CultCast #334 - The Death of 3D Touch?

Analysts were wrong—iPhone X is a massive hit

The death of 3D Touch starts with 2018 iPhone

The world’s most famous Apple analyst may no longer be reporting on Apple

Apple’s AirPort router lineup is officially dead

And we pitch you our favorite shows, movies, and vodka in an all-new Under Review!

Apple introduced the AirPort lineup back in 2003 when it was starting to ride the high from the original iPod

Apple decided to finally put the nail in the coffin for its lineup of AirPort routers that haven’t been updated in years.

Statement: “We’re discontinuing the Apple AirPort base station products. They will be available through Apple.com, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers while supplies last.”

Apple blew analysts’ expectations out of the water this afternoon with its historic Q2 2018 earnings report that saw the company post the most revenue ever in the March quarter.

Tim Cook and Apple CFO Luca Maestri were giddy during Tuesday's call with investors. Everyone expected the iPhone X to be a bust, but even Apple was surprised by its success as it still dominates the iPhone sales charts.

A very reliable analyst predicts one of the iPhones coming in autumn won’t have this pressure-sensitive technology, and none of the 2019 devices will.

Ming-Chi Kuo says it’s all because Apple is changing the components of its displays to make them lighter and less likely to break.

The analyst says sources in Apple’s supply chain told him that the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone, expected this fall, will use a CGS (Cover Glass Sensor) process. This means the touch sensor will no longer integrated with the actual display, but will instead be part of the cover that protects the LCD underneath.

The CGS displays weigh less than the current ones, and are more shock-resistant, according to Kuo. But they also cost more. To save money, Apple is going to leave out the 3D Touch sensor.

The KGI analyst says all 2019 models will use the CGS process, even the OLED ones, and therefore they won’t have 3D Touch.

it seems that Kuo is moving on to greener pastures for a job with another firm. Unfortunately for Apple fans, this may mean focusing on non-Apple companies instead.

According to Kuo’s LinkedIn profile, he joined KGI in January 2012.

While Kuo is well known, he keeps a low profile and doesn’t do interviews. Very few pictures of him can be found online