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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.
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Episodes

420: I Don't Want Your Jolly Ranchers

What bothers Jason more, bad candy or App Store ads? Tough call. We also discuss some possible iPhone price hikes, Jason's HomeKit (sort of) cameras, a return to macOS Ventura, and the pronunciation of Apple silicon.

Aug 15, 20221 hr 33 minEp. 420

419: Modemtown

Thanks to the M2 MacBook Air, Myke has decided to live a two-laptop lifestyle. We ponder the rumored delay of iPadOS 16, whether it's a good or bad thing, and what form a new iPad Pro might take.

Aug 08, 20221 hr 21 minEp. 419

418: Cocktail of Headwinds

This week Jason and Myke take a closer look at Apple's weird quarterly results, which reassured Wall Street while not being altogether reassuring. Then automotive expert Sam Abuelsamid joins Jason to talk about what Apple's WWDC 2022 announcement of a new integrated CarPlay might actually mean if and when it arrives late next year.

Aug 01, 20221 hr 32 minEp. 418

417: The Verticals

In this special Summer of Fun episode, Jason and Myke welcome three special guests to discuss how development, accessibility, and widgets have been affected by Apple's latest operating-system cycle.

Jul 25, 20221 hr 53 minEp. 417

416: Shout-out to Bridget Knight

Myke and Jason both have new M2 MacBook Airs, so it's time for our full review. Jason opens the Stocks app for the first time in ages. Jony Ive's long fade-out from Apple is completed. And in honor of World Emoji Day, we select our favorite emojis in seven categories.

Jul 18, 20221 hr 29 minEp. 416

415: My Body Is My Studio, My Exercises Are My Canvas

Apple's iOS, macOS, and iPadOS betas have gone public and we have our first impressions! Also, the M2 MacBook Air has gone on sale, the new "extreme sports" Apple Watch is coming into focus, and for the Summer of Fun we're drafting favorite app icons.

Jul 11, 20221 hr 46 minEp. 415

414: The Meat Seems Questionable

This July 4 Jason spends some time away from the grill to discuss charity shops, stroopwafels, and the differences between the U.S. and the UK. Meanwhile, Myke has been inspired to build his own iPad-based status board. Vive la différence, as they say in yet another country.

Jul 04, 20221 hr 50 minEp. 414

413: Tall Is Small

For the Summer of Fun, Jason and Myke compare their iPhones--one's Max, one's Mini, but which one has the most apps and which one has the most photos? Also, Mark Gurman's got our next 75 episodes plotted out thanks to his detailed dump of future Apple product announcements, Jason is unenthusiastic about the M2 MacBook Pro, and Justin did it.

Jun 27, 20221 hr 32 minEp. 413

412: Justin, Don't Do It

This week we consider Stage Manager and how it works, as well as how Apple has chosen to communicate its decision-making. Also, Apple makes a surprising deal with Major League Soccer, Myke decides that an iPad Studio and MacBook Studio sound like great new products, and we dare to ask the question: what if they made a laptop entirely out of legacy nodes?

Jun 21, 20221 hr 20 minEp. 412

411: 180% Different for Me

It's the aftermath of a WWDC like no other, so in this very special episode Myke and Jason kick off the Summer of Fun with an episode recorded live in the California sun. The breeze is blowing, the questions about the M2 processor and Stage Manager are flowing, and we're trying to get our heads around what last week's announcements mean for the future of Apple's platforms.

Jun 12, 20221 hr 57 minEp. 411

410: Apple Park Vibe Check

Live from Apple Park, Jason has a first-hand report from the WWDC Keynote. (Myke was nearby, but that’s a whole other story.) Together they discuss groundbreaking iPad news, the new M2 Macbook Air, some familiar iPhone lock screen customization features, and a whole lot more.

Jun 07, 20221 hr 47 minEp. 410

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, 20221 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, 20221 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, 20221 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, 20221 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, 20221 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, 20221 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, 20221 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, 20221 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, 20221 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, 20221 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, 20221 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, 20221 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, 20221 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, 20221 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
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