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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

409: The WWDC Keynote Draft 2022

It’s time for our seventh annual competition regarding what will happen at Apple's WWDC keynote! In a surprise development, Jason and Myke are attending in person--but beyond that, they're totally in the dark. Will it be inside or outside? Will it be live, or recorded? Will there be new hardware announced? It's time to let our imaginations run wild.

May 30, 20222 hr 37 minEp. 409

408: Upgrade VR

The much-rumored Apple AR/VR headset appears to be on the horizon, so Myke and Jason break down several reports about its development and debate what approach Apple should take. And as WWDC approaches, there are also rumblings about a new HomePod, Apple Watch design changes, and more Apple displays.

May 23, 20222 hr 38 minEp. 408

407: Inexplicable Billboards

Is Apple ready to embrace USB-C across its entire product line? Jason loves his Playdate, but is frustrated by Apple Music playing songs he dislikes. And the music may go on, but the iPod won't be coming along for the ride.

May 16, 20221 hr 29 minEp. 407

406: Are You Phishing Me Right Now?

An unlikely alliance of tech giants beckons us toward our passwordless future, but in the meantime there's a new version of 1Password. We also discuss Apple Car rumors, hope for the future of AirPods Max, our disassembly of a Magic Keyboard, and more!

May 09, 20221 hr 23 minEp. 406

405: Too Many Numbers

This week we check in on Studio Display firmware, ponder what form the iPhone 14 might take and whether it's different enough from the iPhone 13, and break down the results of Apple's record fiscal quarter--including some trepidation about the future. Also, Myke finally got his Playdate!

May 02, 20222 hr 43 minEp. 405

404: Convert Your Nostalgia to Money

Jason added a (working) Studio Display and a Playdate to his house last week, and Myke's a little upset. Also CNN+ died, Netflix went into crisis, and Apple kept making sports streaming deals. We also discuss the parking situation at Apple Park, accept the passing of the iPhone mini, and envision a new use for the HomePod name.

Apr 25, 20222 hr 32 minEp. 404

403: This Episode is Forbidden

This week we're imagining the right and wrong improvements for the Apple Watch, speculating about the first wave of M2 Macs, lamenting Apple's process for replacing a defective product, and buzzing (in a bad way) about CNN+.

Apr 18, 20221 hr 21 minEp. 403

402: Very Important Developers

Baseball season is here and Jason has a detailed critique of Apple's first Friday Night Baseball broadcasts. But it's not all home runs and calls to the bullpen, as Myke goes home to Dongletown and we ponder just what might be announced at WWDC 2022.

Apr 11, 20222 hr 33 minEp. 402

401: This App May Not Kill You

Myke takes possession of his Apple Studio Display, Jason gets excited about the arrival of Audio Hijack 4, and Apple revises its approach to allowing external links in iOS apps.

Apr 04, 20222 hr 42 minEp. 401

400: Draft of the Ages

It's episode 400! We evaluate the forward-looking predictions we made back in episode 300, and then draft stories we'll be talking about over the next hundred episodes! Also, an Apple TV+ movie won Best Picture and we round up an awful lot of Apple rumors.

Mar 28, 20222 hr 40 minEp. 400

399: The Mysteries of Thunderbolt

Jason's got the new Mac Studio and Studio Display and it's time for his complete review. We also discuss where the M2 chip might appear, and what the Mac will look like in 2023.

Mar 21, 20222 hr 38 minEp. 399

398: I Thought About the Ultra, Then I Laughed

John Siracusa joins Jason to talk about the Mythical Mid-Range Mac Minitower, the distortion of the iMac over time, the modular possibilities offered by the Apple Studio Display, and other fallout from last week's Apple announcements.

Mar 14, 20222 hr 54 minEp. 398

397: My Favorite Amount of Transistors

It's not every day that Apple introduces an entirely new Mac line. But on March 8, that's exactly what happened. Jason, Myke, and special guest Stephen Hackett discuss the new Mac Studio and Studio Display, along with the updated iPad Air and iPhone SE.

Mar 08, 20222 hr 41 minEp. 397

396: The 2022 March Event Draft

Our most speculative draft yet! Jason and Myke refuse to wait for Apple. Instead, they predict what will happen at Apple's next product launch--whenever it might happen. Will the M2 make its debut? Will there be an iPhone SE, and will it look any different? Are there other Mac and iPad offerings in the works? And most importantly, what fresh colors will be on offer for spring? We do our job--and now it's time for Apple to do its.

Feb 28, 20222 hr 35 minEp. 396

395: This App May Kill You

Jason imagines a future iOS App Store improved by sideloading, Myke gets back into reading digital comics, and both of them have a very strongly worded wish list involving the rumored big new iMac.

Feb 21, 20221 hr 13 minEp. 395

394: Historic Dongletown

This week Jason and Myke both revive some classic hardware that hits them right in the feels. Also, there's a confusing set of Apple event rumors, and Apple tries to address AirTag security concerns.

Feb 14, 20222 hr 38 minEp. 394

393: Nothing Is So Perfect™

It's time for our annual dive into the Six Colors Apple Report Card, as Jason and Myke interpret the scores and comments of several dozen Apple-watchers and add their own views on where the company is succeeding--and where it's not. Also discussed: future M2 Macs and the intricacies of Dutch dating.

Feb 07, 20222 hr 46 minEp. 393

392: The Whimsy Committee

Apple made a ton of money and released a ton of betas with new features. Face ID works with masks, Universal Control causes the soul of the Mac pointer to leave its body, the iPad relies on legacy nodes, the iPhone may take on Square, Dutch regulators are unsatisfied, and we tried to warn Spotify but it wouldn't listen.

Jan 31, 20222 hr 53 minEp. 392

391: They're Great Uphill

Myke and Jason discuss the mysteries of Apple's car project, and express confusion about Apple's 2022 product release schedule. And at last, France makes a big box-related move.

Jan 24, 20221 hr 22 minEp. 391

390: 🦓🦅🦜🐧

Apple's rumored VR headset might not ship until 2023, but will it be the best VR headset ever made? And if so, at what cost? Also, Apple seems to have a settled on a strategy for handling demands to open up payment processing and external web links, and we're frustrated by the decision. Following a silly Wall Street Journal article, Android's SVP got a little too angry about iMessage. Also, we take an unexpected dive into the Users & Groups preference pane.

Jan 17, 20222 hr 32 minEp. 390

389: I Have Extra Buttons

We discuss why it's useful to take time every once in a while to pull back and look at the big picture instead of getting bogged down in the day-to-day grind. Also, Jason built himself a tool to make his life easier, Apple may be gearing up for its next event, and listeners have lots of questions about Apple displays.

Jan 10, 20221 hr 26 minEp. 389

388: The Year of the Headset

We spend our first episode of 2022 discussing what we think Apple will do this year. Is it finally time for an Apple product you put on your face? Jason and Myke also discuss changes they're planning on making in their working lives for the new year.

Jan 03, 20222 hr 42 minEp. 388

387: The 2021 Upgradies

As the year comes to an end, it's time for the Eighth Annual Upgradies! Myke and Jason discuss their favorites of 2021, take the input of many Upgradians, and hand out awards in numerous categories! Only the finest will walk away with the most coveted of titles: Upgradies Winner.

Dec 27, 20212 hr 28 minEp. 387

386: The Tube Man Ecosystem

In this Upgrade Holiday Special, Jason and Myke answer the holiday-themed questions of Upgradians everywhere. Smart decorations, holiday wardrobes, the definition of fairy lights, monkey strategies, an eggnog recipe, and Santa's complex cloud-based organizational system are just some of the topics covered.

Dec 20, 20211 hr 27 minEp. 386

385: Millie Metre

Myke's back from vacation and he has a lot of follow-up for Jason about last week's show. We unveil the official Upgrade Draft championship pennant. Then we discuss the increasing reality of Apple's forthcoming headset and the company's complex relationship with China.

Dec 13, 20212 hr 33 minEp. 385

384: Don't Fear the Laser

With Myke on assignment, Dan Moren joins Jason to discuss the features Apple hasn't yet delivered in 2021 and its product lineup for 2022. Then Jason breaks down the new e-readers you could use to read one of Dan's novels.

Dec 06, 20212 hr 41 minEp. 384

383: Dongletown Hotel

Myke checks in from mid-vacation to discuss his visit with Jason, and shares some observations from his first extended travel in a couple of years. Then Jason takes a deep dive into his adventures Shortcuts on the Mac. And there's still time to discuss Mac AirPlay quirks and Apple lawsuits!

Nov 29, 20211 hr 23 minEp. 383

382: Hey Car, Stop

Apple's car project is back in the news, but is the company's ambition in this area unrealistic? Also: Qualcomm spoils Apple's modem move, Apple employees get a new date to return to work, and there's some good news about the repairability of Apple products.

Nov 22, 20211 hr 20 minEp. 382

381: Get Used to Disappointment

Apple's done releasing products for the year, but that hasn't stopped the company from revising a child-protection feature, trying to avoid letting developers add links to their apps, launching a new service targeted at small businesses, and welcoming a new Netflix game catalog to the App Store. If you like that sort of thing.

Nov 15, 20211 hr 14 minEp. 381

380: Hey Self, Don't Do It!

Now that the M1 Pro and M1 Max have arrived, we turn our attention to the future of Apple silicon in 2022 and beyond. Will there be new chips every year, or is that too rapid a pace? Also, we've spent another week with the new MacBook Pro, Google makes a daring legal move in Korea, and we take the long view on Apple's record fiscal year.

Nov 08, 20212 hr 30 minEp. 380