This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest leaks about Apple’s AR/VR headset — possibly called the “Reality” — get us thinking about real-world applications. Will this thing kick-start a mixed-reality revolution, or flop harder than the Pippin?

Also on The CultCast:

• The new Apple Card Savings account pays high interest — and we’re definitely interested!
• WWDC23 might bring additional new hardware beyond the headset.
• It’s your last chance to snag a limited-edition Sunset Moment iPhone case from Pitaka.

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.

Rumors suggest Apple could enable sideloading of apps with iOS 17. However, the company might bring the feature only to iPhone users in Europe and the UK.

Apple is under regulatory pressure in the EU to enable sideloading on iPhone.

Apple supposedly made great improvements in the software for its upcoming VR/AR headset recently. Someone who got a chance to test prototypes several times reportedly was “blown away” by the latest iteration, after finding earlier versions disappointing.

If true, this would help explain why Apple finally apparently stopped delaying the release of the product, which will combine virtual reality and augmented reality features.

Apple’s 2022 12.9-inch iPad is available with significant savings on Amazon. You can get the entry-level 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 128GB storage for as low as $999 after a $99 off.

You may see a smaller discount on the listing page. Amazon will automatically apply the remaining discount at checkout.

There’ll be a lot more to Apple’s VR/AR headset than new hardware: an unconfirmed report leaks details on Apple’s plans for software. There’ll be games and fitness apps, a VR version of FaceTime and more.

That’s not surprising. What is eye-opening is the assertion that the headset will be able to run third-party iPad applications right out of the box.

Despite the many leaks and rumors about the 15.5-inch MacBook Air, there’s been no definite word on its processor. However, details of an unreleased MacBook with a large display have surfaced, and these indicate the chip will likely be an Apple M2 rather than an as-yet-unreleased M3.

The machine is supposedly running macOS 14, which won’t be announced for months.

Apple’s slim and svelte M2 MacBook Air is currently cheaper by $150 on Amazon. The deal brings the price of the entry-level model down to $1,049 from $1,199.

You can save a similar $150 on the 512GB configuration of the machine.

A new leak reveals several new changes and features coming to iOS 17. The source claims Apple will focus on “performance, efficiency, stability, and long-term support” for older devices with the release.

Interestingly, the leaker also suggests that iPhone 15 Pro will ship with capacitive volume and power keys. This contradicts recent rumors that suggested Apple’s plans have changed.

Amazon has discounted Apple’s 2022 MacBook Pro by $199 to $1,099. This is the same price the machine was available for during last year’s Black Friday.

Despite its dated design, the 2022 MacBook Pro packs Apple’s powerful M2 chip.

The Steve Jobs Archive released its first book Tuesday, Make Something Wonderful: Steve Jobs in his own words. It’s a memoir of sorts because almost everything in it comes directly from Jobs, from major speeches and interviews to emails he sent to himself. It covers the Apple co-founder’s life from a young age until he passed away in 2011.

The new book includes never-before-seen content, the archive said, and it’s free from multiple sources.