The CultCast

This week: three wild iPhone rumors — a folding phone, a slim phone, a DSLR camera phone — also, is Apple TV's streaming bubble about to burst?

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This week’s stories:

‘iPhone 17 Slim’ could become Apple’s new premium handset https://www.cultofmac.com/863264/iphone-17-slim-rumors-first-specifications-leaks-price/

iPhone 17 camera could get DSLR-like variable aperture https://www.cultofmac.com/863482/iphone-17-could-get-dslr-camera-like-variable-aperture/

Folding iPhone could shake up Apple’s lineup in 2026 https://www.cultofmac.com/863430/folding-iphone-release-date-design-apple-2026/

Bulked-up iPhone SE 4 could add OLED screen for first time https://www.cultofmac.com/863269/bigger-iphone-se-4-with-oled-display/

Apple tightens the purse strings on Apple TV+ https://www.cultofmac.com/863225/apple-tv-plus-budget-cuts/

Direct download: cultcast_657.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:22pm PST

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Category:general -- posted at: 11:05am PST

This week, there’s a BRAND NEW HOMEPOD — is it too good to be true? Yes. Also, more iPhone 16 Pro leaks, public betas are out, and an all-new 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:

HomePod mini goes to the dark side

  • Apple replaced the Space Gray color of the HomePod mini smart speaker with a new Midnight color.

How to download the iOS 18 Public Beta

  • Public betas of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia and watchOS 11 are now out.

iOS 18’s Photos app will help recover corrupted pictures and videos

  • iOS 18’s redesigned Photos app will gain a Recovered album to help you restore damaged photos or videos. It will show up when the app detects corrupted media not in your photo library.

Rumor: iPhone 16 Pro to use iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x telephoto camera

  • The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will seemingly use the same 5x tetraprism camera as the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple takes back title as world’s most valuable company

  • With a market capitalization above $3.6 trillion, Apple regained the title of world’s most valuable publicly traded company.

Under Review: OWC Thunderbay 4

  • The ThunderBay 4 by Otherworld Computing is the best option if you want modular, high-speed external storage.
Direct download: CultCast_656.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:11am PST

This week, we’re talking potentially huge news for the iPhone 17, the latest changes in iOS 18, disappointing news for the Apple Watch — but the latest evidence the HomePod with a screen is real!

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:

iPhone 17 may get cutting-edge 2nm chip from TSMC after all

  • Apple’s chip-maker TSMC will begin trial production of 2 nanometer processors next week.

Apple Watch Series 10 could lack advanced new health features

Code for HomePod with large touchscreen found in tvOS 18

iOS 18 beta 3: All the new features and changes

  • The third beta of iOS 18 is here, almost a month after Apple dropped the first developer build.

Catch a scary glimpse of Severance season 2, coming in January

  • Word of a season 2 air date arrived Wednesday, along with a spooky teaser trailer.

Under Review: Wombat Willow Pro

  • The Willow Wombat Pro is a low-profile backlit mechanical keyboard that packs a full set of keys in a compact layout.
  • Griffin’s Model F keyboard
Direct download: CultCast_655.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:07pm PST

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Category:general -- posted at: 10:35am PST

This week, next-gen AirPods Pro with IR cameras that’ll do… what, exactly? We also have more details on the cheaper Vision Pro, a hidden feature in your iPad Magic Keyboard and an all-new 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

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.

This week’s stories:

Future AirPods could use IR cameras for in-air gesture control

  • Apple could equip a future AirPods variant with camera modules. The earbuds may incorporate an IR camera, like the one Apple uses for iPhone’s Face ID.

Vision Pro:

Apple will get a board observer seat at OpenAI later this year

  • Apple Inc. will get an observer role on OpenAI’s board as part of a landmark agreement announced last month, further tightening ties between the once-unlikely partners.

How to find the iPad Magic Keyboard’s hidden backlight

  • Some people complain that the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad doesn’t have a backlight for the keyboard. Turns out it actually does have one, but the controls aren’t where you might expect.

Apple Watch can detect leading cause of heart attacks, doctor says

  • The Apple Watch can detect a leading cause of heart attacks — an unadvertised capability that could have big implications for health monitoring — according to a Dutch doctor.

The 8 weirdest unreleased Apple products

  • Apple only shows off its finished products, which makes the company’s secret prototypes and early concepts all the more fascinating. Even if you’re well-versed in Apple history, these alternate-history unreleased Apple products will intrigue and confuse.

Under Review:

Direct download: CultCast_654.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:02am PST

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