New M3 MacBook Air specs boost, canceled Apple car prototypes, folding MacBook in development, $2 billion legal fight with Spotify, iOS 17.4 features, upcoming OLED iPads, EU fines Apple, Epic Games consequences, Tootsie Pops discussion

Join D. Griffin Jones and Allison McDaniel as they discuss Mac gaming, gear choices, and the Stardew Valley speedrunning scene. From Allison's favorite games to recommended controllers and keyboards, this episode is a must-listen for all gaming enthusiasts.

Apple calls quits on the Apple car after 10 years and $10 billion, shifting focus to AI. FineWoven cases critiqued. Mac screen saver setup tips. Future of Apple Arcade and Vision Pro discussed.

Griffin and papa ERF share their favorite video games, discuss innovative ways to play ROMs on the original NES console, and reminisce about modding the original Xbox. They explore a variety of game genres, from arcade-style to nostalgic PC classics, offering insights on gameplay experiences and expectations from sequels.

iPhone 16's new design reveal, security issue with stealing facial data, iMessage getting encryption upgrade, and discussion on a new mic for review on the podcast.

These are the strategies I use to get huge discounts on tech and most of my other online purchases! CultCast Off Topic is our new podcast that's ad-free and free for all thanks to your support!  If you like us and want to support our future content, fork over $5 a month at support.thecultcast.com !

This week, we have Leander Kahney! It's our second-week thoughts on Vision Pro — after cooking, working out, typing tests and more, we've done it all. Are we keeping or returning ours? This episode supported by: Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and your $5 helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com . Factor Meals. Treat yourself to Factor's delicious, high-quality, ready-to-eat meals delivered right to your door. Head over to FactorMeals.com/CultCast50 and use offer code CultCast50 to get 50% off. This week's stories: People are returning Vision Pro in droves … or are they? Many early adopters seem set on returning their Apple Vision Pro headsets. As the 14-day return window approaches for people who bought the device on launch day, an avalanche of posts on X and other social media channels point to a wave of Vision Pro returns. Mark Zuckerberg says Quest 3 is better than Vision Pro Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said his company's mixed-reality headset beats Vision Pro in almost every way, despite the fact that it costs far less than Apple's device. In a short video posted Tuesday on Instagram, Zuckerberg called the Meta Quest headset the “better product, period.†Tweet by Azad Balabanian Griffin's Vision Pro tests What's it like working out wearing a Vision Pro? What's it really like to cook with Vision Pro? Typing on Vision Pro: A scientific test with surprising results MacRumors: iOS 17's AirPlay Feature for Hotel Room TVs Rolling Out ‘This Spring' Starting with iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3, you can wirelessly stream content from your iPhone or iPad to a compatible hotel room TV via AirPlay, and we have now learned that the feature should begin rolling out at hotels over the coming months. They Are Coming! If you want the Fujifilm X100VI, I make a recommendation that I can't remember I've ever done in 12 years of blogging: pre-order it instantly.

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These are our hands-on reviews of Vision Pro — everything that’s good, everything that’s great, and then the parts you won’t like. We are RELAUNCHING CultCast Off Topic, a new ad-free weekly podcast covering our favorite weekly topics!  First new episode is coming soon. We're also relaunching The CultClub, a way for listeners to support your friends at The CultCast. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast available for everyone, and it helps us secure our future as a podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Your support also gives us back our creative freedom, freedom to make new experimental content in the style that you know but outside of our regular Apple topics.  Join us for just $5 a month at support.thecultcast.com. This week’s BIG story: Our Vision Pro Hands-on reviews.   Plus: Apple Vision Pro: In the wild! Can you get real work done inside Vision Pro? Vision Pro teardown finds pixels smaller than a red blood cell Win a rugged and waterproof Apple Watch sport band [Cult of Mac giveaway] You might win a super-cool and rugged new Lululook Waterproof FKM Sport Band. We’re giving away one orange band and one blue one, and anyone in the world can enter to win.

This week we’re talking Vision Pro reviews, the good, the bad and the ugly! Also, we have some details on iOS 17.4 — and did Vanity Fair leak an image of the new iPad? This episode supported by: Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast.  Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. If you like fresh tech, check out Scott Hanselman’s Hanselminutes wherever you get your podcasts! Scott finds fresh tech and fresh faces and shares them with you, like clockwork, every week. It’s like NPR’s Fresh Air for the tech set. CultCloth will keep your Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPhone 15 Pro, guitars, glasses and lenses sparkling clean! For a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a two free CarryCloths with any order $20+ at CultCloth.co This week’s stories: Vision Pro review roundup: ‘Magic’ and ‘a revolution,’ but definitely unfinished The first reviews of Apple’s Vision Pro gush compliments on the augmented-reality headset, with one reviewer calling it “mind-blowing” and another “stunning.”However, there’s also plenty of criticism for the high price, weight and slim collection of software available when the product launches later this week.Vanity Fair: Why Tim Cook Is Going All In on the Apple Vision ProApple Vision Pro’s biggest problem: It’s highly addictive! Win a rugged and waterproof Apple Watch sport band [Cult of Mac giveaway] You might win a super-cool and rugged new Lululook Waterproof FKM Sport Band. We’re giving away one orange band and one blue one, and anyone in the world can enter to win. iOS 17.4 beta 1: All the new features and changes The first beta of iOS 17.4 is here, and it packs several big changes. The beta build arrived just days after Apple released iOS 17.3 to the public.Auto-generated transcripts coming to Apple Podcasts Is this an unannounced iPad in a press photo? Some people think the first picture of Tim Cook wearing a Vision Pro also has a surprise: an iPad that Apple hasn’t released yet. But no. The tablet looks a bit odd, but that’s not because it’s a future one with a new design.Post by John SiracusaEdited image by David Schaub