The CultCast

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This week: Apple’s $600 MacBook Neo is absolutely breaking expectations—and maybe Apple’s own plans—as demand explodes and supply starts running thin. 
Plus, macOS just got a HUGE new feature you’ve probably never noticed, And Apple’s satellite tech is about to go next-level, with faster speeds, new capabilities, and features that could completely change how your iPhone works when you’re off the grid. 
Also: a surprise DaVinci Resolve update that could shake up photo editing, and new details on Apple’s upcoming smart glasses that feel straight out of sci-fi.
Sponsors
Clean My Mac
CleanMyMac is your ultimate solution for Mac control and care, notarized by Apple and meticulously crafted by MacPaw.  Try 7 days free and use my code CULTCAST for 20% off at clnmy.com/CULTCAST
Squarespace
If you’ve been thinking about building a website — or rebuilding one that hasn’t aged well — head to Squarespace.com/cultcast for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain with code CultCast at checkout.
CultCloth
Keep your gadgets, glasses, and more sparkling clean with CultCloth, premium grade cleaning cloths available only at CultCloth.co. 
Support the CultCast!
Fork over $5 a month, show papa ERF you care, at support.thecultcloth.com.
You can also go to unfork.thecultcast.com to unfork your support!
Stories
Apple's $599 MacBook Neo Sold Out Through April Amid Surging Demand
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/16/macbook-neo-demand-surging/

Microsoft Raises Prices for All Surface PCs, Making Them More Expensive Than Equivalent Macs
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/14/microsoft-surface-pc-price-hike/

Make Your MacBook Battery Last Longer With This Setting
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/macbook-charge-limit-setting-benefits/

Apple has four new iPhone satellite features rumored, here’s what’s coming
https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/16/apple-has-four-new-iphone-satellite-features-rumored-heres-whats-coming/

DaVinci Resolve 21 Adds Photo Editing and AI Search Tools
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/14/davinci-resolve-21-photo-editing-ai-search/

Apple Testing Four Smart Glasses Styles Made of High-End Materials
https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/16/apple-has-four-new-iphone-satellite-features-rumored-heres-whats-coming/

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This week: iPhones are officially in SPACE! 🚀… but it almost didn’t happen. We break down the wild story of how the iPhone barely made it onto a NASA mission and the insane approval process behind it. 
Plus: Apple’s cooking up something just as shocking—a folding “iPhone Ultra” that WILL cost over $2,000. 
Plus plus: Apple’s long-term iPhone strategy and the strange struggles of the iPhone Air. From Cupertino… to the Moon 🌕—this one’s a ride.
Sponsors
Squarespace
If you’ve been thinking about building a website — or rebuilding one that hasn’t aged well — head to Squarespace.com/cultcast for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain with code CultCast at checkout.
CultCloth
Keep your gadgets, glasses, and more sparkling clean with CultCloth, premium grade cleaning cloths available only at CultCloth.co. 
Support the CultCast!
Fork over $5 a month, show papa ERF you care, at support.thecultcloth.com.
You can also go to unfork.thecultcast.com to unfork your support!
Stories
Apple's Three-Year Plan to 'Reinvent' the iPhone is Underway
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/08/apple-three-year-plan-to-reinvent-iphone/

iPhone Ultra's Price Range Revealed
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/08/iphone-ultra-price-range-revealed/

Apple is Reportedly Facing a 'Massive Dilemma' With the MacBook Neo
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/07/macbook-neo-massive-dilemma/

Leaker: Apple Will Release iPhone Air 2 No Matter How Badly It May Sell
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/08/iphone-air-2-to-launch-no-matter-what/

Apple Had to Heavily Discount the iPhone Air to Sell It
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/09/iphone-air-needed-discount-to-sell/

How NASA approved the iPhone 17 Pro Max for the Artemis II space mission
https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/04/04/how-nasa-approved-the-iphone-17-pro-max-for-the-artemis-ii-space-mission

iPhone's iconic space photos
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/55187293546/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/55187189317/in/photostream/

Send us a text!
This week: We’re heading back to the Moon (with iPhones in tow!), Tim Cook might actually become Tim Cook™, and iOS 27 could finally fix autocorrect once and for all. 
Plus: Apple randomly drops the price of the XDR display, a must-know iPhone video trick you’ll actually use, and the unbelievable story of Apple employee #8, the man who never left. 
And to wrap it up — ERF relives his surreal Stand By Me live experience… the full story!

Sponsors
NordStellar
Most companies only act after a breach. Be the one that’s prepared. Defend your business with NordStellar. Unlock your 10% discount on NordStellar with the coupon code  cultcast-10-NORDSTELLAR at https://nordstellar.com/cultcast.
Squarespace
If you’ve been thinking about building a website — or rebuilding one that hasn’t aged well — head to Squarespace.com/cultcast for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain with code CultCast at checkout.
CultCloth
Keep your gadgets, glasses, and more sparkling clean with CultCloth, premium grade cleaning cloths available only at CultCloth.co. 
Support the CultCast!
Fork over $5 a month, show papa ERF you care, at support.thecultcloth.com.
You can also go to unfork.thecultcast.com to unfork your support!
Stories
Phones are going to the Moon on Artemis II
https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/04/02/iphones-are-going-to-the-moon-on-artemis-ii

Tim Cook Says iPhone Launch Was His Favorite Apple Moment in 50th Anniversary Interview
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/01/tim-cook-50th-anniversary-interview/

iOS 27 Rumored to Feature Keyboard Upgrade
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/01/ios-27-upgraded-keyboard-rumor/

Studio Display XDR without tilt-adjustable stand now costs less
https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/04/01/studio-display-xdr-without-tilt-adjustable-stand-now-costs-less

Stop Your iPhone Suppressing Background Audio in Videos
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/clearer-audio-zoomed-iphone-videos/

Apple employee #8 Chris Espinosa on working his whole life at one company
https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/02/apple-employee-8-chris-espinosa-on-working-his-whole-life-at-one-company/

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This week: 
💀 Apple just killed the Mac Pro—and it’s $700 wheels too!
🧠 WWDC 26 is official—Apple is about to unveil their AI master plans
🔊 We’re about to get new all new HomePods, yes, including the big ones
💸 Apple is throwing HUGE money at talent to stop them from leaving for OpenAI
📱 Let’s go through all the cool new features in iOS 26.4!

Sponsors
NordStellar
Most companies only act after a breach. Be the one that’s prepared. Defend your business with NordStellar. Unlock your 10% discount on NordStellar with the coupon code  cultcast-10-NORDSTELLAR at https://nordstellar.com/cultcast.
Squarespace
If you’ve been thinking about building a website — or rebuilding one that hasn’t aged well — head to Squarespace.com/cultcast for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain with code CultCast at checkout.
CultCloth
Keep your gadgets, glasses, and more sparkling clean with CultCloth, premium grade cleaning cloths available only at CultCloth.co. 
Support the CultCast!
Fork over $5 a month, show papa ERF you care, at support.thecultcloth.com.
You can also go to unfork.thecultcast.com to unfork your support!

This week's stories
Apple Confirms Mac Pro Is Dead, No Future Models Planned
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/26/apple-discontinues-mac-pro/

Apple's $700 Mac Pro Wheels Kit Discontinued Along With Mac Pro
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/26/mac-pro-wheels-kit-discontinued/

Apple Announces WWDC 2026 Will Take Place June 8 to 12
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/23/apple-announces-wwdc-2026-dates/

WWDC 2026 to Showcase Apple's 'AI Advancements'
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/23/wwdc-2026-ai-advancements/

New HomePod Expected Alongside Updated HomePod Mini and Apple TV
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/26/new-full-size-homepod-rumor/

Apple Plans to Let Rival AI Chatbots Integrate With Siri in iOS 27
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/26/apple-ios-27-siri-chatbot-integration/

iOS 26.4 Features: Everything New in iOS 26.4
https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-26-4-features/

Anthropic's Claude AI Can Now Use Your Mac While You're Away
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/24/claude-use-mac-remotely-iphone/

Send us a text!
This week: The MacBook Neo has a surprise no one’s talking about, the Studio Display XDR is seriously testing my willpower, and I break down what’s actually new (and not) with AirPods Max 2!
Sponsors
CleanMyMac is your ultimate solution for Mac control and care, notarized by Apple and meticulously crafted by MacPaw, a leading macOS & iOS software development company.  
Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use my code CULTCAST for 20% off at clnmy.com/CULTCAST
NordStellar
Most companies only act after a breach. Be the one that’s prepared. Defend your business with NordStellar. Unlock your 10% discount on NordStellar with the coupon code  cultcast-10-NORDSTELLAR at https://nordstellar.com/cultcast.
Squarespace
If you’ve been thinking about building a website — or rebuilding one that hasn’t aged well — head to Squarespace.com/cultcast for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain with code CultCast at checkout.
CultCloth
Keep your gadgets, glasses, and more sparkling clean with CultCloth, premium grade cleaning cloths available only at CultCloth.co. 
Support the CultCast!
Fork over $5 a month, show papa ERF you care, at support.thecultcloth.com.

This week's stories
iFixit Teardown: MacBook Neo Has Most Accessible Mac Battery in Over a Decade
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/13/ifixit-macbook-neo-teardown/

Apple Studio Display XDR Hands-On: Better Than the Pro Display XDR in Almost Every Way
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/17/studio-display-xdr-hands-on/

10 Audio Improvements in Apple's New AirPods Max 2
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/16/airpods-max-2-audio-improvements/

What Hasn't Changed With AirPods Max 2
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/16/what-hasnt-changed-with-airpods-max-2/

Apple Acquires Final Cut Pro Plugin Company MotionVFX
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/16/apple-acquires-motionvfx/

Tim Cook on iPhone's Future: 'There's So Much Left That We Can Do'
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/18/tim-cook-comments-on-iphone-future/

Tim Cook denies imminent retirement rumors, 'can't imagine life without Apple'
https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/03/17/tim-cook-denies-imminent-retirement-rumors-cant-imagine-life-without-apple