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iPhone XS, XR and Apple Watch 4 — catch our unfiltered Gather Round event reactions on The CultCast

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CultCast Gather Round MacBook Pro
Catch our unfiltered reactions to Apple's newest products.

This week on The CultCast: Hot off the heels of Apple’s keynote, it’s our unfiltered Gather Round event reactions! We’ll tell you what we think about iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and the new Apple Watch Series 4. Plus: Is it worth upgrading from iPhone X to iPhone XS? We discuss that and all the other products that were noticeably missing from the keynote.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. It’s simple to accept Apple Pay and sell your wares with your very own Squarespace website. Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first hosting plan or domain.

Preordered a new iPhone? It’s time to sell your old one

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iPhone X
Make back some of the money you just spent by selling your old iPhone.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

You can now preorder the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. If you’ve already claimed yours, it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to make back the fat stack of cash you just dropped. It might be easier than you think.

Start by selling your old iPhone to Cult of Mac. It’s quick and easy, and we pay real cash. What’s more, we typically pay more than other buyback services. Get a quote now and you can hold onto your device until your upgrade arrives on September 21.

You don’t need an app to read NFC tags with iPhone XS or XR

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iPhone XS Max
Another neat feature to (help) justify your spend!
Photo: Apple

One feature that didn’t get mentioned during this week’s iPhone event is the fact that the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR models let users scan NFC tags without requiring an app running in the background.

This means that places such as museums, retail stores, and other locations which make use of NFC tags can utilize them more readily — or, at least, that iPhone users can access them more easily. Instead of having to launch an app that puts your iPhone in NFC Reader mode, just walk up and scan any compatible tag. Easy, right?

Some iPhone XS Max and Apple Watch Series 4 models sell out in under a minute

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pre-orders
Did you get the device you wanted?
Photo: Apple

Did your alarm fail to go off? Were you on the fence about the new iPhones and Apple Watch Series 4, but now feel like you should place an order after all? Sorry to break it to you, but you might have left things too late.

According to frantic would-be customers, many of Apple’s new devices have already sold out. In fact, some models of the new iPhone and Apple Watch Series 4 sold out in less than a minute!

HyperJuice AirPods wireless charger does what Apple can’t

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The HyperJuice is an AirPods wireless charger that, unlike Apple's, is available now, not sometime in the future.
The HyperJuice is an AirPods wireless charger that, unlike Apple's, is available now, not sometime in the future.
Photo: Hyper

Conspicuously absent from the Apple event yesterday was the AirPods wireless charger that the company first showed off last year. Well, you don’t have to wait for Apple to get its act together because a third-party accessory maker called Hyper just announced its own solution.

HyperJuice is a snap-on adapter to the Apple AirPods Charging Case, allowing it to get power from any Qi wireless charger.

Why T-Mobile and Sprint customers should get a 2018 iPhone

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iPhone Xs
New technologies just for T-Mobile and Sprint didn't get as much attention as they deserve.
Photo: Apple

There is a lot for everyone to like in the 2018 iPhone models. But T-Mobile and Sprint customers have additional reasons to upgrade to the latest iOS devices: they’re the first to support some of these carriers’ wireless technologies.

This means the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR will perform better on both networks than any of their predecessors.

iPhone XR Portrait Mode has one serious limitation

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iPhone XR
Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting on the iPhone XR.
Photo: Apple

Portrait Mode on the iPhone XR may not be as fully-baked as the version found on Apple’s other iPhones.

The iPhone XR looks like it has almost all of the same features as its higher-priced siblings. Even though it only has one camera lens in the back, it can still take Portrait Mode photos. However, attendees at Apple’s keynote yesterday found out the iPhone XR version only works on people.

Why it’s a big deal that Lisa Jackson spoke at Apple’s iPhone XS event

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Apple VP Lisa Jackson showcases Apple's environmental efforts during the Gather Round event.
Lisa Jackson showcases Apple's green innovation during the Gather Round event.
Photo: Apple

It’s an incredibly big deal that Wednesday’s Gather Round keynote featured Lisa Jackson, Apple’s head of environmental initiatives.

The annual iPhone unveiling is Apple’s biggest product event of the year. Every single word and image is carefully calibrated to do one thing, and one thing only: sell as many of the new products as possible.

So why did Tim Cook turn over several precious minutes to Jackson to talk about renewable energy and recycling?

Series 4 makes me fall in love with Apple Watch all over again

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apple watch
Cupertino’s latest shiny wearable is really giving me the feels.
Photo: Apple

Can Apple Watch Series 4’s fall-detection feature tell when you have fallen in love? I hope so, because I’ve really fallen for it. Big-time. I haven’t felt this way about an Apple Watch since my first love, the original model, was announced back in 2014.

It’s not just the sleek new design. Nor the spacious new screen. It’s not even the breakthrough new health features. It’s when you combine them all together. It defies all logic and reason that Cupertino managed to cram so much awesomeness into such a tiny, beautiful package.

I can’t wait to strap an Apple Watch Series 4 onto my wrist next Friday and take it for a run. But until then, here are my first thoughts on this exciting new direction for Apple Watch.

Geekbench scores reveal RAM upgrades in new iPhones

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iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR
The iPhone XS Max is fast, but the smaller XS might be even quicker. The iPhone XR isn't too bad, either.
Photo: Apple

The new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR haven’t been released yet, but a handful of Geekbench scores are already available. 

These reveal more than just how fast the devices run (spoiler: very fast) but also how much RAM is in each model.

Moment debuts first-ever MFi certified wireless battery case for iPhone

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moment
Moment's Battery Photo Case is perfect for iPhotographers.
Photo: Moment

The world’s first MFi certified wireless battery case for the iPhone X is finally ready for the public, right after Apple just discontinued the iPhone X.

Moment – makers of some of the finest iPhone camera lens attachments you can buy – is out with a new case that adds a physical camera shutter button to your iPhone X. It also packs enough juice to recharge your iPhone and it doesn’t even need a wire.

Huawei tweets knock new iPhones for ‘staying the same’

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Huawei tweets
What could Huawei be talking about?
Screenshot: Huawei/Twitter

Huawei, one of Apple’s biggest competitors in smartphone sales, fired off a series of tweets that mocked the iPhone maker immediately following Wednesday’s unveiling of new products.

Most of the tweets originating from Huawei’s mobile division were a kind of sarcastic appreciation, including one that said, “Thank you for keeping things the same.”

Apple Watch’s new ECG reader is great, but don’t bet your life on it

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Apple Watch Series 4
Some things you should know about the FDA clearance of the new Apple Watch's EKG.
Photo: Apple

At yesterday’s iPhone and Apple Watch event, Apple revealed that it has received Food and Drug Administration clearance for the Apple Watch Series 4’s new electrocardiogram feature. In theory, this marks the ascension of the Apple Watch from a wellness health tracker to a full-fledged medical device.

But people shouldn’t be too quick to jump to conclusions about the Apple Watch’s FDA-approval stamp. Adam Masin, a litigator who deals with medical device manufacturers in product liability lawsuits, made a few crucial points on Twitter.

Tim Cook: Why Apple’s priciest ever iPhones are still a great deal

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Tim Cook earnings apple
The new iPhones may be pricey, but consider how much they can do!
Illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

With the iPhone XS Max running up to $1,449 for the 512GB version, Apple’s smartphones have never been pricier. But Tim Cook insists that they still represent a good deal for customers.

Why? According to a new interview with the Apple CEO, it’s because they’re such multi-functional devices — which allow us to own one single gadget in place of many. And that’s worth the cash.

‘Shot on iPhone XS’ video showcases amazing new camera

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Shot on iPhone XS sample photo
This is the kind of photo you can take with iPhone XS.
Photo: Apple

The new iPhone lineup ships with the best cameras Apple has ever installed in a smartphone. Sample photos shown off during yesterday’s keynote gave us a preview of its jaw-dropping capabilities, and there’s more.

Apple’s new “Shot on iPhone XS” video showcases what the company’s new camera is capable of when shooting in slo-mo, super-sharp 4K, and time-lapse.

New A12 Bionic chip makes 2018 iPhones into AI powerhouses

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A12 processor
The Neural Engine gives the iPhone a super smart brain.
Photo: Apple

Apple called the new iPhones‘ A12 Bionic chip “the smartest and most powerful chip ever in a smartphone.” And despite the company’s occasional hyperbole and frequent marketing wizardry, it’s not kidding around.

Here’s why the A12 is so exciting — and what that means for Apple’s Core ML machine learning platform.

Hands on with iPhone XS, XR, XS Max and Apple Watch Series 4

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We've gathered first impressions of the iPhone XS Max and all the other devices Apple just announced today.
We've gathered first impressions of the iPhone XS Max and all the other devices Apple just announced today.
Photo: Apple

Apple just unveiled a rush of new devices, including three iPhone models and a pair of Apple Watches. A theme for these announcements could be “Bigger is better.” 

None of the products are available yet, and reporters have only been given a short time to try them out. It’s early, but there’s some consensus about each of the new devices.

Ogle the beautifully redesigned Apple Watch Series 4 [Gallery]

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Apple Watch Series 4
The new Fire watch face reacts uniquely with the curved edges.
Photo: Apple

Apple Watch Series 4 debuted today in Cupertino with a slew of powerful, new features.

Apple’s fourth-generation smartwatch helps users stay more connected and be more active in significant ways. Featuring a stunning new display, electrocardiogram and fall detection as well as breakthrough communications, Apple Watch Series 4 is a stunner.

Tim Cook’s Twitter head fake was the only surprise at iPhone XS keynote

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tim cook tweet
Bloggers totally fell for Tim's tweet.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple’s 2018 iPhone keynote went off without a hitch and without hardly any surprises. Except for one created by Tim Cook.

Moments before Cook was set to take the stage at the Steve Jobs Theater, the Apple CEO tweeted out what appeared to be an erroneous DM that was viewable to the entire world.

“No. Who can get it here quickly?” was all Tim wrote. The short tweet was quickly deleted but not before the entire blogosphere saw it. And totally fell for it.