The CultCast

This week: three wild iPhone rumors — a folding phone, a slim phone, a DSLR camera phone — also, is Apple TV's streaming bubble about to burst?

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 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

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.

Notion AI can now give you instant answers to your questions, using information from across your wiki, projects, docs and meeting notes. Go to notion.com/cultcast to try the powerful Notion AI today.

1Password Extended Access Management solves the problems traditional IAM and MDM can’t touch. It’s security for the way we work today, and it’s available now to companies with Okta, and coming later this year to Google Workspace and Microsoft Entra. Check it out at 1Password.com/product/XAM.

This week’s stories:

‘iPhone 17 Slim’ could become Apple’s new premium handset https://www.cultofmac.com/863264/iphone-17-slim-rumors-first-specifications-leaks-price/

iPhone 17 camera could get DSLR-like variable aperture https://www.cultofmac.com/863482/iphone-17-could-get-dslr-camera-like-variable-aperture/

Folding iPhone could shake up Apple’s lineup in 2026 https://www.cultofmac.com/863430/folding-iphone-release-date-design-apple-2026/

Bulked-up iPhone SE 4 could add OLED screen for first time https://www.cultofmac.com/863269/bigger-iphone-se-4-with-oled-display/

Apple tightens the purse strings on Apple TV+ https://www.cultofmac.com/863225/apple-tv-plus-budget-cuts/

This week, there’s a BRAND NEW HOMEPOD — is it too good to be true? Yes. Also, more iPhone 16 Pro leaks, public betas are out, and an all-new Under Review!

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 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

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.

The Bilt Mastercard® is the first card to offer points on rent with no transaction fee. Earn points by paying rent right now when you go to joinbilt.com/CULTCAST

This week’s stories:

HomePod mini goes to the dark side

• Apple replaced the Space Gray color of the HomePod mini smart speaker with a new Midnight color.

How to download the iOS 18 Public Beta

• Public betas of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia and watchOS 11 are now out.

iOS 18’s Photos app will help recover corrupted pictures and videos

• iOS 18’s redesigned Photos app will gain a Recovered album to help you restore damaged photos or videos. It will show up when the app detects corrupted media not in your photo library.

Rumor: iPhone 16 Pro to use iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x telephoto camera

• The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will seemingly use the same 5x tetraprism camera as the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple takes back title as world’s most valuable company

• With a market capitalization above $3.6 trillion, Apple regained the title of world’s most valuable publicly traded company.

Under Review: OWC Thunderbay 4

• The ThunderBay 4 by Otherworld Computing is the best option if you want modular, high-speed external storage.

This week, we’re talking potentially huge news for the iPhone 17, the latest changes in iOS 18, disappointing news for the Apple Watch — but the latest evidence the HomePod with a screen is real!

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 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

Notion AI can now give you instant answers to your questions, using information from across your wiki, projects, docs and meeting notes. Go to notion.com/cultcast to try the powerful Notion AI today.

This week’s stories:

iPhone 17 may get cutting-edge 2nm chip from TSMC after all

• Apple’s chip-maker TSMC will begin trial production of 2 nanometer processors next week.

Apple Watch Series 10 could lack advanced new health features

• The upcoming Apple Watch Series 10 could sport a thinner design with a bigger display, but it sounds like new health sensors won’t arrive this year.
• How to customize Apple Watch widgets for easy access to your favorite apps

Code for HomePod with large touchscreen found in tvOS 18

• A bit of the user interface for a rumored HomePod smart speaker with a large touchscreen reportedly turned up in the latest beta for tvOS 18.
• How to stop Siri from randomly activating all the damn time

iOS 18 beta 3: All the new features and changes

• The third beta of iOS 18 is here, almost a month after Apple dropped the first developer build.

Catch a scary glimpse of Severance season 2, coming in January

• Word of a season 2 air date arrived Wednesday, along with a spooky teaser trailer.

Under Review: Wombat Willow Pro

• The Willow Wombat Pro is a low-profile backlit mechanical keyboard that packs a full set of keys in a compact layout.
• Griffin’s Model F keyboard

CultCast Off Topic is ad-free and free for all thanks to our supporters.  Fork it over at support.thecultcast.com!

This week, next-gen AirPods Pro with IR cameras that’ll do… what, exactly? We also have more details on the cheaper Vision Pro, a hidden feature in your iPad Magic Keyboard and an all-new Under Review!

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 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

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.

This week’s stories:

Future AirPods could use IR cameras for in-air gesture control

• Apple could equip a future AirPods variant with camera modules. The earbuds may incorporate an IR camera, like the one Apple uses for iPhone’s Face ID.

Vision Pro:

• Vision Pro might not get Apple Intelligence until 2025
• MacRumors: Apple Likely Planning to Use Bigger, Lower Resolution Displays for Cheaper Vision Headset

Apple will get a board observer seat at OpenAI later this year

• Apple Inc. will get an observer role on OpenAI’s board as part of a landmark agreement announced last month, further tightening ties between the once-unlikely partners.

How to find the iPad Magic Keyboard’s hidden backlight

• Some people complain that the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad doesn’t have a backlight for the keyboard. Turns out it actually does have one, but the controls aren’t where you might expect.

Apple Watch can detect leading cause of heart attacks, doctor says

• The Apple Watch can detect a leading cause of heart attacks — an unadvertised capability that could have big implications for health monitoring — according to a Dutch doctor.

The 8 weirdest unreleased Apple products

• Apple only shows off its finished products, which makes the company’s secret prototypes and early concepts all the more fascinating. Even if you’re well-versed in Apple history, these alternate-history unreleased Apple products will intrigue and confuse.

Under Review:

• Soundpeats Air4 Pro
• Nintendo Switch OLED Model

This week, details on the cheaper Apple Vision Pro, leaked Apple Watch Series 10, more new features in iOS 18, and why Apple Intelligence isn’t coming to the European Union!

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 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

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:

Leaked Apple Watch Series 10 renders reveal bigger display

• Alleged CAD renders of the Apple Watch Series 10 have leaked online, revealing its 2-inch display.

Apple’s cheaper Vision headset might require a tethered iPhone or Mac

• The company’s engineers are struggling to reduce costs without affecting the headset’s key features.

iOS 18 beta 2: All the new features and changes

• Following a two-week gap since the first iOS 18 beta release, Apple seeded the second developer beta of the OS. The new build packs many more features missing from the initial release.
• YouTube: How to Make a Great Custom Home Screen

MacRumors: iOS 18 to Bring These 5 New Features to AirPods Pro

• iOS 18 promises to make your AirPods Pro experience better with a handful of sophisticated new capabilities that draw from machine learning improvements and AI enhancements.

Your iPhone will soon work better with third-party displays and batteries

• Apple will improve support for third-party iPhone displays and batteries later this year.

Bloomberg: Apple Won’t Roll Out Apple Intelligence to EU Over Regulatory Concerns

• Apple Inc. is withholding a raft of new technologies from hundreds of millions of consumers in the European Union, citing concerns posed by the bloc’s regulatory attempts to rein in Big Tech.

This week, rumors are swirling of a cheaper Vision Air, a thinner Apple Watch and faster M4 Macs! Also, we’ll dive deep into the iOS 18 Developer Beta so you don’t have to.

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 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

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.

The Bilt Mastercard® is the first card to offer points on rent with no transaction fee. Earn points by paying rent right now when you go to joinbilt.com/CULTCAST

This week’s stories:

Cheaper Apple Vision AR headset might launch next year

• A cheaper version of Apple’s Vision augmented reality headset has reportedly been fast-tracked. The goal is supposedly to have the scaled-back device on the market by next year.

Apple Watch Series 10 could get larger but thinner

• The Apple Watch Series 10 might adopt a thinner design with a bigger display. Reportedly, Apple will bump the chassis size from 41mm and 45mm to 45mm and 49mm.

M4 MacBook Pro could launch before 2024 ends

• Apple could refresh its MacBook Pro lineup with M4 chips as soon as Q4 2024. Based on supply-chain checks, panel shipments for the 14-inch and 16-inch models will start in Q3 2024.

Hands-on with iOS 18: Impressive but incomplete

• After spending a few days trying out all the new features in iOS 18, I think it really is one of the biggest updates in a long time. However, hands-on testing shows there’s a lot that needs cleaned up before September, when it’s expected to ship.

11 hidden iOS 18 features Apple did not tell you about

• Here’s a roundup of all the little changes and useful features in iOS 18.

MoviePass, MovieCrash

• MoviePass, MovieCrash chronicles the visionary mission of its cofounders, its impressive early success as an innovative movie ticketing model, and its precipitous downfall caused by mismanagement and corporate greed.

What a show — this week, our reactions to Apple Intelligence, iOS 18 and ALL the WWDC announcements!

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 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

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

Notion AI can now give you instant answers to your questions, using information from across your wiki, projects, docs and meeting notes. Go to notion.com/cultcast to try the powerful Notion AI today.

This week’s stories:

Apple Intelligence:

• AI-powered Siri is the new face of Apple Intelligence
• Image Playground and Genmoji bring AI images to iMessage and more
• Platforms State of the Union explains Apple Intelligence and new OS features

Major iOS 18 update packs cool iPhone customization features

• “iOS 18 is a big release that delivers more ways to customize your iPhone, stay connected and relive special moments,” said Craig Federighi.
• Messages app gets satellite connectivity in iOS 18, plus emoji Tapbacks
• Customizing iPhone and iPad Home Screen just got much easier
• iOS 18’s Control Center gets a lot more customizable and powerful
• Safari surfaces web page highlights, summaries and video control
• AirPods Pro will let you answer calls by nodding your head
• Passwords app turns iCloud Keychain into a full-fledged password manager

Apple’s Calculator app finally comes to iPad

• The official Apple Calculator application is headed for iPad. It’s a feature missing from the tablet since its launch in 2010 but iPadOS 18 will include one.

macOS Sequoia brings iPhone and Mac closer than ever

• iPhone mirroring enables you to wirelessly mirror your iPhone’s display on your Mac with just a tap.

visionOS 2 brings Spatial Photos, bigger Mac Virtual Display and other niceties

• visionOS 2, the first major update to the Vision platform, will bring Spatial Photos, a rearrangeable Home View, a bigger Mac Virtual Display, new gestures and other nice quality-of-life improvements.

The CultCast WWDC24 Predictions

• Congratulations to listeners Ryan Peterson and AL for their top audience scores of 17.