Vision Pro CHAOS, sideloading is OFFICIAL + Apple Car is back on the menu! (CultCast #631)

The CultCast

This week: Vision Pro sells out in mere moments and its insane scalping prices, new Apple hardware coming this spring, and yes, the Apple Car is back on the menu! Plus: BREAKING NEWS on App Store sideloading and game streaming on iOS. What a week!

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This week’s stories:

Too late: Apple Vision Pro preorders sell out fast

• Seven months after its announcement at WWDC23, Apple started accepting preorders for its Vision Pro headset Friday morning — and quickly sold out. Shipping dates for the company’s first AR headset slipped within minutes of preorders opening.
• More Vision Pro headsets sold on launch weekend than you might expect
• 9to5Mac: Vision Pro scalpers used bots to place thousands of pre-orders; face check no barrier

Win a portable magnetic 3-in-1 wireless charger [Cult of Mac giveaway]

• Kuxiu X55 3-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger and Stand gives you a compact, lightweight way to keep your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods wireless charging case charged up pretty much anywhere.

New Apple sideloading rules require pre-approval for iPhone apps

• Apple gave EU developers the guidelines and access to the tools needed for sideloading — installing applications that don’t go through the App Store.
• iPhone App Store change allows streaming games and mini apps
• Apple will allow alternative browser defaults and engines in EU
• Apple opens iPhone tap-to-pay to third parties in EU

MacRumors: New iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air Models Likely to Launch in March or April

Finally, Apple car coming in 2028

• Apple still plans to put a car on the road, but the release date for the Apple car is sometime in 2028, according to a new report.
• And designers had to slam the brakes on hopes for full self driving. The electric vehicle will allegedly offer some driver-assistance capabilities but these will fall far short of full autonomy.