Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

OK, so I’d heard the rumor that Apple is going to split this fall’s iPhone 18 launch into two phases. I’m sure you did, too.

First will be the pro iPhones in the fall, followed by the regular models next spring.

So far, so good. But I didn’t give a lot of thought as to the why.

Apart from adding new models, Apple hasn’t changed up iPhone launches very much in almost 20 years. Why now?

And there’s the rub: The growing lineup. As the number of models multiplies, there are several knock-on effects.

Cult of Mac writer Ed Hardy did give it some thought — and it’s surprisingly interesting!

Also in today’s newsletter:

I don’t have a fancy EV or, in fact, any car with an app. But here’s why I’m pretty excited about Siri AI’s new ability to connect to car apps.
And here’s another great Siri AI capability — it’s only about a decade late!
🔥 DEAL OF THE DAY: Anker just launched its big summer sale on Amazon, and boy, I could spend a fortune on this stuff. Some standouts include a beefy Solix home power station for 50% off, and this great but (normally pricey) 3-in-1 charging station. #affiliate
I love portable Bluetooth speakers but there are so many to choose from. This new one from two of the biggest names in speakers — Fender and Teufel — ticks a lot of boxes. As our hands-on review concludes: “The Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2 costs $99.99, but sounds like it should cost more.”

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

3 reasons why the iPhone 18 won't launch this fall

Expect September to bring the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max release date, but not the standard iPhone 18. Here's why.

Siri AI can now talk to your iPhone apps — starting with your car

Siri AI in iOS 27 beta 3 can now pull data from select third-party apps, hinting at a much bigger shift for Apple’s assistant.

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

Price drop: Unlock 20 top AIs for life for less than $60

Whether creating content or testing how different AIs handle prompts, ChatPlayground AI makes it easy and affordable to get the best results.

watchOS 27 finally lets Siri add time to your Apple Watch timer

Siri on Apple Watch can finally add time to a running timer in watchOS 27. Hurray, cooking just got easier!

Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs begins his path back to the top

On July 8, 1997, Steve Jobs embarked on an effort to reshape Apple into a success after former CEO Gil Amelio departed the company.

Fender and Teufel teamed up to make this awesome Bluetooth speaker [Review]

Discover the impressive sound quality of the Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2 portable Bluetooth speaker, ideal for your next party.

Cult of Mac’s buyback program

We pay top dollar for used Apple gear

Sell your old iPhone, iPad, MacBook and more through Cult of Mac. Free shipping, fast payment!

^{A message from Lindy}

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Tweets of the day

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Wallpaper of the day

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One more thing ...

❝

We think the Mac will sell zillions, but we didn't build Mac for anybody else. We built it for ourselves. We were the group of people who were going to judge whether it was great or not. We weren't going to go out and do market research. We just wanted to build the best thing we could build.

— Steve Jobs, 1985.

Today’s poll

What's your favorite Bluetooth speaker brand?

Results from yesterday’s poll:

Best reader comments

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