New M3 MacBook Air — What you need to know + OLED iPads are INCOMING! (CultCast #637)
Mar 8, 2024
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New M3 MacBook Air specs boost, canceled Apple car prototypes, folding MacBook in development, $2 billion legal fight with Spotify, iOS 17.4 features, upcoming OLED iPads, EU fines Apple, Epic Games consequences, Tootsie Pops discussion
New M3 MacBook Air offers significant performance boost with same battery life.
Apple's canceled car project reveals $10 billion investment with unrealistic prototypes.
iOS 17.4 update introduces new features like alternate app marketplaces and Finance Kit API.
Deep dives
New MacBooks and iPads Expected
Apple is anticipated to release new iPads and updated MacBook Air versions in an upcoming event, featuring the switch to OLED displays to accommodate minor price increases while greatly slimming down the tablets. The iPad Pro is expected to be equipped with the M3 processor, with a potential price bump of around $160. Additionally, a 12.9-inch iPad Air is in the works, aiming to retain the same cost. It is uncertain whether the new iPads will run the M2 or the new M3 chip.
Insights on the Cancelled Apple Car Project
A recent in-depth exposé revealed insights into Apple's abandoned car project, delving into the 10-year journey of failures and missteps that led to its eventual demise. Internal conflicts, poor leadership, and indecision plagued the project, resulting in a staggering $10 billion investment yielding no tangible results in self-driving car technology. Bizarre prototypes like the 'bread loaf' and 'iBeam' displayed the ambitious yet unrealistic aspirations to revolutionize transportation.
Expectations for Updated AirPods Max
The discussion delved into potential updates for the AirPods Max, hinting at a long-awaited refresh to support lossless audio and potentially upgrading to USB-C connectivity. Criticisms regarding the Bluetooth streaming limitations and lacking features compared to the AirPods Pro are leading towards anticipated enhancements in the next iteration of the premium headphones.
Anticipation for New iPad Releases
Anticipations are high for the imminent release of new iPads, featuring OLED displays across both the iPad Pro 11 and 13-inch models. Expectations include a slight price hike to accommodate the enhanced display technology, offering a slimmer design and improved performance with the transition to the M3 processor. A potential March 2024 event may introduce the first iPad Pro with OLED technology and an additional 12.9-inch iPad Air, while speculation on the chip selection remains fluid between the M2 and M3 processors.
Apple EU Antitrust Fine
The European Union fined Apple $2 billion for abusing its dominant market position in the distribution of music streaming apps. Spotify objected to App Store rules requiring a share of subscription fees, leading to the complaint. The European Commission found that Apple's restrictions on app developers prevented them from informing users about alternative subscription services outside the App Store, deeming it illegal under EU antitrust rules. Despite Apple's arguments about Spotify's market share, the Commission supported Spotify's stance.
iOS 17.4 Features
The iOS 17.4 update brings new features like alternate app marketplaces in the EU, multilingual Siri texting, and a transcript button for podcasts. Users can access cloud gaming apps as standalone native apps, and create virtual card numbers to use Apple Cash. The introduction of Finance Kit API allows better integration of financial data, catering to users' convenience in financial management.
This week, Apple dropped the M3 MacBook Air, and the specs look good! But where’s the iPad? Also, we have details on the CRAZY canceled Apple car prototypes and a folding MacBook that’s still in development, Apple’s $2 BILLION dollar legal fight with Spotify, and new features you’ll get in iOS 17.4!
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Early benchmark scores found by mysmartprice show that the new Air scored 12,020 on the Geekbench multicore test. That’s 25% better than the M2-based MacBook Air earned on the same test, and 45% better than the M1 version from 2020.
The history of the Apple car is littered with wild prototypes, astonishing hubris and a deadly dose of crippling indecision, according to a damning report that offers the best picture yet of the secretive Project Titan.
The European Commission fined Apple more than 1.8 billion euros Monday for “abusing its dominant position on the market for the distribution of music streaming apps.â€