Everything we think we know about the iPhone 7, this week on The CultCast

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Catch our iPhone 7 rumor mill roundup!
Catch our iPhone 7 rumor mill roundup!
Photo: Apple/Erfon Elijah

This week, on The CultCast: everything we think we know about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7! Plus: price leaks indicate we may get an iPhone 7 “Pro”; the one feature Android phones have that we envy; and we’ll tell you what we like and don’t about the gadgets we’re reviewing—it’s an all-new Under Review.

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This week’s links

Non-Retina MacBook Pro disappears from Apple Stores

  • Apple has begun removing the 13-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro from its retail store displays
  • The non-Retina MacBook Pro is the only laptop left in Apple’s lineup with an optical drive. It’s also the most affordable MacBook Pro at just $1,099, but without the slimmer form factor, Retina display, and features like Force Touch
  • The machine hasn’t seen a refresh since 2012, which means it’s not too surprising to see that Apple is no longer pushing it

iPhone 7 will have more tiny design changes you won’t notice

  • The iPhone 7 is set to be one of the most boring updates Apple’s ever released. The new iPhone will look just like the iPhone 6/6s
  • The Wall Street Journal called the changes set to be introduced in the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus “subtle,” while Ming Chi Kuo has said the device will not have many “attractive selling points.”
    – Longer Earpiece cutout
  • Relocated ambient light sensor

iPhone 7 will be boring, according to WSJ

  • Rumors that the iPhone 7 will be a snooze-worthy update have been seemingly confirmed today by The Wall Street Journal, which claims Apple plans to break from its traditional pattern of redesigning its flagship device every year.
  • This year’s iPhone will come with plenty of minor upgrades, but according to the new report, some iPhone 7 features that Apple hoped to integrate just weren’t ready for a 2016 rollout.
  • During a meeting with an Apple executive last month, a China-based engineer asked why this year’s iPhone didn’t get a major design change. “The answer, one person at the meeting recalled, was that the new technology in the pipeline will take time to implement,” reports the Journal.
  • The WSJ says Apple hoped to implement a curved screen into the iPhone 7 but the technology wasn’t ready. The company supposedly hopes to integrate big new features next year, though, for the 10th anniversary of the iPhone.
  • Other features we expect:
    • A10 processor
    • New blue color
    • Dual lens camera on the 7 Plus, improved camera on the 7 (no brainer)
    • Better water proofing, hopefully full waterproof
    • Better looking antenna bands
    • Lightning headphone jack with dongle with removal of analog headphone jack

Get your dongle on: iPhone 7 to include Lightning adapter

  • The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will ship with regular 3.5mm EarPods, according to a new report from Macotakara that claims Apple will include a 3.5mm to Lightning Adapter so you’re not force to buy new headphones with your new iPhone.
  • The report also claims that by removing the headphone jack on the iPhone 7, Apple will add a row of speaker holes on the right side.

iPhone 7 price leak promises Pro model, 256GB of storage

  • An alleged price list for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7 series suggests there will be a high-end “Pro” model after all. Fans could also get 256GB storage options, while 32GB of storage could become the minimum.
  • According to an iPhone 7 price list posted on Chinese micro-blogging network Weibo, there will be an iPhone 7 Pro in Apple’s lineup this fall.

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