This week: Apple let’s us all in to their super secret design lab, and what we find is amazing; the best of the holiday iOS App Store deals; and we pick our favorite movies of 2015!   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!   Thanks to Audible for supporting this episode. 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 now at audiblepodcast.com/cultcast   We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a huge thanks for all the great music you hear in today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   A very rare look into the Apple Design Lab Part 1 Part 2   The Beatles Are Coming to Apple Music on Christmas Eve http://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/22/the-beatles-apple-music-christmas-eve/   God help us, Kim Kardashian now has her own emoji http://www.cultofmac.com/403132/god-help-us-kim-kardashian-now-has-her-own-emoji/   App Store Holiday Sales: Final Fantasy VII, Lara Croft GO, Notability and More http://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/21/app-store-holiday-sales-iphone-ipad/ DuckTales: Remastered ($9.99 → 99¢)  Bastion ($4.99 → 99¢)  Deliveries ($4.99 → $2.99)  Leo's Fortune ($4.99 → 99¢)    10 things we learned from Apple’s 60 Minutesepisode http://www.cultofmac.com/402999/10-things-we-learned-from-apples-60-minutes-episode/   Apple may have accidentally leaked new MacBook http://www.cultofmac.com/403051/apple-may-have-accidentally-leaked-new-macbook/   Movies we mention in this episode   Spectre http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2379713/   Sicario http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3397884/   Ex Machina http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/   The Road http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898367/   No Country for Old Men http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477348/

This week: the force is looking very strong with the new Star Wars movie; live football may be coming to the Apple TV; the tvOS app store hits a major milestone; why you shouldn't expect 3D touch in the next iPad Air; and with 2016 on the horizon, we’ll review our favorite games, gadgets, and books of 2015.  Hit play, you must!   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.  It also makes tax time a cinch. Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, and enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hear about us?” section.   Start protecting your home with Canary today for just $199. Go to meetcanary.com to see it in action and use the promo code “cultcast" to get free overnight shipping.   Harry’s super-sharp, German-made razors ship free right to your door and for way less than the drugstore razors. Learn more at Harrys.com and save $5 off your first order with code CultCast.   We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a huge thanks for all the great music you hear in today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   Intro - You too can wookie! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8aEDaeBMyI   Star Wars is back: The Force Awakens is as awesome as you hoped it would be http://www.cultofmac.com/402222/star-wars-is-back-the-force-awakens-is-as-awesome-as-you-hoped-it-would-be/   tvOS App Store After One Month: 2,624 Apps in Total, Entertainment Apps Most Popular With Consumers http://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/10/tvos-app-store-stats-after-one-month    Apple expected to bid on Thursday Night Football streaming deal - buster http://www.cultofmac.com/402241/apple-expected-to-bid-on-thursday-night-football-streaming-deal/   Apple Working on Scalable 3D Touch Technology for Future iPads and iPhones http://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/15/apple-scalable-3d-touch-tech-future-devices/   Our favorite stuff from 2015   Buster - Lilith’s Brood http://amzn.to/1T5mt8V   Erfon - Super Mario Maker http://amzn.to/1OcbX1o   Leander - Amazon Echo http://amzn.to/1T5mkCf

This week: we take a look at Apple’s zany new Smart Battery Case; we cover the new and notable in the newest WatchOS, tvOS, and iOS updates; discuss our favorite strategies for managing overloaded inboxes; and stick around till the end for our favorite iOS apps and games of 2015!   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.   Start protecting your home with Canary today for just $199. Go to meetcanary.com to see it in action and use the promo code “cultcast" to get free overnight shipping.   Casper — 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 huge thanks for all the great music you hear in today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r   Internet questions Jony Ive’s sanity with new iPhone battery case - buster http://www.cultofmac.com/400883/internet-questions-jony-ives-sanity-with-new-iphone-battery-case/   Apple now sells Lightning headphones that are super-expensive http://www.cultofmac.com/401014/apple-now-sells-lightning-headphones-that-are-super-expensive/   watchOS 2.1 is out with lots of language support and bug fixes - buster http://www.cultofmac.com/400896/watchos-2-1-is-out-with-lots-of-language-support-and-bug-fixes/   iOS 9.2 is now available to the public http://www.cultofmac.com/400889/ios-9-2-is-now-available-to-the-public/ http://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/08/ios-9-2-tidbits-and-new-features/   Eddy Cue promises new iOS remote app for Apple TV - buster http://www.cultofmac.com/401028/eddy-cue-promises-new-ios-remote-app-for-apple-tv/   Dropbox Shutting Down Mailbox and Carousel in Early 2016 http://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/07/dropbox-shutting-down-mailbox-carousel-2016/   Robin Hood  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/robinhood-free-stock-trading/id938003185?mt=8   Vain Glory https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vainglory/id671464704?mt=8   Workflow https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/workflow-powerful-automation/id915249334?mt=8   Overcast https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/overcast-podcast-player/id888422857?mt=8   Fallout Shelter https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fallout-shelter/id991153141?mt=8   Periscope https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/periscope/id972909677?mt=8

This week: though Apple spends far less on research and development than the competition, they out innovate them all.  How?  Hit play to catch the discussion.  Plus: iPhone 7 may ditch the beloved headphone jack; Amazon Video is coming to Apple TV; the holiday accessory that could be eroding your WiFi signal;  and with the year drawing to a close, we choose we our favorite Apple device of 2015!   This episode supported by   Lynda is like the Apple Music of online education, with over 3000 expert-taught video courses you can stream straight to computer or mobile device. Learn how to use Logic’s new super powerful Alchemy synth, ordevelop Mac apps for OS X—learn all you want for free for 10 days at lynda.com/cultcast.   Start protecting your home with Canary today for just $199. Go to meetcanary.com to see it in action and use the promo code “cultcast" to get free overnight shipping.   Harry’s super-sharp, German-made razors ship free right to your door and for way less than the drugstore razors. Learn more at Harrys.com and save $5 off your first order with code CultCast.   We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a huge thanks for the great music you hear in today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   Intro - HyperCard Mania! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeMRoYDc2z8   Amazon is bringing Instant Video app to Apple TV http://www.cultofmac.com/399948/amazon-is-brining-instant-video-app-to-apple-tv/   Apple would be stupid to drop the iPhone headphone jack - evan http://www.cultofmac.com/399993/apple-would-be-stupid-to-drop-the-iphone-headphone-jack/   Christmas lights may be ruining your Wi-Fi speeds http://www.cultofmac.com/400156/christmas-lights-may-be-ruining-your-wi-fi-speeds/   Target sold one iPad per second on Thanksgiving  http://www.cultofmac.com/399774/target-sold-one-ipad-per-second-on-thanksgiving/   Apple’s R&D spending proves innovation isn’t all about money http://www.cultofmac.com/399899/apples-rd-spending-proves-innovation-isnt-all-about-money/   Apple offers kids free ‘Hour of Code’ programming classes http://www.cultofmac.com/400214/apple-offering-kids-free-hour-of-code-programming-classes/

This week: why Apple might just need to bring OS X to the iPad; the Apple Pencil makes anyone a digital artist; one Apple TV pro tip you absolutely need to know; fun facts about Apple’s new Spaceship campus; and finally… Gobble Gobble yaaaa’aaall!  We’re invited to a magical Thanksgiving feast at Tim Cook’s house in another episode of Get To Know Your Cultist.   This episode supported by   Start protecting your home with Canary today for just $199. Go to meetcanary.com to see it in action and use the promo code “cultcast" to get free overnight shipping.   Harry’s super-sharp, German-made razors ship free right to your door and for way less than the drugstore razors. Learn more at Harrys.com and save $5 off your first order with code CultCast.   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!   We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a huge thanks for all the great music you hear in today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   Apple’s spaceship campus is big enough to hold Disneyland http://www.cultofmac.com/398410/apples-spaceship-campus-is-big-enough-to-hold-disneyland/   The Apple Pencil has reignited my love of drawing http://www.cultofmac.com/398694/the-apple-pencil-has-reignited-my-love-of-drawing/   An Apple TV pro tip you absolutely need to know http://www.cultofmac.com/398570/how-to-undo-accidental-time-skips-on-siri-remote/

This week: get your mace and taser ready for Black Friday! We share some of the best deals on MacBooks, iPhones, Playstation 4s, Xbox One’s, Wii U’s and more.    Plus: why your Mac store apps could be corrupted (and what to do about it); RDIO bites the dust; and the iPad Mini 4 proves far better than we originally thought.   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.   Start protecting your home with Canary today for just $199. Go to meetcanary.com to see it in action and use the promo code “cultcast" to get free overnight shipping.   Casper — 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 huge thanks for all the great music you hear in today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   This week’s intro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lapqJsP8dvU   JNCO’s making a comeback! http://cdn1.relevantmediagroup.com/sites/default/files/field/thumbnail/Screen%20Shot%202015-02-20%20at%207.04.56%20AM.png   Apple apologizes to developers for recent ‘damaged’ Mac App Store apps bug http://www.macrumors.com/2015/11/12/mac-app-store-apps-damaged-expired-receipts-issue/   Rdio is filing for bankruptcy, Pandora will buy ‘key assets’ for $75M http://venturebeat.com/2015/11/16/rdio-is-filing-for-bankruptcy-pandora-will-buy-key-assets-for-75m/   Find the hottest Black Friday deals right here http://www.cultofmac.com/398114/liveblog-find-the-hottest-black-friday-deals-right-here/#more-398114   Some of our favorite deals:   Playstation 4 (act quick!) for $299 shipped   Apple Watch with $100 Target Gift Card for $349 at Target   Xbox One 500GB Gears of War Bundle, Fallout 4, Extra Controller for $300 at Dell Home (available 3pm PST 11/16)   iPhone 6S or iPhone 6S Plus with a $250 Target Gift Card for $0 down at Target   Apple iPad Air 2 16GB Tablet with a $150 Target Gift Card for $499 at Target   B&H's holiday sale slashes 2015 MacBook Pros by $200-$300 , 12" MacBooks by $170-$200, 13" MacBook Airs by $100-$450, iPad mini 4 by $30

This week:  can the new iPad Pro really replace your Mac?  Apple seems to think so, but we’ve got a Pro in-hand and we’re not so sure.  Plus: Apple may soon offer us all a simple way to pay each other; and stick around for another classic El Kahney rant—zombie edition—it's an all new Stuff We’re Into!   Thanks to our sponsors keep us fed!   Start protecting your home with Canary today for just $199. Go to meetcanary.com to see it in action and use the promo code “cultcast" to get free overnight shipping.   Our thanks to Harry’s for supporting this episode. Harry’s super-sharp, German-made razors ship free right to your door and for way less than the drugstore razors. Learn more at Harrys.com and save $5 off your first order with code CultCast.   Your business, applications, and compute workloads are different from everyone else's, so Softlayer provides cloud resources that meet your unique needs.  Get $500 of cloud infrastructure by visiting softlayer.com/Podcast.   We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a huge thanks for the great music you hear in today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   This week’s intro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BatEMgmtK6k   First impressions with the big and beautiful iPad Pro - leander http://www.cultofmac.com/396992/ipad-pro-is-big-and-beautiful-unboxing-and-first-impressions/   Jony Ive interview: The story of the Apple Pencil http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/11988396/Jony-Ive-interview-The-story-of-the-Apple-Pencil.html   Surface Pro vs iPad Pro stylus tracking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niD1N1d4nTc   Apple Working on Mobile Person-to-Person Payment Service http://www.macrumors.com/2015/11/11/apple-person-to-person-payment-service/   Leander Hate Watches The Walking Dead http://www.netflix.com/browse?jbv=70177057&jbp=0&jbr=6   Erfon can't stop watching Casey Neistat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYCODMuoHNI   Buster is into Ash Vs Evil Dead http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4189022/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_3

This week: "home buttonless" iPhone 7s; the new Apple TV remote is unnervingly easy to break; the UK wants your Apple devices to be less secure; and we pitch our favorite new Apple TV apps!   This episode supported by   Lynda is like the Apple Music of online education, with over 3000 expert-taught video courses you can stream straight to computer or mobile device. Learn how to use Logic’s new super powerful Alchemy synth, ordevelop Mac apps for OS X—learn all you want for free for 10 days at lynda.com/cultcast.   Your business, applications, and compute workloads are different from everyone else's, so Softlayer provides cloud resources that meet your unique needs.  Get $500 of cloud infrastructure by visiting softlayer.com/Podcast.   Start protecting your home with Canary today for just $199. Go to meetcanary.com to see it in action and use the promo code “cultcast" to get free overnight shipping.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   This week’s links   Can you fall in love with a computer? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LbXL_0N68U   Lumina City ($5) https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lumino-city/id958604518?mt=8   Operator (free!) https://operator.com   Plex for Apple TV (free!)   Leander likes The Returned show on Netflix  http://www.netflix.com/title/80037657   Don’t drop your new Apple TV remote! https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/3rkmjy/dont_drop_your_new_apple_tv_remote/   4-inch iPhone 6s is coming soon, says top Apple analyst http://www.cultofmac.com/395748/4-inch-iphone-6s-is-coming-soon-says-top-apple-analyst/   Companies such as Apple, Google and others will no longer be able to offer encryption so advanced that even they cannot decipher it when asked to under the Investigatory Powers Bill http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11970391/Internet-firms-to-be-banned-from-offering-out-of-reach-communications-under-new-laws.html?

This week: Apple just had their best year ever—we’ll put it in perspective.  Plus: Nintendo’s first iOS game confuses us; the new Apple TV isn’t quite the revolution Apple promised; and stick around for a spooky new Get to Know Ur Cultist… if you DARE.   This episode supported by   Your business, applications, and compute workloads are different from everyone else's, so Softlayer provides cloud resources that meet your unique needs.  Get $500 of cloud infrastructure by visiting softlayer.com/Podcast.   Backblaze online backup is: $5 a month. Mac Native. Unlmited. Unthrottled. Uncomplicated. And setup takes a minute.  Try it free for two weeks at backblaze.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.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / @blakejharrisnyc   This week’s links   Our ghoulish intro https://youtu.be/tsZkwixfsEw?t=2m36s   This Marty McFly costume rules them all http://i.imgur.com/bHNd2Og.gifv   Heeee can show yooou the wooorrrlld https://vine.co/v/eYrl3nI5UZT   The 7 biggest takeaways from Apple’s Q4 earnings call http://www.cultofmac.com/394570/the-7-biggest-takeaways-from-apples-q4-earnings-call/   Apple Stores to Start Selling Apple TV 4 on Friday http://www.macrumors.com/2015/10/28/apple-stores-selling-apple-tv-friday/   Jobs done? Sorkin’s biopic flops on opening weekend http://www.cultofmac.com/394210/jobs-done-sorkins-biopic-flops-on-opening-weekend/   Nintendo unveils first, weird mobile game: Miitomo http://www.cultofmac.com/394784/nintendo-unveils-first-weird-mobile-game-miitomo/

This week: we’ll tell you our hands-on first impressions of the new Apple TV, and it’s not all sugar and spice.  Plus: the new and notable in OS X 10.11.1 and iOS 9.1.  And stick around till the end for an all new Get To Know Your Cultist, #FutureDay edition, because your life might. Just. DEPEND on it...   Thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode.  Start building your website today at Squarespace.com.  Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful.   And Softlayer.  Your business, applications, and compute workloads are different from everyone else's, so you deserve cloud resources that meet your unique needs.  Get $500 of cloud infrastructure by visiting softlayer.com/Podcast.   We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a huge thanks for the great theme music you hear in today's show.   This Marty McFly costume rules them all http://i.imgur.com/bHNd2Og.gifv   Apple TV available for pre-order and shipping next week http://www.cultofmac.com/393208/apple-tv-available-for-pre-order-and-shipping-next-week/   YouTube’s new streaming service charges iOS users an Apple tax http://www.cultofmac.com/393517/youtubes-new-streaming-service-charges-ios-users-an-apple-tax/   OS X 10.11.1 update brings new emoji, Microsoft Office fixes and more http://www.cultofmac.com/393480/os-x-10-11-1/   iOS 9.1 is here with new emoji, wallpapers and more http://www.cultofmac.com/393281/ios-9-1-is-here-with-new-emoji-wallpapers-and-more/