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 http://www.cultofmac.com/437480/pokemon-go-continues-its-global-invasion-this-week/ The game is officially available only in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand right now, but it is already a huge success. According to data from analytics firm SimilarWeb, the game already has more users than Tinder. Pokémon Go will continue its global invasion later this week as it expands its reach into Europe and Asia. The title has already become a smash hit, causing Nintendo shares to rocket 25 percent despite the game only being available in a small number of regions.   Get to know your Cultist A movie we've seen at least 25 times and still love. Leander - Apocalypse Now, Wild bunch, Onion field Buster - Step brothers, Pineapple Express, Night at the Rockbury Erfon - Star Trek VI the Undiscovered Country, Indiana Jones The Last Crusade Albums we love listening to from start to finish. Leander - Sandinista by The Clash Buster - Explosions in the Sky Erfon - Ten by Pearl Jam, Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too by the New Radicals

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 http://www.cultofmac.com/436652/iphone-7-base-model-may-come-with-32gb-of-storage/ Buster The cheapest model iPhone 7 units will come with 32GB of storage by default, reports the Wall Street Journal in a wide-ranging article that covers possible features Apple’s latest smartphone will have. The increase in storage has been rumored for a few months now, with other reports claiming Apple will also add a 256GB option for those who need even more storage. Other new features expected to be added include a simplified case design, new dual-lens camera, better waterproofing, no headphone jack and Lightning EarPods.   ‘Celebgate’ hacker pleads guilty to cracking iCloud accounts http://www.cultofmac.com/436495/celebgate-hacker-pleads-guilty-to-cracking-300-icloud-accounts/#more-436495   A hacker who broke into more than 30 iCloud accounts has pleaded guilty for his role in the “Celebgate” leak of 2014. Edward Majerczyk faces up to five years in prison for illegally obtaining private celebrity photos. Majerczyk, 28, worked alongside Ryan Collins, who pleaded guilty to his role in the hack back in March, to create a phishing scam that tricked celebrities into entering login information into fake websites. They then used this information to obtain access to over 300 Gmail and iCloud accounts.   Should you get Apple Care/Apple Care +  https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/4rloui/what_exactly_is_applecare_why_do_you_recommend_it/   Behold the year’s best iPhone photographs http://www.cultofmac.com/436930/behold-the-years-best-iphone-photographs/

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.cultofmac.com/435729/gaze-upon-iphone-7s-lighting-earpods-in-all-their-glory/ New photos of what are claimed to be Apple’s next-generation EarPods all but confirm that its iPhone 7 series will ship without the beloved headphone jack. The new EarPods, which surfaced on Chinese micro-blogging website Weibo, swap the 3.5mm jack we’ve been using for decades for a Lightning connector.   Apple sued by man who claims he invented iPhone in 1992 http://www.cultofmac.com/435700/apple-sued-by-man-who-claims-he-invented-iphone-in-1992/ A Florida man is suing Apple for a whopping $10 billion and 1.5 percent of all future Apple earnings — because he claims to have come up with the idea for Apple’s breakthrough mobile device all way back in 1992. Thomas S. Ross’ “electronic reading device” patent describes a “device so designed and aggregated as to have created a novel combination of media and communication tools,” He claims this idea (allegedly) to have been “hijacked and exploited by Apple’s iPhones, iPods, iPads and others.” The suit finally argues that the distress Ross has suffered as a result of seeing his iPhone everywhere without the proper credit being bestowed on him adds up to a “great and irreparable injury that cannot fully be compensated or measured in money.” In the meantime, though, he’s happy to take $10 billion — plus the barely-significant sum of 1.5 percent of all future Apple earnings. It’s only right, isn’t it?   Meet the sports shooter who leaves heavy gear behind for an iPhone http://www.cultofmac.com/435070/meet-the-sports-shooter-who-leaves-heavy-gear-behind-for-an-iphone/   Erfon mentioned these Sony XBA-H1 earphones! http://amzn.to/298QdUd

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, larger camera on the 7 Better water proofing Better looking antenna bands Lightning headphone jack/dongle   Get your dongle on: iPhone 7 to include Lightning adapter http://www.cultofmac.com/434409/get-your-dongle-on-iphone-7-to-include-lightning-adapter/ The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will ship with regular 3.5mm EarPods, according to a new report from Macotakara that claims Apple will include a 3.5mm to Lightning Adapter so you’re not force to buy new headphones with your new iPhone. The report also claims that by removing the headphone jack on the iPhone 7, Apple will add a row of speaker holes on the right side.   iPhone 7 price leak promises Pro model, 256GB of storage http://www.cultofmac.com/434857/iphone-7-price-leak-promises-pro-model-256gb-of-storage/#more-434857 An alleged price list for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7 series suggests there will be a high-end “Pro” model after all. Fans could also get 256GB storage options, while 32GB of storage could become the minimum. According to an iPhone 7 price list posted on Chinese micro-blogging network Weibo, there will be an iPhone 7 Pro in Apple’s lineup this fall.

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 http://www.cultofmac.com/433365/photographers-rejoice-ios-10-lets-you-snap-raw-images/ For the first time ever, Apple is finally bringing RAW image files to the Camera app in iOS 10  iOS 10’s RAW image capture is only available via the rear camera and you can’t use image stabilization when shooting RAW, but Apple did add the ability to shoot RAW + JPEG on a single snap and bracketed shooting.   Siri comes to Mac and opens up to developers http://www.cultofmac.com/433032/siri-comes-to-mac-and-opens-up-to-developers/ For the first time, Siri will be available on the Mac and will be opened to third-party developers on iOS. Siri will be opened up to third-party developers on iOS. Developers will be able to use Siri for a number of tasks, including: Messaging — send messages with apps like iMessage and Slack. Ride hailing — call for a ride on Uber or Lyft. Photo Search — search for images on Web or apps like Pinterest. Workouts — Siri can call up workouts. Payments — Siri can send payments to friends, say, in various payment apps. VOIP calling — Siri can make VOIP calls in apps like Vonage and Skype. Car — works with CarPlay. Siri API limited to these  types of apps.   Concept imagines the magic of MacBook Pro’s OLED touch bar http://www.cultofmac.com/433588/concept-imagines-the-magic-of-macbook-pros-oled-touch-bar/   MacBook Pro concept shows how useful an OLED touchpad will be http://www.cultofmac.com/432480/macbook-pro-concept-shows-how-cool-an-oled-touchpad-will-be/   Everything from WWDC 2016 worth getting excited about http://www.cultofmac.com/433147/everything-from-wwdc-worth-getting-excited-about/ Leander   All the new Messages features you’ll love in iOS 10 http://www.cultofmac.com/433414/all-the-new-messages-features-youll-love-in-ios-10/

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.cultofmac.com/432189/apple-is-making-huge-changes-to-how-youll-pay-for-apps/ Buster Starting next week Apple will roll out major changes to the App Store that will effect how, and how much you’ll pay, for your favorite apps. Apple plans to open subscriptions to all apps. In the past, the iPhone-maker only allowed apps for news, cloud services, dating and streaming to offer a subscription that’s billed automatically through iTunes. When developers are able to maintain a customer for more than 12 months, Apple will drop its take down to 15 percent, giving developers another small pay raise. The internally-dubbed “Subscriptions 2.0” model isn’t expected to roll out until this Fall when the company also plans to unleash search ads for apps in App Store search results   Apple kicks off back to school promo with big savings on Beats http://www.cultofmac.com/431225/apple-kicks-off-back-to-school-promo-with-big-savings-on-beats/ Apple has kicked off its latest back to school promotion. Apple is giving away a set of Beats Solo2 headphones  ($300 with MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Pro purchases. You can also get free Beats Powerbeats2 wireless headphones worth $200 when you buy an eligible iPad or iPhone. Apple’s offer runs through September 5, and you can take advantage of it when purchasing from retail stores throughout the U.S. or from the Apple Online Store.

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 Nikkei warns we should get used to this three-year wait for big upgrades. Apple has reportedly decided to extent its cycle because of slowing market demand and due to “smartphone functions having little room left for major enhancements.”   Spy photos all but confirm 2016 MacBook Pro’s OLED touchpad http://www.cultofmac.com/430982/spy-photos-all-but-confirm-2016-macbook-pros-oled-touchpad/ Leaked photos of what is claimed to be Apple’s next-generation MacBook Pro all but confirm it will ship with a new OLED touchpad above its keyboard. The images sent to Cult of Mac also hint at four USB-C connectors. Loss of SD card reader, Thunderbolt, HDMI out, and MagSafe? Adopts the arrow keys of the new butterfly keyboard No touch ID

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, talking to charging station companies and hiring engineers with expertise in the area,” reports Reuters Apple has hired at least four charging specialists to help it create a competitive charger, including former BMW    If you’ve broken your iPhone, Parry Gripp’s music will comfort you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3mKnPTcrqc&feature=youtu.be   Leander’s been testing out the Eero router and talked about the Luma too https://www.eero.com https://getluma.com/about/

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. Is the smart dock a stop gap?   Siri for Mac icons leak ahead of WWDC http://www.cultofmac.com/428990/siri-for-mac-icons-leak-ahead-of-wwdc/ Apple’s digital assistant Siri is expected to finally arrive on Macs later this year with the next OS X update Cool icon in dock, plus accessible via the menu bar and Hey Siri option   Buster’s reviewing the Garmin Phoenix 3 http://amzn.to/1WG1xKB   Leander’s been listening to the Moshi Avanti on-ear headphones http://www.moshi.com/audio-headphones-avanti   Erfon’s lighting his house with the illumi smart bulbs http://amzn.to/1U3QQet     The three Apples that changed the world, featuring Jimmy Page and Fiona Apple

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 http://www.cultofmac.com/427759/94-of-app-store-revenue-goes-to-just-1-of-publishers/ 94 percent of App Store revenue generated in the U.S. went to just the top 1 percent of app publishers, according to SensorTower SensorTower found that around $1.34 billion of the estimated $1.43 billion in net revenue generated went to just 623 publishers. That means the other 61,677 publishers had to share the remaining 6 percent of the revenue, which was approximately approximately $85.8 million. If it was divided equally, they’d have made less than $1,400 each.   Siri’s sequel beats the heck out of Apple’s AI assistant http://www.cultofmac.com/427517/siris-sequel-beats-the-heck-out-of-apples-ai-assistant/   The value of old iPods could be music to your ears http://www.cultofmac.com/427460/the-value-of-old-ipods-could-be-music-to-your-ears/