The CultCast America's favorite Apple Podcast

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!
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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
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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

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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
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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.