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Apple to FINALLY fix Siri + Radical change coming to iPhone 17 (CultCast #675) Nov 28, 2024

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This week, the real REAL good Siri could be… 18 months away? Also, we’re talking about the radical new look for the iPhone 17 lineup and an exciting new Under Review!

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This week’s stories:

Deals:

iOS 19 could debut a more conversational LLM Siri

Apple plans to further improve Siri with iOS 19 in 2025 by using advanced next-generation large language models (LLMs).

Apple reportedly delays key iOS 19 features until spring 2026

Mark Gurman's sources say “a larger-than-usual number of features” of iOS 19 will be delayed from its initial launch in September 2025 to iOS 19.4’s release in spring 2026.

iPhone 17 Air’s slim design could prioritize thinness over features

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Air could be even thinner than initially rumored.

Apple’s 2025 iPhone 17 Pro could feature major design changes

Apple plans to make “significant design changes” with the iPhone 17 Pro series next year, according to The Information.

Apple unlikely to launch AirPods Max 2 anytime soon

Apple is not planning any major upgrades to AirPods Max anytime soon. The company plans to keep the headphones around in its current iteration for the “foreseeable future.”

Under Review: Get Studio Display specs without paying Apple prices

Asus’ new ProArt 5K desktop monitor costs just half of what you’ll pay for Apple’s Studio Display but offers many of the same features.
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New details on iPhone 17 Air, AirTag 2, and hands-on with Image Playground! (CultCast #674) Nov 22, 2024

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This week: New details on the super slim iPhone 17, what’s coming next for AirTags 2, a hidden MacBook Pro feature Apple didn’t mention — and our hands-on with Image Playground!

This episode supported by:

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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:

iPhone 17 Air could be Apple’s slimmest iPhone ever

The rumored iPhone 17 Air might measure just 6mm thick, making it the slimmest iPhone ever.

AirTag 2 reportedly launching in mid-2025 with better range

Apple’s first AirTag upgrade is another step closer to launch, with the tracking tags reportedly progressing to “manufacturing tests.”

Surprise! M4 MacBook Pro includes quantum dot display

The latest MacBook Pro screen reportedly includes a quantum dot film. The result is a better-looking display in the new Mac notebook.

Why Apple should start selling Mac mini SSD storage upgrades

In a surprise move, the M4 Mac mini includes a removable, swappable SSD.

Hands-on with Image Playground, Visual Intelligence and ChatGPT in iOS 18.2

iOS 18.2 will bring exciting new Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground, Genmoji, Visual Intelligence and ChatGPT integration.
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Bloomberg: Apple considering another run at an actual TV

If Apple’s smart display on, it will help set the stage for more home devices. It may even revisit the idea of making an Apple-branded TV set, something it’s evaluating.

Hands-on with ALL the M4 Macs (CultCast #673) Nov 14, 2024

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This week, it’s our hands-on reviews with ALL the M4 Macs and Magic peripherals — the good, the bad and the ugly. Also: Apple’s weird new smart home device coming next March, and Apple’s even weirder new coffee table book…

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This week’s stories:

With the M4 iMac, you don’t have to pick between fast or fun

The desktop computer is an endangered breed, but if you have room for one in your life, the new iMac offers a beautiful design and some impressive performance.
PSA: Be super-careful opening your new M4 iMac

My MacBook Pro quantum leap from M1 Pro to M4 Pro

While the M1 Pro and M4 Pro laptops could be the same exact machine judging from the outside — same as all M-series MacBook Pro models — the new one takes some big steps forward in performance.

Mac mini with M4 Pro is mightier and mini-er than ever

The new Mac mini with M4 Pro chip offers incredible power at an unbelievable price. And on top of all that, it’s super-tiny. What’s not to love?

Reviews for the new peripherals:

Apple’s next big thing is a wall-mounted iPad?

Apple plans to release “a wall-mounted display that can control appliances, handle videoconferencing and use AI to navigate apps” from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Nintendo Alarmo

Apple Music turns its 100 Best Albums list into $450 coffee-table book

Back when Apple Music put out its 100 Best Albums of all time list, some people expressed shock at the No. 1 pick — 1998’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
And now they might be shocked they’re being asked to pay a whopping $450 for a fancy-schmancy, limited-edition coffee-table book version of the whole list.

MacBook Pro reviews are in — it’s a monster! (CultCast #672) Nov 07, 2024

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This week, reviews are in — and the M4 Macbook Pro performance is absolutely mind blowing. Is it finally time to upgrade from M1? Plus: When to expect the next big MacBook redesign with OLED displays, new features in iOS 18.2, the next big step in Apple silicon… and the Under Review you’ve been waiting for!

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This week’s stories:

M4 MacBook Pro review roundup: Truly pro at every level

Apple’s latest M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro refresh brings significant improvements to its professional laptop line, with reviewers praising the upgraded base model and impressive performance gains across the board.

M4 Pro and Max benchmarks show M2 Ultra who’s boss

Early Geekbench 6 benchmark results show impressive performance improvements for the new M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.

The next major MacBook design refresh arrives in 2026

Mark Gurman, in his latest Power On newsletter, says the big MacBook Pro overhaul will arrive in 2026 rather than 2025, when some people expected it.

iOS 18.2 beta 2: All the new features and changes

A couple of weeks after releasing the first iOS 18.2 beta with new Apple Intelligence features, Apple seeded the second beta to developers with several new features.

iPhone 17 could use Apple’s new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip

Apple might switch to in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips starting with next year’s iPhone 17. The company plans to fully transition to its custom Wi-Fi chips within three years after that.

Under Review: Fujifilm X100VI

M4 Macs — nitty gritty details, and our reactions! (CultCast #671) Oct 31, 2024

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This week, they’re here — ALL the M4 Macs. The iMac, the Mac mini, the MacBook Pros, the new accessories. What did we order?

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This week’s stories:

Mac mini radically redesigned with M4 and M4 Pro chip

Apple unveiled the radically redesigned Mac mini on Tuesday, with versions powered by the M4 chip and a new M4 Pro chip.
Hacks and jokes ‘fix’ M4 Mac mini’s odd power-button placement

New M4 iMac delivers major speed boost

Apple launched an upgraded iMac with an M4 chip and support for Apple Intelligence on Monday, calling it “the world’s best all-in-one for AI.”

M4 MacBook Pros deliver big performance and battery life gains

While the new laptops sport the same design as their predecessors, they deliver faster performance and a staggering 24 hours of battery life, the company says.

Shocker! Apple doubles RAM in M2 and M3 MacBook Air

Apple on Wednesday increased the RAM in the base model M2 and M3 MacBook Air from 8GB to 16GB. And the enhancement comes without a price increase.

New Magic Keyboard, mouse and trackpad spell end for Lightning

Apple’s new Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad showed up for sale Monday. As expected, they switch from Lightning connector to USB-C.

New M4 Macs — here they come! (CultCast #670) Oct 24, 2024

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This week, don’t call it an event — but M4 Macs are coming next week! Also, the second wave of Apple Intelligence, all the Apple products coming next spring, their expensive Apple Card mistake, and is production ending on Vision Pro?

This episode supported by:

Take back control of your personal information and reduce the risk of spam, scams and identity theft with Incogni. Get 60% off an annual plan with code CULTCAST at incogni.com/cultcast

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 October Mac event is on… sort of

Apple let the world know on Thursday that its much-anticipated October event isn’t going to be a traditional one. Instead, it’ll be a week of announcements of new products via press releases.

Apple plans early-2025 M4 MacBook Air refresh, delays next Mac Studio

While some M4 Macs may arrive in the next week, Apple also gears up for a bigger expansion of its M4 chip rollout, including the M4 MacBook Air coming in early 2025.

iOS 18.2 beta 1: All the new features and changes

Ahead of iOS 18.1’s public release, Apple released the first iOS 18.2 beta to developers. The second major point release of iOS 18 packs several changes, including new Apple Intelligence features.

Apple and Goldman Sachs hit with $90 million in fines for Apple Card mistakes

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) imposed nearly $90 million in combined penalties on Apple and Goldman Sachs, the agency said Wednesday.

Apple could soon end production of Vision Pro headset

Apple reportedly might end production of the Vision Pro by the end of the year. That doesn’t mean the mixed-reality headset is about to be discontinued, however.

New iPad mini is here — but where are the Macs? (CultCast #669) Oct 17, 2024

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This week, a new iPad mini drops — what does this mean for the Macs on the way? Also, details on all the weird Vision products Apple’s working on…

This episode supported by:

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This week’s stories:

New iPad mini 7 gains the brains for Apple Intelligence

The iPad mini 7, the first new version released in three years, offers support for the AI features dubbed Apple Intelligence. Plus, the tablet comes with a significant jump in storage capacity and supports the new Apple Pencil Pro.

Why we might not get an Apple October Mac and iPad event

Mac notebooks and desktops with the M4 processor are still expected to premiere soon. Just maybe more quietly.

Apple’s cheaper Vision headset might remain out of budget for most

For wider adoption, Apple is reportedly working on a cheaper Vision headset. In the latest edition of the Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reveals that the low-end Vision headset “cost about $2,000 and probably use an inferior processor and cheaper materials.”

Apple preps smart glasses and AirPods with cameras for 2027

Apple reportedly wants to repurpose some of the technology that went into its Vision Pro headset for simpler products. That includes a pair of smart glasses plus AirPods with IR cameras.

USA Facts

Steve Ballmer and Jon Stewart interview

Apple Has a New Smart Home Strategy: Screens Everywhere

Apple is finally preparing to compete for the smart home market after falling behind Amazon and Google.

SECRETS... (CCOT #17) Oct 16, 2024

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Erfon reveals three secrets, LEWIS reveals NONE.

Leaked! — Here is the M4 MacBook Pro (CultCast #668) Oct 10, 2024

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This week, new Macs and iPads are coming soon — but the MacBook Pro is already here! It’s the biggest leak since the iPhone 4. Also, Apple silicon modems are back on the table, our hands-on with Apple Intelligence and the scoop on Apple’s new update strategy!

This episode supported by:

Notion AI can now give you instant answers to your questions, using information from across your wiki, projects, docs and meeting notes. Go to notion.com/cultcast to try the powerful Notion AI today.

This week’s stories:

Apple Core

Graham Bower and Charlie Sorrel explore the story behind a different Apple product in each episode.

Apple’s next-gen M4 Macs and iPad mini 7 are almost here

Apple’s next-gen M4 Macs will reportedly arrive November 1, rather than in October as is generally expected.

M4 MacBook Pro allegedly unboxed weeks before release

An alleged unboxing video of the M4 MacBook Pro went live on YouTube over the weekend. The early hands-on, if real, shows that Apple’s next MacBook will pack impressive performance improvements over the M3 version.

iPhone SE 4’s in-house Apple 5G modem could deliver major power savings

The upcoming iPhone SE 4 will reportedly sport a new design that will see Apple ditch the physical Home button. It will also stand out for being the first product in Apple’s portfolio to use its in-house 5G modem.

Hands-on with the first 10 Apple Intelligence features

Apple Intelligence makes its debut with 10 new features — some of it is fantastic, some of it is kind of pointless.
YouTube video

Bloomberg: Apple Slowly Moves Away From Its Annual Product Release Strategy

Apple has clearly realized that there’s an issue. Pursuing a big fall launch for most of its new hardware and software offerings has become too much of a toll — and the company is ever-so-slightly inching away from that path.

M4 Macs, new iPads, iPhone SE are all coming — even Vision Pro 2! (CultCast #667) Oct 03, 2024

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This week, EVERYTHING that’s coming next — new Macs and iPads, the iPhone SE, Vision Pro 2 and a brand-new smart display with Apple Intelligence. Finally, we’ll wrap it up with Erfon’s week-long review of AirPods 4!

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:

What Macs and iPads to expect at Apple’s rumored October event

Rumors say an Apple event should bring new MacBook Pro and Mac mini models with the M4 chip, with a new iPad mini and budget iPad also on the agenda.

iPhone SE 4 with Apple Intelligence on course for early 2025

iPhone SE 4 should debut early next year with some major upgrades.

iPad Air could be in for a quick performance upgrade

The revamped iPad Air debuted in May, but there’s already word that a replacement is on Apple’s drawing board.

Next-gen Vision Pro with M5 chip will support Apple Intelligence

Ming-Chi Kuo detailed some planned improvements from Apple for the next-gen Vision Pro.

Apple smart display with Apple Intelligence coming in 2025

Apple might launch a new smart display running a new operating system called homeOS early next year. The device could feature FaceTime integration and act as a smart home controller.

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