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This week:  why 2015 was one of Apple's best (and worst!) years ever.  Plus:  everything Apple needs to improve in 2016; future tech that could change the world; and stick around for our deep-dive into The Force Awakens, our in-depth review of the magic, delight, and heartbreak of J.J. Abrams' new Star Wars universe. 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. 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 Why 2015 was Apple’s most important year since original iPhone’s unveilinghttp://www.cultofmac.com/404188/why-2015-was-apple-most-important-year-since-iphone-unveiling/ What would you like to see Apple improve in 2016? (discussion) What technology could change the world around us in the next 5 years? (discussion) J.J. Abrams, the force behind the new Star Warshttp://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-ot-how-the-new-star-wars-begins/ How the new “Star Wars” beginshttp://www.cbsnews.com/videos/how-the-new-star-wars-begins Thoughts on the end of Force Awakens (SPOILERS)https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWars/comments/3xhy39/i_have_this_to_say_about_the_end_of_the_new_star/

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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 LabPart 1Part 2 The Beatles Are Coming to Apple Music on Christmas Evehttp://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/22/the-beatles-apple-music-christmas-eve/ God help us, Kim Kardashian now has her own emojihttp://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 Morehttp://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 Minutesepisodehttp://www.cultofmac.com/402999/10-things-we-learned-from-apples-60-minutes-episode/ Apple may have accidentally leaked new MacBookhttp://www.cultofmac.com/403051/apple-may-have-accidentally-leaked-new-macbook/ Movies we mention in this episode Spectrehttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2379713/ Sicariohttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3397884/ Ex Machinahttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/

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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 behttp://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 Consumershttp://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/10/tvos-app-store-stats-after-one-month  Apple expected to bid on Thursday Night Football streaming deal - busterhttp://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 iPhoneshttp://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/15/apple-scalable-3d-touch-tech-future-devices/ Our favorite stuff from 2015 Buster - Lilith’s Broodhttp://amzn.to/1T5mt8V Erfon - Super Mario Makerhttp://amzn.to/1OcbX1o Leander - Amazon Echohttp://amzn.to/1T5mkCf 

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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 - busterhttp://www.cultofmac.com/400883/internet-questions-jony-ives-sanity-with-new-iphone-battery-case/ Apple now sells Lightning headphones that are super-expensivehttp://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 - busterhttp://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 publichttp://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 - busterhttp://www.cultofmac.com/401028/eddy-cue-promises-new-ios-remote-app-for-apple-tv/ Dropbox Shutting Down Mailbox and Carousel in Early 2016http://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 Gloryhttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vainglory

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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 TVhttp://www.cultofmac.com/399948/amazon-is-brining-instant-video-app-to-apple-tv/ Apple would be stupid to drop the iPhone headphone jack - evanhttp://www.cultofmac.com/399993/apple-would-be-stupid-to-drop-the-iphone-headphone-jack/ Christmas lights may be ruining your Wi-Fi speedshttp://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 moneyhttp://www.cultofmac.com/399899/apples-rd-spending-proves-innovation-isnt-all-about-money/ Apple offers kids free ‘Hour of Code’ programming classeshttp://www.cultofmac.com/400214/apple-offering-kids-free-hour-of-code-programming-classes/  

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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 Disneylandhttp://www.cultofmac.com/398410/apples-spaceship-campus-is-big-enough-to-hold-disneyland/ The Apple Pencil has reignited my love of drawinghttp://www.cultofmac.com/398694/the-apple-pencil-has-reignited-my-love-of-drawing/ An Apple TV pro tip you absolutely need to knowhttp://www.cultofmac.com/398570/how-to-undo-accidental-time-skips-on-siri-remote/

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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 introhttps://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 bughttp://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 $75Mhttp://venturebeat.com/2015/11/16/rdio-is-filing-for-bankruptcy-pandora-will-buy-key-assets-for-75m/ Find the hottest Black Friday deals right herehttp://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 

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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 introhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BatEMgmtK6k First impressions with the big and beautiful iPad Pro - leanderhttp://www.cultofmac.com/396992/ipad-pro-is-big-and-beautiful-unboxing-and-first-impressions/ Jony Ive interview: The story of the Apple Pencilhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/11988396/Jony-Ive-interview-The-story-of-the-Apple-Pencil.html Surface Pro vs iPad Pro stylus trackinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niD1N1d4nTc Apple Working on Mobile Person-to-Person Payment Servicehttp://www.macrumors.com/2015/11/11/apple-person-to-person-payment-service/ Leander Hate Watches The Walking Deadhttp://www.netflix.com/browse?jbv=70177057&jbp=0&jbr=6 Erfon can't stop watching Casey Neistathttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYCODMuoHNI Buster is into Ash Vs Evil Deadhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt4189022/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_3

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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 analysthttp://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 Billhttp://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?

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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 introhttps://youtu.be/tsZkwixfsEw?t=2m36s This Marty McFly costume rules them allhttp://i.imgur.com/bHNd2Og.gifv Heeee can show yooou the wooorrrlldhttps://vine.co/v/eYrl3nI5UZT The 7 biggest takeaways from Apple’s Q4 earnings callhttp://www.cultofmac.com/394570/the-7-biggest-takeaways-from-apples-q4-earnings-call/ Apple Stores to Start Selling Apple TV 4 on Fridayhttp://www.macrumors.com/2015/10/28/apple-stores-selling-apple-tv-friday/ Jobs done? Sorkin’s biopic flops on opening weekendhttp://www.cultofmac.com/394210/jobs-done-sorkins-biopic-flops-on-opening-weekend/ Nintendo unveils first, weird mobile game: Miitomohttp://www.cultofmac.com/394784/nintendo-unveils-first-weird-mobile-game-miitomo/