The CultCast

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**The CultCast**

The CultCast covers each week’s best Apple stories, tech news, and accessories—but more importantly—we do it with pizzaz. Why listen to another dreary tech program? Tune in to the CultCast each week for a healthy dose of Apple and tech news, jokes gone wrong, and unending tangents.

Latest Episodes:

Apple's 20-INCH folding MacBook + BIG iCloud changes (CultCast #572) Dec 08, 2022

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This week:

We're talking Apple's "20-inch folding MacBook", new features in iOS 16.2, + the big changes coming to iCloud!

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 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.

This week's stories

20-inch folding screen could change MacBooks forever

Apple could be working on a MacBook far larger than the current 16-inch model – a 20.25-inch one is supposedly in development. But don’t picture a standard laptop, as this will supposedly use a folding display.

iOS 16.2 with Freeform, Apple Music Sing and more is just days away

Apple seeded the iOS 16.2 release candidate to developers Wednesday, taking a huge step toward giving iPhone users access to the Freeform collaboration app, the recently announced Apple Music Sing and other exciting new features.

Apple vastly expands iCloud data encryption with 3 security updates

Apple said Wednesday users are gaining three new security features to protect their data in the cloud, with some available now and some to come. The overall program is called Advanced Data Protection.

Enter to win a tough, titanium Apple Watch Ultra band from Lululook [Cult of Mac giveaway] - Lewis

This week’s giveaway will let five lucky winners get their hands on a sturdy Apple Watch Ultra Titanium Band from Lululook. The band matches the new Apple Watch Ultra perfectly, thanks to its sleek titanium finish.

Apple car just got a lot less ambitious

Apple’s plan for a completely autonomous vehicle has gone back onto the drawing board, according to a reliable source. The company supposedly is still prepping an electric car but the self-driving capabilities much more limited.

Dyson is making the strangest headphones on the planet

Elon vs. Apple - Battle of the ages! (CultCast #571) Dec 01, 2022

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This week:

We're talking leaked M2 Max MBP benchmarks, the problem with iCloud, Elon Vs. Apple, the Tesla Phone, and the poor chum who got mugged while carrying 300 brand new iPhones!

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

This week's stories

Elon Musk declares war on Apple

Elon Musk declared war on Apple on Monday afternoon. A Twitter war, anyway. The new owner of Twitter very publicly objects to the 30% fee the iPhone-maker claims from purchases made through the iPhone software store, and also says Apple has threatened to pull the Twitter app from the App Store.

Elon Musk might release a Twitter phone - erfon

Elon Musk says he’ll release a phone that competes with iPhone and Android if he has to. The owner of Twitter might be forced to make a handset if Apple and Google ban the social network from their software stores.

Elon meeting with TC

Elon Musk admits Apple never planned to kick Twitter out of iPhone App Store

Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday walked back his claim that Apple was threatening to remove Twitter from the App Store.

Leaked 2023 MacBook Pro benchmarks show it’ll support much more RAM

Very early benchmark scores for what is apparently the 2023 MacBook Pro show buyers will be able to configure it with much more RAM. And new details on the M2 Max processor were revealed, too.

iCloud Storage Over the Years

Why walking the streets of NYC with 300 iPhones is a bad idea

A man was robbed of 300 iPhones he’d just purchased at the famous Apple store on Fifth Avenue early Monday. He walked out of the store and was soon assaulted by a pair of criminals who drove off with a bag carrying $95,000 worth of handsets.

iPhone 15 going Thunderbolt + insane Black Friday deals + GOBBLE GOBBLE YAALL! (CultCast #570) Nov 24, 2022

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This week:

iPhone 15 going Thunderbolt
Insane Black Friday deals
More!

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

This week's stories

iPhone 15 Pro could feature significantly faster wired data-transfer speeds

2023 iPhone 15 Pro models could feature faster data-transfer speeds over a wired connection. Rumors indicate Apple will transition to USB Type-C connectors across its entire iPhone lineup next year. But the faster data-transfer speeds could be limited to the Pro models.

Rounded corners and edges plus titanium case rumored for iPhone 15

A leaker with a pretty good track record for accuracy said Sunday the upcoming iPhone 15 series will feature rounded corners and edges, plus a titanium case. Rounded corners would harken way back to earlier iPhones and a titanium case would be a first for Apple handsets.

In the newsletter, he talks all about Apple's alternating "Extrudo" and "Sandwich" design styles. It's been switching between the two from the very beginning!

Enter to win a Function101 Button Remote for Apple TV and say, ‘So long, Siri’ [Cult of Mac giveaway]

Three lucky winners in this week’s giveaway will be able to cast aside the Siri Remote forever. We’re giving away three Function101 Button Remotes for Apple TV.e
But even if you don’t win, you can still free yourself from one of Apple’s most divisive devices. Retailing at just $29.95, the Button Remote is a deal for everyone who doesn’t like the Apple TV’s Siri Remote.

The best Black Friday deals on AirPods, MacBooks, iPads and Apple Watch

Black Friday is just around the corner, and that means you can get hefty discounts on Apple products. While the shopping event is a few days away, Black Friday deals have already gone live across various retailers.

Mondo drops ‘innie’ and ‘outie’ vinyl soundtracks for Severance

Collectibles seller Mondo will release a soundtrack Wednesday for Apple TV+’s Severance season 1 in two versions, both on vinyl: Innie Edition and Outie Edition.

Apple is preparing THEIR OWN version of Metaverse + the iPhone 4K video scam! (CultCast #569) Nov 17, 2022

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This week:

Apple's free Emergency satellite SOS goes live!
Apple is building a rival to the metaverse
iPhone 4K video - it’s a scam!
The magic of Apple's Find My network
Steve Jobs’ stinky old sandals go to auction

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

This week's stories

Apple launches free Emergency SOS via satellite on all iPhone 14 models

iPhone 14 models can now use Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite service. It allows users of the latest iOS handsets to exchange texts with emergency services while outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

Apple is building a rival to the metaverse

Apple job listings offer a peek into the development of the company’s long-rumored AR headset. Cupertino seemingly wants to create augmented reality and 3D content for its mixed-reality device, which could arrive in early 2023.

Steve Jobs’ sandals sell for a lot more than you might imagine anyone paying for used shoes - lewis

It's about to get a lot harder to buy Apple products + trouble on Apple's Industrial Design team... (CultCast #568) Nov 10, 2022

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This week: it's about to get a lot harder to buy Macs, iPhones, AirPods and more. Get'em while you can! Plus: Apple's about to make it even easier to accidentally turn on Siri, and the strange story no one's talking about: Apple's industrial design team is falling apart right before our eyes.

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

This week's stories

Bad news for Xmas: Apple’s largest factory forced into ‘total lockdown’

Days after reports of Foxconn employees hopping fences and fleeing from their jobs, a report from Taiwan News says Apple’s biggest iPhone factory is now on “total lockdown.” These new restrictions could have a big impact on Apple’s sales during the crucial holiday period.

Apple wants to shorten ‘Hey Siri’ trigger phrase to simply ‘Siri’

Apple is working on changing the “Hey Siri” hotword to just plain “Siri,” and the change could roll out as early as next year.

Apple News will be shoved into the Weather app

In the latest beta of iOS 16.2, certain cities have an additional section for weather news, slotted between the 10-day forecast and the air quality meter. On iPadOS and macOS Ventura, this section occupies an even larger widget in the corner.

Apple's Product Design Team Reportedly Focused More on Costs in Recent Years

Apple's efforts to replace its former design chief Jony Ive have been hindered by increased turnover within the company's product design team over the past few years, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The report claims that Apple has lost the majority of senior designers who worked under Ive, with many of them jumping ship to his new design firm LoveFrom, which he started after leaving Apple in 2019.

iPhone 15 goes buttonless! + Backlit Apple logo making a comeback! (CultCast #567) Nov 03, 2022

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This week: CultCast is talking iPhone 15 going buttonless, backlit Apple logo making a comeback, and our review of Apple's weird workplace drama Severance!

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 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

iPhone 15 Pro could use solid-state volume and power buttons

Apple could switch to solid-state volume and power buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro series. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has made this claim based on his latest supply chain checks.

Don’t expect new MacBook Pro or Mac mini before 2023

Apple is done introducing Macs in 2022, according to a reliable source of insider information. The MacBook Pro models with the M2 Pro and M2 Max allegedly won’t be out until late in Q1 2023.

Backlit Apple Logo Could Make a Comeback on Future MacBooks

The first Mac laptop with a lit-up Apple logo was the third-generation PowerBook G3 launched in 1999, and the glowing symbol proved a mainstay through consecutive Apple notebooks for the next 16 years. The only change in that period was that the logo got flipped upright, so that it no longer appeared upside down to onlookers when someone was sat in public with the lid open.

New EU Law Could Force Apple to Allow Other App Stores, Sideloading, and iMessage Interoperability

Under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the rules will apply to tech giants that meet its "gatekeeper" criteria and force them to open up their various services and platforms to other companies and developers.

Filming begins on Severance season 2 with 8 new stars

Fans of the hit Apple TV+ series Severance can rejoice that production on season 2 started this week. More of what Stephen Colbert called a “dystopian workplace sci-fi mystery black comedy psychological thriller” is on the way.

All the best features in iOS 16.1, iPadOS 16.1 & macOS Ventura! (CultCast #566) Oct 27, 2022

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This week: all the best new and hidden features in iOS 16.1, iPadOS 16.1, and macOS Ventura. Plus: Apple releases yet another great update for the original HomePod, and BestBuy beats Apple in providing a way to pay for your new Mac monthly and trade it in when new models come out.

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

This week's stories

Apples hikes prices of Apple TV+, Apple Music and Apple One

Apple plans to raise the prices of some of its subscription services by $1 to $3 each, reports indicated Monday. The services include Apple TV+, Apple Music and the Apple One subscription bundle.

4 great iPadOS 16.1 features that aren’t Stage Manager

Apple finally released iPadOS 16.1. The debut of the Stage Manager multitasking system has drawn most of the attention, but plenty of other new features are worth checking out, too.
Monday’s launch is extra-significant because iPadOS 16 never launched. Version 16.1 is the first replacement for last year’s iPadOS 15.x.

5 iOS 16.1 features to try right away

How to share an iCloud Photo Library

iOS 16.1 Features: Everything New in iOS 16.1

Apple Releases New HomePod 16.1 Software With Matter Support

According to Apple's release notes, HomePod software version 16.1 includes support for the Matter smart home standard.

Best Buy's 'Upgrade+' Program Lets Customers Get a New Mac Laptop Every Three Years With Monthly Financing

Best Buy today announced a new financing and upgrade program called "Upgrade+." The program involves a combination of interest-free financing through Citizens Pay and an option to upgrade to a new Mac laptop after three years.

First impressions of the new iPad Pro, new iPads, new Apple TVs, new DONGLE! (CultCast #565) Oct 20, 2022

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This week: new iPad Pros, new iPads, new Apple TVs, and a brand new DONGLE! We're talking ALL the hardware Apple just announced.

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

This week's stories

2022 iPad Pro gets speed boost from M2 chip but no new ports

Apple unveiled new iPad Pro models with the M2 processor, which brings a 15% speed boost to the tablets. But Tuesday’s announcement was a disappointment for those hoping for wireless charging or more ports.

New entry-level iPad 10 looks more Pro than ever

Apple gave the 2022 version of the basic iPad a larger screen, USB-C, a faster processor and other enhancements. And the Home button is gone. But along with the new features comes a huge 36% price increase.

Enter to win a rugged Apple Watch accessory bundle [Cult of Mac giveaway]

If you want a tactical-looking Apple Watch band that doesn’t skimp on comfort, the Mifa Nylon Sports Leather Band is for you. In this week’s giveaway, you can win one — along with an Elkson Quattro Bumper Case that will protect your Apple Watch from whatever mayhem you might get into.

New $249 Magic Keyboard Folio goes with iPad 10

While the iPad 10 costs much more than previous versions, starting at $449 instead of $329, if you want the detachable keyboard and stand Apple now makes for it, you have to add another $249.

Absurd Apple Pencil dongle sends fans into spiral of grief

The decision to make the all-new iPad compatible with the original Apple Pencil looks likely to go down as one of Apple’s most ridiculous design decisions.

Logitech Crayon offers kid-friendly USB-C active stylus for iPad 10

The latest version of the Logitech Crayon iPad stylus charges via USB-C, just like the new iPad 10. That makes it a simpler option than the Apple Pencil 1 that still uses Lightning.
And the stylus is designed with children in mind.

New Apple TV 4K is faster and cheaper

Apple has unveiled the 2022 Apple TV 4K with significantly faster internals and a lower price. It features the same A15 Bionic chip found inside the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 series.

macOS Ventura and iPadOS 16 are coming on October 24

After months of beta testing, Apple is finally ready to release iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura to the public. Both OSes will release on October 24.

FInally! Super useful new features coming to iCloud and Apple Music (CultCast #564) Oct 13, 2022

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This week: some super useful new features are FINALLY coming to Apple Music and iCloud; our first impressions of Meta's $1500 "Pro" VR headset; the problem with Apple's "Find My"; and AI creates a creepy podcast episode with Steve Jobs and Joe Rogan.

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

This week's stories

Roller coasters set off iPhone 14 Crash Detection

People are reportedly getting off roller coasters and discovering that their new iPhone 14 called 911 for them. Turns out the handsets mistook thrilling rides for a car wreck and thought their users needed emergency help. It’s an unintended result of Crash Detection, a feature added to Apple’s latest handsets.

Joe Rogan interviews Steve Jobs in eerie, AI-generated podcast - Lewis

If you want to hear Steve Jobs talk about the meaning of life, we've got a podcast for you. It's an artificial intelligence-generated conversation between the late Apple co-founder and podcasting superstar Joe Rogan.

Meta Quest Pro: A $1,500 Virtual-Reality Headset for Working in the Metaverse - Wall Street Journal (Joanna Stern)

Welcome to Mark Zuckerberg’s vision of the future of work, where we all convene in the metaverse to collaborate and be productive. Oh yes, to achieve this, we all have to have the company’s new $1,500 face computer.

Apple iCloud photo libraries will soon be viewable in Windows

It should soon be much easier to access your iPhone's photo collection on a Windows-based PC.

Apple Music finally launches on Xbox

Apple Music is now available on the Microsoft Store for the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One, providing subscribers with access to the streaming music service, complete with large album art, full-screen time-synced lyrics, and more. As noted by users on Reddit, music can be played in the background while gaming.

No, Lufthansa isn’t banning AirTags from checked bags

German airline Lufthansa is not banning Apple’s AirTags and similar tracking tags from checked luggage, the company said Wednesday.

It's FINAL... EU forces big iPhone change, remembering Steve, & Dynamic Island tips! (#CultCast 563) Oct 06, 2022

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This week: lawmakers in the EU are forcing iPhone and other devices to go USB-C, remembering Steve Jobs on the 11th anniversary of his passing, and things you didn't know you could do with dynamic island!

This episode supported by

Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs dies at 56

October 5, 2011 Apple co-founder Steve Jobs dies at the age of 56 in his home in Palo Alto, California.

EU passes law forcing Apple to switch to USB-C by 2024

The European Parliament voted in an overwhelming majority Tuesday to enforce USB-C as the standard charging port across a wide range of consumer electronics. The law will come into effect by the end of 2024.

How to control the Dynamic Island with swipes

Take high-resolution 48MP photos with your iPhone 14 Pro

Best Apple Watch Ultra bands: Rugged and ready for adventure

9 things you probably didn’t know about Apple Watch Ultra

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