The CultCast

We pit movie against movie and argue which one's best while compiling out top 100 list.

This week we’re talking about what’s in store for the next iPad Pro, when to expect the HomePod with a screen, the RETURN of upgradable Mac storage… and the Touch Bar? Also, an all-new Under Review! This episode supported by: Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com CultCloth will keep your Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPhone 15 Pro, guitars, glasses and lenses sparkling clean! For a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a two free CarryCloths with any order $20+ at CultCloth.co Notion AI can now give you instant answers to your questions, using information from across your wiki, projects, docs and meeting notes. Go to notion.com/cultcast to try the powerful Notion AI today. 1Password Extended Access Management solves the problems traditional IAM and MDM can’t. It’s security for the way we work today. Check it out at 1password.com/cultcast This week’s stories: Apple’s next iPad Pro upgrade to arrive in second half of 2025 The next big iPad Pro refresh will arrive in the second half of 2025 at the earliest, according to a new report. The upgraded M5 iPad Pro reportedly will be the first product to use the next-gen Apple silicon chip. HomePod with a large display is still on the way The HomePod with a built-in 6- to 7-inch display that’s been the subject of previous rumors will launch after Apple’s developer conference in June, according to a report on Wednesday from a reliable source. Upgrading your Mac Studio storage becomes possible The French company Polysoft reverse engineered Apple’s proprietary NVMe SSDs for the Mac Studio and put them on the market at prices well below Apple’s. Apple’s Touch Bar resurrected as Flexbar, a standalone USB-C OLED strip Flexbar, developed by Hong Kong startup Eniac Technology, reimagines the controversial MacBook Pro feature as a standalone accessory that promises to deliver on the Touch Bar’s original potential. Under Review: Carpod Go T3 The Carpod Go T3 is a convenient way to add a wireless CarPlay tablet to your car — with a responsive 8.9-inch 700 nit display.

This week, the real REAL good Siri could be… 18 months away? Also, we’re talking about the radical new look for the iPhone 17 lineup and an exciting new Under Review! This episode supported by: Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com CultCloth will keep your Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPhone 15 Pro, guitars, glasses and lenses sparkling clean! For a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a two free CarryCloths with any order $20+ at CultCloth.co 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. This week’s stories: Deals: AirPods Pro 2 for $153.99 Disney+ and Hulu with ads for $2.99/mo for the first year iOS 19 could debut a more conversational LLM Siri Apple plans to further improve Siri with iOS 19 in 2025 by using advanced next-generation large language models (LLMs). Apple reportedly delays key iOS 19 features until spring 2026 Mark Gurman's sources say “a larger-than-usual number of features” of iOS 19 will be delayed from its initial launch in September 2025 to iOS 19.4’s release in spring 2026. iPhone 17 Air’s slim design could prioritize thinness over features Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Air could be even thinner than initially rumored. Apple’s 2025 iPhone 17 Pro could feature major design changes Apple plans to make “significant design changes” with the iPhone 17 Pro series next year, according to The Information. Apple unlikely to launch AirPods Max 2 anytime soon Apple is not planning any major upgrades to AirPods Max anytime soon. The company plans to keep the headphones around in its current iteration for the “foreseeable future.” Under Review: Get Studio Display specs without paying Apple prices Asus’ new ProArt 5K desktop monitor costs just half of what you’ll pay for Apple’s Studio Display but offers many of the same features. YouTube video

This week: New details on the super slim iPhone 17, what’s coming next for AirTags 2, a hidden MacBook Pro feature Apple didn’t mention — and our hands-on with Image Playground! This episode supported by: Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com Notion AI can now give you instant answers to your questions, using information from across your wiki, projects, docs and meeting notes. Go to notion.com/cultcast to try the powerful Notion AI today. 1Password Extended Access Management solves the problems traditional IAM and MDM can’t. It’s security for the way we work today. Check it out at 1password.com/cultcast This week’s stories: iPhone 17 Air could be Apple’s slimmest iPhone ever The rumored iPhone 17 Air might measure just 6mm thick, making it the slimmest iPhone ever. AirTag 2 reportedly launching in mid-2025 with better range Apple’s first AirTag upgrade is another step closer to launch, with the tracking tags reportedly progressing to “manufacturing tests.” Surprise! M4 MacBook Pro includes quantum dot display The latest MacBook Pro screen reportedly includes a quantum dot film. The result is a better-looking display in the new Mac notebook. Why Apple should start selling Mac mini SSD storage upgrades In a surprise move, the M4 Mac mini includes a removable, swappable SSD. Hands-on with Image Playground, Visual Intelligence and ChatGPT in iOS 18.2 iOS 18.2 will bring exciting new Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground, Genmoji, Visual Intelligence and ChatGPT integration. YouTube video Bloomberg: Apple considering another run at an actual TV If Apple’s smart display on, it will help set the stage for more home devices. It may even revisit the idea of making an Apple-branded TV set, something it’s evaluating.