This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The iOS 17 leaks start drip, drip, dripping out as we approach Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. Sounds like a minor update overall, but there’s some interesting stuff coming down the pike.

Also on The CultCast:

• Apple Watch and the Health app might break their chains this year.
• The journaling app that Apple’s working on sounds kind creepy.
• Does Apple have an actual plan for its mixed-reality headset?
• Get the Apple Watch face that keeps Tim Cook cookin’ (free download).

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.

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Ghosted had the most successful launch of any Apple TV+ film since the debut of the streaming service. Enough viewers tuned in to the action flick starring Chris Evans and Ana de Armas to push it near the top of the charts.

And the third — possibly final — season of the comedy Ted Lasso continues to draw plenty of eyes.

Accessories maker iOttie unveiled two new MagSafe car mounts for iPhone this week, including one with smart cooling.

The Velox Pro with the cooling feature is top of the line, while the Velox Mini is more affordable.

Apple TV+ thriller The Last Thing He Told Me hits the books this week as Bailey and Hannah recover from some dead ends and track down some new promising leads in the search for a missing man.

The limited series, about an AWOL software programmer and the trail of devastation he left behind him, finds bereaved Hannah and Bailey inching closer to the truth of who their husband/father really was, while the noose tightens back home. The episode, entitled “Witness to Your Life,” is a reasonably gripping installment of a show that’s getting a little better with each episode.

Apple has shared its annual Mother’s Day gift guide to help you celebrate your mom on May 14 in the United States and many other countries. Dozens of gift ideas, from AirTags to iPhones to various accessories, cover a range of prices from $15 to about $1,000.

And you can “make it mom’s” with free engraving of emojis and messages on a range of gifts, too.

Esteemed Danish audio brand Bang & Olufsen unveiled its new portable Beosound A5 speaker Thursday. The pricey and powerful device’s design results from a collaboration with the Danish-Italian duo GamFratesi.

“Beosound A5 is our new high-end portable speaker which combines Bang & Olufsen’s long-standing approach to timeless design with our vision on sound for the future,” said VP of Product Marketing Michael Henriksson.

“We’re excited to collaborate with GamFratesi for the first time, to create two speaker designs that are rooted in a Scandinavian aesthetic with a distinct design signature on their own,” he added.

New Apple TV+ series Drops of God, about a contest of senses to win the fortune of the world’s most famous eccentric wine connoisseur, hits a roadblock this week. Issei considers quitting — and Camille isn’t 100% she’s ready to face him if he doesn’t.

Plus, Camille hatches an elaborate plot to get herself back on equal footing with Issei. And Issei’s plans to save face don’t go as planned. Entitled “Duel,” it’s a most exciting episode of this excitingly peculiar show.

At first glance, the new OnePlus Pad looks like solid competition for iPad, with a beautiful 11.6-inch screen and a $479 price tag.

But a closer look shows the computer suffers from the same crippling flaw as every other Android tablet.

Any conversation about “perfect” displays might just start and end with Apple’s Pro Display XDR. But not everyone is rich enough to buy one of those 6K monitors, which cost $5,000 or more. So the popular 5K Studio Display might have to do, along with something complementary.

One option graces today’s featured MacBook Pro setup. It recently swapped out ultra-wide and 4K monitors for a Studio Display and and the eccentric LG DualUp. They seem especially well-suited to certain types of workers.

Before the big April Sale ends, you can still snatch up hot deals on Microsoft software at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com. In other words, it’s not too late to nab great prices on Microsoft Windows, Office and more. Don’t miss it.

What could be better than paying less than full price for Windows 10 and other crucial software from CdkeySales? You can click on the links below to secure low prices on loads of Microsoft software. Plus, Windows 10 comes with a free upgrade to Windows 11.

CdkeySales’ prices are always affordable. But to get the absolute best savings possible, enter promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com. That will slash an additional 30% off the site’s super-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.

Paint matching is an exact art. Previously, you’d take a paint sample to the home improvement store to ask for help or bring home armfuls of samples to try and find the closest color match for your project. Even then, that would only work for existing paint. Try matching an exact color to a different object or another surface, and, well, you can’t.

That is, you couldn’t — until the innovative Nixi Mini 2 color sensor came along. It can scan any surface, from wall paint to leather, and find you the exact paint color match. This little gadget earns rave reviews from designers worldwide. Usually $99, right now you can grab it on sale for only $69.99.

That’s cheaper than Amazon — and the best price you’ll find for the Nix Mini 2 on the web.

New Apple TV+ children’s show Frog and Toad, based on the classic book series by Arnold Lobel about two amphibious friends, is smartly and simply animated in the style of the Caldecott Award-winning author.

Frog and Toad is a real gem — a welcome inclusion in the Apple TV+ lineup, and an honorable adaptation of a classic.

Apple has reportedly delayed the Apple Watch Ultra’s rumored transition to microLED screens. Initial rumors suggested the company could make the switch by 2024.

However, display analyst Ross Young believes Apple has pushed back the change to the second half of 2025.

If you’re a programmer, you know that Python is a coder’s Swiss Army knife. It can help you do almost anything, from game creation to complex data analysis. And, as you can imagine, it also can open the door to a wide range of careers.

If you don’t already have Python expertise on your resume, there’s now a comprehensive way to level up your skills or even make a career switch. Meet the 2023 Python course pack. It’s now on sale for only $19.97 (regularly $2,388).

iPhone shipments increased modestly in the first three months of 2023, according to a market research firm. That’s in stark contrast to Android-makers, most of which experienced double-digit drops.

The trend carried through in China, making Apple the largest smartphone seller in this critical market.

Apple’s continued march towards owning your personal wellness is set to continue in iOS 17 according to a new (paywalled) Wall Street Journal report. According to the report, a journaling app to document your thoughts, feelings, and daily activities is likely on the way. The app will purportedly also provide insights into how the people you are around influence your mood.

Epomaker and Createkeebs said Thursday their recent collaboration resulted in their release of the compact new High65 V2 mechanical keyboard.

“Featuring a compact and portable 65% layout, the High65 V2 is the ideal choice for professional gamers and keyboard enthusiasts alike,” the companies noted.

Spring is blooming across America, meaning it’s time for golfers to get back on the course. If you’re looking to save some money on rounds in 2023 and want to expand your options when it comes to ways to play, our discounted Ultimate Golf Lovers Bundle is worth exploring.

Perfect for yourself or your golf-obsessed friend, dad or partner, this perfect par package is only $249.99 (regularly $423). This bundle features an annual Player’s Pass nationwide golf membership, the Phigolf World Tour Edition for virtual play and a gift card for Topgolf high-tech driving ranges. You can’t find these separately for the same combined price.

AirPods charging cases with a USB-C port in place of the Lightning one are already being produced, according to a tipster.

These will be ready when, or possibly even before, the introduction on an iPhone that uses USB-C for data/charging.

You can currently get Apple’s beautiful and powerful M1 iMac for less than $1,000. The 24-inch all-in-one computer is currently available for $999.99 after a massive $499.01 discount.

The deal is on the more powerful eight-core CPU variant of the 24-inch iMac, which ships with two Thunderbolt ports and two USB 3 ports.

Update: Amazon sold out of these units so the deal is now over.

Ghosted is the first straight-out action movie to premiere on Apple TV+. The film, which stars Chris Evans and Ana de Armas, has been savaged by critics, but it really does not deserve all the insults.

True, it’s far from perfect. However, Ghosted delivers some good fight scenes and a laugh or two. And that’s probably all you want from a made-for-streaming action flick.

watchOS 10 will remove a major limitation of the Apple Watch, according to an unconfirmed report. The smartwatch supposedly will be able to synchronize with iPad and Mac, not just iPhone.

Before Apple subsidiary Beats could get the word out, a listing appeared briefly on Amazon.com Tuesday showing upgraded Beats Studio Buds+ coming out May 18.

They take the same shape as existing Beats Studio Buds, but they feature a cool new transparent design option, upgraded performance and a slightly higher price of $169.95.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and if your mom is typically the one who handles meal prep and loves cheffing up new dishes, she deserves the best tools. A high-quality, pro-level knife set can majorly impact at-home cooking, reducing the effort required and resulting in consistent, seamless cutting and chopping.

Fortunately, you still have time to access savings on this eight-piece Seido Japanese Master Chef’s knife set with a gift box. Typically $429, this package is now only $89.97 through May 14. But if you want this gift delivered by Mother’s Day, order by May 3 to ensure on-time delivery.

Apple will seemingly equip the USB-C port on the iPhone 15 Pro lineup with Thunderbolt 3 capabilities. This opens the door to connecting high-bandwidth storage devices and other accessories to the upcoming iPhone.

Apple already includes a Thunderbolt 3 port as standard across its iPad Air and iPad Pro lineups. This allows the tablets to drive external monitors with up to 6K resolution.