, and it packs several big changes. The beta build arrived just days after Apple released iOS 17.3 to the public.</li><li><a href="https://www.cultofmac.com/844445/apple-podcasts-transcripts-auto-generated-release-date/">Auto-generated transcripts coming to Apple Podcasts</a></li></ul>

<p><a href="https://www.cultofmac.com/845067/is-this-an-unannounced-ipad-in-a-press-photo-no/">Is this an unannounced iPad in a press photo?</a></p>
<ul><li>Some people think the first picture of Tim Cook wearing a Vision Pro also has a surprise: an iPad that Apple hasn’t released yet. But no. The tablet looks a bit odd, but that’s not because it’s a future one with a new design.</li><li><a href="https://mastodon.social/@siracusa/111857250562641095">Post by John Siracusa</a></li><li><a href="https://mstdn.social/@dschaub/111857513902632560">Edited image by David Schaub</a></li></ul>

This week: Vision Pro sells out in mere moments and its insane scalping prices, new Apple hardware coming this spring, and yes, the Apple Car is back on the menu! Plus: BREAKING NEWS on App Store sideloading and game streaming on iOS. What a week!

This episode supported by:

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, entirely online. Visit BetterHelp.com/CultCast to get 10% off your first month.

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This week’s stories:

Too late: Apple Vision Pro preorders sell out fast

• Seven months after its announcement at WWDC23, Apple started accepting preorders for its Vision Pro headset Friday morning — and quickly sold out. Shipping dates for the company’s first AR headset slipped within minutes of preorders opening.
• More Vision Pro headsets sold on launch weekend than you might expect
• 9to5Mac: Vision Pro scalpers used bots to place thousands of pre-orders; face check no barrier

Win a portable magnetic 3-in-1 wireless charger [Cult of Mac giveaway]

• Kuxiu X55 3-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger and Stand gives you a compact, lightweight way to keep your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods wireless charging case charged up pretty much anywhere.

New Apple sideloading rules require pre-approval for iPhone apps

• Apple gave EU developers the guidelines and access to the tools needed for sideloading — installing applications that don’t go through the App Store.
• iPhone App Store change allows streaming games and mini apps
• Apple will allow alternative browser defaults and engines in EU
• Apple opens iPhone tap-to-pay to third parties in EU

MacRumors: New iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air Models Likely to Launch in March or April

Finally, Apple car coming in 2028

• Apple still plans to put a car on the road, but the release date for the Apple car is sometime in 2028, according to a new report.
• And designers had to slam the brakes on hopes for full self driving. The electric vehicle will allegedly offer some driver-assistance capabilities but these will fall far short of full autonomy.

This week: The Supreme Court is forcing big changes on the App Store, we have Apple’s Plan B to keep selling Apple Watches, last-minute Vision Pro details (are we ordering one?) and finally, 9 cool things you can do with an old iPhone!

This episode supported by:

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, entirely online. Visit BetterHelp.com/CultCast to get 10% off your first month.

Songfinch creates a totally original song inspired by your story, written and recorded by a professional artist. Go to songfinch.com/CULTCAST to get your song added to Spotify Streaming for free, a $50 value, with your purchase.

If you like fresh tech, check out Scott Hanselman’s Hanselminutes wherever you get your podcasts! Scott finds fresh tech and fresh faces and shares them with you, like clockwork, every week. It’s like NPR’s Fresh Air for the tech set.

This week’s stories:

Supreme Court decision means major iPhone app change is on the way

• The U.S. Supreme Court effectively upheld a lower court’s ruling that Apple must allow third-party iPhone app developers to point customers to their websites when making purchases. This means the company is forced to drop its “anti-steering” rule for such applications — a major change.

AppleInsider: Apple bills Epic Games $73 million in legal costs

• Following the end of the Epic Games vs Apple case, the "Fortnite" developer will be required to pay Apple over $73 million in legal fees.

Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 without blood oxygen feature go on sale in US

• Apple is not making any hardware tweaks to the wearables. Instead, it will turn off the blood oxygen sensor feature through software.

Win a Pitaka iPhone 15 case that’s colorful, thin and incredibly durable [Cult of Mac giveaway]

• Time's running out on our latest giveaway: We're giving away four iPhone 15 cases from Pitaka. Winners will get either a Sunset or Moonrise case.

Apple Vision Pro’s Lengthy Sales Pitch Will Include 25-Minute Demo

• Apple Inc. is facing one of the toughest marketing challenges in its history: pitching customers on a $3,499 headset with limited battery life, an unwieldy design and no killer app.
• MacRumors: Kuo: Apple Will Only Produce Up to 80,000 Vision Pro Headsets for Launch, Sellout Likely
• Gurman on Vision Pro Keyboard
• Apple Vision Pro’s killer feature might be neck pain

9 cool things you can do with an old iPhone

• YouTube Video
• There are a lot of things you can do with old iPhones. In fact, it might be worth keeping them around rather than trading them in. There are all kinds of things you can use an old iPhone for.

Vision Pro goes on sale NEXT WEEK — we have all the last-minute details! We’re also talking about the strange new AI hardware from CES, AI-powered Siri coming at WWDC, and finally, is it worth it to buy expensive phone cables?

This episode supported by:

Notion AI can now give you instant answers to your questions, using information from across your wiki, projects, docs and meeting notes. Go to notion.com/cultcast to try the powerful Notion AI today.

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This week’s stories:

Apple Vision Pro launches February 2, preorders start January 19 [Updated]

• Apple’s Vision Pro headset finally has a release date. Apple will accept preorders for Vision Pro in the United States starting Friday, January 19, at 5 a.m. Pacific, the company said Monday.
• Steven Troughton-Smith on Mastodon

First Vision Pro ad harks back to classic iPhone Hello advert

• Apple’s fun new Get Ready video for the upcoming Vision Pro headset is clearly intended to ratchet up the hype for the spatial computing device scheduled for release in early February.

MacRumors: Apple 'Carefully Orchestrating' Vision Pro Reviews With Multiple Meetings

• Apple has a detailed plan for Apple Vision Pro reviews, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. YouTubers and members of the media selected for reviews will meet with Apple on January 16 for a hands-on experience, with a follow-up meeting to take place on January 23 to go over the device's features a second time.

Win a Pitaka iPhone 15 case that’s colorful, thin and incredibly durable

• We're giving away four iPhone 15 cases from Pitaka. Winners will get one of these: Sunset or Moonrise.

Ask AI-powered Rabbit R1 for anything (without touching an app)

• You can ask the new AI-powered Rabbit R1 gadget to do pretty much anything you’d normally do with some combination of apps on your smartphone, according to Rabbit’s fascinating keynote at CES 2024.

Wave of Apple Generative AI Tools on Track for WWDC Debut

• In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman reaffirmed and expanded upon previous comments related to Apple's plans to announce a series of new tools based on generative AI at WWDC as part of iOS 18, including a revamped version of Siri.

Cheap or Pricey: Which Charging Cables Last Longest?

• How many times have you left your phone plugged in overnight just to wake up and find that it hasn’t charged at all? It seems like a trivial thing, but when a charging cable fails, it can ruin your day.

This week, it’ll be the biggest update since the original — here comes Apple Watch X… Plus, app sideloading might be coming to the US next and we pitch our favorite shows, movies and stuff in an all-new What We’re Into!

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 Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPhone 15 Pro, guitars, glasses and lenses sparkling clean! For a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a two free CarryCloths with any order $20+ at CultCloth.co

This week’s stories:

What to expect from Apple Watch in 2024: Series X

• 2024 looks like a big year for Apple Watch. The world’s most popular wearable could get the biggest redesign in its 10-year history in the form of a device potentially called “Apple Watch Series X” or simply “Apple Watch X.”
• Everything (else) Apple Will Announce in 2024

9to5Mac: US antitrust case against Apple’s App Store exclusivity is ‘firing on all cylinders’

• The US antitrust case against Apple’s App Store exclusivity is “firing on all cylinders” according to the head of the Department of Justice unit responsible for policing breaches of competition law.

Inside Apple’s massive push to transform the Mac into a gaming paradise

• Gaming on the Mac in the 1990s until 2020, when Apple made a big shift to its own custom silicon, could be boiled down to this: Apple was in a hardware arms race with the PC that it couldn’t win.
• “Apple silicon has changed all that,” Keppel tells Inverse.
• D. Griffin Jones on Extra Ordinary: The Weird, Cyclical State of Mac Gaming

What We’re Into

• Griffin: Sausage with bell peppers and onions
• Erfon: Fujifilm X100V rumored successor