CultCast #341 - The SAD state of the Mac

This week:

• It’s been over a year since Apple has updated virtually any of their Macs.  Just what in the heck in going on?  
• Why all your online purchases will soon be taxed
• Instagram takes on YouTube with new IGTV app
• MoviePass is about to change for the worse.  AGAIN.
• America’s largest theater chain just put the final nails in the MoviePass coffin
• And things get weird in an all-new what we’re into!

  This episode supported by   A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters… go to LinkedIn.com/cultcast and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.   Whether you’re looking to learn something new or just sharpen your skills, Udemy has over 65,000 courses starting at just 11.99. Visit Ude.my/CULTCASTor download the Udemy app to learn anytime, anywhere.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone X, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   Print postage from your office and take advantage of special shipping discounts at pb.com/cultcast, and beat the postage rate increase with exclusive discounts on letters.  Plans start at just $5 a month!   Thanks to Kevin McLeodfor the music you hear on today’s episode.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r   Supreme Court Kills Quill, Gives States More Authority To Collect Sales Tax https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2018/06/21/supreme-court-kills-quill-gives-states-more-authority-to-collect-sales-tax/#5259f8dc3994

• It’s a sad day for US.  It’s the end of an era.  The end of tax-free shopping online.  
• In 1992 the supreme court that a state couldn’t force an online retailer to collect sales tax for them if the retailer didn’t have a physical presence in that state.  
• Today, they reversed that decision
• What does that mean?
• Well, it means that you state will undoubtedly begin forcing online retailers to charge you sales tax on all your online orders.  
• If you have a big purchase to make, I’d do it this summer.  

  On The Sad State of Macintosh Hardware https://weblog.rogueamoeba.com/2018/06/14/on-the-sad-state-of-macintosh-hardware/

• Rogue Amoeba developer Quentin Carnicelli posted this week on the company’s blog about his frustration with Apple’s continued neglect of the Mac.
• "At the time of the writing, with the exception of the $5,000 iMac Pro, no Macintosh has been updated at all in the past year.”

  Instagram takes on YouTube with new IGTV app https://www.cultofmac.com/556779/instagram-launches-igtv/

• The photo-sharing social network revealed its new standalone app today called IGTV that’s dedicated to long-form video.
• IGTV was revealed at an event today this morning where the company also shared that it now has 1 billion monthly active users.

  MoviePass is going to introduce surge pricing on popular movies by July http://www.businessinsider.com/moviepass-is-going-to-launch-surge-pricing-by-july-imax-and-3d-later-2018-6

• By the end of the summer, you'll see some major changes to your MoviePass subscription — and you're not going to like them all.
• MoviePass told Business Insider that by August members of the service would be able to add a friend when buying tickets through the app and would have the option, at an added price, to order tickets to Imax and Real 3D movies.
• The first change to the service will happen in the coming weeks, when MoviePass will start charging members what CEO Mitch Lowe calls "high demand" pricing.
• CEO Mitch Lowe: "At certain times for certain films — on opening weekend — there could be an additional charge for films"
• The added charge will start at $2 for titles the app deems very popular with MoviePass subscribers

  AMC is launching a MoviePass-like subscription service https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/20/17482918/amc-subscription-moviepass-stubs-a-list

• The largest theater chain in America has announced that it will now offer a subscription service that allows patrons to watch up to three movies a week for $19.95 a month.
• Called AMC Stubs A-List the online and smartphone-based subscription will allow members to watch multiple movies a day and let you see movies more than once.
• There will be no online ticketing fees, and it will offer a discount on food and drinks at the concession stand. Plus Stubs A-List will be redeemable toward formats like IMAX and 3D and will also include special AMC locations such as Dine-Ins.
• The service will allow you to make up to three movie reservations at once in advance without having to physically be at the theater