The CultCast

Send us a text!  This week:  Why Apple’s making an iPhone Pro, a tech-packed cutting-edge phone that will showcase what Cupertino is capable of.   Genius Bar jackpot!  Aka, why the Genius Bar sometimes replaces your old broken tech for a brand new model.   Stick around for a super-powerful electric long board, a HomeKit-enabled ceiling fan, and pro-level keyboard case for your iPad Pro in an all-new Under Review 🤖   This episode supported by   You might know of Shutterstock as home to royalty-free photos. But, they offer much more.  Kickstart your next interactive project with video clips or music tracks from their collection, and save 20% for a limited time at shutterstock.com/cultcast   Build a beautiful, responsive website quick at Squarespace.com.  Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   Thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com for the great music you hear on today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @lewiswallace / @lkahney   Macintosh Jr. has the power to crush the other kids!   Apple’s risky balancing act with the next iPhone http://www.macworld.com/article/3207552/iphone-ipad/apples-risky-balancing-act-with-the-next-iphone.html   Why Apple sometimes gives brand new products for your old broken one (connected podcast) Have you or a friend ever taken an old product into the Genius Bar, and had them replace that product with a brand new version?  Isn’t it great when that happens?? Well it turns out it’s likely not cause Apple’s so nice. When Apple develops a new product, they can’t test for everything. When a problem surfaces, Apple may initiate what they call a "Field capture period” During this time, if Apple is investigating a problem with a product, and you bring in a product that exhibits the symptoms of that problem, they’ll give you a new piece of hardware, then send your device back to Cupertino to dissasemble and investigate. Certain kinds of sunscreens dissolving glue in Apple watch backs, causing the back to come off.   Under Review Hunter Symphony Fan Logitech Slim Combo Keyboard Huger Electric Longboard   Leander on a skateboard http://imgur.com/8YmIU2s

Send us a text!This week:  the magic of HomePod!  We’ll tell you about the built-in audio tech that's getting even the most ardent audiophiles hyped about Apple’s new smart speaker.   Plus: why iPhone 8’s biggest features may be disabled at launch Why you can grab free Beats in Apple's new back to school promo without being in college The fascinating story behind Steve Jobs' iconic turtleneck More of iOS 11’s best unknown features And we wrap with the heart warming story of why Steve Jobs insisted on always buying Scott Forstall's lunch.   This episode supported by   You might know of Shutterstock as home to royalty-free photos. But, they offer much more.  Kickstart your next interactive project with video clips or music tracks from their collection, and save 20% for a limited time at shutterstock.com/cultcast   What is Backblaze? It’s unlimited, cloud backup for Macs and PCs. And it’s native for Macs!  Try it out free for 15 days at Backblaze.com/cultcast.   Casper’s American-made mattresses have just the right amount of sink and bounce, and people everywhere love them.  Learn why and get $50 towards any mattress at Casper.com/cultcast.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   Thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com for the great music you hear on today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   iPhone 8’s biggest features could be disabled at launch https://www.cultofmac.com/492358/iphone-8s-biggest-features-disabled-launch/ Some of the iPhone 8’s biggest new features could be disabled when the handset makes its debut this September. According to Fast Company, there is “a sense of panic in the air” at Apple as engineers scramble to iron out software bugs that are affecting wireless charging and 3D facial recognition. For both features, the hardware is ready — but the software that controls the features is “not ready for prime time.” If Apple cannot fix the issues, wireless charging could be disabled when the iPhone 8 goes on sale this September. Users would then have to wait for a future iOS update for it to be enabled — just like Portrait Mode on iPhone 7 Plus, which wasn’t ready for launch last fall. Same goes for facial recognition, but this report says Apple will indeed include a touch ID sensor under the screen, so at least you’ll have that.   Apple offers free Beats in latest Back to School promo https://www.cultofmac.com/492362/apple-offers-free-beats-latest-back-school-promo/ Apple is giving away free Beats headphones for its latest Back to School promotion. Those who purchase a new iPad Pro — either the 10.5-

Send us a text!This week: it’s easy to ignore how intuitive it is to use an iPhone, but behind those vast array of simple swipes and taps was an entire team of designers who painstakingly crafted the sophisticated interactions that give the iPhone its magic.     This week we'll tell you the stories behind inertial scrolling, swipe to unlock, and Bas Ording, the man who brought iOS to life using the physics of our natural world.   This episode supported by   You might know of Shutterstock as home to royalty-free photos. But, they offer much more.  Kickstart your next interactive project with video clips or music tracks from their collection, and save 20% for a limited time at shutterstock.com/cultcast   Build a beautiful, responsive website quick at Squarespace.com.  Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   Thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com for the great music you hear on today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   iPhone 8 will include fewer casing colors, no Touch ID https://www.cultofmac.com/490788/iphone-8-will-include-fewer-casing-colors-no-touch-id/ Will Apple manage to successfully embed Touch ID into the OLED display of the iPhone 8, or will it have to follow in the footsteps of Android device makers and opt for a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor? None of the above, claims well-respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a list of predictions he’s made for the next iPhone, Kuo claims Apple will skip Touch ID altogether for its next-gen handset. “We predict the OLED model [iPhone 8] won’t support fingerprint recognition,” Kuo writes. The reasons? The full-screen design doesn’t work with existing capacitive fingerprint recognition, and under-the-display fingerprint recognition tech still isn’t ready.     iPhone 8 might drop Touch ID for 3-D face scanner https://www.cultofmac.com/490848/iphone-8-3-d-facial-scanning/ The iPhone 8 might ditch Touch ID for 3-D facial scanning that could prove faster, easier and more secure than the fingerprint reader currently used for logins and payments. Apple is currently testing the 3-D face-scanning technology in iPhone prototypes that utilize a new 3-D sensor, according to Bloomberg. The new security system could be augmented by eye-scanning technology with the intent of replacing Touch ID, the report adds, citing anonymous “people familiar with the product.” One major production problem Apple faces with the OLED screen iPhone 8 is getting an under-screen finger

Send us a text!This week: you’d never know it from Steve Job’s effortless keynote introduction, but the original iPhone was plagued with huge design and production issues that almost made Apple call it quits, right up until the day it was released!  To commemorate the iPhone’s 10th anniversary, we’ll recount some of the incredible stories behind iPhone’s beleaguered early days, and celebrate how Apple pulled off one of the greatest device launches in history.   And stay tuned for an all-new What We're Into!   This episode supported by   You might know of Shutterstock as home to royalty-free photos. But, they offer much more.  Kickstart your next interactive project with video clips or music tracks from their collection, and save 20% for a limited time at shutterstock.com/cultcast   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   Thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com for the great music you hear on today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   Sign up to get a free copy of Unsung Apple Hero, an e-book detailing Bas Ording’s career at Apple. We’ll email you a copy when the e-book is released in July!    Trying to build a better iPod iPod was ruling the world, it was 50% of Apple’s revenue. Apple had the wherewithal to realize it was only a matter of time before phones would do it all, and they realized they needed to build one. Well the iPod used a click wheel, so why not build a phone function into that?  It worked great, until they realized it wouldn’t work for dialing numbers. Steve Jobs realized their multitouch technology, which existed as rough demo, could be the key to controlling the iPhone.  But they’d had to shrink it.  The technology at the time consisted of  a ping-pong table-sized display with a projector shooting down onto it.  They had found their solution.   Birth of the iPhone: How Apple turned clunky prototypes into a truly magical device     Insider stories on how the iPhone was born     The pressure Around 2005, Steve Jobs conveyed to Forstall and team that he hated the replacement iPhone proposals he was seeing, and that’s when he threatened to take the project away from them.  He gave the team two weeks to come up with a good design. The team went into overdrive. Working tirelessly.  Non stop.  They had to come up with an entire multitouch design language, touch interactions, like pinch to zoom and the rubber banding scroll. When the two weeks was up, they convened with Steve to show him their new work. He watched silently, stoic. And when the demo was over, Steve said, "let me see it again.” So once more they dived into their vision of the iPhone. And after they were through, Steve simply said: Good job guys.  He wa

Send us a text!This week:   More of the powerful new iOS 11 features you’ve never heard of.  The talented app which will harnesses the power of Apple’s  new augmented reality features   Scott Forstall is back, and he’s sharing the bizarre story of how the original iPhone really came to be.  Everything you need to know about HEIF, the JPEG-killing format Apple is adopting Cliff jumping in our loin cloths   This episode supported by   BlueApron - a better way to cook! Get your first 3 meals free with free shipping at BlueApron.com/CultCast   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   Thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com for the great music you hear on today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   Former iOS Chief Scott Forstall Discusses Creating the First iPhone https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/21/scott-forstall-discusses-creation-first-iphone/ Former iOS chief Scott Forstall is back from the dead.  In a rare appearance, he appeared an event Tuesday night at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, where he discussed the birth of the iPhone and his relationship with Steve Jobs. It’s  the first time he's spoken publicly since he was ousted from Apple in October 2012 Forstall also spoke about the concept of skeuomorphic design, claiming he had "never heard of skeuomorphism" when he was working on iOS and that it sounded "unnatural”. "When I look at design - when I look at good design - it's approachable, friendly, you can use it without a manual. It's fun. We talked a lot about photo-illustrative design. It was infused into the design sense of Apple by Steve Jobs since the original Mac. We used these design philosophies. It doesn't mean we loved it, or loved every single part of it. We know it worked. How do we know it worked? You just have to watch people use it.” Where things got really interesting is when Scott spoke about the origins of the iPhone.  The TRUE origins. Forstall claimed that before the iPhone was conceived, Jobs had initially wanted a tablet with capacitative touch and multitouch in order to get one over on someone he "hated" who worked at Microsoft. "It began because Steve hated this guy at Microsoft. That is the actual origin," Forstall said, before adding that it wasn't Bill Gates. After hearing the person boast about Microsoft's tablet and stylus development, said Forstall, "Steve came in on a Monday, there was a set of expletives and then he said, 'Let's show them how it's really done'."   New Siri icon in iOS 11 may hint at iPhone 8’s virtual Home button https://www.cultofmac.com/488534/new-siri-icon-ios-11-may-hint-iphone-8s-virtual-home-button/ Apple may have left a big clue in iOS 11 that points to huge design changes coming later this year to the iPhone 8. While doing some testing with the new Do Not Disturb When Driving feature, eagle-eyed Apple observers have spotted a ne

Send us a text!This week:  Reviews for the new iPad Pro and HomePod are bonkers Someone in the Apple supply chain just accidentally leaked some of iPhone 8’s marquee features Speed tests show a big improvement in the new MacBook Pro Apple finally offers us iCloud Storage sharing Our favorite unannounced iOS 11 features And we’ll tell you what we like (and don’t) about the apps and gadgets we’re currently testing in an all-new Under Review!   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.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   Thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com for the great music you hear on today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   Apple suppliers confirm two of iPhone 8’s biggest features http://www.cultofmac.com/487120/apple-supplier-will-ship-3d-facial-recognition-sensors-time-iphone-8/ Apple supplier Largan has confirmed it will be shipping its new 3D sensors in time for iPhone 8, while another has confirmed waterproofing and wireless charging technology. Largan’s sensors are capable of carrying out facial and iris recognition and provide an alternative to fingerprint scanning. They could be the solution Apple turns to if it is unable to embed a Touch ID scanner beneath the iPhone 8’s display. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models are already splash- and water-resistant with an IP67 rating, but Apple's fine print warns that "splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear." iPhone water damage is not covered by Apple's warranties.  But in Wednesday's shareholders meeting, [Robert] Hwang, [Wistron CEO] told reporters that the Assembly process for the previous generations of [iPhones] have not changed much, though new features like waterproof and wireless charging now require some different testing, and waterproof function will alter the assembly process a bit,”  A report earlier this year said Apple's next iPhone models will feature improved IP68-rated water resistance (30 minutes in up to 3 feet of water)   2017 MacBook Pro is Up to 20% Faster Than Last Year's Model in Benchmarks https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/07/2017-macbook-pro-benchmarks-geekbench/ Apple this week refreshed its MacBook Pro lineup with Intel's seventh-generation Kaby Lake processors, and early benchmarks for the notebooks suggest the 2017 models are up to 20 percent faster than the equivalent 2016 models equipped with Intel's s

Send us a text!This week: in one of the most exciting and action-packed keynotes in years, Apple updates just about everything they’ve got.  Hot off the event, catch our reactions plus our picks for best in show!   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.   Check out the Cult of Mac  Watch store for a curated selection of our favorite straps, all available for prices far less than you’d expect.    CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   Thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com for the great music you hear on today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   WWDC keynote is proof of Apple’s awesome power and poise http://www.cultofmac.com/485116/wwdc-2017-keynote-apple-power/   First look: From cute to badass, Apple’s new hardware impresses http://www.cultofmac.com/485086/first-look-cute-badass-apples-new-hardware-impresses/   Hardware, software and surprises: Key takeaways from Apple’s WWDC 2017 keynote http://www.cultofmac.com/484764/apples-wwdc-2017-keynote-takeaways/   HomePod leads to string of Twitter jabs http://www.cultofmac.com/485134/twitter-reacts-to-homepod-preview-at-wwdc-2017/   11 awesome iOS 11 features Apple didn’t bother to mention http://www.cultofmac.com/485088/ios-11-features-apple-didnt-mention/   HomePod smart speaker will totally rock (and control) your house http://www.cultofmac.com/484756/apple-homepod-speaker-wwdc-2017/   New 10.5-inch iPad Pro is Apple’s best tablet yet http://www.cultofmac.com/485036/apple-delivers-new-10-5-inch-ipad-pro/   Apple teases ‘seriously badass’ iMac Pro and other new Macs at WWDC http://www.cultofmac.com/484970/apple-teases-seriously-badass-imac-pro-wwdc/

Send us a text!This week: new evidence points to one of the most hardware-packed WWDCs in years!  Add in four new OS reveals and, by golly, you have one heckuva exciting show.  We’ll tell you all we know, and share all the products we predict will hit the stage.   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.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   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   Steve Jobs closes down Apple! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shu6_lO1PW8   Everything we expect to see at WWDC2017 http://www.cultofmac.com/484068/everything-expect-see-wwdc-2017/   MacBook Pro Macbook Pro with Touch Bar was announced 7 months ago!  But a new one looks to be on the way.  Expect: More powerful Kaby Lake processors 32GB of desktop-class RAM for 15-inch MacBook Pro Price slash for 13-inch MacBook Pro without Touch Bar which hasn’t been selling well per Ming Chi Kuo   MacBook Pro shipping estimates hint at WWDC refresh http://www.cultofmac.com/483974/macbook-pro-shipping-estimates-hint-wwdc-refresh/ Shipping times for the 15-inch model have slipped on the Apple online store It seems strange that shipping times would suddenly slip for a product that’s been on sale since October. “A spot check shows 15-inch MacBook Pro delivery estimates are similarly as long in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, and several other countries,” reports MacRumors.   12-inch MacBook It’s been over a year since Apple has updated its the portable 12-inch MacBook.  Now would be a good time.   MacBook Air Bloomberg reported earlier in May that Apple is “considering” updating the MacBook Pro with a newer processor because sales of the machine have continued to be “surprisingly strong.” Who knows what processor it’ll get or what (if any ) other upgrades (like as USB-C or a new display) might be included.   iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac mini Apple announced earlier this year that they are hard at work on new pro-level desktop machines, but don’t expect to see anything at WWDC. The company made it clear that the new Mac Pro is in the works, but they also gave a spec bump to the current line. It is possible we may see an announcement about the pro-level iMacs they talked about, especially considering it hasn’t been updated since Oct. 2015!  Maybe we’ll

Send us a text!This week:  Rumors point to a big iPhone 8 price hike.  What’s the max you would pay?  Intel makes a huge move to push Thunderbolt into the mainstream Ikea about to drop tons of great HomeKit gadgets on us DJI’s Spark selfie drone is a compact powerhouse And we’ll tell you about the weird and whacky gadgets we’re reviewing in an all-new Under Review!   This episode supported by Blue Apron makes it easy to cook delicious meals at home.  See their upcoming menu and get your first three meals free at BlueApron.com/CultCast.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   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   More evidence hints at massive iPhone 8 price hike http://www.cultofmac.com/482409/evidence-hints-massive-iphone-8-price-hike/ Rumors that the iPhone 8 may come with a $1,000 price tag are seemingly backed-up by a new report claiming that components for the next-gen handset will be considerably higher than those for its predecessor. According to China’s Economic Daily News, the 3D Touch module alone for the iPhone 8 will cost 150 percent more than the comparable module for the current LCD iPhone. As per a recent report from Goldman Sachs analyst Simona Jankowski, the 128GB iPhone 8 will sell for $999, while the 256GB version will set users back a whopping $1,099. This means that the iPhone 8 could represent a significant 25 percent price jump from the iPhone 7. Include AirPods?   Sensor on second iPhone 7 Plus camera is smaller than main one, calculations show     Intel will eliminate Thunderbolt royalties to boost adoption http://www.cultofmac.com/483186/intel-will-eliminate-thunderbolt-royalties-boost-adoption/ Every manufacturer that uses it has to pay royalties to Intel, which means you typically find it exclusively in expensive, high-end machines. Intel has confirmed plans to drop Thunderbolt royalties in an effort to boost adoption. The chip-maker also plans to integrate Thunderbolt 3 into its own processors starting next year, eliminating the need for a dedicated controller. Thunderbolt has become the ultimate standard for connecting peripherals to your computer, thanks to its incredibly high bandwidth and versatility. Thunderbolt 3’s 40Gbps speeds let you transfer a full 4K movie in just 30 seconds. USB 3 is only 10GBPS!     Control IKEA Home Smart products with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s Home app http://newsroom.inte

Send us a text!This week: new MacBook Pros at WWDC?  Insiders say yes!  We’ll tell you all we know.  Plus: why future Macs are about to get much faster CPUs; Apple makes a big move to bring manufacturing back to the US; and we’ll wrap up with 5 weird and whacky facts about the new Apple Park campus.   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.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   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 may reveal three new MacBooks at WWDC http://www.cultofmac.com/481877/new-macbooks-wwdc/ Apple hasn’t released new hardware at a WWDC keynote since 2013, but the company is allegedly planning to unveil a new lineup of MacBooks, according to a report that claims the new machines will pack Intel’s new Kaby Lake processor to bring more speed than ever. Three new laptops will debut at WWDC 2017, claims Bloomberg, citing “people familiar with the matter.” Both the MacBook Pro and 12-inch MacBook will be updated with new Intel chips. Apple is also supposedly considering updating the 13-inch MacBook Air with a new processor, too, which would be quite a surprise as most observers assumed the machine was on its last legs now that the MacBook and MacBook Pro are thinner. Sales of the old MacBook Air remain “surprisingly strong” due to its cheap price tag, claims one of the report’s sources. What features needed to make the machine exciting again Shows Apple may be getting about making Mac great again.   Intel: Cannonlake CPUs will be more than 15 percent faster than Kaby Lake http://www.pcworld.com/article/3167942/components-processors/intel-cannonlake-will-be-more-than-15-percent-faster-than-kaby-lake.html Meager performance gains aren’t all Apple’s fault Chipmakers in past years focused on increasing performance by raising the clock frequency. But that made chips power hungry, and their focus shifted to adding cores, which boosted performance but also added battery life to laptops. Then the focus turned to integrating technologies like graphics and I/O buses inside processors. Gaming and virtual reality have brought a focus back to raw CPU performance. The performance improvements from Skylake to Kaby Lake topped out at 15 percent. The CPU performance boost for Cannonlake should be at least that, Intel said. The gaming market is exploding, especially eSports, and demand for high-performance Core i7 chips skyrocketed last year Intel may be trying to catch up with AMD, which is boasting a 40 percent performance improvement for its upcoming Ryzen chips.   Apple’s standalone Siri could look a lot like Echo