Rumors of iPhone 7, Apple Watch 2, and a kid builds a world-class Apple collection on The CultCast

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One of the world's most impressive collection of Apple artifacts belongs to a 15-year-old kid.
One of the world's most impressive collection of Apple artifacts belongs to a 15-year-old kid.
Photo: Alex's Apple Orchard

This week on The CultCast: Apple’s 13-year record revenue streak is broken; our best picture yet of iPhone 7’s features; rumors point to a faster, untethered Apple Watch 2; Apple has a huge increase in R&D spending, but where’s the money going? And stick around for more stories from the Cult of Mac. This time, a 15-year-old builds one of the world’s most impressive Apple collections.

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Episode

CultCast #229 – Alex’s Apple Orchard — Subscribe on iTunes

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This week’s links

8 optimistic takeaways from Apple’s slumptastic earnings call

  • R&D spending at Apple increased by $1.1 billion dollars compared to the same six month period last year, according to a new SEC filing.
  • The tech giant is fighting itself here, being forced to compare this year’s numbers to the killer iPhone 6 sales that drove 2015’s overwhelming revenue.
  • Apple’s tablets are doing fine, really, selling 10.3 million units this quarter. But in general, tablets are stinking up the place.
  • Apple surprised by SE demand and can’t keep up

Apple Watch made $1.5 billion more than Rolex last year

  • The Apple Watch, which celebrated its first birthday this week, is just such a product. How much of an impact did the Apple Watch make in its debut year? Enough to bring in $1.5 billion more than Rolex did in 2015.
  • While Apple has yet to make its Watch sales public knowledge, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, the debut Apple wearable likely brought in around $6 billion in its first year. That’s considerably more than Rolex’s $4.5 billion in total revenue for the equivalent time frame.
  • Apple Watch also outsold the iPhone in both products’ respective first years by a margin of 2-to-1.

Apple Watch 2 Rumored to Include Cellular Connectivity Amid Push for iPhone Independency

  • The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is working on including cellular network connectivity and a faster processor in the so-called Apple Watch 2.
  • LTE would likely require an additional data plan, on top of one you might have for your iPhone and iPad.

iPhone 7 may make bigger splash than expected

  • Apple will supposedly make its next iPhone both waterproof and dustproof.
  • Digitimes claims the device will also have a new touch-sensitive home button that sits flush with the rest of the screen.
  • Other features Apple is rumored to be adding include a new Smart Connecter, dual lens camera, bigger battery, wireless charging, no headphone jack, and a cleaner rear shell design with minimal antenna lines.
  • Design will be pretty much the same as the 6 and 6s.

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