Cult of Mac

Is it titanium time again?

This week, with special guest Niléane [https://nileane.fr/@nileane]: 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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xUdcdl7JbM] * Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com [sms: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 [https://newsletters.cultofmac.com/]. Links: * Apple’s titanium iPhone experiment might not be over just yet [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/apple-iphone-pro-titanium-alloy-rumor] * 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 [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/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 [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/apple-hardware-chief-reshuffles-product-design] * Apple Intelligence supercharges suite of accessibility features [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/apple-intelligence-powers-updated-accessibility-features] * Apple Intelligence will soon power updated accessibility features including VoiceOver, Magnifier, Voice Control and Accessibility Reader. * How to file Apple bug reports [https://www.cultofmac.com/how-to/apple-bug-report] * TinyStart: A tiny launcher for macOS, fast and focused on the essentials [https://tinystart.app/] * 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? [https://birchtree.me/blog/everyone-says-chrome-devastates-mac-battery-life-but-does-it-i-tested-for-36-hours-to-find-out/]

Huge leak of iOS 27 features!

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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyZdoqy7QDg] * Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com [sms: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 [https://newsletters.cultofmac.com/]. Links: * Apple plans customizable Camera app and rebuilt Siri in iOS 27 [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/ios-27-customizable-camera-app-and-rebuilt-siri] * 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 [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/macos27-fix-worst-part-liquid-glass] * Apple Watch Series 12 might make upgrading hard to resist [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/apple-watch-series-12-rumors] * 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 [https://www.cultofmac.com/how-to/minimalist-iphone-home-screen-layout] * 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 [https://www.fedfitness.com/products/soft-land-pro-adult-bungee-trampoline-with-adjustable-t-handlebar] * It’s a pretty good personal workout trampoline… if you like torturous forms of working out.

Get your $25 Siri refund!

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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHIhaz1uFA8] * Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com [sms: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 [https://newsletters.cultofmac.com/]. Links: * Apple settlement will pay out $250 million over delayed Siri AI — see if you qualify [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/apple-settlement-over-delayed-siri-ai] * 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 [https://www.cultofmac.com/how-to/claim-facebook-privacy-settlement] * How Apple solved the MacBook Neo shortage [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/macbook-neo-demand-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 [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/mac-studio-loses-craziest-memory-option] * The best time to buy a Mac is right now [https://www.cultofmac.com/buying-guides/best-time-to-buy-mac] * 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 [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/apple-ai-strategy] * 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 [https://ai-project-website.github.io/AI-assistance-reduces-persistence/] * Study: Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task [https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872] * Electrek: Tesla’s own Robotaxi data confirms crash rate 3x worse than humans even with monitor [https://electrek.co/2026/01/29/teslas-own-robotaxi-data-confirms-crash-rate-3x-worse-than-humans-even-with-monitor/] * YOSUDA RM2 Magnetic Rowing Machine [https://www.fedfitness.com/products/magnetic-rowing-machine-classic] * This is a pretty basic rowing machine, but it’s also pretty cheap, so you can’t really complain.

Is the Vision Pro dead for good?

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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve0L827lWqk] * Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com [sms: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 [https://newsletters.cultofmac.com/]. Links: * Apple may have pulled the plug on Vision Pro [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/vision-pro-cancelled-rumor] * 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 [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/20th-anniversary-iphone-rumors-no-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 [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/ios-27-ai-photo-editing] * 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 [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/apple-adding-siri-camera-mode] * 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 [https://www.fedfitness.com/products/quick-adjustable-dumbbell-52-5lbs] * 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.

Tim’s done, now it’s John’s Ternus

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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SUhzrD-xVw] * Send us a text with comments, questions, feedback or a video to play on the show: cultofmacpodcast@icloud.com [sms: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 [https://newsletters.cultofmac.com/]. Links: * Large Scale Systems Museum [https://www.mact.io/] * 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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer_System_Ten] * Cray EL90 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cray_EL90] * IBM System/390 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_System/390] * Apple Lisa [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Lisa] * BeBox [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BeBox] * Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO, John Ternus steps in [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/tim-cook-apple-ceo-john-ternus] * 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? [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/is-tim-cook-best-apple-ceo] * 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 [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/john-ternus-apple-ceo-management-style] * John Ternus as Apple CEO may change decision-making within the company, moving from consensus to decisiveness. * Macintosh LC 500 Series [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh_LC_500_series] * John Ternus promises Apple will ‘change the world once again’ [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/john-ternus-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 [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/iphone-18-pro-colors] * 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 [https://www.cultofmac.com/news/folding-iphone-rumors-magsafe] * Potential folding iPhone buyers can breathe a sigh of relief. The iPhone Ultra won't lack an important charging feature: MagSafe.