CultCast #285 - $1200 for iPhone 8!?

The CultCast - A podcast by America's favorite Apple Podcast - Fridays

Categories:

Technology

This week: 
  • Rumors point to a big iPhone 8 price hike.  What’s the max you would pay? 
  • Intel makes a huge move to push Thunderbolt into the mainstream
  • Ikea about to drop tons of great HomeKit gadgets on us
  • DJI’s Spark selfie drone is a compact powerhouse
  • And we’ll tell you about the weird and whacky gadgets we’re reviewing in an all-new Under Review!
 
This episode supported by
Blue Apron makes it easy to cook delicious meals at home.  See their upcoming menu and get your first three meals free at BlueApron.com/CultCast.
 
CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.
 
We also want to give Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com a  thanks for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
More evidence hints at massive iPhone 8 price hike
  • Rumors that the iPhone 8 may come with a $1,000 price tag are seemingly backed-up by a new report claiming that components for the next-gen handset will be considerably higher than those for its predecessor.
  • According to China’s Economic Daily News, the 3D Touch module alone for the iPhone 8 will cost 150 percent more than the comparable module for the current LCD iPhone.
  • As per a recent report from Goldman Sachs analyst Simona Jankowski, the 128GB iPhone 8 will sell for $999, while the 256GB version will set users back a whopping $1,099. This means that the iPhone 8 could represent a significant 25 percent price jump from the iPhone 7.
  • Include AirPods?
 
 
 
Intel will eliminate Thunderbolt royalties to boost adoption
  • Every manufacturer that uses it has to pay royalties to Intel, which means you typically find it exclusively in expensive, high-end machines.
  • Intel has confirmed plans to drop Thunderbolt royalties in an effort to boost adoption. The chip-maker also plans to integrate Thunderbolt 3 into its own processors starting next year, eliminating the need for a dedicated controller.
  • Thunderbolt has become the ultimate standard for connecting peripherals to your computer, thanks to its incredibly high bandwidth and versatility. Thunderbolt 3’s 40Gbps speeds let you transfer a full 4K movie in just 30 seconds.
  • USB 3 is only 10GBPS!
 
 
Control IKEA Home Smart products with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s Home app
  • During the summer and early fall, IKEA will be adding functionality to its smart lighting range by enabling people to voice control their lighting with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and to set up and adjust lighting using Apple’s Home app and Siri voice commands. This takes IKEA one step closer to making smart home technology accessible for the many.
 
DJI goes tiny with new easy-to-fly Spark drone
  • DJI unveiled the new Spark drone at an event in NYC this morning where the tiny flying camera impressed watchers with some innovative new features like the ability to be controlled without using a remote.
  • The Spark packs a 1/2.3” CMOS sensor that captures 12 megapixel photos and shoots stabilized HD 1080p videos so you can get super smooth shots. It also comes with new shooting modes you won’t find yet on the Mavic or Phantom 4: Pano and ShallowFocus.
  • Flight time on the Spark is around 16 minutes per battery with a range of 1.2 miles. Pricing for the basic kit starts at $499, or you can get the Fly More bundle with two batteries, extra propellers and prop guards and a carrying case for $699.
  • QuickShot Intelligent Flight Modes for taking cool selfie vids
  • QuickShot automatically captures a 10-second clip intended for social media sharing
Under Review!