It's our final show of the year, and we're ready to argue which stuff ruled and ruined 2024.

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2024 Picks:

• Griffin: FurZapper
• Erfon: Fujifilm X100VI
• Lewis: Fallout
• Griffin: Romeo’s Pizza buy-one-get-one deal every Tuesday (when ordering online with coupon code BOGO)
• Erfon: What We Do In The Shadows — specifically, Matthew Berry
• Lewis: Anker 733 Power Bank
• Griffin: Trying to buy a house
• Erfon: Deciding between 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro
• Erfon: Rick and Morty
• Lewis: Apple Intelligence

This week, we’re looking at the RADICAL new design of the iPhone 17 Pro! Love it or hate it? Also, when to expect the first folding iPhone, Apple’s bad AI summaries ruin headlines, and more picks for the best (and worst) of 2024!

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:

iPhone 17 Pro Max renders give early glimpse of next Apple flagship

• With purported details of the iPhone 17 Pro Max appearing online many months before the device’s launch, a Russian YouTube channel prepared renders that reveal what Apple’s next top-tier handset could look like.

First folding iPhone could arrive by 2026

• Hoping to boost sales, Apple could launch its first folding iPhone as soon as 2026, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Apple faces pressure to drop AI news summaries after false headline

• International journalism organization Reporters Without Borders is calling for Apple to remove its new artificial intelligence-powered news notifications, following a complaint from the BBC over a bogus news summary.

Best and Worst of 2024:

• Erfon: Camera Control
• Lewis: AirPods Pro 2
• Griffin: HEETA Scalp Massager
• Erfon: AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation

This week, the 5G OLED MacBooks and iPads of our dreams are on the way… in 2026. Also, the next big leap for Apple Watch Ultra, new features in iOS 18.2, and our first picks for BEST OF 2024!

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

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

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:

Expect 2026 to be a huge year for OLED MacBook and iPad

• Apple reportedly intends to introduce MacBooks and an iPad mini with an OLED screen in 2026 as the switch away from LED continues.

MacBooks with 5G cellular might actually happen

• A 5G MacBook might finally be on the horizon thanks to Apple's plans to introduce its own cellular modem in 2025.

Everything new in iOS 18.2

• iOS 18.2 drops a huge number of new features onto the iPhone. Even if you’re not interested in Apple Intelligence, there’s a lot to unpack in this update.
• YouTube video

Apple Watch Ultra 3 might offer texting via satellite

• Apple Watch Ultra 3 reportedly will let travelers send texts via a satellite connection when cellular communication isn’t available.

Best of 2024:

• Lewis: Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds
• Erfon: Weber 28-inch griddle with hard cover
• Griffin: Apple Vision Pro with Annapro B1 case , Annapro A2 head strap and Mokibo Fusion keyboard

We pit movie against movie and argue which one's best while compiling out top 100 list.

This week we’re talking about what’s in store for the next iPad Pro, when to expect the HomePod with a screen, the RETURN of upgradable Mac storage… and the Touch Bar? Also, 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

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

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1Password Extended Access Management solves the problems traditional IAM and MDM can’t. It’s security for the way we work today. Check it out at 1password.com/cultcast

This week’s stories:

Apple’s next iPad Pro upgrade to arrive in second half of 2025

• The next big iPad Pro refresh will arrive in the second half of 2025 at the earliest, according to a new report. The upgraded M5 iPad Pro reportedly will be the first product to use the next-gen Apple silicon chip.

HomePod with a large display is still on the way

• The HomePod with a built-in 6- to 7-inch display that’s been the subject of previous rumors will launch after Apple’s developer conference in June, according to a report on Wednesday from a reliable source.

Upgrading your Mac Studio storage becomes possible

• The French company Polysoft reverse engineered Apple’s proprietary NVMe SSDs for the Mac Studio and put them on the market at prices well below Apple’s.

Apple’s Touch Bar resurrected as Flexbar, a standalone USB-C OLED strip

• Flexbar, developed by Hong Kong startup Eniac Technology, reimagines the controversial MacBook Pro feature as a standalone accessory that promises to deliver on the Touch Bar’s original potential.

Under Review: Carpod Go T3

• The Carpod Go T3 is a convenient way to add a wireless CarPlay tablet to your car — with a responsive 8.9-inch 700 nit display.