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Our reactions to iPhone 15 Pro, Max, Ultra 2, AirPods Pro 2 & ALL Wonderlust announcements! (CultCast #612) Sep 14, 2023

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This week: we're reacting and deep-diving into everything Apple announced at this week's Wonderlust event, including iPhone 15 Pro and Max, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Series 9, AirPods Pro 2 and more!

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This week's stories

GRIFFIN: iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max pack new features, but only 1 higher price tag

Predictions that both iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max would see price increases turned out to be partly true. iPhone 15 Pro remains at $999, like like iPhone 14 Pro. But iPhone 15 Max, with its major camera upgrades, goes up from to $1,099 to $1,199.

LEWIS: Apple Watch Series 9 gets big power boost and new double tap gesture

Apple Watch Series 9 brings a faster S9 chip that the company says will boost performance, make Siri more usable, and enable an entirely new “double tap” gesture.

Erfon: Apple Watch Ultra 2 is here with a brighter display, faster S9 SiP

The front is dominated by a 1.92-inch LTPO OLED panel that now gets brighter than before. It can now reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, an increase of 1,000 nits from the first-gen Ultra.

LEWIS: Enter to win a carbon fiber case and band for Apple Watch [Cult of Mac giveaway]

Erfon: iPhone 15 adds Dynamic Island and 48MP camera, dumps Lightning port

Gets some features trickled down from last year’s iPhone 14 Pro

GRIFFIN: Apple updates AirPods Pro 2 and EarPods with USB-C

Small tweaks to the AirPods Pro 2 include USB C, an improved IP54 rating for improved dust resistance and lossless audio if you pair the earbuds to an Apple Vision Pro (which Apple confirmed is shipping early next year).

Lewis: iPhone 15's USB-C Port Can Charge Your Apple Watch and AirPods

You'll need an appropriate cable to charge with an iPhone, such as a USB-C to USB-C cable for the new AirPods Pro 2 USB-C Charging Case, or a USB-C Apple Watch charging puck (which will probably come in the box with those products)

Erfon: All iPhone 15 Models Support DisplayPort for Up to 4K HDR Video Output

The new iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15

Last-minute iPhone 15 leaks + our predictions for next week's Wonderlust iPhone event! (CultCast #611) Sep 07, 2023

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This week: we've got some new last-minute leaks on iPhone 15/Pro/Max cameras! Plus: Apple's working on the "low cost" MacBook they said they'd never make, and our predictions for next week's Wonderlust event!

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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 Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPhone 14, 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.

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This week's stories

ERFON: Leak details iPhone 15 Pro’s camera specs

MacRumors report claims the primary camera on the iPhone 15 Pro models will remain the same as its predecessor. The phones will retain the 48MP Sony IMX803 sensor. So, any image-quality improvements will come from a faster image signal processor. Previous rumors indicated Apple might use a breakthrough new Sony sensor, but that’s seemingly not the case.

LEWIS: Enter to win a carbon fiber case and band for Apple Watch [Cult of Mac giveaway]

In this week’s giveaway, one lucky winner will receive a Carbon Fiber Apple Watch Band and an Apple Watch Carbon Fiber Case, both from Lululook.

LEW-WHEEZY: Low-cost MacBook aimed at students supposedly in development

Apple is reportedly working on a MacBook with a price low enough to compete with Chromebooks in the education market.

GRIFFIN: Wonderlust event predictions!

Apple’s “Wonderlust” iPhone 15 event - let’s talk! (CultCast #610) Aug 31, 2023

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This week: we decipher Apple’s “Wonderlust” event invitation and talk iPhone 15 colors and expectations! 🧙‍♂️🔥

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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

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This week's stories

ERFON: Apple sets ‘Wonderlust’ iPhone 15 event for September 12

Apple sent out invites Tuesday to its annual September product launch event, which will happen September 12. The tagline is “Wonderlust,” so Apple is apparently hoping we’ll all be feeling both wonder and lust when it unveils the iPhone 15 series.

Here's the Apple invitation animation

GRIFFIN: What could the ‘Wonderlust’ event invite mean?

Apple’s “Wonderlust” event invite features the Apple logo in a windswept, sandy visage. How could the artwork relate to the expected announcements of the iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 coming during the Apple event on September 12?

LEWIS: Take an early look at the likely iPhone 15 color options

Apple reportedly will produce the iPhone 15 in an array of mostly muted colors. Yes, unfortunately, it sounds like the regular iPhone might be coming down with a case of the iPhone Pro blues -- boring colors!

LEWIS: Giveaway - Package deal: Apple Watch Carbon Fiber Case and Carbon Fiber Band with Magnetic Clasp for Apple Watch from Lululook

GRIFFIN: Apple tests 3D printing that could revolutionize manufacturing

Apple is testing a 3D-printer-based manufacturing process for some of its upcoming Apple Watches that could radically change how it manufactures products generally, a new Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman.

ERFON: AirPods with USB-C might launch at Apple’s September event

After nearly a decade of dragging its feet, Apple is finally switching iPhone to USB-C. The transition away from Lightning is being forced by the European Union, and this fall’s iPhone 15 series will almost certainly be the first with USB-C.

iPhone 15 + Vision Pro - the Good and Bad! + a special surprise guest! (CultCast #609) Aug 24, 2023

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This week: the good, the bad, the UGLY! We're talking what we like and don't about iPhone 15 and Vision Pro. Plus... a VERY special guest...

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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

iPhone Life Tip of the Day Newsletter Ad Read for BackBeat Media URL: https://www.iphonelife.com/dailytips

This week's stories

Leander: Apple backs California’s Right to Repair Act

After years of Apple fighting and delaying the Repair bill in various US states, Apple sent Senator Sustan Talamantes Eggman a letter endorsing the Right to Repair Act in California.

Lewis: Apple’s iPhone 15 cables could be limited to sluggish data transfers

Reports say the USB-C port in the iPhone 15 is much faster, as we talked about last week, however, the cables that will ship with the iPhone 15 series will allegedly support only USB 2.0. If true, that will limit data transfers to a relatively poky 480 Mbit/s.

Leander: Meet an Unsung Apple Hero in this free e-book

Interface designer Bas Ording is one of those little-known Apple employees who has had a huge influence on our digital lives.

Lewis: Clean your filthy Apple Watch bands, people

Your Apple Watch band could be a breeding ground for potentially dangerous pathogens, according to a new study.
Scientists found that 95% of the watchbands they tested were contaminated with “bacteria of public health importance.”

Griffin: 6 useful apps hiding in your Mac

If you work on a Mac, these six useful apps can help you get that work done faster.

New iPhone 15/Pro features leak + Apple’s new 'Watch X'! (CultCast #608) Aug 18, 2023

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This week: we’ve got more leaked iPhone 15 features, Apple’s plans for their new “Watch X” Apple watch redesign, Face ID coming to Macs, and this week’s other best Apple news!

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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

iPhone Life Tip of the Day Newsletter Ad Read for BackBeat Media URL: https://www.iphonelife.com/dailytips

This week's stories

Erfon: New evidence points to high-speed Thunderbolt connector in iPhone 15

A new leak adds weight to a previous report that the iPhone 15 series will support Thunderbolt. If true, this will allow their USB-C ports to transfer files, updates and other data at up to 40 Gbps.

Erfon: iPhone 15 could support faster 35W charging speeds

A report based on industry sources claims the iPhone 15 will support peak charging speeds of 35W. The rumored switch from Lightning to USB-C on 2023 iPhones might have a role to play in this upgrade.

iPhone 14 Pro users complain of major drops in battery health and capacity after less than a year

Apple’s MagSafe fuels new Qi2 wireless charging standard

Apple ‘Watch X’ with new design might arrive in 2024

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman spills the beans on the Apple Watch X. He thinks the revamped smartwatch could launch in 2024 or 2025. It reportedly will feature a thinner watch casing.

Apple hasn’t given up on Face ID for MacBooks

Apple just received a patent that covers building Face ID into a MacBook.

Clean your filthy Apple Watch bands, people

Apple's September iPhone 15 event - here we go! (CultCast #607) Aug 10, 2023

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This week: we're talking expectations for Apple's September iPhone 15 event! Plus aaaaall the new M3 Macs Apple is working on....

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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

iPhone Life Tip of the Day Newsletter Ad Read for BackBeat Media URL: https://www.iphonelife.com/dailytips

This week's stories

iPhone 15 launch event reportedly will happen on September 13 ... or 12!

Apple could unveil the iPhone 15 lineup on September 12 or 13, with a staggered launch after that to avoid supply chain and logistics problems.

Here are all the M3 Macs in development

Apple is working on a slew of M3-powered Macs for late 2023 and 2024, and the latest mystery machine spotted on developers’ logs appears to be a new Mac mini.

Apple’s M3 Max chip spotted with 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU

For comparison, the M2 Max ships with a 12-core CPU and a 38-core GPU. So, even if everything else remains constant, the additional CPU and GPU cores on the M3 Max alone should enable significant performance improvements. Apple will likely use newer CPU and GPU cores on the M3 for further performance gains.

Limited-edition iPhone case takes you back to 1969 moon landing [Cult of Mac giveaway]

We joined forces with Pitaka this week for an exciting giveaway that will take you over the moon.

LEWIS: iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Bionic chip might sport a 6-core GPU, 6GB RAM

Leaker @URedditor, who previously shared some accurate Apple-related leaks, provided more details about the company’s next A-series chip Wednesday on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. While the A17 Bionic apparently will possess the same number of CPU cores as the A16 Bionic, Apple will bump its clock speed.

College students, you don’t need a MacBook Air

Old conventional wisdom was that beyond the basics, you needed a MacBook Pro, but that’s just not true anymore

Apple TV 4K can play Dolby Atmos sound to two pairs of AirPods in tvOS 17

One of the best features of the Apple TV 4K is its support for spatial audio, but this feature is limited to only one pair of Apple headphones in tvOS 16. That looks to be changing though, according to a feature that FlatpanelsHD spotted in the beta for tvOS 17.

NEW "AR" AirTags and Apple Watch 2.0 Ultra are incoming! (CultCast #606) Aug 03, 2023

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This week: AirTags 2.0 are incoming with a strange new feature, and we've details on what to expect for Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2.0!

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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

iPhone Life Tip of the Day Newsletter Ad Read for BackBeat Media URL: https://www.iphonelife.com/dailytips

This week's stories

ERFON: Apple preps second-generation AirTag tracker with AR capabilities

The Apple AirTag item tracker sells well enough that an updated version is in early development, according to a reputable analyst. And it might include the AR capabilities that were rumored years ago.
The tiny tracker has reportedly been selling by the millions since the product launch in 2021.

LEWIS: Would you buy Apple Watch 9 or Ultra 2 in these new colors?

Reliable leaker ShrimpApplePro tweeted Tuesday about the possible new pink aluminum color for Apple Watch Series 9 and a black titanium case for Apple Watch Ultra 2.

GRIFFIN: 1 billion subscribers push Apple’s services revenue to all-time high

Apple announced one billion people now subscribe to Apple services, although total revenue decreased slightly during the June quarter, the third time that’s happened in a row. And the money coming in from all Apple’s hardware groups is down

ERFON: Tim Cook calls AI ‘absolutely critical’ to Apple products

Apple has been quiet about its plans for artificial intelligence, but CEO Tim Cook set out in a conference call with analysts and major investors on Thursday to make it clear that his company isn’t behind the curve on AI.

LEWIS: Win a posh leather iPad Pro sleeve from Harber London [Cult of Mac giveaway]

For this week’s giveaway, we partnered with Harber London to offer you an opportunity to win an exquisite, handmade Magnetic Envelope Sleeve for iPad Pro valued at $118.

The cheapest and easiest way to add wireless CarPlay to any vehicl

Big iPhone 15 leaks + price hikes + 8 reasons to ditch Spotify for Apple Music! (CultCast #605) Jul 27, 2023

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This week: we got more big iPhone 15 leaks, + Apple is considering big price hikes, + we argue over Spotify vs Apple Music... again!

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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

iPhone Life Tip of the Day Newsletter Ad Read for BackBeat Media URL: https://www.iphonelife.com/dailytips

This week's stories

Apple reportedly considers hiking iPhone 15 Pro prices

Apple is mulling raising prices for the iPhone 15 Pro and its Pro Max sibling in the United States. The company has yet to make a final decision on the matter, though.

iPhone 15 Pro Max price might increase $200

The iPhone 15 Pro Max could go up by as much as $200, according to an industry analyst.

iPhone 15 Pro Action Button Options Potentially Revealed in iOS 17 Code: Flashlight, Shortcuts, Voice Memos, and More

Remember that bright-orange Action Button on Apple Watch Ultra? The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max might come with something similar.

Apple’s 48MP camera heads for more affordable iPhone 15 models

The 48 megapixel camera that debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro models is making its way to the “standard” iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, according to a trusted analyst.

Protect your iPad from bumps and scratches -- and look good doing it!

Apple lends Vision Pro AR headset to devs on a very short leash

A fortunate few will soon get their hands on the Apple Vision Pro. Developers can now apply to get a prerelease loaner unit with which to test the applications they’re creating for the upcoming AR headset.

Get the time without even looking at your Apple Watch

You can read the time without even looking at your Apple Watch using a little-known feature called Taptic Time. Hold two fingers on the screen and you’ll feel it tap the time out on your wrist.

8 reasons you should ditch Spotify for Apple Music

Apple Music is in a distant second place to Spotify in paying subscribers (except in the US

Big changes coming to iPhone + 6 must-know Continuity features! (CultCast #604) Jul 20, 2023

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This week: Big battery and camera improvements are coming to iPhone! Plus: the Continuity features every Apple user MUST know; Apple preps their own version of ChatGPT;

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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

This week's stories

Stacked batteries could let iPhone 15 go longer between charges

Apple will put batteries that could last up to 10% longer in the upcoming iPhone 15 series, according to an unconfirmed report. These will be stacked batteries rather than wound ones.

2024 iPhone could get 12× telephoto zoom lens

While this year’s model reportedly will introduce a new periscope lens, the iPhone 16 Pro Max could come with an ultra-long telephoto periscope lens capable of 12× optical zoom.

6 mind-blowing Continuity features every Apple user should know

Nothing illustrates the power of Apple’s ecosystem like the Continuity features that help your Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch work seamlessly together.

Apple gets ready to take on ChatGPT with ‘Apple GPT’

Apple reportedly developed its own generative AI chatbot that’s very similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. While it might never be released, the underlying tech is already going into the company’s applications and services.

The Mac Pro we all want is 6 years away — at least

Similar to how the M1 Ultra was comprised of two M1 Max chips interposed together for double the power, when the tipster talks about “the quad chip,” he or she is referring to the rumored M1 Extreme that would have been comprised of four M1 Max chips.

Enter to win a leather MacBook folio from Harber London [Cult of Mac giveaway]

Giving away one Slim Leather Folio Laptop Case No. 7 from Harber London!

Apple Card contributes to another $667 million loss for Goldman Sachs: ‘We did not execute well’

The exact amount of losses Goldman Sachs has seen with its Apple partnership isn’t quite clear, but since 2020 it’s somewhere in the ballpark of $1-3 billion.

iPhone 15 is INCOMING - here’s what to expect! (CultCast #603) Jul 13, 2023

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This week: Here's what to expect for the iPhone 15 and its big redesign! Plus: we go hands-on with the iOS 17 and watchOS 10 public betas, Jony Ive is back making new hardware, and we pitch our favorite gadgets in an all-new Under Review!

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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

This week's stories

What to expect from the redesigned, faster iPhone 15

Apple has used the same basic iPhone chassis design for three years, and the company’s previous practices indicate it’s time for a change. A tipster says we can expect rounded edges in place of the current square ones. Still, early renders show the iPhone 15 series will look much like its predecessors.

Griffin: Think twice before installing iOS 17 public beta (or watchOS 10!)

Apple just gave the general public access to the latest iOS 17 beta, but before you put it on your iPhone, the Cult of Mac staff has some warnings. We’ve used the betas for weeks, and while it’s gone well for some people, it’s been a dumpster fire for others.

Much-anticipated 32-inch iMac is still over a year away

The iMac is Apple’s desktop PC with a built-in screen. This long-running product line was significantly revamped in 2021 with a slim design and M1 processor. Currently, the only version has a 24-inch screen, but there have been numerous calls for a larger variant.

Jony Ive returns to hardware design with $60,000 record player

If Apple made a turntable, would it cost $60,000? Almost certainly not, but that’s the lofty price tag on the new 50th anniversary Linn Sondek LP12-50, sketched out by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive and his firm LoveFrom.

Jony Ive’s discontinued Apple design book now goes for big bucks

Apple released Designed by Apple in California in 2016 to mixed but largely positive reviews — with a fair amount of snark about the pricing — and discontinued it in 2019.

Under Review

Griffin

Rode NT USB Plus

Rode NTH 100

Erfon

Anker Soundcore Motion x600

Lewis

Geometric Goods Leather AirTag Travel Wallet