This week: should you buy Airpods?  The reviews are in, and we’re excited.  Plus: the iPhone 7 carrier deals you need to know about; iPhone 7 smashes pre-order expectations; Series 1 vs. Series 2 Apple Watch; and, Apple, the new NASA?   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.   Audible, the home of over 150,000 audio books from practically every genre in existence.  Grab Leander's book, Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products, for FREE with a 30-day Audible trial.  The book is yours to keep even if you decide not to keep your Audible subscription.  Get started at audible.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   Intro - Whole Earth Access has the Macintosh you’ve been looking for! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHGDpYXtqow   T-Mobile CEO: iPhone 7 is shaping up to be a smash hit http://www.cultofmac.com/445389/t-mobile-ceo-iphone-7-shaping-smash-hit/ According to charismatic T-Mobile CEO John Legere, reports about a supposed lack of interest in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are way overblown. “So I don’t know what everyone is doing, but it’s like four times bigger than the iPhone 6 for us at this order stage,” he said, calling orders thus far a “phenomenon.”    Apple won’t have any iPhone 7 Plus models for sale in stores on Friday   http://www.recode.net/2016/9/15/12925820/apple-iphone-7-sold-out It’s completely sold out, as is the smaller iPhone in Jet Black   Our pre-order experiences (discussion)   AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon iPhone 7 deals are bonkers (discussion)   Thoughts on watchOS 3 and the Apple Watch Series 1 vs. Series 2  (discussion)   AirPods review roundup: A nice idea with room for improvement http://www.cultofmac.com/445557/airpods-review-roundup-nice-idea-room-improvement/ We’ll have to wait until October to get our hands on Apple’s new wireless AirPods, but select reviewers have been granted early access to help us decide whether they’re worth their $159 price tag.   Impressions “There’s nothing to break or tangle, nothing to plug in, nothing to get caught on a stranger’s backpack on the train every freaking day. Just sweet aural freedom.”   “sit in my ears, actually better than EarPods, and remained in place even while running” David Pierce at Wired Chris Velazco of Engadget writes that he’s “stunned Apple squeezed as much tech into the AirPods as they did.”     Sound Most reviewers concluded that AirPods sound almost exactly like EarPods. Engadget review. “In general, the AirPods gave mids a little more meat than EarPods did, and drum fills felt crisper and more precise. My test tracks… came across warmer than I would have expected.” Another review wrote “I’m no audiophile, but to me, the AirPods sound nearly identical to Apple’s wired EarPods.”    Siri “Having Siri two taps away isn’t just the best thing about the AirPods. It’s the reason they exist,” writes David Pierce. “It’s easy to imagine Apple making the AirPods the centerpiece of how you interact with all your devices, particularly as Siri becomes more important.” “Consider this the first step towards a future where we no longer have to stare at a screen to get things done,” adds Business Insider. “Siri… can always be there, responding to your queries by buzzing in your ear, almost like in the movie “Her.”   Why Apple is the new NASA http://www.cultofmac.com/444551/why-apple-is-the-new-nasa/

This episode: our iPhone 7 event reactions! iPhone 7, AirPods, the new Apple Watch—we’ll cover everything Apple announced this week, and tell you what we like, what we don’t, and what we’ll be spending our own hard-earned monies on.  Plus: Nintendo's big move into iOS, and how to lock down the exact iPhone you want when the pre-orders go live..   This episode supported by   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.   And our thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a for the great music you hear on today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   Shot on iPhone - Tim Cook’s exquisite football photo http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/8/10934804/tim-cook-blurry-super-bowl-photo

This week: what new hardware will Apple bestow upon us at the iPhone 7 event next week?  Don’t miss our predictions!  Plus: new video shows iPhone 7 Plus in the wild;  and we explain Apple’s Irish tax woes, then argue about it.   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. Easiest   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   What do you think we’ll see at Apple’s iPhone 7 event?  Join us on Reddit! https://www.reddit.com/r/TheCultCast/comments/505z3f/the_apple_event_is_on_september_7_what_are_we_all/   Intro, who needs a desk? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVUGFUhFj94   Decoding Apple’s blurry iPhone 7 invite http://www.cultofmac.com/443579/decoding-apples-blurry-iphone-7-invite/   Apple sends out invites for iPhone 7 event on September 7 http://www.cultofmac.com/443570/apple-sends-out-invite-for-september-7th-iphone-event/ Apple just sent out press invitation to a special event to be held September 7 at 10 a.m. Pacific. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are expected to be unveiled at the event. A dual-lens camera on the iPhone 7 Plus could be the most groundbreaking new feature added this year. Other additions are likely to include a new pressure-sensitive Touch ID button, a faster A10 processor, an improved camera on the iPhone 7 Plus, and a new casing with fewer antenna lines. The iPhone 7 will also boast faster LTE, a bigger battery and more.   Apple will package Lightning EarPods and adapter with iPhone 7 http://www.cultofmac.com/443774/apple-will-package-lightning-earpods-and-adapter-with-iphone-7/ A new image circulating online, purporting to be insert documentation for the upcoming iPhone 7, appears to confirm that Apple will be bundling Lightning EarPods as part of its next-gen handsets.   New video shows working iPhone 7 Plus in the wild http://www.cultofmac.com/443859/new-video-shows-working-iphone-7-plus-in-the-wild/#more-443859 Notorious Apple leaker Sonny Dickson posted a short video of the three plus-size iPhones this morning, confirming many of the rumors that have claimed this year’s update won’t contain any huge design changes. The back of the iPhone 7 Plus in Dickson’s video reveals that the device will indeed come with a highly anticipated dual-lens camera, though it won’t pick up a Smart Connector   Tim Cook: Apple’s tax bill will have a ‘harmful’ effect on investment in EU http://www.cultofmac.com/443656/tim-cook-apples-tax-bill-will-have-a-harmful-effect-on-investment-in-eu/ http://www.businessinsider.com/what-just-happened-to-apple-explained-2016-8 Tim Cook has written an open letter addressing Apple’s enormous tax bill The European Union recently ruled that Apple owes  €13 billion ($14.52 billion) in back taxes Cook also states that suggestions Apple has an illegal sweetheart deal in Ireland, “has no basis in fact or in law,” confirms Apple will appeal the European Commission’s ruling The Irish government has said it is happy with its tax arrangement with Apple and doesn’t want the money. Ireland’s finance ministry has sided with Apple, and said it “disagrees profoundly” with the decision. The European Commission's issue is really not with Apple but with Ireland. The commission is not a tax authority; instead, its job is to maintain fairness between the EU member states. Countries are able to set their own tax rates, but country can’t offer something special that's seen as benefiting an individual company. In 1991,  Ireland (who’s economy was struggling) signed off on a plan in which Apple would move money to a stateless "head office”. "Apple entered into a deal with Ireland to not pay tax on all those profits,” and Apple paid "an arbitrarily small amount to Ireland in return for a promise to keep jobs in Ireland.” (The kept 6000 there.) Low corporate tax was one way Ireland improved its economy and attracted big companies, and Apple was one of the early companies to benefit.

This week:  You’ve heard of Samsung’s Galaxy Edge… but is an iPhone 8 Plus Edge on the way?  Some respected analysts say yes.  Plus: iPhone 7 Plus with dual lens was just spotted on the streets; iOS 9.3.5 fixes one of the most invasive iOS exploits to date; Tim Cook just made FAT STACKS of cash; and if the rumors prove true, Apple is working on a new social network… to take on Snap Chat.  No, seriously.   This episode supported by   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.   And our thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a for the great music you hear on today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   Drink it in, my friends https://instagram.com/p/BJdFw8OBr2A/   Galaxy Note 7 vs iPhone 6S Speed Test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-61FFoJFy0&feature=youtu.be   Taiwanese superstar posts picture of himself using iPhone 7 Plus http://www.cultofmac.com/443000/taiwanese-actor-and-singer-posts-picture-of-himself-using-iphone-7-plus/ Taiwanese actor and singer Jimmy Lin has been photographed using what appears to be a new iPhone 7 Plus, complete with its rumored dual-lens camera and LED flash. Lin previously managed to get his hands on advance units of the iPhone 5 in 2012 and iPhone 6 in 2014 — both of which turned out to be the real deal.   Apple's 2017 Curved OLED iPhone to Be a New Premium Model http://www.macrumors.com/2016/08/22/2017-iphone-dual-curve-premium-model/ Apple is planning to release at least three new iPhones next year, including a high-end model with a 5.5-inch-or-larger OLED display that is curved on both sides like Samsung's Galaxy S7 edge, according to Nikkei Ming Chi Kuo's research note this week outlined three new iPhone models are coming, including LCD-based 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models and a high-end OLED-based 5.8-inch model, as one possibility providing supply of AMOLED displays is sufficient.    Apple rolls out iOS 9.3.5 to beef up security [Update] http://www.cultofmac.com/443342/apple-rolls-out-ios-9-3-5-to-beef-up-security/ iOS 9.3.5 fixes a serious vulnerability that allows our devices to be snooped on. Software created by Israeli company NSO Group took advantage of the hole to read text messages and emails, to record calls, and to steal contacts. Tim Cook just unlocked a monstrous bonus http://www.cultofmac.com/443228/tim-cook-just-got-a-monstrous-bonus/ Buster Today marks Tim Cook’s five-year anniversary as the CEO of Apple, and as a reward for making it this long in the top spot he just unlocked a monster bonus. $100 million! Apple awarded Cook 980,000 Apple shares for his performance as part of the larger compensation package he signed in 2011. Based on Apple stock’s Tuesday closing price of $108.85, the shares are currently worth around 106.7 million. Despite the big pay day, Cook’s estimated wealth of $650 million is relatively modest by Silicon Valley standards, but he’s planning to donate most of it to charity anyway.   Apple could go head to head with Snapchat in 2017 http://www.cultofmac.com/443315/apple-could-go-head-to-head-with-snapchat-in-2017/ A new report from Bloomberg is claiming that Apple is in the process of developing its own Snapchat rival. The company, "seeking to capitalize on the popularity of social networks," will focus on video in the new app, letting users record a video, edit it, apply a filter, add doodles, and then send it out to friends. The app is being developed in the same Apple department that developed Final Cut Pro and iMovie software

This week: leaks point to some excellent upgrades coming to the smaller iPhone 7—we’ll give you the scoop.  Plus: get ready for iPhone 7, we have a launch date; Apple Watch 2 leaks points to the arrival of a sorely-needed feature; new models and “revolutionary” upgrades are coming to the iPad line; and stick around for CultCast Choices, the game that pits one bad choice against another.   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 - Things to do! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTv26OA3txg   The Apple Store is dead http://www.cultofmac.com/442815/the-apple-store-is-dead-long-live-apple/ The Apple Store is no longer called the Apple Store. Apple has begun dropping “Store” from the name of its 479 retail locations worldwide, so they are now referred to simply as “Apple.” The store pages on Apple’s website now refer to its locations using names like “Apple Union Square,” “Apple Fifth Avenue,” and “Apple The Grove,” as opposed to the former “Apple Store, Union Square,” “Apple Store, Fifth Avenue,” and “Apple Store, The Grove.”   iPhone 7 may launch on September 23 http://www.cultofmac.com/442549/iphone-7-may-launch-on-september-23/ Apple’s next iPhone could be available to the public as soon as September 23rd, based on a new leak that reveals AT&T plans to do a big “Merchandising Reset” at all stores that day. The unveiling of the iPhone 7 is rumored to take place on September 7th with pre-orders to follow two days later The leaked AT&T scheduling information shows that stores will need to spend up to three hours on a merchandising reset September 9th, indicating advertisements for iPhone 7 pre-orders will go on display that morning.   iPhone 7 and 7 Plus won’t be joined by an iPhone 7 Pro this fall http://www.cultofmac.com/442673/iphone-7-and-7-plus-wont-be-joined-by-an-iphone-7-pro-this-fall/\ Killian Japanese blog Macotakara, whose sources have been reliable in the past, confirms that this year’s iPhone’s will be labeled iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus — just as expected. They also promise that the devices will bring “greatly improved” cameras, Apple’s A10 chip, and a capacitive home button that’s expected to be pressure-sensitive.    iPhone 7’s second speaker grille may be just for show http://www.cultofmac.com/441992/iphone-7s-second-speaker-grille-may-be-just-for-show/ Killian iPhone 7 housing schematics acquired by NowhereElse suggest the speaker grilles on one side of Apple’s upcoming handsets is purely cosmetic to make the bottom edge look more symmetrical, though it won’t be totally useless. It appears Apple will place the iPhone’s microphone behind this grille, so some of the holes will serve a purpose.   Leaked iPhone 7 camera hints at big improvements http://www.cultofmac.com/442818/leaked-iphone-7-camera-hints-at-big-improvements/ Buster   While most of this years iPhone camera rumors have focused on the dual-lens module coming to the iPhone 7 Plus, a leaked iPhone 7 rear camera part hints at some big improvements coming to the smaller device. The image below leaked by NowhereElse claims to show the iPhone 7’s iSight camera which appears to include the addition of optical image stabilization to make photos sharper than ever. Other leaks have revealed that the lens on the iPhone 7 iSight camera will be larger than previous models which should have a big impact on how much light it can capture and the quality of pictures.   Apple Watch 2 will get GPS but no LTE http://www.cultofmac.com/442827/apple-watch-2-will-get-gps-but-no-lte/ Buster Although Apple plans to add a number of much needed features to the Apple Watch 2, a new report claims the company hit roadblocks when trying to make a major change that would have added LTE or other cellular data connection capabilities to the device. “The company still plans to announce new watch models this fall boasting improvements to health tracking,” reports Bloomberg. “The updated versions will also be able to integrate GPS-based location tracking.”   10.5-inch iPad Pro coming in 2017, OLED upgrade in 2018 http://www.cultofmac.com/442331/10-5-inch-ipad-pro-coming-in-2017-oled-upgrade-in-2018/ Apple will ship three new iPads next year, according to well-connected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo — including a low-cost 9.7-inch iPad, upgraded 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro variant as well. But 2018, that’s the year in which Kuo promises “revolutionary” upgrades, which will include a “radical” change in form factor as well as an AMOLED display. Interestingly, there’s no mention made of the 7.9-inch iPad mini, which could conceivably be phased out in order avoid direct competition with Apple’s larger plus-sized iPhone models.

This week: new Macbook Pros, incoming!  We have even more details to share on the “significant” updates coming soon to Apple’s Macbook Pro line.  Plus: iPhone 7 may get a Quad HD display and pressure-sensitive home button; Apple’s plans for a “killer” new health device; and we review our favorite new hover boards and smart scales on an all new Under Review.   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.   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.   And our thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a for the great music you hear on today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @alexeheath   Apple said to be developing ‘killer’ health device for 2017 http://www.cultofmac.com/441455/apple-said-to-be-developing-killer-health-device-for-2017/   Apple ditched plan to make three iPhone 7 models http://www.cultofmac.com/441425/apple-ditched-plan-to-make-three-iphone-7-models/   iPhone 7 to feature pressure-sensitive home button http://www.cultofmac.com/441218/iphone-7-to-feature-pressure-sensitive-home-button/   iPhone 7 Plus may be in line for Quad HD display http://www.cultofmac.com/441345/iphone-7-plus-may-be-in-line-for-quad-hd-display/   New MacBook Pro may pack Touch ID power button http://www.cultofmac.com/441256/new-macbook-pro-may-pack-touch-id-power-button/   New iPhone to Have Dual Camera but No Headphone Jack https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-08/new-iphone-said-to-have-dual-camera-pressure-sensitive-button   Segway miniPro http://amzn.to/2aLyEHB   Swagtron T3 http://amzn.to/2aLyv7f   Tithings Body Cardio scale http://www.withings.com/us/en/products/body-cardio

This week: the controversy around iOS 10’s new gun emoji;  we compare Instagram’s new stories feature to Snapchat's; Gwyneth Paltrow brings her coding skills to ‘Planet of the Apps’; we attended a 5-day Apple II festival, we’ll tell you the cool parts; and stick around for the best ways to find specific Pokémon in 'Pokémon GO’.   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 / @alexeheath   Gwyneth Paltrow is bringing her coding skills to ‘Planet of the Apps’ http://www.cultofmac.com/441089/gwyneth-paltrow-is-bringing-her-coding-skills-to-planet-of-the-apps/#more-441089 Paltrow will be joined by will.i.am and serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk on the show where all three will serve as mentors and advisors to app developers in the series that will reportedly act as a launch pad to exceptional developers.   iOS 10 adds 100+ emoji to promote gender equality http://www.cultofmac.com/440607/ios-10-adds-100-emoji-to-promote-gender-equality/ The latest beta build of iOS 10 seeded to developers this morning brings more gender options to existing characters like the surfer, runner, weightlifter, detective, construction worker and much more. The pistol emoji has been changed to a water gun, too   Apple is replacing the pistol emoji with a squirt gun http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-pistol-squirt-gun-emoji-apple-20160802-snap-story.html Emojis are not made by Apple. They are selected, designed and coded by a nonprofit organization called the Unicode Consortium. Platforms like Apple, Microsoft, Samsung and Facebook decide exactly how those characters will appear on the device you're using. Apple is reinterpreting how it will "read" the pistol emoji. Instead of depicting it as a metal revolver, it will show the green toy water pistol. In June, Apple asked the Unicode Consortium to exclude a scoped shooting rifle from the upcoming set of emojis. Unicode complied, and the rifle was scrapped. Emoji are funny, but they’re also a powerful way to communicate. This move by Apple communicates that tools of violence and death shouldn’t be part of our light-hearted, ubiquitous lexicon. (the Guardian)   Instagram’s new feature is a ripoff of Snapchat Stories http://www.cultofmac.com/440801/instagrams-new-feature-is-a-ripoff-of-snapchat-stories/ company introduced Instagram Stories, which lets you share multiple photos and videos in a single slideshow. It can be shared with select followers without showing up on your more public profile. It then disappears 24 hours later. It functions in the same way as the Stories feature on Snapchat   There's a new way to find specific Pokémon in 'Pokémon GO,' and it works http://www.techinsider.io/skiplagged-pokevision-alternative-shows-pokemon-locations-in-pokemon-go-2016-8

This week:  iPhone 7 gets a new 3D Touch home button and a September 9th launch date!  Plus: why we may be only weeks away from Apple’s Macbook Pro and Apple Watch 2 launch event; the big gun is back—Apple puts Big Bob Mansfield at the helm of their top secret Apple Car project; one of the internet’s best web series is now an Apple Music exclusive; and stick around for apps, man—we’ve got some sweet picks for you.   This episode supported by 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   James Cordon carpools with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and it’s magical https://youtu.be/cfudXO_vzWk   Apple just sold its billionth iPhone! http://www.cultofmac.com/439969/apple-just-sold-its-billionth-iphone/ One billion iPhone devices have officially been sold now since Steve Jobs unveiled the magical smartphone back in 2007, the company revealed today.   iPhone 7 pre-orders will reportedly open on September 9 http://www.cultofmac.com/440053/iphone-say-pre-orders-will-reportedly-open-on-september-9/ The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will reportedly be made available for pre-order on September 9, according to well-connected tipster Evan Blass. Keynote on Monday the 5th or Tuesday the 6th   iPhone 7 might not go by the name you’re expecting http://www.cultofmac.com/439600/iphone-7-might-not-go-by-the-name-youre-expecting/ A new rumor coming out of China suggests that September’s next-gen iPhone won’t be called the iPhone 7 as expected, but rather the iPhone 6SE — continuing the naming scheme Apple introduced for its 4-inch iPhone SE earlier this year. so far it’s just a rumor citing Chinese supply chain sources.  A separate report, meanwhile, suggests that it’s likely to debut on Friday, September 16. That’s just two months’ away… The slightly-earlier-than-usual launch date was “revealed” by tipster Evan Blass, who has a strong track record when it comes to this type of information.   iPhone 7 may get 3D Touch home button http://www.cultofmac.com/439831/iphone-7-may-get-3d-touch-home-button/#more-439831 Apple allegedly plans to replace its physical home button on the iPhone 7 (or iPhone 6 SE) with a new 3D Touch button that won’t move when you press it, but well instead give users a haptic feedback to replicate the feeling of pressing a button, like on the Magic Trackpad 2. Macotakara claims to have heard from supply chain sources that the company will indeed include the feature on this year’s model, making it a bit more interesting than anticipated. The new home button design will supposedly be flush with the rest of the body, making the iPhone more waterproof than ever now that there are fewer paths for water to enter the device and destroy the internal components.   Surprise! Apple Watch 2 set to arrive this fall http://www.cultofmac.com/439787/surprise-apple-watch-2-set-to-arrive-this-fall-as-expected/ The long-awaited next version of the Apple Watch will supposedly be unveiled this fall Apple Watch 2’s big unveiling will happen in either September or October, claims DigiTimes Future Apple Watch updates are expected to add LTE data, GPS, longer battery life and faster performance.   Apple puts Bob Mansfield in driving seat for secret car project http://www.cultofmac.com/439612/apple-puts-bob-mansfield-in-driving-seat-for-secret-car-project/ Bob Mansfield has been chosen to head up Apple’s “secret” electric car project three years after stepping down from his executive role, according to a new report. Mansfield first joined Apple in 1999 and retired in June 2012, but just two months later, it was confirmed that he was staying on to work on “future projects.” Mansfield was then named senior vice president of technologies in October 2012. Mansfield was previously in charge of Mac hardware at Apple and led development of products like the MacBook Air, iMac and iPad. Mansfield was previously making only occasional visits to Apple; however, employees recently noticed in the company directory that all senior managers working on the car project are now reporting directly to him. “Apple now has Mr. Mansfield running the company’s secret autonomous, electric-vehicle initiative, code-named Project Titan,” reports The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter.   ‘Carpool Karaoke’ TV show will be an Apple Music exclusive http://www.cultofmac.com/439811/carpool-karaoke-tv-show-will-be-an-apple-music-exclusive/ James Corden’s popular ‘Carpool Karaeoke’ segment from The Late Late Show on CBS is set to become its own show later this year and you’ll only be able to watch in on Apple Music. The viral segment has been a breakout hit of 2016 thanks to appearances from the likes of Adele, Justin Bieber, Michelle Obama, Elton John and dozens of other stars who drive around Los Angeles singing popular songs.   Our Apps, Man picks Buster - Photo pills http://www.photopills.com   Erfon - Tinycards https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1109425556?mt=8   Leander - Ultimate ears speakers and their companion apps http://origin.ultimateears.com/ue-apps/en-us/

This week: leaked codenames might mean no iPhone 7 Pro; a new trademark alludes to a new wireless version of your white-wired EarPods; forget the debit card, Apple Pay is coming to an ATM near you; and, have you outgrown Apple’s Calendar, Mail, Notes, or other native apps?  We’ll tell you our favorite replacements!   This episode supported by   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    The end of plastic cards nears: Over 70,000 ATMs will soon support Touch ID withdrawals http://9to5mac.com/2016/07/15/atm-withdrawals-with-iphone-fis-partnership/   AirPods trademark appears to confirm Apple’s wireless future http://www.cultofmac.com/438282/airpods-trademark-appears-to-confirm-apples-wireless-future/ Buster it appears that Apple is definitely planning to make some wireless earbuds of its own, based on some recently discovered trademark filings.' MacRumors have found evidence that appears to confirm Apple will be releasing wireless EarPods, dubbed, Airpods An amendment filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office review process shows that Apple used a shell company called Entertainment in Flight to trademark the term “AirPods.” Apple used similar tactics to register the “iPad” and “CarPlay” trademarks. It did the same for “iWatch” too but discarded the name.   iPhone 7 code names leave no room for ‘Pro’ model http://www.cultofmac.com/438689/iphone-7-codenames-leave-no-room-for-pro-model/ Apple leaker Evan Blass has taken to twitter to alert the world that there will be only two iPhone 7 models coming up, Sonora and Dos Palos. This would imply there will be no iPhone 7 Pro, just your regular iPhone 7 and 7 Plus He’s got a great track record.   Our favorite replacements to the native apps

Guest Blake J. Harris, author of Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation, regales us with the story of the 90s video game battle that pitted newcomer, Sega of America, against Nintendo, an unstoppable force, and maker of Mario Brothers, Duck Hunt, and the beloved Nintendo Entertainment System.