The rainbow-colored stage that appeared recently at Apple HQ is about to get its first big-name act; Lady Gaga is reportedly going to perform at the opening event for Apple Park, the company’s ring-shaped campus in Cupertino.

Updated: She did! And Tim Cook tweeted about it early this morning.

Imagine yourself in a nightmare scenario. You’re tasked with making an Apple keynote run smoothly, but Murphy’s law is in full effect. Everything that can go wrong does. Tim Cook is not pleased. And you must wield your Apple knowledge to make things right.

That’s what you’ll experience if you dare to go “Backstage at the Keynote” during WWDC 2019. Find out all about this unusual Apple-themed escape room, which should spice things up at AltConf next month, in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine for iOS.

Or read on to get the rest of the week’s best Apple news, reviews and how-tos in your browser, including our scoop on what’s up with that mysterious rainbow stage spotted inside Apple Park.

This week on The CultCast: WWDC 2019 is right around the corner, and a new report sheds light on everything Apple’s prepping to reveal. We discuss! Plus: The magic of Corning glass, and how making your iPhone just slightly thicker would make it indestructible. And we reveal how (and why) Jony Ive created the massive mystery rainbow stage now present at the heart of Apple Park.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain..

The mysterious, rainbow-colored stage erected inside Apple Park bears all the hallmarks of the company’s meticulous design, according to an Apple document provided to Cult of Mac.

It’s the latest creation by Jony Ive’s team — and it’s just as thoughtfully and intricately designed as you might imagine.

An article explaining the project to Apple employees sheds light on just how much thought, time and intense effort went into building the rainbow Apple Stage. And Jony Ive’s ruminations on the project show he and his collaborators put a lot of thought into it.

It’s been a while since we saw drone flyover videos of Apple Park, particularly now that everyone has moved in. But an update by master drone video maker Duncan Sinfield — his first of 2019 — offers a new airborne overview of Apple’s HQ. Complete with a rainbow-colored mystery stage in the centre of Apple Park.

Check it out below.

Cupertino’s congestion problems are about to get little bit of help from Apple’s wallet.

The iPhone-maker has offered to spend $9.7 million on bikeways and pedestrian projects in the city in light of a proposed ballot measure that could cost Apple $9 million a year in taxes.

The first big Apple media event of 2019 has supposedly gotten an official date.

Apple reportedly scheduled a keynote at Steve Jobs Theater for the end of March, but don’t expect to see any major hardware announcements.

People that worked for Apple through a staffing agency have revealed some grim details of what it’s like to work for Apple as a contracted employee.

Working on Apple’s mapping projects just a few miles from Apple Park sounds like a dream opportunity, but it turns out the Silicon Valley-based gig isn’t nearly as glamorous as you’d think. A new report about Apple’s temporary workers reveals the “culture of fear” contracted employees face.

Tim Cook is reportedly hosting an all-hands meeting with every Apple employee today about the revelations regarding stalling iPhone sales.

The news caused Apple shares to plummet in after-hours trading, taking some Apple suppliers with it. As part of the meeting, Cook will spell out what the news means, and take questions from employees.