The CultCast

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Big Apple Watch surprise + Apple’s smart home robots (CultCast #712) Aug 14, 2025

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This week: Blood oxygen is back, baby! Also: Apple’s push into smart homes and robotics, more flip-flopping in iOS 26 beta 6, a weird Mac mini setup, how to stop AirPods switching and a travel charger review!

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This week’s stories:

Blood Oxygen testing returns to Apple Watch in the US

A redesigned Blood Oxygen testing feature will launch Thursday for Apple Watch models that lost access to it after a U.S. court order.

Apple preps slew of new home security products

Apple home-security devices on the drawing board could include smart cameras and doorbell that knows who's trying to get in.

Apple’s ‘Pixar Lamp’ robot could feature a human-like Siri

Apple's 'Pixar Lamp' robot could feature a much more personable and interactive Siri. It might even butt into your conversations.

iOS 26 beta 6: All the new features and changes

The sixth iOS 26 beta expands Liquid Glass to more UI elements, adds new ringtones and brings a much faster app opening animation.

iPad Air as external display makes this Mac mini mobile

Using an iPad external display with an M4 Mac mini makes this odd setup mobile. And the self-built split keyboard adds to the weirdness.

Under Review: Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1, Foldable Pad)

This 3-in-1 wireless charger tops up your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods at 15W fast charging speeds. It’s travel-friendly and ultra portable.

Apple’s AI comeback + iPhone 17 Pro case hands-on! (CultCast #711) Aug 07, 2025

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Lewis is back with Leander and Griffin to talk about Apple’s AI comeback (coming soon), Liquid Silicone (whatever that is), iOS 26 beta 5, and a hands-on with an iPhone 17 Pro case!

This episode supported by:

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This week’s stories:

Tim Cook hypes Apple’s AI efforts and ‘amazing’ product pipeline in all-hands meeting

In a rare all-hands meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook tells employees the company will do whatever it takes to win the AI game.

Apple begins building its ChatGPT rival

Apple's quietly begun working on a ChatGPT-like search experience powered by an "Answer Engine" and led by former Siri head Robby Walker.

Silky Apple ‘Liquid Silicone’ cases for iPhone 17 may support lanyards

New rumors say Apple 'Liquid Silicone' cases for iPhone 17 will feature a lux feel and support for at least one lanyard.

iOS 26 beta 5: All the new features and changes

The fifth iOS 26 beta brings minor tweaks and improvements as Apple prepares the OS for its public release in September.

Reduce eye strain with these workspace fine-tuning tips

For those of us who stare at screens all day, tired eyes are a problem. But this MacBook Pro user offers tips to reduce eye strain.

Casekoo cases

Hands-on with an upcoming iPhone 17 Pro case in orange.

iPhone 17 Pro leaks: the good, weird and surprising (CultCast #710) Jul 31, 2025

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Stephen Hackett joins Leander and Griffin to talk all about a big week of iPhone 17 Pro leaks. We have a camera rumor that’s absolutely bananas, models of the new colors — and a spy shot out in public? Also: tips on customizing your Home Screen, an almost-normal Mac mini setup, and a big new Mac display!

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This week’s stories:

iPhone 17 Pro camera could zoom past expectations with 8x lens

iPhone 17 Pro's telephoto camera could get a bigger upgrade than initially rumored, with a new dual lens system for up to 8x optical zoom.

iPhone 17 Pro could break tradition with bold new orange color

Alleged iPhone 17 dummy units showcase the color options for the upcoming lineup, including a bold orange shade for the Pro models.

Masked iPhone 17 Pro prototype spotted in the wild

Blurry images of a supposed iPhone 17 Pro test unit have surfaced online after someone reportedly spotted the device in the wild.

Widgetsmith

Widgetsmith lets you personalize your device like never before with a wide range of highly-customizable widgets.
App Store

Giant smart TV dwarfs 32-inch display in Mac mini rig

In today's featured M2 Mac mini setup, a mammoth Hisense smart TV dominates its complementary 32-inch LG monitor.

Under Review: BenQ PD3226G

Although this 32-inch display is only 4K and not 6K, it has a built-in Thunderbolt 4 dock with a KVM, highly accurate colors, a HotKey Puck remote control — and a gorgeous 144 Hz refresh rate.

Great news about the folding iPhone and M5 iPad Pro (CultCast #709) Jul 24, 2025

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This week, Graham joins Leander and Griffin yet again to talk about the folding iPhone, the biggest little change coming to the M5 iPad Pro, more changes in iOS 26, tips for running with your Apple Watch and why we all lust for a colorful iPhone!

This episode supported by:

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This week’s stories:

iOS 27 could have a surprising focus

iOS 27 developers will reportedly concentrate on a user interface revamp needed for the folding iPhone coming in 2026.

M5 iPad Pro might tackle Face ID’s biggest weakness

Apple will reportedly add a second portrait camera to the iPad Pro refresh this year, enabling Face ID to work in portrait orientation.

iOS 26 beta 4: All the new features and changes

The fourth iOS 26 beta tweaks the Liquid Glass design again, increasing the transparency once more.

Apple’s jam-packed 2026 + iPhone 17 colors revealed! (CultCast #708) Jul 17, 2025

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This week, Graham joins Leander and Griffin to talk about when we can expect the M5 MacBook Pro, iPad Pro and MacBook Air, M4 iPad Air, iPhone 17e and new Studio Display! Also: All iPhone 17 colors leaked, the health metric you should be paying attention to, a great new Mac app, plus our weekly setup and listener question.

This episode supported by:

The Apple Core podcast, where Graham and Charlie explore the story behind a different Apple product, and consider what it tells us about where the company may be heading next. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen) and check out applecorepod.com.

This week’s stories:

M5 MacBook Pro could be pushed back to 2026

A rumor says Apple won’t get the next-generation MacBook Pro with the upcoming M5 processor out this autumn, as had been expected.

Next iPad Pro could be Apple’s first device with M5 chip

Apple's next iPad Pro refresh, rumored to launch this October, could again stand out for debuting with a new M-series chip.

New report confirms all iPhone Series 17 color options

A new report confirms all iPhone Series 17 color options, citing internal Apple documents. It's the most diverse selection in years.

LG 5K monitor pairs beautifully with Studio Display

Today's Mac Studio setup pairs an LG 5K display for Mac with a Studio Display. The user couldn't be happier.

Longplay: Album Player for Mac

Browse your collection like you would your wall of CDs or vinyls. Longplay filters out singles and scattered tracks to give you a visual grid of just the albums you truly own.

Apple’s next CEO + Dialing back Liquid Glass? (CultCast #707) Jul 10, 2025

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This week, Leander and Griffin are joined by Graham Bower to talk about the latest iPhone 17 leaks, Jeff Williams stepping down and what that means for Apple’s next CEO, toning down Liquid Glass in iOS 26, how to vibe code to make your next iOS app, a perplexing user setup, MacBook Pro buying advice… and a review of an exciting handheld video game console!

This episode supported by:

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This week’s stories:

iPhone 17 leak teases Pro-exclusive design upgrades

The upcoming iPhone 17 series may pack big design changes, at least on the Pro models, with the base variant featuring subtle changes.
Majin Bu: iPhone 17 Air Could Be Available in 4 New Color Options

Jeff Williams stepping down as Apple COO

Jeff Williams, whose role as COO put him charge of Apple’s global operations since 2010, will retire later this year.
Why this dark horse candidate could be Apple’s next CEO

Everything new in iOS 26 Beta 3

iOS 26 beta 3 tweaks the Liquid Glass design, making the UI elements frosty to improve readability while making multiple smaller changes.

Vibe coding

Yamaha studio monitors power MacBook Pro rig’s sound

For MacBook setup speakers, you can do worse than this user's Yamaha studio monitors. And his headphones and audio interfaces impress, too.

Under Review

The MacBook is finally coming BackBook! (CultCast #706) Jul 03, 2025

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This week, the MacBook might be coming back as Apple’s cheapest laptop ever! Also: Apple might be borrowing Claude or ChatGPT to power Siri, details on the next three years of Apple Vision headsets, the best Apple Watch faces, what to do when you’re low on iCloud storage, and a new Under Review!

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.

This week’s stories:

Apple may launch its most affordable MacBook yet next year

Apple could launch a more affordable MacBook early next year with a 13-inch display and an A18 Pro chipset.

Apple might rely on AI rivals to make Siri smarter

Apple’s struggle to develop artificial intelligence might reach the point where the company needs to outsource Siri to an AI partner.

Lighter, cheaper Vision Air could rescue Apple’s headset dream

The Vision Air is reportedly on the drawing board. This more affordable version might revive Apple’s flagging AR headset sales.

These are the best and coolest Apple Watch faces

If you want to spice up and individualize your Apple Watch, here are the best and coolest faces out of the dozens of options.

Long live Apple’s late great iPod Hi-Fi stereo

Sure, HomePod and HomePod mini are amazing, but this man-shed MacBook user insists iPod Hi-Fi is the best speaker Apple ever made.

Listener Questions

Clever Cleaner iPhone storage cleanup app: Free to use and free of ads, forever!

Under Review: Portable CarPlay screens

Get ready for the M5 iPad Pro — and R.I.P. Dynamic Island (CultCast #705) Jun 26, 2025

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This week, Sam Henri Gold joins Leander and Griffin to talk iOS 26 Beta 2, future iPhones without a screen cutout, folding iPads, M5 iPads and more!

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This week’s stories:

iPhone may not get rid of its camera cutout for 5 years

The gradual process of reducing the size of the iPhone screen cutout allegedly won’t be complete until 2030.

Get a sneak peek at the entire iPhone 17 series

Don’t wait until September to see the four models in the iPhone 17 series. Rumors include a “glamour shot” of them posing for the camera.

iPadOS 26 paves the way for super-size folding iPad

iPadOS 26 is a huge step toward Apple making a folding iPad, while the company shows no interest in putting macOS on a foldable tablet.

Why you should expect an M5 iPad Pro this fall

Components for the M5 iPad Pro are already in production, and the next generation of Apple’s tablet could be mere moths away.

iOS 26 beta 2: All the new features and changes

iOS 26 beta 2 brings subtle refinements, visual tweaks. and small usability improvements. Find out everything that’s new here.

What’s really happening with Apple Intelligence? (CultCast #704) Jun 19, 2025

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This week, Graham, Charlie and Leander are still here to ask, what the heck is going on with Apple Intelligence? Also: visionOS 26 features, the complicated situation of iPad repairability, the small demand for folding iPhones, and the great hidden features in iOS 26!

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This week’s stories:

Wait for AI-enhanced Siri stretches out almost a year

The release date for the AI-enhanced version of the Siri voice assistant will likely come in spring 2026, a year later than expected.

Apple Intelligence in iOS 26

Third-party apps can build custom AI features on top of Apple’s custom Foundation model. This will let developers use the powerful on-device capabilities for free, rather than spend money on an expensive third-party service.

visionOS 26 brings spatial widgets, better Personas and new accessories

visionOS 26 will bring spatial widgets, better Personas, new accessories, Look to Scroll and so much more to the powerful headset.

iFixit: Apple Finally Admits That The iPad Is A Beast To Repair

On May 29, the iPad joined the Self Service Repair Program. And the documentation they released confirms what we’ve always known: the iPad is a nightmare to repair.

Folding iPhone could stay a niche product for years

Production of the long-awaited folding iPhone reportedly begins in a few months, but Apple will only make a few million of them.

Apple Core: iOS 7 - the battle for the future of software design

iOS 7 represented more than just a fresh new look. It marked a major shift in Cupertino’s design philosophy, which arose from a bitter boardroom bust-up between two of Steve Jobs’ most trusted lieutenants.

Hidden iOS 26 features Apple didn’t talk about at WWDC25

While Apple highlighted iOS 26’s major features during the WWDC25 keynote, many meaningful quality-of-life improvements flew under the radar. Here are some of the smaller, hidden features in iOS 26 that you shouldn’t miss.

Liquid Glass, iOS + macOS 26 and ALL the WWDC25 news! (CultCast #703) Jun 12, 2025

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Leander, Graham and Charlie join us again to break down all the WWDC25 announcements — Liquid Glass, iOS 26, macOS 26, iPadOS 26 — and review our prediction game results!

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.

This week’s stories:

Liquid Glass: Apple’s biggest design refresh ever

Liquid Glass is the name of Apple's new interface design across all its platforms, and is the company's most ambitious design effort in decades.

iOS 26 sports striking redesign, smarter AI, better cross-platform integration

Apple showcased iOS 26 at WWDC25. Its striking design changes, enhanced AI and improved platform integration transform how we use iPhone.
iOS 26 reimagines the Phone app with Call Screening and Hold Assist
iPhone gets Live Translation plus more modest AI enhancements
AI updates bring new tricks to Apple Maps, Music, Wallet and more across devices
New Apple Games app centralizes play across iPhone, iPad and Mac

watchOS 26 wants to be your new workout buddy

The Workout app gets the biggest makeover, featuring a new Workout Buddy that delivers personalized attaboy messages when you need a little extra mojo.

tvOS 26 shines with new Liquid Glass design

With its glossy new look and some thoughtful tweaks, the tvOS 26 announcement at WWDC25 makes it look like a sweet (if minor) upgrade.

macOS 26 Tahoe debuts with sleek design and smarter Spotlight

macOS 26 Tahoe brings Apple's new “Liquid Glass” look, makes Spotlight more powerful, and brings the Phone app to Mac for the first time.
macOS Tahoe will be the last for Intel Macs

iPadOS 26 makes iPad more Mac-like than ever

The WWDC25 keynote unveils iPadOS 26, which lets Apple tablets act more like a Mac than ever before, including new options for app windows.

The CultCast WWDC25 Predictions

Congratulations to listeners Michael Dennis and Ian Williamson for winning with 18 points.

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