Lewis Wallace - page 3

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: With a slightly smarter Siri on the way in iOS 18.4, a new rumor indicates Apple might actually fix Siri once and for all … in 2026! We discuss the “LLM Siri” that supposedly will catch up with ChatGPT and other chatty competitors. As Apple refines its AI capabilities, companies like Buyback Boss are also innovating in tech resale and trade-in solutions. Find out more about the latest updates.

But the question remains: Can Apple really afford to wait that long to make its AI assistant less of a laughingstock?

Also on The CultCast:

• New rumors and renders show what the iPhone 17 lineup might look like.
• Uh-oh: We’ve got bad news about AirPods Max.
• And finally, Griffin talks up a solid — and much cheaper — stand-in for Apple’s Studio Display in an all-new Under Review.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The rumored “iPhone 17 Air” supposedly will delete major features to become Apple’s thinnest smartphone ever — and sell at a premium price. We debate the pros and cons of such a scenario. Plus, Apple reportedly plans to make AirTags even better … and might be reconsidering making an actual TV set.

It’s a rumor-packed podcast!

Also on The CultCast:

• We discuss the possibility of Apple selling SSD upgrades for Mac mini.
• Apple slipped a surprise feature into the M4 MacBook Pro.
• Image Playground produces some truly ridiculous images. See a sampling below. Is this the best Apple Intelligence can do?

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: So … many … M4 Mac reviews! Griffin tells us why the new Mac mini and the updated iMac make him go gaga. And the faster MacBook Pros are no slouches, either.

Also on The CultCast:

• The “updated” Apple accessories — Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse — pack exactly one new feature. It’s not exactly magical.
• Apple reportedly plans to launch an inexpensive touchscreen device for managing smart home gear. But what purpose would it serve, really?
• Apple Music turns its ridiculous 100 Best Albums list into an even more ridiculous $450 coffee-table tome.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The first benchmarks for the M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pros come in amazingly good. And early reviews from the “access media” rave about the new Apple laptops, too. (What else did you expect?)

It might be time for Erfon’s long-overdue upgrade.

Also on The CultCast:

• There’s another reason you should buy an M4 laptop rather than waiting for next year’s model.
• iOS 18.2 is almost here, and Griffin runs down all the exciting new features it brings.
• The next iPhone could come with even more custom Apple hardware inside.
• And finally … Erfon actually got his hands on the camera he’s been waiting forever to receive. His first impressions are … mixed.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: After a whirlwind week of M4 Mac releases, we weigh up the pros (tons) and cons (very few). Mostly it’s a lovefest as we talk about the new M4 Mac mini, iMac and MacBook Pros.

Also on The CultCast:

• What’s up with Apple putting the new Mac mini power button on the bottom? (Luckily, the internet has some “fixes.”)
• Apple surprised us by upgrading the RAM on M2 and M3 MacBook Airs — without raising the prices!
• We wrap up with a discussion of what new Apple gear we ordered after this week’s Mac-o-rama.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: If Apple does host a big October event, M4 Macs and iPads likely will steal the show. We talk about what to expect from the upcoming Apple products.

Also on The CultCast:

• Other Apple gear is on a longer timeline, including iPhone SE 4, upgraded iPad Airs and a next-gen Vision Pro.
• There’s also a rumored low-end smart display running a mysterious new operating system called “homeOS.”
• And finally, Erfon gives us an in-depth, ears-on review of one week with AirPods 4. He’s not crazy about the fit, and the active noise cancellation is a mixed bag.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: After nearly a week with our new iPhone 16 Pros, it’s time for a spirited conversation about the things we love — and several things we don’t. The Camera Control is undeniably interesting, but touchscreen problems and software glitches take a little of the shine off the new iPhone experience.

Also on The CultCast:

• We also discuss what Cult of Mac reviewers had to say about the regular iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10. We can’t help but be a little jealous of those new iPhone colors.
• Why you don’t need to worry about a weird “upgrade to iOS 18” message on your iPhone that’s already running iOS 18.
• And finally, Erfon talks about seeing the new satin black Apple Watch Ultra 2 in person — and why he walked away without one.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Don’t be alarmed if your brand-new iPhone 16 prompts you to update to iOS 18 even though your phone is already running iOS 18. And also don’t freak out when you see a fear-inducing “Welcome to iPhone” screen after you update to iOS 18.0 build 22A3354, even though it looks suspiciously like you will need to go through the tedious iPhone setup process again.

Apple is currently distributing an unexpected iOS 18 update to brand-new iPhones that are already running iOS 18. It looks like Apple installed an earlier version of iOS on phones in the factory. Now it is updating them to the latest version.

As Apple says, the update to iOS 18.0 build 22A3354 currently rolling out brings “important bug fixes and security updates” to all models in the iPhone 16 lineup. With any luck, it will fix the touchscreen problems reported by some iPhone 16 Pro owners, but that might just be wishful thinking. (Cult of Mac asked Apple if the update addresses the touchscreen problem. We’ll update this post when/if we receive info on the update.)

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Griffin takes the wraps off his new iPhone 16 Pro in desert titanium — and he doesn’t like what he sees. The new “color” revealed in his iPhone 16 Pro unboxing fails to knock our socks off.

Still, there’s plenty to talk about, though, including the new Camera Control and how third-party case manufacturers are coping with it.

Also on The CultCast:

• The new satin black titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2 on the other hand … smokin’! It’s enough to make a guy upgrade for the color alone.
• The first AirPods 4 reviews say the active noise cancellation works surprisingly well. They’re on Erfon’s list.
• New delays hit the rumored plastic Apple Watch SE and the first MacBook Pros with OLED screens.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We’re basking in the afterglow of Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event. Time to discuss what we like most (and least) about the new iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4 and more.

Also on The CultCast:

• That black titanium Apple Watch Ultra looks tempting. The barely upgraded AirPods Max? Not so much.
• Which new Apple products do we plan to order? The choices seem tougher this time than usual.
• And finally … the results of our “It’s Glowtime” event predictions. We have a winner! (Two, actually.).

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event is coming up fast! It’s time for our favorite challenge — matching wits in our Apple event predictions game. Who will win this time?

Also on The CultCast:

• Will the iPhone 16 Pro’s new color wow us or make us cringe? We’re on the fence.
• The latest rumors about next-gen AirPods have Erfon ready to fork over some cash.
• Sounds like the upgraded Mac mini will go all in on USB-C.
• And finally, Apple might create a Magic Keyboard for iPad that doesn’t magically empty your wallet.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Anker’s new MagGo lineup includes five accessories designed for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods owners. The star of the lineup, which the company unveiled Thursday ahead of IFA Berlin, is the MagGo 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station. It’s a cleverly designed three-way travel charger that an Anker representative referred to as “The Button” during a briefing ahead of the German electronics show.

Another standout — the strangely named MagGo Power Bank (10K, Apple Watch) — is a portable battery pack that includes a flip-out Apple Watch charging puck. Those two new additions show Anker striving to design new types of charging products. And, while the other three accessories look fairly typical, they do come with attractive features … and at attractive price points.

Here’s everything in Anker’s new MagGo lineup.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We finally know exactly when Apple’s iPhone 16 event will happen. It’s “Glowtime” on September 9 … and now it’s time to talk about what’s in store.

Also on The CultCast:

• iOS 18’s AI-powered Clean Up feature in the Photos app yields some freakish results that might give you nightmares.
• The latest Mac rumors make us buzzy about the future.
• If you think Apple is behind on AI — at least on a practical level — you’re wrong.
• And Griffin wraps up the show with some cool Continuity features that everyone who owns multiple Apple devices should know.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

The new AI-powered Clean Up feature in the Apple Photos app got people raving about the magical ability to “fix” pictures — and posting examples of when things go horribly wrong. The positive experiences sound great, but the negative ones look like pure nightmare fuel.

Apple added the Clean Up feature in iOS 18.1 beta 3, released Wednesday, and users put the new photo touch-up tool to the test immediately. The results, posted on X, show a wide range of outcomes, including some hilarious misfires.

A pair of new portable power stations from Anker Solix give users multiple ports to choose from and a handy way to light up a dark campground. Lightweight and attractively designed, the Anker Solix C300 DC and the Anker Solix C300 offer new options for energizing outdoor adventures (or riding out power outages).

Released Wednesday, the two similar-looking power stations offer different options for different scenarios. And they’re both on sale for a limited time.

WaterField Designs’ X-Air Duffel is a carry-on duffel bag that solves many problems for frequent fliers. High-quality components and an incredibly well-thought-out design make it one of the best under-seat luggage options around — especially for anybody who tends to carry a lot of Apple gear.

Meticulously crafted, with loads of luxurious details, it’s roomy enough to hold a couple of days’ worth of clothing. And yet it’s still small enough to cram under most airlines’ seats. Dedicated compartments safely hold your MacBook, iPad and other devices, keeping them well organized for in-flight use.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest batch of iPhone 16 rumors give us more insight into the probable camera upgrades — and color combos — coming to the lineup.

Also on The CultCast:

• A fake Apple event invite (which apparently nailed the date) whipped the internet into a frenzy. Find out how a 14-year-old Italian hoaxer fooled the internet.
• Want to give your iPhone a blackout? Have we got a four-character key combo for you!
• In a new Under Review segment, Griffin raves about a Vision Pro accessory that makes the device far more usable — and won’t ruin your hairdo!

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Beware, Apple leakers: The hoaxer who created a fake Apple invite for the iPhone 16 event says he’ll probably try to pull off a similar prank in the future. Lorenzo, a 14-year-old video editor from Italy, says he created the bogus invite in about 10 minutes out of boredom when he was sick. Then he sent the image to a known leaker — and watched as the fake document whipped up a frenzy in the Apple rumor mill.

“I feel like leaks can be boring sometimes so I want to spice it up,” he told Cult of Mac in a direct message. “Maybe by putting more effort into making a good concept next time.”

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Who cranked up production in the Apple rumor mill? We talk through the latest ones on this week’s show, and some of them sound pretty wild. Fresh details about the iPhone 16 Pro’s new camera button make it sound very cool. A rumored bigger iMac sounds very exciting. And an Apple skunkworks project — a $1,000-plus device that puts an iPad on a rotating robotic arm — sounds absolutely bizarre.

Also on The CultCast:

• What’s new in the latest iOS 18 beta.
• What to expect from upcoming iPads.
• Apple gets greedy with Patreon, and creators aren’t happy.
• And Erfon gives us a surprising update on his inexplicably water-damaged iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

New Apple TV+ action comedy The Instigators is getting a bad rap. The action-comedy about a Boston heist gone wrong, which stars Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, currently achieves a lackluster 41% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. But those critics are missing the point. The Instigators is an unpretentious buddy film that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The critics who panned the movie apparently don’t know how to sit back and enjoy a fun flick. (The Instigators’ audience score sits at a much higher 71%.) Here are three reasons you should give this underappreciated action-comedy a stream on Apple TV+.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: It sounds like a whole bunch of Macs powered by Apple’s M4 chip — including a Mac mini that will be surprisingly small — will arrive in the not-so-distant future. We discuss the latest M4 Mac rumors (and can’t help getting more than a little excited).

Also on The CultCast:

• The latest iOS 18 beta brings more interesting changes, including one that makes Griffin very happy.
• We’ve got questions about the next Apple Watch SE. Will it be plastic? Vibrantly colorful? Cheaper?
• Samsung’s copycat designers take heat from an unlikely source for mimicking Apple’s products.
• In a new Under Review segment, Griffin tells us what he likes (and what he doesn’t) about an unusual three-in-one MagSafe charger.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Leaked iPhone 16 dummy units offer a possible peek at what this year’s lineup will look like. While the black titanium pro model looks pretty badass, let’s hope the other colors don’t prove accurate!

You can see the leaked iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Max dummy units we’re talking about in the show notes below.

Also on The CultCast:

• Apple Intelligence just arrived, and anybody can try it — if they’ve got the stomach for running a beta.
• A brain implant lets a guy use an Apple Vision Pro with his thoughts. Astonishing!
• There’s a new Apple podcast in town, and it’s run by a pair of Cult of Mac alums. Apple Core is a fun way to take a deep dive into Apple history.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest rumors about a premium “iPhone 17 Slim” leave us scratching our heads. Thickness aside, it sounds like it will bring less of almost everything. Will you pay more for an iPhone Air?

Also on The CultCast:

• At least one iPhone 17 might get an extra-fancy camera.
• And we might not be that far from a folding iPhone or a deluxe iPhone SE.
• After blowing through billions, it sounds like Apple TV+ will be tightening its belt.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We dissect the latest Apple rumors, which go from incredible bummer (Apple Watch) to potential breakthroughs (iPhone and HomePod).

Also on The CultCast:

• The latest iOS 18 beta brings some welcome new changes.
• A teaser trailer and a release date get us psyched for season two of Severance.
• Griffin tells us all about a keyboard with a peculiar name in a new Under Review segment.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Upcoming Apple TV+ docuseries Omnivore looks like a visually stunning deep dive into key ingredients that feed the world. The globe-hopping trailer takes us on a whirlwind tour of farmland, fisheries and more. It’s a tasty tease for a show that delivers an international perspective on humanity’s common denominator: food.

Each episode of the show, which arrives July 19 on Apple TV+, focuses on a single ingredient — salt, pork, bananas, etc. — and explores the long path it takes to wind up on hungry diners’ plates.