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This is the last show with Leander, Lewis and Griffin — we’re here to review the biggest news stories, rumors, leaks and madness of 2025. We’re going to talk about everything that happened in 2025 in extreme detail and wonderful nuance. Specifically, of Apple.

This week’s stories:

2025 was huge for Apple — here’s why

• In this end-of-year roundup, we’ve gathered the most ground-breaking rumors, consequential news and biggest surprises of 2025.
• Introducing iPhone Pocket: a beautiful way to wear and carry iPhone

Introducing the new Cult of Mac podcast, coming January 1st (probably). 

Produced by Extra Ordinary for Cult of Mac. 
Music composed by Will Davenport, arranged by D. Griffin Jones. 

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This week: Our look ahead at what’s coming in 2026 — and we’ll bring some forgotten Apple products back from the dead.

This week’s stories:

• 15 new products to expect from Apple in 2026
  • Apple is preparing a wave of new products for 2026, including a folding iPhone, powerful new Macs, refreshed iPads and new smart home gear.
  • Spigen Classic C1 Mac mini stand
  • New LG displays
• Dead Apple product draft:
  • iPod Hi-Fi
  • AirPort Extreme
  • Apple LaserWriter
  • iPod touch
  • 12-inch MacBook
  • Apple Watch Edition
  • Apple AA Battery Charger
  • SuperDrive
  • Apple II

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This week: The cutting-edge tech we expect to see in the folding iPhone, the hot new trend that beautifies your big camera bump, the weirdest auction of old Apple tat ever, a brand new app that’ll keep you fit, and the best Mac setup of 2025.

This week’s stories:

• Samsung teases the foldable iPhone’s biggest upgrade
  • At CES 2026, Samsung showcased a crease-less folding OLED panel that might be headed for Apple’s first foldable iPhone.
• Decorating your iPhone with tiny stickers is 2026’s hot new trend
  • Personalize your iPhone 17 Pro camera plateau with stickers. Lots of people are doing it in fun and creative ways.
• This is the weirdest auction of Steve Jobs memorabilia we’ve ever seen
  • Some rather strange Steve Jobs memorabilia is up for auction, showcasing unique items related to the Apple co-founder.
• New fitness app Reps & Sets 26 gets serious about strength training
  • Designed exclusively for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, strength-training app Reps & Sets 26 was developed by a long-time Cult of Mac writer.
  • Reps & Sets 26 on the App Store
• Top 10 Apple setups of 2025
  • Cult of Mac's top 10 Apple setups of 2025 excel in raw computing power, aesthetic beauty, functional innovation — or all three.
  • Turn your M4 Mac mini into a small-but-mighty ‘Mac Pro’

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This week: Google’s Gemini is officially powering next-gen Siri, Apple overhauls all its pro apps, details on OpenAI’s first hardware product, and we go hands-on with a folding iPhone model!

This week’s stories:

• It’s official — Google Gemini will power Siri’s major AI overhaul
  • Google’s Gemini AI is now set to power the long-promised overhaul of Apple’s Siri voice assistant, turning months of speculation into confirmation after Apple made the partnership official in a statement released Monday.
  • Gemini-powered Siri reportedly will gain these capabilities
• New Apple Creator Studio subscription gives you 6 incredible apps for low price
  • Apple Creator Studio bundles 6 big-time apps into a subscription, including Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro and Pixelmator Pro.
• OpenAI’s first device might take on AirPods
  • OpenAI’s first consumer product may be AI-powered earbuds, designed by Jony Ive and positioned as a direct AirPods rival.
• Hands-on with a folding iPhone mock-up: This thing is weird
  • I got my hands on a model, and have lots of thoughts — if the folding iPhone looks anything like this, it’ll be weird.

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This week: The surprise launch of the new AirTag — and our review, how to get custom music in your Apple Music library, and a deep dive into the mysterious and murky past of Lewis Wallace.

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Links:

• AirTag 2 launches today with longer range and louder speaker
  • Apple’s tracking tag has been upgraded with a new Ultra Wideband chip, improved Bluetooth connectivity and a louder speaker.
• Why Apple’s AirTag 2 is way better than the original
  • The tracker tag is easier to find with much longer range when using either a Bluetooth or Ultra Wideband connection from your iPhone. It also includes a louder, shriller speaker.
• AirTag 2 teardown shows Apple taking tampering seriously
  • Apple’s second-generation AirTag looks unchanged on the outside, but a teardown reveals meaningful internal changes to avoid tampering.
• How to upload your own music to Apple Music
  • If there’s a live concert recording or indie song you want in your library, you can upload custom music to Apple Music really easily.
  • Radiohead Live - Blossom Music Center
• Listener Questions
  • Those Darn Accordions
  • The Wall of Wheeze
  • Removing a Champagne Cork (French) with a Sword

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This week: Siri’s growing up as a proper chatbot, Apple copies the raging success of the Humane Ai Pin, why your next Mac might cost even more, how you can make your Mac hot, and a truly bizarre prison-inspired user setup.

Links:

• Apple may reinvent Siri as a conversational AI in iOS 27
  • Forget the old, nearly useless Siri — Apple will reportedly upgrade the iPhone’s voice assistant into an AI-powered chatbot with iOS 27. Users will supposedly be able to converse with the new Siri, not just give it orders.
• Apple works on AI wearable with mics, cameras and more
  • An AI pin is reportedly on the drawing board at Apple. The hands-free device might may change the future of wearable technology.
• Why Apple faces new pressure to raise iPhone and Mac prices
  • Apple is likely to struggle to get a critical component for all its products this year, which might force it raise prices.
  • MacBook Pros disappear from stores — here’s why
• Speed up your Mac workflow with Hot Corners, the feature pro users swear by
  • Hot Corners on the Mac work like shortcuts for your mouse. Just throw your mouse cursor to the corner of the screen to trigger a shortcut.
• Listener Question
  • Hands-on with a folding iPhone mock-up: This thing is weird
• How these brilliantly lit setups strike a mood for work or gaming
  • Proper desk lighting can make or break a Mac setup when it comes to boosting productivity, setting a mood or gaming like you mean it.
  • RGB hues bathe Beatles-themed retro Apple rig in otherworldly light

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This week: Xcode’s AI agents can build an app from scratch in a day, major new details on the folding iPhone — and a potential second folding iPhone, whether Apple plans obsolescence, and a trick that’ll wrangle notifications on your iPhone.

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Links:

• Xcode unleashes AI agents for fast and easy app creation
  • Devs can work directly with Anthropic's Claude Agent and OpenAI's Codex, thanks to an Xcode update that builds in AI coding agents.
• iPhone Fold leak shows Apple borrowing design cues from iPad
  • A new leak provides more details about the foldable iPhone's design, pointing to several similarity with iPads.
• Apple’s foldable plans may not stop at just one iPhone
  • Before Apple even launches its first folding iPhone, the company is reportedly exploring a follow-up model with a clamshell-like form factor.
• Apple just killed the myth of iPhone forced obsolescence
  • The conspiracy theory that Apple uses iOS as a tool of forced iPhone obsolescence is complete BS, and I can prove it.
• Never miss an important alert with this crucial iPhone settings tweak
  • If you rely on timely alerts from certain critical iOS apps, set up persistent notifications so you don't miss something important.
• Listener Question
  • Do people actually care about phone wobble?

This week: The new Siri is slipping yet again — but that’s a good thing, Eddy Cue pulls the plug on Apple’s AI doctor, more new AirPods Pro are on the way, the best multi-Mac setups, and we’ve got a great tip for the Messages app.

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions and feedback; or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

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Links:

• M5 Pro MacBook Pro release date just became clearer
  • After weeks of speculation, Apple’s M5 Pro MacBook Pros may finally be on the horizon. A fresh report offers the clearest launch window yet.
• That Siri upgrade coming in iOS 26.4? Don’t get your hopes up.
  • iOS 26.4 may not live up to expectations. Apple is struggling to complete a long-delayed artificial intelligence upgrade for Siri.
• Apple shifts AI health coach plans to new focus
  • A new decision by Eddy Cue means Apple shifts AI health coach plans to focus on incremental Health app updates.
• Next AirPods Pro’s new cameras could see your surroundings
  • A new leak says new cameras in upcoming AirPods Pro 4 could see around the user. Look for them sometime in 2026.
• Maximum fun: Top 10 multi-Mac setups
  • For Apple enthusiasts, one Mac is great — but two or more? That’s when things get seriously interesting.
  • Developer dual-Mac dance: Mac mini and MacBook Air
• Listener Question
  • Will AI actually eliminate white collar jobs?
• 6 great features in Messages in iOS 26
  • Get to know the great new features in Messages in iOS 26: polls, background images, group Apple Cash payments and so much more.
  • Short YouTube video

This week: Apple’s got an "event" coming up in the first week of March! We’ll get into what we think it is. Also: Apple’s fast-tracking three wearable AI products and one of them is already a known bust, some big changes in iOS 26.4, a truly genius MacBook Air setup, and our hands-on with a great iPhone game controller for the rest of us.

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

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Links:

• Apple just announced its March event — here’s what could be coming
  • Get ready for the Apple March event! We're looking forward to new MacBooks, iPads, an iPhone and possibly more announcements.
• 3 game-changing AI wearables Apple is rushing to launch
  • Apple is putting the pedal to the metal as it rushes to produce new types of AI-powered wearable devices — smart glasses, upgraded AirPods and an AirTag-size pendant.
• iOS 26.4 beta 1: All the new features and changes
  • Apple has kicked off testing for iOS 26.4, with the update bringing more than just minor fixes. Here’s what’s new in iOS 26.4 beta 1.
• Top 10 MacBook Air setups
  • Our collection of the top 10 MacBook Air setups really shows why the sleek machine is the world's best-selling laptop.
  • ‘Headless’ MacBook Air runs alongside retro Macs
• Listener Question
  • Why do we censor swearing?
• Upgrade iPhone gaming for cheap with GameSir X5s controller
  • The GameSir X5s is a great and affordable way to upgrade mobile gaming. Your phone slides in and gives you console-quality physical controls.

This week, with special guest Casey Liss: Thanks to the success of Cosmic Orange, new colors are coming to iPhone 18 Pro, but they’re a bit WTF, the super clever way the first touchscreen Macs will work, exciting changes in iOS 26.4 beta 2, an even weirder keyboard setup than last week’s, plus our predictions for next week’s Apple announcements!

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com
• Submit your answers to the March 2026 prediction game

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Links:

• iPhone 18 Pro may double down on bold colors
  • Apple reportedly plans a deep red finish for the iPhone 18 Pro, following the strong response to cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro.
• New interface will be key to touchscreen Macs’ success
  • Building a touchscreen into the MacBook Pro will require changes to macOS 27. We just got the first hints of the needed modifications.
• iOS 26.4 beta 2: All the new features and changes
  • Apple continues testing iOS 26.4 with the release of beta 2, and the update brings more than just minor tweaks.
• Callsheet: Find Cast & Crew
  • Callsheet is the best way to quickly look up information about the cast and crew in TV and movies. It respects your time, doesn't try to sell you stuff you don't need, and is designed to answer your questions quickly and easily.
• 15 coolest (and weirdest) keyboards in Mac setups
  • We picked out the 15 coolest (and weirdest) keyboards for Mac setups, including ergonomic wonders and highly customizable options for gamers.
  • Keeping it weird with a ‘dual-display laptop’ and an ortholinear keyboard
• March 2026 Predictions
  • For the first time in 2026 (and on the new Cult of Mac podcast) we will lay down our predictions for Apple’s not-an-Event event.
  • Submit your responses here
• Aftershow: Accidental Transportation Podcast
  • Third-gen Ford Ranger / Mazda B-series
  • BMW 3 Series (E90)
  • BMW i4
  • Second-gen Range Rover
  • Volvo XC90
  • Third-gen Toyota Prius
  • Ford F-150 Lightning

This week: Our reactions to Apple’s mad week of announcements — the good and bad from the iPhone 17e, the iPad Air, the incredible M5 MacBooks, the shocking new Studio Displays, and the all-new MacBook Neo. Plus, we’ll grade our predictions from last week!

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

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Links:

• A18 Pro-powered MacBook Neo brings power at lowest price ever
  • The new MacBook Neo, powered by an A18 Pro chip, is Apple’s most affordable laptop ever, at $599 — just $499 for education.
• MacBook Pros with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips deliver major performance leap
  • Apple's newest M5 Pro and M5 Max-equipped MacBook Pros arrive, delivering unrivaled performance and additional storage.
  • M5 Pro and M5 Max ‘super cores’ supercharge new Macs
• Studio Display XDR arrives with mini-LED backlighting and 5K clarity
  • Introducing the Studio Display XDR: Apple's new premium monitor for professionals with mini-LED backlighting and Thunderbolt 5.
• iPhone 17e doubles built-in storage, adds MagSafe
  • The new iPhone 17e includes improvements — like double the starting storage capacity — that make it an even better value.
• M5 MacBook Air ramps up speed, storage and connectivity
  • With M5 MacBook Air's launch, Apple's top-selling laptop gains speed, storage and improved wireless networking without any design changes.
• 4 key upgrades make new M4 iPad Air a beast
  • The new M4 iPad Air features a faster processor, more RAM, new Apple wireless chips and other enhancements to Apple's midrange tablet.
• March 2026 Predictions
  • Congratulations to the two listeners who scored 7 points: Damian, and now four-time winner Michael Dennis.

Leander speaks to David Pogue, renowned author and technology journalist, about his new book, Apple: The First 50 Years.

• Watch this interview on YouTube

Links:

• Buy Apple: The First 50 Years
  • Bookshop.org
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Amazon
• Macintosh Portable
• PowerBook 100 series
• The Apple Car
• PowerBook Duo
• iMac G3
• The Death of Mac OS 9
• Noah Wyle as Steve Jobs

This week, with special guest Christina Warren: The surprise drop of AirPods Max 2, a deep dive on OpenClaw and agentic coding, and our final thoughts after a full week with the Studio Display XDR, MacBook Neo and iPhone 17e!

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

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Links:

• AirPods Max 2 pack AI-powered listening and stronger noise cancellation
  • H2-chip-powered AirPods Max 2 enhance sound quality and noise cancellation and bring new features like Adaptive Audio and Live Translation.
• The MacBook Neo is the fantastic new Mac for the masses
  • This will be a lot of people’s first Mac, and they’ll be very happy. A hands-on review of the MacBook Neo leaves us highly impressed.
• The Studio Display XDR is the final boss of all Mac displays
  • Apple’s new flagship desktop display, the Studio Display XDR stands high in a class of its own. And for, like, half as much money.
• The iPhone 17e, now a solid budget phone with minimal compromise
  • The iPhone 17e is a slight upgrade that makes all the difference. Now with MagSafe, it doesn’t have many compromises.

This week: We go hands-on with the new Studio Display XDR, MacBook Neo and iPhone 17e! Also: The Neo has everyone freaking out, bad news about the M6 MacBook Pro and new emoji coming in iOS 26.4.

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

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The Cult of Mac Today and Weekender newsletters. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Sign up at newsletters.cultofmac.com.

Links:

• Hands-on with the Studio Display XDR, MacBook Neo and iPhone 17e
• Another PC maker sounds alarm as MacBook Neo shakes up industry
  • We recently wrote about how $599 MacBook Neo could shake up the PC industry. Now more laptop makers are freaking out.
• MacBook Ultra rumored as Apple’s most expensive laptop yet
  • Apple’s next big MacBook Pro refresh could bring an OLED touchscreen, but it may also come with a higher price tag and an "Ultra" moniker.
• iOS 26.4 beta 4 gives us first look at Apple’s new emoji
  • Apple continues testing iOS 26.4 with the release of beta 4, with the new build adding eight new emojis and renaming a new feature.
• Listener Question
  • Who should buy a MacBook Neo?

This week: What the new Siri will actually do, WWDC26 is official, the grim reaper of services revenue is coming for Apple Maps, the top features of iOS 26.4 and the iPad Air versus the MacBook Neo!

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

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The Cult of Mac Today and Weekender newsletters. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Sign up at newsletters.cultofmac.com.

Links:

• What the new, AI-powered Siri will look like (and do) in iOS 27
  • Apple plans a total revamp of Siri in iOS 27 that turns the beleaguered voice assistant into an AI chatbot (and maybe a standalone app).
  • From 2024: Apple Intelligence is AI, done Apple’s way
• Apple sets June dates for WWDC26 and its next major software updates
  • Apple sets June dates for WWDC26, its major conference where it will unveil the next versions of iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS.
• Apple plans to bring ads to Maps app this summer
  • Seems like it had to happen eventually, right? Apple plans to bring ads to Maps on all devices and online, probably in summer 2026.
• Everything new in iOS 26.4: Emoji, Apple Music features and more
  • iOS 26.4 brings a bunch of great new features to your iPhone: new emoji, Apple Music Concerts, Playlist Playground, video podcasts and more.
  • British Punk Anthems: From '70s to Now
  • Thanksgiving Harmonies: From Eve to Blessings
• Listener Question
  • Should you buy a MacBook or iPad?

This week: Griffin’s first impressions of the AirPods Max 2, we bid farewell to the Mac Pro by honoring a top setup, and our celebration of Apple’s 50th birthday.

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

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The Cult of Mac Today and Weekender newsletters. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Sign up at newsletters.cultofmac.com.

Links:

• First impressions with AirPods Max
  • AirPods Max 2 are the surprise update to Apple’s premium over-the-ear headphones. Now in feature parity with the regular AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3, the price makes some kind of sense.
• Ultimate power: Top 9 Mac Pro setups
  • Truly the stuff of dreams, the top 9 Mac Pro setups from Cult of Mac's archives showcase the Apple flagship desktop's amazing power.
  • Two ‘trash can’ Macs form core of nerdy workstation built to last
  • Apple quietly kills Mac Pro
• 50 years of the most important Apple products
  • Apple produces plenty of hits, but you don't know them all. These are the most important Apple products of the company's first 50 years.
• Our first Apple products: How we joined the Cult of Mac
  • Apple's 50th anniversary makes us look back on how we got started using various Macintosh computers decades ago. Here's how it all began.

This week: Tons of new details on the awesome iPhones coming this fall, months-long delays are hitting the Mac mini and Mac Studio, possibly existential news for the MacBook Neo, how to get stunning space wallpapers, and the best Mac Studio setup of all time!

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

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The Cult of Mac Today and Weekender newsletters. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Sign up at newsletters.cultofmac.com.

Links:

• First look: iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold ‘dummy’ units appear in new leak
  • Get a first glimpse at iPhone 18 dummy units, including the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Plus the folding iPhone, too.
  • iPhone Fold may face delays due to engineering challenges
  • Apple’s folding iPhone might ditch expected branding
• Mac mini and Mac Studio face long shipping delays
  • Mac mini and Mac Studio orders are facing unusually long shipping delays, stretching up to 4-5 months. This could hint at an upcoming M5 refresh or supply constraints.
• Biggest problem with the MacBook Neo? It’s too popular!
  • Apple has a problem that other companies can only dream of — it might completely sell out of the MacBook Neo. Here's why.
• AirPods Max 2 are gorgeous, dreamy headphones — for now
  • You don’t need to be a big audiophile to love AirPods Max 2. But you must be a little bold to buy them yourself. Our AirPods Max 2 review.
• How to put stunning Artemis II moon wallpapers on your iPhone, iPad or Mac
  • If you love the space photography coming from the Orion spacecraft, find out how to put Artemis II moon wallpapers on your devices.
  • Download the LunarWall shortcut
• Power to burn: Top 10 Mac Studio setups
  • Apple's powerful and compact desktop machine has wowed users since it came out in 2022. Behold the top 10 Mac Studio setups we've seen.
  • Powerful Mac Studio drives epic ultra-wide display
• Listener Question
  • More on iPad vs. MacBook Neo: What about security?

This week: A major leak on Apple’s smart glasses, the bizarre solution to Apple’s AI brain drain, how engineers cracked foldable screens, a setup we’ve never seen the likes of before, whether it’s time to upgrade to Tahoe — and how to solve its most hated feature.

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

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The Cult of Mac Today and Weekender newsletters. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Sign up at newsletters.cultofmac.com.

Links:

• Apple smart glasses could stand out in more ways than one
  • Apple reportedly tests multiple smart glasses designs, with a strong focus on premium materials and varied styles.
• Why Apple is sending Siri developers to AI coding bootcamp
  • Apple's effort to complete a Siri AI upgrade includes sending developers to a bootcamp for advanced AI coding techniques.
• How Apple’s folding iPhone will crack the crease problem
  • A new report reveals the secrets of how Apple's folding iPhone will crack the crease problem. It comes down to two materials in the screen.
• Top 15 setups where MacBook Pro runs the show
  • We scoured the archives for the top 15 MacBook Pro setups, with an emphasis on striking aesthetics, clever engineering and smart gear choices.
  • MacBook Pro drives wild stacked dual display with hinges
• Listener Question
  • Should you upgrade to macOS Tahoe?
• How to hide all the menu bar icons in macOS Tahoe
  • The new macOS Tahoe menu bar icons are almost universally panned. Luckily, there’s a quick way to disable the annoying icons.
  • Nikita Propokov: It’s hard to justify Tahoe icons

This week: It’s a revolving door at Apple Park — Tim Cook is out, John Ternus is in, Cosmic Orange is out, Dark Cherry is in, and MagSafe is out, except it might also be in!

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

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Links:

• Large Scale Systems Museum
  • The Large Scale Systems Museum is a public museum in New Kensington, PA (just outside Pittsburgh) that showcases the history of computing and information processing technology.
  • Singer System Ten
  • Cray EL90
  • IBM System/390
  • Apple Lisa
  • BeBox
• Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO, John Ternus steps in
  • Apple CEO Tim Cook transitions to executive chairman as John Ternus takes the helm of the company that makes the iPhone, Mac and more.
• Is Tim Cook Apple’s best CEO ever?
  • While nobody could match the vision and drive of the late Steve Jobs, retiring Apple CEO Tim Cook definitely comes in a very close second.
• Expect John Ternus to be more decisive as Apple CEO
  • John Ternus as Apple CEO may change decision-making within the company, moving from consensus to decisiveness.
  • Macintosh LC 500 Series
• John Ternus promises Apple will ‘change the world once again’
  • In an all-hands meeting with Apple employees, John Ternus and Tim Cook express excitement about the incredible products to come.
• Dark cherry in, cosmic orange out in iPhone 18 Pro color lineup
  • In the four-color lineup, the popular and vibrant cosmic orange goes away, with a wine-colored "dark cherry" red supposedly taking its place.
• Folding iPhone could include feature many assumed was off the table
  • Potential folding iPhone buyers can breathe a sigh of relief. The iPhone Ultra won't lack an important charging feature: MagSafe.

This week: You can get your money back if you’re annoyed with Siri, Apple reportedly DOUBLES its orders on the MacBook Neo (while practically discontinuing the Mac mini), and how Apple will win the AI war.

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

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The Cult of Mac Today and Weekender newsletters. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Sign up at newsletters.cultofmac.com.

Links:

• Apple settlement will pay out $250 million over delayed Siri AI — see if you qualify
  • The Apple settlement over delayed Siri AI totals a whopping $250 million. Here's how to claim your little piece of that pie.
  • From 2023: Get your fair share of Facebook’s $725 million privacy payout
• How Apple solved the MacBook Neo shortage
  • MacBook Neo demand is "off the charts," says Apple. Apple won't let itself run out of inventory, but a price hike might be coming.
  • Mac Studio loses its craziest memory option
• The best time to buy a Mac is right now
  • A global memory shortage could make Macs harder to get, and pricier, than before. You should consider buying now to save money.
• How Apple will win the AI war
  • Apple's AI strategy might be summed up with "Don't beat 'em, join 'em." Here's how iPhone and Mac users will benefit.
  • Study: AI Assistance Reduces Persistence and Hurts Independent Performance
  • Study: Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task
  • Electrek: Tesla’s own Robotaxi data confirms crash rate 3x worse than humans even with monitor
• YOSUDA RM2 Magnetic Rowing Machine
  • This is a pretty basic rowing machine, but it’s also pretty cheap, so you can’t really complain.

This week: The Vision Pro may be dead for good, iPhone bezels may be dead for good, Apple Intelligence features may be revived, and how long the MacBook Neo may last.

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

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The Cult of Mac Today and Weekender newsletters. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Sign up at newsletters.cultofmac.com.

Links:

• Apple may have pulled the plug on Vision Pro
  • Apple has reportedly halted work on the Vision Pro AR headset, shifting focus to smart glasses. Here's why.
• 20th anniversary iPhone could say goodbye to bezels
  • The 20th anniversary iPhone could include an all-screen design without bezels.
• Apple bets on AI to reinvent iPhone photo editing in iOS 27
  • iOS 27 could use AI to make your photographs look better after you take them. It might be a highlight of the iPhone operating system upgrade.
• iOS 27 could add Siri camera mode and expanded visual AI
  • Apple adding Siri camera mode and expanded Visual Intelligence should make AI feel core to iPhone with iOS 27.
• Listener Question
  • How long will a MacBook Neo last compared to an M5 MacBook Air?
• Review: FEIERDUN DB1 Quick Adjustable Dumbbell
  • This dumbbell set has adjustable weights between 5 and 52.5 lbs., for a little less money than others. That’s about all I’m qualified to say about it.

This week: Tons of details on features coming in iOS 27, the surprisingly exciting Apple Watch Series 12, how to make a Home Screen that doesn’t suck, and our weirdest product review yet.

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

Sponsors:

The Cult of Mac Today and Weekender newsletters. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Sign up at newsletters.cultofmac.com.

Links:

• Apple plans customizable Camera app and rebuilt Siri in iOS 27
  • Looks like iOS 27 will bring a fully customizable Camera app, a ground-up Siri rebuild and a slew of other changes.
  • macOS 27 will fix the worst part of Liquid Glass
• Apple Watch Series 12 might make upgrading hard to resist
  • After years of incremental upgrades, the Apple Watch Series 12 might bring meaningful upgrades like a faster chip and satellite connectivity.
• My top 3 tips for making an iPhone Home Screen that doesn’t suck
  • Creating a custom, minimalist iPhone Home Screen layout that works and looks better comes down to three easy tweaks.
• Listener Question
  • Will Mac OS X need to be replaced sometime soon?
• BCAN BT4 Soft Land Pro Adult Trampoline
  • It’s a pretty good personal workout trampoline… if you like torturous forms of working out.

This week, with special guest Niléane: Apple can’t shake its love of titanium, big upgrades in store for the Apple Watch Ultra 4, the first iOS 27 features officially announced, a lightweight alternative to Spotlight, and our favorite web browsers!

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com

Sponsors:

The Cult of Mac Today and Weekender newsletters. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Sign up at newsletters.cultofmac.com.

Links:

• Apple’s titanium iPhone experiment might not be over just yet
  • Bye-bye, aluminum? Apple is reportedly working on a special titanium alloy that could let iPhones run cooler.
• Apple Watch Ultra 4 might add better hypertension alerts
  • Apple is also said to be working on a major design and sensor upgrades.
  • Apple hardware chief reshuffles product design leadership
• Apple Intelligence supercharges suite of accessibility features
  • Apple Intelligence will soon power updated accessibility features including VoiceOver, Magnifier, Voice Control and Accessibility Reader.
  • How to file Apple bug reports
• TinyStart: A tiny launcher for macOS, fast and focused on the essentials
  • TinyStart displays search results instantly on every keystroke.
  • Add your frequently used URLs for quick access.
  • TinyStart allows you to save only your favorite folders and open them quickly.
  • TinyStart's emoji picker is fast, lets you insert emoji in any text field, and learns your favorites over time.
• Listener Question
  • If you use a lot of Google apps on the web, is Safari really the best browser?
  • Matt Birchler: Everyone says Chrome devastates Mac battery life, but does it?