The CultCast

Send us a text! 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 adv

Send us a text! 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

Send us a text!This week: why the iPhone 7s could have features “you’ve never dreamed of"; Apple’s woes in China cause their stock to plummet; the community of fans keeping Apple’s history alive; our favorite Apple Watch faces; embarrassing stories of dates gone wrong; and Kool and the Gang steals our girlfriend!   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.   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   Submit your CultCast intro, win some CultCloth! https://www.reddit.com/r/TheCultCast/comments/4fsumv/cult_caster_intros_listener_made/   Intro - What is Newton? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2Yliy_WUBQ   The Light Camera is a slim cam with 16 sensors (16!) https://light.co/camera   Kool and the Gang will steal your girlfriend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qchPLaiKocI   Tim Cook promises iPhone features you’ve never dreamed of http://www.cultofmac.com/426218/tim-cook-mad-money-interview/ Apple CEO appeared Monday on Mad Money in an effort to abate the company’s bleeding stock price Future iPhones are going to be so amazing, you probably haven’t even thought of the features Apple is going to add, Tim Cook claimed in a recent interview. Next year is the iPhone’s 10th anniversary   Apple stock suffers longest loss streak in 18 years http://www.cultofmac.com/426176/apple-stock-suffers-longest-loss-streak-in-18-years/ Buster Apple’s meager Q2 2016 earnings report is continuing to wreak havoc on the company’s stock price, leading to the longest streak of losses since 1998.   Apple could get shut out of China http://www.cultofmac.com/424885/apple-could-get-shut-out-of-china/ China has already become the se

Send us a text!Thisweek: Apple’s 13-year record revenue streak isbroken;  our best picture yet of iPhone 7features; rumors point to afaster, untethered Apple Watch 2; Apple has a hugeincrease in R&D spending, but where’s the money going? And stick around for more stories from the Cult of Mac. This week: a 15-year-old mows lawns, then uses the money tobuild one of the world’s best Apple collections. This episode supported by Freshbooks, the easy-to-use invoicing software designedto help small business owners get organized, save time invoicingand get paid faster.  And I can vouch for this fromexperience, it also makes tax time a cinch.  Get startedwith a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast, andplease enter “CultCast” in the “How did you hearabout us?” section! TunnelBear, the simple privacy app that makes it easy tobrowse privately and enjoy a more open internet. VisitGetTunnelBear.com to getyour free TunnelBear today. We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a  thanks for thegreat music you hear on today's show. On the show this week@erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney Submit your CultCast intro, win some CultCloth!https://www.reddit.com/r/TheCultCast/comments/4fsumv/cult_caster_intros_listener_made/ Intro - Hamilton Morris loves his iPod https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE6G2TICSJQ 8 optimistic takeaways from Apple’s slumptastic earningscallhttp://www.cultofmac.com/425131/apple-earnings-call-q2-2016-takeaways/R&D spending at Apple increased by $1.1 billion dollarscompared to the same six month period last year, according to a newSEC filingThe tech giant is fighting itself here, being forced tocompare thisyear’s numbers to the killer iPhone 6 sales that drove2015’s overwhelming revenueApple’s tablets are doing fine, really, selling 10.3 millionunits this quarter. But in general, tablets are stinking up theplace.Apple surprised by SE demand andcan’t keep up Apple Watch made $1.5 billion more than Rolex last yearhttp://www.cultofmac.com/425038/apple-watch-made-1-5-billion-more-than-rolex-last-year/The Apple Watch, which celebratedits first birthday this week, is just such a product. Howmuch of an impact did the Apple Watch make in its debut year?Enough to bring in $1.5 billion more than Rolex did in 2

Send us a text!This week: why the new iPad Pro screen is “practically perfect”; stories from the "Cult of Mac"; our most anticipated WWDC 2016 announcements; a look at Apple’s newly updated MacBooks; Apple’s secret plan to create hit TV shows; and have you ever wondered how rich you’d be if you invested in Apple’s IPO instead of buying their computers?  We break down the numbers. 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 9.7-inch iPad Pro’s display is practically perfecthttp://www.cultofmac.com/423730/9-7-inch-ipad-pros-display-is-practically-perfect/ Siri reveals WWDC 2016 dateshttp://www.cultofmac.com/423694/wwdc-2016-dates-siri-knows/ Apple unleashes improved MacBooks, now in rose goldhttp://www.cultofmac.com/423876/apple-unleashes-improved-macbooks-now-in-rose-gold/ Apple is secretly planning to take over Hollywood http://www.cultofmac.com/423780/apple-is-secretly-planning-to-takeover-hollywood/ What a $1,000 investment in Apple in 1996 looks like todayhttp://www.cultofmac.com/424259/what-a-1000-investment-in-apple-in-1996-looks-like-today/ What are you most excited to see Apple unveil at WWDC 2016?https://www.reddit.com/r/TheCultCast/comments/4fiygt/what_are_you_most_excited_to_see_apple_unveil_at/ Greg Packer, professional Apple line squatterhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjC5jGMPrk4

Send us a text!This week: how Steve Jobs and the industrial design team saved Apple.  Plus: the reason Jony Ive now has a chauffeur; one year with the Apple Watch; and we reveal the strange cultural phenomenon we’ve been secretly loving in an all-new What We’re Into. Join our new Reddit community to discuss current episodes and submit and vote on story topics for future episodes! http://reddit.com/r/TheCultCast 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 / @lkahney Intro - Steve Jobs intros the iMac DVhttps://youtu.be/ngW5qCBRwxk?t=35m24s Is this the Apple Car????https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWQnfLLHyKo Why the departure of Apple designer Daniel Coster mattershttp://www.cultofmac.com/422916/why-departure-of-apple-designer-daniel-coster-matters/ A year after its launch, it’s now clear that pretty much no one needs an Apple Watchhttp://qz.com/658010/a-year-after-its-launch-its-now-clear-that-pretty-much-no-one-needs-an-apple-watch/ Apple Watch shipments predicted to fall 25 percent this yearhttp://www.cultofmac.com/422468/apple-watch-shipments-predicted-to-fall-25-percent-this-year/ Our blades!Gerber Curve (Leander)http://amzn.to/22yAb7M Spyderco Paramilitary 2 (Erfon)http://amzn.to/1XySs3i Kershaw Leek Knifehttp://amzn.to/22yAfnK 

Send us a text!This week: we look into the past at some of the most pivotal moments in Apple’s 40-year history.  Plus: why the iPhone 7 Plus may be your only choice for dual cameras; what it’s like downsizing from the iPhone 6s to the SE; and we pitch our favorite new tech and vote on which is best in an all-new Faves N Raves! Join our new Reddit community to discuss current episodes and submit and vote on story topics for future episodes! http://reddit.com/r/TheCultCast 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. 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 Apple might finally let you delete unwanted iOS appshttp://www.cultofmac.com/421721/delete-unwanted-ios-apps/ Dual Camera Said to Be Exclusive to 5.5-Inch iPhone 7http://www.macrumors.com/2016/04/04/dual-cameras-exclusive-to-iphone-7-plus-kgi/ iPhone SE proves size doesn’t matter [Reviews]http://www.cultofmac.com/420686/iphone-se-proves-size-doesnt-matter-reviews/ 40 moments that have defined Apple over 40 yearshttp://www.cultofmac.com/420649/40-moments-that-have-defined-apple-over-40-years/ Our Fave N Rave PicksErfonThe “Monster” Acer XR341CK 34-inch QHD curved monitor - http://amzn.to/1SU2Jpx LeanderAmazon Tap - http://amzn.to/1UMjWVeAmazon Echo Dot - http://amzn.to/1SE01Sx BusterFuji X-T1 - http://amzn.to/23gVn7XFuji 27mm lens - http://amzn.to/1SE07cT  

Send us a text!CultCast #225 - Burrito Beard This week: rumors point to an iPhone 7s with drastic redesign, facial recognition, and the return to a glass front and back.  Plus: folks around the world line up for the Tesla  Model 3; Apple’s making a show about apps hosted by megastar Willie AM; why the new iPad Pro is not a notebook replacement for the masses; in a bizarre plot twist, Apple seeks FBI’s iPhone unlocking secrets; and we’ll tell you why Cadbury Eggs are the worst thing ever on an all-new Get To Know Ur Cultist. 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! 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. On the show this week@erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney Intro: Exotic Destinationshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AQSPE2Ak3M Review Roundup: 9.7 iPad Pro is a 'Powerful' Laptop Replacement for Casual Usershttp://www.macrumors.com/2016/03/28/ipad-pro-9-7-inch-review-roundup/ Apple is making a TV show about apps with Will.i.amhttp://www.cultofmac.com/419714/apple-tv-show-working-with-will-i-am-on-tv-show-about-apps/ FBI cracks San Bernardino iPhone without Apple’s helphttp://www.cultofmac.com/420219/fbi-cracks-san-bernardino-iphone-without-apples-help/ Apple wants the FBI to reveal how it hacked the San Bernardino killer's iPhonehttp://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-apple-next-steps-20160330-story.html iPhone 7s Plus may get curved glass bodyhttp://www.cultofmac.com/420121/iphone-7s-plus-curved-glass-body/

Send us a text!This week:  Apple’s new iPhone SE in an insane value; the significant differences between the big and small iPad Pros; more evidence affirms major Macbook Pro redesigns in June;  future keynotes need more Yak; and the cool features in the new tvOS 9.2 update. Join our new Reddit community to discuss current episodes and submit and vote on story topics for future episodes! http://reddit.com/r/TheCultCast 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! 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 Intro: Macs do more and cost less!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqI4-oJFQh8 New ultra-thin MacBooks rumored to arrive in Junehttp://www.cultofmac.com/419111/new-ultra-thin-macbooks-rumored-to-arrive-in-june/ What Apple product launches say about Tim Cook’s leadershiphttp://www.cultofmac.com/418958/apple-product-launches-tim-cook-leadership/ Apple Special Event in 90 Secondshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ3EEUYW5Vk New iPad Pro is slower than 12.9-inch modelhttp://www.cultofmac.com/419127/new-ipad-pro-is-slower-than-12-9-inch-model/

Send us a text!This week:  will we see new Macs?  Will there a One More Thing??  These are our March 21st Apple event predictions and expectations…  Plus: how Instagram is about to be ruined; reports of an Apple Car price and ship date surface; why pirates are excited for the AyeCar; and some new iPhone 7 leaks echo familiar rumors... 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. 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  thanks for the great music you hear on today's show. On the show this week@erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney Intro - Maybe people won’t get along in the future, but our Macs willhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1zYt8aoiTM 50,000 users want Instagram to turn back timehttp://www.cultofmac.com/418058/50000-users-want-instagram-to-turn-back-time/ Apple Car may ship in 2021, with a price tag of $75,000http://www.cultofmac.com/417734/apple-car-will-make-apple-watch-edition-look-like-a-bargain/ Major iPhone 7 changes revealed by leaked casehttp://www.cultofmac.com/418232/major-iphone-7-changes-revealed-by-leaked-case/ iPhone 7’s redesigned antenna band revealed in leaked photohttp://www.cultofmac.com/417970/iphone-7s-redesigned-antenna-band-revealed-in-leaked-photo/ This could be our first look at the iPhone 7http://www.cultofmac.com/417776/iphone-7-leak-smart-connector/ Everything Apple will announce at its March 21 keynotehttp://www.cultofmac.com/417308/everything-apple-will-announce-at-its-march-21-event/