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CultCast #240 - Pokemania Jul 14, 2016

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This week: why Pokemon Go is the smash iOS hit Nintendo needed; iPhone 7 may get the extended battery life we’ve all been asking for; Cult of Mac’s bizarre connection to Apple’s new Planet of the Apps TV show; and... which is manlier summer attire, mid-rift shirts or short shorts? We answer life’s most intriguing questions on an all-new Get To Know Ur Cultist. This episode supported by Build a beautiful, responsive website quick at Squarespace.com. Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful. If you’re obsessive about keeping your iPhone, iPad, Mac, DSLR, glasses, and other gadgets in sparkling clean condition, you’ll love CultCloth. Check them out now at CultCloth.co, and use code “CultCast” at checkout to score a free 8x8 CleanCloth! We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a thanks for the great music you hear on today's show. On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney Intro - The new Apple IIc https://youtu.be/DQ4oB-rPWh4?t=2m16s iPhone 7 might finally bring the feature everybody wants http://www.cultofmac.com/437949/iphone-7-might-finally-bring-the-feature-everybody-wants/ Buster

The upcoming iPhone 7 may pack a juicy 1960mAh battery inside its simplified shell, according to a new rumor from OnLeaks.
The often-reliable Apple leaker says he’s not 100% sure it will happen, but he’s right, it would be about a 15% increase in capacity over the 1715mAh battery in the iPhone 6s.

Apple posts open casting call for Planet of the Apps TV show http://www.cultofmac.com/437798/apple-posts-open-casting-call-for-planet-of-the-apps-tv-show/ Buster

Apple is looking for a few talented developers to star in the inaugural season of its first ever reality TV series that will focus on the hard knock life of developers and the apps they create.
Helmed by executive producers Will.i.am, Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens of Biggest Loser fame, the series has teamed up with Product Hunt to go on a four city tour to find the country’s best up-and-coming app developers. The producers are touting Planet of the Apps as not just a reality TV show, but also as a “launch pad and accelerator for exceptional developers.”
Upcoming casting calls are scheduled for San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin and New York. Interested developers must apply by Friday, August 26 with an app for either iOS, tvOS, watchOS or macOS.
Apple says those selected will be given the chance to receive guidance from some of the tech community’s top experts. They’ll also get premium placement on the App Store and access to funding from Silicon Valley VCs.

Pokémon Go continues its global invasion this week

CultCast #239 - FourChins Jul 07, 2016

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This week: the best ways to get your gadgets the AppleCare protection you want, but without the AppleCare prices you don’t. Plus: the iPhone 7 may have more storage than you expected; taking over Tidal could mean CD quality streaming is coming to Apple Music; hands on with the iOS 10 and macOS Sierra betas; “the fappening” hacker heads to the slammer; this year’s iPhone Photography Award winners prove your iPhone is all your need to create captivating images. This episode supported by Casper’s American-made mattresses have just the right amount of memory foam and latex, and people everywhere love them. Learn why and get $50 towards any mattress at Casper.com/cultcast. Let’s face it, CultCloth isn’t for everyone. But if you’re obsessive about keeping your iPhone, iPad, Mac, DSLR, glasses, and other gadgets in sparkling clean condition, you’ll love ‘em. Check them out now at CultCloth.co, and use code “CultCast” at checkout to score a free 8x8 CleanCloth! We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a thanks for the great music you hear on today's show. On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / david@cultofmac.com Intro - iPhone camera changes the game https://youtu.be/N-C_jUUnZfQ?t=2m24s iOS 10 and macOS Sierra betas are now open to the public http://www.cultofmac.com/436909/ios-10-and-macos-sierra-betas-are-now-open-to-the-public/ Buster

Apple is now letting members of its public beta program install the new software, which debuted last month at WWDC.

If you haven’t already signed up to get in on the betas, you can still do so at the Apple Beta Software Program site. Once you’re in the program, you’ll get an email with a link to download the latest builds.

Apple might buy struggling competitor Tidal http://www.cultofmac.com/436058/apple-might-buy-struggling-competitor-tidal/ Buster

A new report claims that the iPhone-maker is in exploratory talks to acquire the music streaming service.
“The talks are ongoing and may not result in a deal,” reports the Wall Street Journal, which says Apple is considering buying the company as a way to bolster its strategy to spend tons of cash on artist exclusives.
Tidal was launched in 2014, purchased by Jay Z in 2015, and promised artists greater revenues than those offered by Spotify and Apple Music.
Both Apple and Tidal are remaining silent about rumors of the talks. Terms of the possible deal haven’t been revealed

iPhone 7 might kill measly 16GB storage option at last

CultCast #238 - Gruber & Gruber Jun 30, 2016

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This week: You’ll laugh, you’ll cry—wait till you hear the latest lawsuit aimed right at Apple’s biggest products. Plus: leaked photos of EarPods with a lightning connector look better than expected; why we may never get 3rd party Apple Watch faces; Netflix adding a feature they swore would never happen; and a man builds a vibrant photography career in the world of sports with nothing but his iPhone. Oh, and Val Kilmer dances with a carrot in his derriere. Just hit play already. This episode supported by Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster. And I can vouch for this from experience, it also makes tax time a cinch. Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and please enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section! Let’s face it, CultCloth isn’t for everyone. But if you’re obsessive about keeping your iPhone, iPad, Mac, DSLR, glasses, and other gadgets in sparkling clean condition, you’ll love ‘em. Check them out now at CultCloth.co, and use code “CultCast” at checkout to score a free 8x8 CleanCloth! We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a thanks for the great music you hear on today's show. On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / david@cultofmac.com Intro - Young Bill Gates, thoughts on the Macintosh https://youtu.be/37VaLvjw-3s?t=19s Netflix to add offline viewing by the end of 2016 http://www.cultofmac.com/435021/netflix-to-add-offline-viewing-by-the-end-of-2016/

Netflix is working to bring offline viewing to its smartphone and tablet apps by the end of 2016, according to sources familiar with its plans.
Netflix rival Amazon Prime Instant Video added this functionality last September
Now industry insider and Penthera COO Dan Taitz promises that “download-to-go” will be available by the end of the year.
Penthera specializes in providing video downloading technology to customers like Comcast, Charter Communications, and more.

John Gruber: Don't Ever Expect Third Party Watch Faces on Apple Watch http://watchaware.com/post/17499/john-gruber-dont-ever-expect-third-party-watch-faces-on-apple-watch

[Apple] they do fancy themselves to be a real watch company. And as a real watch company everything you’re going to see is going to be San Fransisco. Now they could enforce that for third-parties possibly.
Any analog dial is going to use those Apple-styled hands. The capsule-shaped hands. And watch companies typically have things like that. For example, the hands on a Rolex are instantly recognizable. In the dials are unmistakably Rolex-styled dials. And Apple fancies itself as a high end watch company.

Gaze upon iPhone 7’s Lightning EarPods in all their glory http://www.cu

CultCast #237 - Point 'n shoots, bro Jun 23, 2016

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This week: everything we think we know about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7! Plus: price leaks indicate we may get an iPhone 7 “Pro”; the one feature Android phones have that we envy; and we’ll tell you what we like and don’t about the gadgets we’re reviewing—it’s an all-new Under Review. This episode supported by Let’s face it, CultCloth isn’t for everyone. But if you’re obsessive about keeping your iPhone, iPad, Mac, DSLR, glasses, and other gadgets in sparkling clean condition, you’ll love ‘em. Check them out now at CultCloth.co, and use code “CultCast” at checkout to score a free 8x8 CleanCloth! We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a thanks for the great music you hear on today's show. Non-Retina MacBook Pro disappears from Apple Stores http://www.cultofmac.com/434517/non-retina-macbook-pro-disappears-from-apple-stores/

Apple has begun removing the 13-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro from its retail store displays
The non-Retina MacBook Pro is the only laptop left in Apple’s lineup with an optical drive. It’s also the most affordable MacBook Pro at just $1,099, but without the slimmer form factor, Retina display, and features like Force Touch
The machine hasn’t seen a refresh since 2012, which means it’s not too surprising to see that Apple is no longer pushing it

iPhone 7 will have more tiny design changes you won’t notice http://www.cultofmac.com/434748/iphone-7-will-have-more-tiny-design-changes-you-wont-notice/

The iPhone 7 is set to be one of the most boring updates Apple’s ever released. The new iPhone will look just like the iPhone 6/6s
The Wall Street Journal called the changes set to be introduced in the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus "subtle," while Ming Chi Kuo has said the device will not have many "attractive selling points."
Longer Earpiece cutout
Relocated ambient light sensor

iPhone 7 will be boring, according to WSJ http://www.cultofmac.com/434550/wsj-confirms-iphone-7-will-be-boring/

Rumors that the iPhone 7 will be a snooze-worthy update have been seemingly confirmed today by The Wall Street Journal, which claims Apple plans to break from its traditional pattern of redesigning its flagship device every year.
This year’s iPhone will come with plenty of minor upgrades, but according to the new report, some iPhone 7 features that Apple hoped to integrate just weren’t ready for a 2016 rollout.
During a meeting with an Apple executive last month, a China-based engineer asked why this year’s iPhone didn’t get a major design change. “The answer, one person at the meeting recalled, was that the new technology in the pipeline will take time to implement,” reports the Journal.
The WSJ says Apple hoped to implement a curved screen into the iPhone 7 but the technology wasn’t ready. The company supposedly hopes to integrate big new features next year, though, for the 10th anniversary of the iPhone.
A10
Blue color
Dual lens camera on the 7 Plus

CultCast #236 - When the curtains close... Jun 16, 2016

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This week: it's our WWDC 2016 reactions! Plus: all the WWDC announcements worth getting excited about; the best hidden OS features not mentioned on stage; more confirmation that a Macbook Pro with OLED touch bar is imminent; and a very strange iPhone 7 rumor surfaces. This episode supported by Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster. And I can vouch for this from experience, it also makes tax time a cinch. Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and please enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section! The critically acclaimed #1 New York Times Bestseller about the real Steve Jobs, is now available in paperback. BECOMING STEVE JOBS will be available June 7, 2016, for $18, wherever books are sold. For more information, visit becomingstevejobs.com. We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a thanks for the great music you hear on today's show. On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney iPhone 7 display leak hints at touch-sensitive home button http://www.cultofmac.com/433532/iphone-7-display-leak-hints-at-touch-sensitive-home-button/#more-433532

According to a display leak from Mobipicker, a new home button will become part of the iPhone’s cover glass. It should will contain a Touch ID sensor for fingerprint scanning and will still be surrounded by a ring — but it won’t be made of metal.
Sources speaking to Mobipicker, say the new home button will continue to offer various functions, including tap and hold for Siri, and a double-tap for multitasking.

Clues in macOS Sierra point to OLED touch bar for MacBook Pro http://www.cultofmac.com/433464/clues-in-macos-sierra-point-to-oled-touch-bar-for-macbook-pro/

Source code in the first beta build of macOS Sierra hints that Apple plans to add support for an OLED touchpad, seemingly confirming the accuracy of the leaked MacBook Pro photos Cult of Mac published last month.
Some new API changes hidden inside the source code for the next version of macOS also reveal Touch ID is in the works as well for Apple desktops.
The new APIs were spotted by Mac Generation and suggest that the rumored OLED touch bar on the next-gen MacBook Pro will dynamically adjust to show system information and soft keys related to other applications.

Photographers rejoice! iOS 10 lets you snap RAW images

CultCast #235 - 2Legit2Quit Jun 09, 2016

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This week: it’s our WWDC 2016 predictions! We’ll tell you what hardware and software to expect. Plus: Apple makes huge changes to the prices you’ll pay for apps; this year’s Back to School specials are some of Apple’s best yet; and Steve Jobs... the opera? Don’t miss more weird and wild stories from the Cult of Mac. This episode supported by Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster. And I can vouch for this from experience, it also makes tax time a cinch. Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and please enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section! The critically acclaimed #1 New York Times Bestseller about the real Steve Jobs, is now available in paperback. BECOMING STEVE JOBS will be available June 7, 2016, for $18, wherever books are sold. For more information, visit becomingstevejobs.com. Casper’s American-made mattresses have just the right amount of memory foam and latex, and people everywhere love them. Learn why and get $50 towards any mattress at Casper.com/cultcast. We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a thanks for the great music you hear on today's show. On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / david@cultofmac.com Intro - Welcome to the App Store https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo9cKe_Fch8 Read all about it! Teen’s news app scores him a WWDC scholarship http://www.cultofmac.com/431993/read-all-about-it-teens-news-app-scores-him-a-wwdc-scholarship/ 5K Thunderbolt Display will be a no-show at WWDC http://www.cultofmac.com/431270/5k-thunderbolt-display-will-be-a-no-show-at-wwdc/ Buster

Apple will not be updating its old ass Thunderbolt display anytime soon, despite rumors that suggested the company was planning to unveil a new 5K Thunderbolt display with a built-in GPU at this year’s WWDC.
Apple’s WWDC 2016 keynote will focus mostly on software, according to a new report from 9to5Mac.
"WWDC this year will be a ‘software year’, indicating the show will be light on new hardware announcements in general.”
Another report from iMore confirms that the 5K monitor will be a no-show.

Apple is making huge changes to how much you’ll pay for apps http://www.cultofm

CultCast #234 - Macbook Pro spy photos! Jun 02, 2016

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This week: Macbook Pro spy photos reveal some juicy new features, but some old favorites go bye-bye… Plus: Apple may finally update its ancient Thunderbolt display; why moving iPhone to a three year update cycle would suck; and stay tuned for more weird and wacky super-fan stories from the Cult of Mac. This episode supported by Build a beautiful, responsive website quick at Squarespace.com. Enter offer codeCultCastat checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful. TunnelBear, the simple privacy app that makes it easy to browse privately and enjoy a more open internet. Visit GetTunnelBear.com to get your free TunnelBear today. We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a thanks for the great music you hear on today's show. On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / david@cultofmac.com Intro - Steve Jobs introduces Apple’s new gem, the G4 Cube https://youtu.be/0EPcahdKD_Q?t=1h24m53s The British Fabio! https://www.instagram.com/p/VH6arxMTKL/ A business is born from presenting Mac love on a pillow http://www.cultofmac.com/431082/a-business-is-born-from-presenting-mac-love-on-a-pillow/ Apple may finally update its old ass Thunderbolt Display http://www.cultofmac.com/430962/apple-may-finally-update-its-old-ass-thunderbolt-display/

It’s been over five years since Apple updated its standalone monitor
Thunderbolt Display stock is limited or unavailable at several Apple Stores in North America, Europe, Australia according to a new report
Dwindling supplies of Apple’s current Thunderbolt Display could indicate that the company plans to launch a gorgeous new monitor in the near future.
It appears that Thunderbolt Displays are still in ready supply in some major cities, so the changes in supply could also simply indicate that Apple is dealing with fluctuations in its inventory.

You better get used to waiting 3 years for big iPhone upgrades http://www.cultofmac.com/430903/you-better-get-used-to-waiting-3-years-for-big-iphone-upgrades/

According to one report, Apple is switching its big upgrades to a three-year cycle, which is why this year’s iPhone 7 will look just like its predecessors
This year, following last year’s iPhone 6s series, we should be getting another major refresh — but we know that’s not going to be the case. Leaks have revealed the iPhone 7 is almost identical to the iPhone 6s
a report from Japanese newspaper

CultCast #233 - Mr. Meme May 26, 2016

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This week: Macbook Pro about to get its biggest refresh ever! Plus: Apple’s plans to rival Amazon’s Echo; Apple gets serious about iCar charging stations; more great stories from the Cult of Mac; the state of gaming in OS X, iOS, and tvOS; and we set aside our agendas to discuss YOUR topics in an all-new As You Wish. This episode supported by Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster. And I can vouch for this from experience, it also makes tax time a cinch. Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and please enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section! TunnelBear, the simple privacy app that makes it easy to browse privately and enjoy a more open internet. Visit GetTunnelBear.com to get your free TunnelBear today. We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a thanks for the great music you hear on today's show. On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney Apple plans to make Amazon Echo rival by opening Siri http://www.cultofmac.com/429929/apple-plans-to-make-amazon-echo-rival-by-opening-siri/

Apple is reportedly planning to make a rival to the Amazon Echo, but the in order to compete with the device’s incredible array of features and services, Apple plans to open up Siri to third-party apps.
According to The Information, Apple to open up Siri to apps made by others. And it is working on an Amazon Echo-like device with a speaker and microphone that people can use to turn on music, get news headlines or set a timer.
Opening up its Siri voice assistant to outside app developers is the more immediate step [to competing with Echo],” reports the Information. Apple is supposedly preparing to release a Siri SDK that could arrive at WWDC 2016

MacBook Pro to get Touch ID in biggest ever refresh http://www.cultofmac.com/429822/macbook-pro-to-get-touch-id-in-biggest-ever-refresh/

Apple is set to give its MacBook Pro lineup their “most significant upgrade ever,” according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities.
New Macs will be thinner and lighter
Will also include Touch ID and an OLED display touch bar to replace physical function keys on the keyboard, Employ the same metal injection molded hinges and butterfly mechanism keyboard seen on the 12-inch MacBook.

Apple is already working on charging stations for iCar http://www.cultofmac.com/430020/apple-is-already-working-on-charging-stations-for-icar/

Apple appears to be preparing the ground work for its charging infrastructure, according to a new report claiming the company is scooping up engineers that specialize in electric charing stations.
“Apple is investigating how to charge electric cars, talki

CultCast #232 - Techno-Utopian Baloney May 19, 2016

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This week: Apple makes a curious investment in China’s version of Uber; iPhones that charge wirelessly in your pocket; Siri is coming to a Mac near you; more weird and wacky stories from the Cult of Mac; and we tell you what we like (and what we don’t) about the gadgets we’re currently testing in an all-new Under Review. This episode supported by Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster. And I can vouch for this from experience, it also makes tax time a cinch. Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and please enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section! TunnelBear, the simple privacy app that makes it easy to browse privately and enjoy a more open internet. Visit GetTunnelBear.com to get your free TunnelBear today. We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a thanks for the great music you hear on today's show. On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney Intro: Your future computer, The Knowledge Navigator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bjve67p33E Apple invests $1 billion in Chinese Uber rival http://www.cultofmac.com/428251/apple-invests-1-billion-in-chinese-uber-rival/

Apple has invested $1 billion in Chinese Uber rival Didi Chuxing
Tim Cook says the deal “reflects our excitement about their growing business … and also our continued confidence in the long term in China’s economy.”
Cook told Reuters: “We are making the investment for a number of strategic reasons, including a chance to learn more about certain segments of the China market,”
Jack Kent of tech analytical firm IHS Technology said partnering with Chinese companies is a common way for international companies to get into the massive Asian market.

Apple’s new hires point to iPhone wireless charging http://www.cultofmac.com/428817/apples-new-hires-point-to-iphone-wireless-charging/

In the last four months Apple has hired two former uBeam engineers with expertise in wireless charging and ultrasonic technology
The Verge did some investigating, and discovered that in fact the in the last two years Apple has hired more than a dozen staffers with expertise in wireless charging.
Earlier this year Bloomberg reported that Apple was hoping to add wireless charging to the new iPhone it releases in 2017.
According to Bloomberg's sources, Apple wants to implement a much more advanced technology that would allow you to walk around a room and have your phone charging the entire time.

CultCast #231 - Age of wonder! May 12, 2016

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This week: Apple aims to end music downloads; you can now live stream your aerial drone flights to iDevices worldwide; staggering facts about who’s making money in the app store; creators of Siri demo an even smarter AI; the ridiculous resale value of old Apple tech; and we reveal our Lust List of the gadgets we currently coveting. This episode supported by Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster. And I can vouch for this from experience, it also makes tax time a cinch. Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and please enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section! TunnelBear, the simple privacy app that makes it easy to browse privately and enjoy a more open internet. Visit GetTunnelBear.com to get your free TunnelBear today. We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a thanks for the great music you hear on today's show. On the show this week @erfon / @lkahney / “At” David Pierini Intro - Introducing, iPod https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfOciT044zE All the maidens shall be mine! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhbuEUoxntQ Periscope takes to the skies with live drone streaming http://www.cultofmac.com/427494/periscope-takes-to-the-skies-with-live-drone-streaming/

1903: Wright Brothers. 1907: Model T
Now you can stream live from your drone when you take to the skies with Periscope, Twitter’s service that lets you broadcast live video, provided you have the app on iOS and a DJI drone.
You’ll be able to narrate the broadcast from your iPhone, and even Sketch right on the broadcast itself to annotate your flight.

Apple Aiming to End iTunes Music Downloads in Two Years [Update: Apple Says 'Not True'] http://www.macrumors.com/2016/05/11/apple-ending-itunes-music-downloads/

Citing sources with "close and active business relationships" with Apple, Digital Music News says Apple allegedly has an aggressive plan to "terminate" music downloads from iTunes within two years
their sources say, "keeping [iTunes music downloads] running forever isn't really on the table anymore."
Apple rep Tom Neumayr contacted Recode and said the report that Apple would stop iTunes music downloads in two years is "not true."
Apple's iTunes business continues to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars each year, but it is on the decline due to the rise of streaming music services

94% of App Store revenue goes to just 1% of publishers

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