Upgrade - podcast cover

Upgrade

Relaywww.relay.fm
Upgrade looks at how technology shapes our lives, from the devices in our hands and pockets to the streaming services that keep us entertained. Hosted by Jason Snell and Myke Hurley.

Episodes

109: YouTube Killed the Podcast Star

This week Myke starts a YouTube channel, Jason raises his hopes for new Macs in October, and we praise the new features of Messages while quibbling with the usability of its interface.

Oct 03, 20161 hr 19 minEp. 109

108: It's a Great Feature When It Works

The beta version of the iPhone 7 Plus’s Portrait mode is here, and Jason and Myke both took it for a spin. Then Jason recounts his favorite and least favorite features of macOS Sierra, and Myke explains why—despite the name of this show—he’s not going to upgrade.

Sep 26, 20162 hr 41 minEp. 108

107: The Upgrade Programme

Myke and Jason have taken delivery of new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus models, so it’s time to detail the experience of buying, upgrading, restoring, and using the latest iPhone models.

Sep 19, 20162 hr 48 minEp. 107

106: I've Reached Acceptance

Live from Portland, Jason and Myke are joined by Stephen Hackett to cover a lot of follow-up from last week's Apple announcements. Myke reveals which iPhone 7 he's buying and considers how his technology and methods will need to change when he travels with it. Jason gives more details about how AirPods work. Finally, we talk a little bit about the impending release of iOS 10.

Sep 11, 20161 hr 27 minEp. 106

105: The Illusion of Clicking

Jason returns from the Apple Sept. 7 media event and is immediately questioned by Myke about the new iPhone 7, Apple Watch series 2, EarPods and AirPods, and all the other announcements.

Sep 07, 20162 hr 52 minEp. 105

104: I Really Do Want to Win

An Apple event is happening next week! So it’s time for Jason and Myke to make their predictions for the announcements in the most competitive way possible—by drafting the top 20 announcements they think we’ll see.

Aug 29, 20161 hr 9 minEp. 104

103: Significant Figures

Special guest Merlin Mann joins Jason to talk about reviews, ratings, Rotten Tomatoes, mice, thumbs up and thumbs down, using numbers to quantify the unquantifiable, when it's appropriate to show grown-up media to kids, and a whole lot more.

Aug 22, 20162 hr 41 minEp. 103

102: Cautionary Tale of Laptops

This week's episode was recorded with Jason and Myke in the same room! Before they high five, they discuss iPad keyboards, MacBook Pro upgrades, Castro 2 and podcast innovation, and Tim Cook getting chatty with the press.

Aug 16, 20162 hr 42 minEp. 102

101: It Works Great in California

This week we discuss Fast Company’s visit to the Apple cafeteria, Mark Gurman’s reappearance as an Apple rumor expert, and Recode’s Apple TV guide rumors, plus Myke reviews the new version of Pocket Casts.

Aug 08, 20162 hr 44 minEp. 101

100: The Least Less

In our hundredth episode, Jason and Myke break down Apple’s quarterly results, ponder its TV strategy, and Myke reluctantly views one of Jason’s favorite movies for an all-new Myke at the Movies.

Aug 01, 20162 hr 49 minEp. 100

99: Disciplined Cash Machine

Scrivener for iOS and a new mechanical keyboard for iPad arrived at Jason’s house this week. We discuss using a specialized writing tool for longform work and the challenges of building an iPad keyboard that doesn’t turn the iPad into a laptop. Plus we recap the latest trailers from Comic-Con.

Jul 25, 20161 hr 26 minEp. 99

98: Accidental Comics Podcast 🤓

In celebration of World Emoji Day and Comic-Con, Jason and Myke discuss how we use emojis and why they’re a valuable addition to online dialogue, and then break down the best options for digital comic-book reading. Plus there’s a whole lot of follow-up and plenty of #askupgrade.

Jul 18, 20161 hr 24 minEp. 98

97: We Used Our Power For Pizza

Listeners suggest naming schemes for Myke’s devices, Jason and Myke adapt to Apple’s new public betas, we discuss the future of iPad software updates, and Jason gets frustrated by the lack of updates to iCloud Family Sharing.

Jul 11, 20161 hr 21 minEp. 97

96: Two Ports is One More Port than One Port

In this episode there’s a bunch of headphone-jack followup, then we discuss Apple’s relationships with Spotify and Tidal, before Myke asks Jason about his own independence on Independence Day.

Jul 04, 20162 hr 31 minEp. 96

95: Don't Bring the Pain without the Benefit

Apple ditches the Thunderbolt Display, Jason takes macOS Sierra for a spin, and we debate the merits of Apple removing old technology from its products.

Jun 27, 20162 hr 33 minEp. 95

94: Users Use Computers

Jason and Myke are back in their usual offices this week, and they discuss their feelings about watchOS 3, the lack of Apple hardware announcements, and what the buzz was during WWDC week.

Jun 20, 20161 hr 18 minEp. 94

93: The Emoji Judgers

Straight out of the WWDC keynote, Jason joins Myke live to talk about watchOS 3, tvOS 10, macOS Sierra, iOS 10, Apple Music and Messages.

Jun 13, 20161 hr 25 minEp. 93

92: WWDC 2016 Draft

Jason and Myke predict the contents of WWDC 2016 in the first annual Upgrade Keynote Draft. How many of our picks are based on deep knowledge of the industry, and how many are wish fulfillment? Next week will tell the tale.

Jun 07, 20162 hr 40 minEp. 92

91: iMac Special

In this special holiday episode, Stephen Hackett joins Myke and Jason to discuss the product that changed Apple's fortunes: the original iMac.

May 30, 20161 hr 27 minEp. 91

90: Nobody Should be a Siri Power User

This week Jason and Myke discuss the future of Siri on the Mac and elsewhere, and ponder Apple's new Apple Store design. Plus we've got some talk about Google I/O and final (for now) thoughts about the business of podcasting.

May 23, 20162 hr 30 minEp. 90

89: Can We Use a Tracking Pixel?

By popular demand, Jason and Myke talk a bit more about the business of podcasting, as they’re joined by podcaster and podcast ad sales executive Lex Friedman. We also analyze Apple’s investment in a Chinese ride-sharing service and what that means for the company’s future directions.

May 16, 20161 hr 23 minEp. 89

88: Happy Apple Watch Users

A year later, Jason and Myke are still using their Apple Watches. Amid high-profile users abandoning Apple’s new wearable, why do we still enjoy it? Where does the platform need to go to grow and become more successful? Also, we rage a little bit about a New York Times story about attempts by high-profile podcasters to change the way the industry works.

May 09, 20161 hr 22 minEp. 88

87: Unchartable Tidbits

Jason and Myke are joined by follow-up guest Scott McNulty to review the Kindle Oasis (including its Kindle hump), then switch gears to break down the complexities of Apple’s quarterly results, Dropbox’s infinite solution to an old conundrum, and Jason’s review of USB audio interfaces.

May 02, 20162 hr 37 minEp. 87

86: The Cloud With the Question Mark

Myke’s back just in time to discuss the minor changes to the new MacBook and attempt to figure out why the Apple Car might exist.

Apr 25, 20161 hr 20 minEp. 86

85: Talk to this Cylinder

With Myke away, Scott McNulty and Dan Moren join Jason to talk about two different Amazon hardware products, Kindle and Echo.

Apr 18, 20161 hr 22 minEp. 85

84: Peek it, But Don't Pop it!

Jason and Myke discuss the 9.7-inch iPad Pro's True Tone display and the trouble with 3D Touch.

Apr 11, 20161 hr 23 minEp. 84

83: I Love Infuriating You

Jason tried out the shrunken-down Smart Keyboard for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and you'll never believe what happened next! Myke returns from vacation just in time to break down Jason's reviews of Apple’s latest products and provide an Apple Watch band review of his own.

Apr 04, 20161 hr 21 minEp. 83

82: Baby Pro

Extra special guest star Serenity Caldwell joins Jason to talk about the new iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, the drowning of a MacBook Air, and much more.

Mar 28, 20161 hr 26 minEp. 82

81: Live From Interstate 280

Myke catches up with Jason fresh from Apple’s March 21 event in Cupertino and keeps him company on his long drive home up Interstate 280. From the new smaller iPad Pro to the interesting iPhone SE, we break down everything Apple announced—and some things it didn’t!

Mar 21, 20162 hr 45 minEp. 81

80: I Can Hear Your Future Screams

Myke is back to defend the iPad as a TV, before he and Jason discuss the expectations of Apple's March 21st event, and why @AppleSupport exists. They go on to talk about why Oculus is unlikely to ever come to the Mac, and address some more thoughts about Firewatch.

Mar 14, 20162 hr 33 minEp. 80