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.
The podcast Upgrade is created by Relay FM. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
We discuss how Apple is so influential that even its simplest moves can make or break companies and industries. Also: Apple plans a big Halloween week, and there's an immersive thriller coming to Vision Pro.
Jason and Myke break down Meta's preview of its Orion AR glasses project and what it says (or doesn't say) about the future of Apple's Vision product line. Also: An Apple Intelligence timeline, Masimo board intrigue, and a million-dollar celebration.
Jason and Myke share their first thoughts about the iPhone 16 Pro and Apple Watch Series 10, live and in person!
All of Apple's new operating systems are here, and we discuss our favorite new features--and acknowledge the elephant waiting in the wings. We also spend a little time celebrating the tenth birthday of both Upgrade and Six Colors.
From the iPhone 16 to the Apple Watch Series 10 to the AirPods 4 to the other AirPods 4, and with the release of Apple Intelligence hanging over it all, we break down the announcements from the September Apple Event.
Jason and Myke preview what will happen at next week's Apple event. What new features will the new iPhones have? How will the Apple Watch transform? How will Apple Intelligence be featured? To the winner goes the glory.
We bring the Summer of Fun to a close with our opinionated rating of 60 different Apple app icons.
Fortnite and Epic return to the (not your) iPhone, Apple opens up NFC and enacts new restrictions on Patreon, Spotify posts a link, and we discuss what is and is not a 'Tabletop Robot.'
This episode has a lot of layers, as we discuss the Olympics, the Google antitrust ruling, Apple's new EU fee plan, a tiny new Mac mini, macOS dialog disasters, and the tech world of a decade ago.
Myke has a mostly positive Apple Intelligence experience (except for Siri), Apple results make us consider the power of Services, and the Color Czar may be up to their old tricks.
Thanks to Lex Friedman for composing our jingles.
After recapping their excitement about the Relay 10 event in London, Jason and Myke discuss the arrival of Apple Intelligence in a surprising beta release and imagine some interesting new directions for the iPhone product line.
Jason and Myke interview the writers of "What If...? An Interactive Story" for Vision Pro about the challenges of writing something that's not quite a movie and not quite a video game for a brand-new platform. Also: hot dogs!
There's more news about Apple's battles with Epic and the EU, and Apple tightens its ties with OpenAI, but all of the controversy gets us thinking about what makes us stay excited about technology during difficult times.
After some feedback about the future of the Vision Pro, we discuss Apple's adventures in the EU, the inevitable fragmentation of Siri, and a curious new AirPods rumor.
Apple backs away from some financial services and changes its Vision hardware approach, and there's a new phase in the company's relationship with the EU. For the Summer of Fun, we look at our current iPhone home screens.
The Summer of Fun has arrived, but we've still got a lot of catch-up work to do after a huge WWDC. So this week we share more thoughts about Apple's new AI strategy and discuss a lot of the feedback we got about what happened last week.
Live from Cupertino, Jason has his in-person reactions to Apple's big WWDC announcements. And in London, Myke processes his feelings about some controversial Apple choices.
It's time for our ninth annual competition regarding what will happen at Apple's WWDC keynote! What will be announced? Will it be all AI, all the time? And a new wrinkle is added to the draft format!
It's time for a Vision Pro check-in. How are we using it, and how should Apple sell it? Also, some EU app marketplace developers just want to go home.
Myke returns to the show to give his personal iPad Pro review, and we discuss Apple's accessibility announcements, worrying Apple AI reports, and some mystifying rumors about future iPhones for this year and next.
The new iPad Pro is here, and Jason is joined by Federico Viticci to discuss the new model, Jason's review, and the limitations of iPadOS. Stephen Hackett also joins the show not to crush some creative dreams, but to answer your questions.
Federico Viticci and Stephen Hackett
Both Jason (New York) and Myke (London) have had their hands on the new iPads and are here to report back with all the details. We discuss M4 surprises, iPad Air choices, iPad Pro use cases, and save a little time to Lawyer Up.
We're trying to puzzle through some strange rumors about next week's iPad launch event. Also, the EU brings the iPad into the DMA party, Apple locks the Apple IDs of many people (including Myke!), and we shout out the OG Knowledge Navigator.
The world's foremost e-reader podcast returns, but we also take time to talk about the appeal of retro game emulators, iPad and iPhone rumors, and the possible end of Apple's leather replacement material.
Skepticism about the future of the Vision Pro and brutal reviews of the Humane Ai Pin make us discuss misguided expectations and the power of the smartphone duopoly. We also attempt to decode reports of new M4 Mac chips.
Casey Liss joins Myke to discuss Apple's new Spatial Personas for visionOS, and their thoughts on an immersive experience from... Gucci? Also, emulators are coming to the App Store, and Myke wants to check Casey's vibe.
We often cite anonymous reports about Apple's future, but where do those reports come from? We discuss of the value and ethics of Apple rumor coverage. Also, we've seen the latest Vision Pro immersive video and have strong opinions.
The U.S. Department of Justice joins the European Commission in contributing to Apple's legal troubles; and in a surprise, pre-emptive move, we attempt to predict the future of the iPad via a draft!
Is Apple working with Google on its A.I. strategy? We break down what that might mean for the future of Apple's platforms--and why it might make a lot of sense. And in Europe, Apple continues to alter its App Store rules.
We discuss Apple's latest embarrassing and unnecessary policy stumble in Europe, and then explain how Jason's full review of the M3 MacBook Air managed to kill his home network.
It's time to say goodbye to the M1 MacBook Air (hello, new M3 models!) and our Upshift segment (RIP Apple Car project), but our in-depth coverage of Apple being regulated and fined by the European Commission rolls on!
We discuss what an iOS release focused on AI features might look like, check in on our ongoing Vision Pro experiences, and discuss what the Apple Sports app might mean for Apple's sports ambitions.
Episode 500 prompts us to revisit predictions from episode 400 and make some new ones for episode 600. Myke also reveals his votes in the annual Six Colors Report Card and Jason adds some ratings of his own.
You can watch the video version of the episode if you like.
After some brief European DMA follow-up, we dive deep on our extended impressions of the Vision Pro and visionOS, including Jason's full review.
After a brief bit of DMA follow-up and a recap of Apple's quarterly financial results, the rest of the episode is all about our first few days with the Apple Vision Pro.
Just before launch, Jason has some second impressions of the Apple Vision Pro. But before the new-platform excitement starts, there's the matter of Apple's response to the EU and a complicated set of new iOS policies and features.
Celebrating 40 years of the Mac, we've gathered an all-star panel of longtime Mac users to pick the best Macs, Mac software, and Mac accessories, as well as induct a few events or devices into the Mac Hall of Shame.
Dan Moren, John Gruber, John Siracusa, Shelly Brisbin, and Stephen Hackett
Vision Pro orders are happening this Friday, with the product shipping in a few weeks. We break down Apple's announcement strategy and our reactions to the reactions to the news.
Jason and Myke are back just in time to miss the Vision Pro shipping news, but they've still got time to catch up on the news they missed and preview their expectations for the year to come.
Happy New Year! In this extra-special episode, Jason and Myke pick their favorite Upgradies winners of the past ten years in each Upgradies category.
Twitter was dead, to begin with. Five years later, we look at the Ghost Of Apple Future from a different perspective. There's also some Holiday Ask Upgrade. And who let that history podcast in here?
Then it was, as Myke and Jason began their preparations for the Christmas holiday, that they were visited by three ghosts, representing the spirit of Apple past, present, and future.
It's time for the 10th Annual Upgradies! Myke and Jason discuss their favorites of 2023, 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.
John Siracusa joins Jason to discuss Beeper, this week's Apple OS updates, next year's expected Apple hardware (including iPads, Macs, and Vision Pro), and the power of the defaults on macOS. Also: How to eat cereal.
Myke returns to the show to discuss chip packaging (in the U.S.A.) and the potential of AI models to make using a computer easier. Then, by request, we spend some time talking about how we got into this business.
James Thomson joins Jason to celebrate Cyber Monday, generate an Apple Buying Guide, grapple with subscription (and human) burnout, and explore spatial videos and the current state of visionOS development.
The possibilities that Apple will release a lower-cost MacBook, Apple's difficulties in building a 5G radio to rival Qualcomm, Apple attempts to appease the EU by adopting RCS, and all hell breaks loose with OpenAI.
Spatial videos on iPhone, 2024 iPad updates, the Apple Watch as a health device, Apple pausing iOS development to fix bugs, the potential of AI interfaces, and the meaning of the "pro" label.
Jason has reviewed the new M3 iMac and M3 MacBook Pro, and Myke asks him for all the details. We also discuss why the large-iMac era is at an end, and review Apple's recent quarterly financial results.
Jason got to spend some time with the new M3 iMac and MacBook Pro, and returns to spill the details! We delve into the differences between chips in the M3 family, the curious case of the new low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, and much more.
Apple has announced a "scary fast" new product announcement, and so Myke and Jason have convened an emergency session to draft what they think will happen at next Monday's mysterious event.
A single Apple Pencil announcement leads us to think existential thoughts about the iPad product line, and Jason had an idea about a new MacBook Pro in the shower.
Will Apple introduce new iPads this month? A new Apple Pencil? Nothing at all? We grapple with some conflicting rumors. Also, Jason gives up on the iPad-only lifestyle and reviews a supremely weird E-Ink device (that he actually kind of likes).
Jason contacted technical support.
As a very busy September turns over into October, we've got an episode packed with follow-up: Tim Cook takes another European vacation, the Vision Pro product roadmap recedes, Apple considers its search-engine strategy, and we review macOS Sonoma.
Live from Memphis in the aftermath of the Relay FM Podcastathon, Myke and Jason take delivery of new iPhones and Apple Watches. Also, General Motors continues its drive for Apple-like services revenue.
This week we're wading into follow-up from last week's Apple event. Then we say goodbye to beta season and list our favorite features of the newly shipped iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10.
Jason's back from Cupertino and it's time to break down everything he saw at the September 2023 Apple media event: The new titanium-framed iPhone 15 Pro, the pastel iPhone 15, the DoubleTap-enabled Apple Watch, and... green leaves for some but not others?
Jason and Myke preview what will happen at next week's Apple event. What new features will the new iPhones have? How will the Apple Watch transform? And which one of us will harness the heart of a champion, Lionel Messi style, and score the winning goal?
With a busy fall looming, Mac analyst Stephen Hackett joins the show to give Jason's computing setup a check-up. And some iPhone rumors suggest the Color Czar may be leaving a lump of Space Black coal in Myke's stocking this year.
The iMac turns 25, Relay turns 10 (next year in London), print magazines apparently still exist, and listeners have questions about why Apple would ever want to buy Disney.
For years, rumors about Apple and Disney combining seemed ridiculous--but in light of Apple's transformation and Disney's difficulties, suddenly it seems a lot more possible. Myke and Jason examine Disney's business and try to imagine what portions of it Apple would actually want. Also: What would be in an Apple Watch X?
Jason has the painful details about Apple's comeback bid for college football TV rights that fell just short of the goal line. We also discuss what Apple's rich-but-middling quarterly results say about the importance of this fall's iPhone launch.
This week we wonder if Apple will profess further mastery of the Periodic Table with this fall's iPhone Pro release, and if Lionel Messi will conquer the world with Apple's help. And for the Summer of Fun, Myke asks Jason about his writing process and tools.
Myke's summer is a lot less fun due to his concerns about a bill advancing in the UK Parliament that could potentially drive some Apple services out of the country. Also we try to understand just what's happening at Apple regarding AI products, and we have issues with services that push algorithmic timelines.
As the Public Betas arrive, there's breaking bad news for Mac Pro fans, Jason has an invitation for Tim Cook, and we explore our favorite Emoji.
We struggle to balance empathy with reality as we try to explain why the Mac Pro is the way that it is, and why that's unlikely to change. Also, the Summer of Fun ends up taking on the future of social media, and Myke asks Jason to talk him into installing the iOS beta.
This week we get to the bottom of the secrets of the mysterious Puzzle Society, Goldman Sachs can't make money on credit cards, Apple might be getting into college football, and there's a lot of weird follow-up. Typical Summer of Fun stuff!
Developers are getting their hands on (simulated) visionOS for the first time, and we speculate about how spatial apps might work. And for the Summer of Fun, we gauge our excitement level for various Apple-related product rumors.
Myke and Jason answer your questions about Vision Pro, catch up with some new beta details, saddle up for a new Rumor Roundup, process the Reddit debacle, and detail our summer plans.
Jason and Myke discuss their experiences using the Apple Vision Pro and what they're thinking about the product now that they've used it. Also there's a lot of WWDC follow-up, and Jason reviewed new Macs! And it's all coming to you live from Jason's garage.
WWDC 2023 has arrived and Jason and Myke react to the keynote announcements, live from a secluded location at Apple Park! Topics are just what you'd guess: Apple Vision Pro, new Mac hardware (!), and new OS features.
A video version is also available.
It's time for our eighth annual competition regarding what will happen at Apple's WWDC keynote! Jason and Myke will be there in person--but what will be announced? Is the Apple mixed-reality headset really going to happen? Will there be room for new Mac hardware? And what do we anticipate for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS?
With WWDC and our annual draft right around the corner, it's time to survey the final rumors about Apple's AR/VR headset, while also taking stock of some real accessibility developments due this fall. Also: Jason has gazed into the many faces of the Apple TV Quadbox, and Mimestream 1.0 has arrived.
Apple has finally announced Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad. What does this mean for the platform, what took so long, and is this the end of the story--or just the beginning? Also, the Wall Street Journal gets into the Apple Headset rumor business.
It's time to analyze Apple's financial results, including a focus on India and some substantial declines for the Mac and iPad. Myke reveals the existence of the Secret Myke Hurley Tip Line. And we dive deep into a conversation about how Apple's embrace of keeping things "on device" isn't necessarily enough to differentiate it from the likes of Google and Meta.
This week we react to rumors of future Apple health services and try to understand the difference between a service and a feature. Also, is Apple right to keep advanced AI out of Siri until it's trustworthy? And we celebrate the suggestion that watchOS might be getting a fresh new Widget-centric interface.
As rumor season kicks into high gear, we discuss Apple's potential new app, more reports about its VR headset, and some updates about forthcoming Mac hardware.
What's happening at WWDC? The rumors are... confusing. Also, Jason gets excited about watching four things at once, Myke tries to bring iOS 17 into focus, and we've got a book review of 'Make Something Wonderful' from the Steve Jobs Archive.
This week we're pondering future directions for watchOS complications and iOS Control Center, reacting to extremely early reports about future iPhone displays, and digesting Apple's slow build of alternative manufacturing capacities outside of China.
WWDC has been announced, but when will the Apple VR headset be ready to ship? Also, CarPlay gets the cold shoulder from General Motors, watchOS might be in for some major changes, and the iPhone could be getting its own action button.
With WWDC (presumably) a couple of months away, we take time to list some of our wishes for iOS 17. There's also a lot more noise about the forthcoming Apple VR headset, and the entertainment industry and Apple are having communication issues.
Is the iPad still the future of computing, or is it the Mac (again)? This week we're pondering Apple's dividing lines between the iPad Pro and the Mac, and wonder if each product is limiting the potential of the other. Also, is Apple planning on raising iPad Pro prices to new heights? We also consider Apple's moves to show fiscal responsibility without laying off a lot of people like the rest of the tech industry.
Did Apple's designers want the company to give up on its dreams of augmented reality and just wait it out for a few years? We ponder that baffling report and try to make sense of conflicting rumors about the arrival of the new MacBook Air. Then we get mellow about yellow, and Jason exposes his limited knowledge of classical music and his comprehensive knowledge of 1980s novelty pop hits.
Kia ora! Jason's back from vacation to discuss Apple's continued quest to optimize its iPhone product revenue and the reason why M3 Macs might be closer (and more interesting) than we thought.
Myke is joined by Casey Liss to discuss Mark Gurman's report on Apple's 'Moonshot' efforts. Also, what is that 'ComputeModule', how thick will the Pro Max camera bump be, and how does Casey fare in a brand new segment?
With Jason on vacation, Myke is joined by David Smith. They discuss a potential delay for Apple's headset and what that may mean for WWDC. Also, David's AI-powered podcast transcription website, and the introduction of 'Ask Underscore'.
Jason has released the 2022 Apple Report Card, and now it's time for him and Myke to once again share their grades for Apple for the year gone by. Also, Tim and Eddy go to the Super Bowl, and Apple gets a new Chief People Officer.
How you read Apple's financial results really depends on what you want to see in them. We break down the numbers, ponder the state of Apple's design group, and reconsider what Apple may or may not be folding in the near future.
This is the episode where our brains break as we try to process wild rumors of folding iPads and Siri-driven VR app development. Also, proving the raw interactive power of UpgradeFeedback.com, Myke hears from many listeners about why they choose to use the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Jason, meanwhile seems to hate plants.
Jason's spent most of the last week with an M2 Max MacBook Pro, so it's time for his full review. We also discuss the M2 Mac mini and the second-generation HomePod. This naturally leads into a discussion of Apple's future home products and what form the M3 processor might take.
Does the report that Apple may build a touchscreen Mac laptop mean that the futures of the Mac and iPad are about to converge--or is nothing much really going to change? Then Jason and Myke then pour one out for third-party Twitter apps. It was a good run.
As the new year begins, reports about Apple's forthcoming headset product arrive to confuse and perplex us. We also discuss a potentially quiet year for the rest of Apple's product line, the fundamental dignity of a circular pizza, and a handful of things we cared about at CES 2023.
It's a new year, and Jason has made his fearless predictions about what will happen in 2023! (Myke has questions.) We also consider the fate of the iPhone Plus, discuss Apple pausing its HomeKit architecture roll-out, and pour one out for Dark Sky.
As the year comes to an end, it's time for the Ninth Annual Upgradies! Myke and Jason discuss their favorites of 2022, 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.
It's the most wonderful time of the year, but the news doesn't stop! We discuss next year's Mac lineup, the end of Apple's NFL Sunday Ticket negotiations, and reports that Apple is planning to open up the iOS app ecosystem in response to new rules from the European Union. But before we're done, we also take a little time out to re-tell our Apple origin stories. Happy holidays to all Upgradians!
Myke has returned, and so have the Apple Car rumors. But before we try to figure those out, we've got to consider Apple's encryption announcements, Tim Cook's appearance at a chip factory in Arizona, and John Siracusa's appearance in our shared show document.
John Siracusa returns to the show to chat about Jason's recent visit to his house, Mac app development, Apple's brain drain, TSMC breaking ground in Arizona, the problems with AI training models, the current state of macOS, and what makes a Good Product.
John Gruber joins Jason on Upgrade for the first time. Topics include eWorld, Apple's iPhone production problems in China, FIFA and Qatar and the World Cup, the reasons behind Apple's sports ambitions, BBEdit, regular expressions, Perl and Python, MarsEdit, nanotexture displays, webcams, and the state of the art in ADB-to-USB adapters. Happy Cyber Monday to all those who celebrate!
There's some huge news from the world of streaming, as Disney switches bosses and Apple plans its next wave of sports-streaming products. Meanwhile, Myke's busy building out his smart home while Jason has been reminded of the fragility of smart-home networking.
Let's get real about the Apple VR headset. Is it really coming next year? What's it going to look like? What features should it have? What lessons can Apple learn from Meta's foray into VR products? We break it all down. Also, we've got home automation on our minds in various ways, as a smart switch fails Jason, Myke seeks advice, and it's beginning to look a lot like expensive fairy-light season.
The strong dollar is helping to drive up Apple's prices around the world, but is it teaching the company that high prices don't matter? Also, Apple downgrades our favorite tvOS feature, Apple gets into the TV ad game, and iPhone production grinds to a halt.
Apple and the Mac had another record quarter, but there are some serious questions about slowing growth in services and what it means for Apple's future strategies. This leads naturally into a discussion of Apple sticking ads all over the App Store and changing its App Store guidelines again. And Myke has taken Stage Manager for a spin on macOS Ventura.
Jason's got new reviews of macOS Ventura, the tenth-generation iPad, and the M2 iPad Pro. We discuss Stage Manager, System Settings, the Magic Keyboard Folio, and the curious pace and nature of iPad innovations.
This week we praise trackpad gestures, condemn Google's Matter strategy, ponder whether looks matter when it comes to VR headsets, and think big thoughts about the AirPods Pro 2. Then it's time for some final prognosticating about what products Apple might be introducing in the next few weeks.
What's in a name? Myke and Jason wrestle with what to call a rumored new Apple display and whether "laptop" is better than "notebook." Also, Matter is almost here to save us from our smart homes, the USB-C iPhone approaches, and Jason tries to keep mini magic alive.
It's pretty late in the game, but Stage Manager on iPadOS keeps changing--most lately adding support for older iPad Pros while temporarily dropping support for external displays. What's going on, and where does it go from here? Meanwhile, Apple execs take a European tour, allowing us to marvel at Eddy Cue's energy and wonder at the surprising company Tim keeps.
Jason reviews the iPhone 14, we speculate about how Apple could make an October Mac event worth having, Myke solves his iPhone migration problems, and we answer your Dynamic Island questions!
After reviewing the iPhone 14 Pro and discussing the pros and cons of the Dynamic Island and the new 48MP camera, Jason and Myke discuss the current pace of upgrades and innovation across all of Apple's product lines.
Five days later, we take stock of last week's Apple announcements, disclose our pre-orders, ponder future changes to the iPhone product line, and discuss our favorite features of iOS 16.
Edited by Jim Metzendorf.
Apple has unveiled four new iPhones, new Apple Watches (including the new Apple Watch Ultra), and a new generation of AirPods Pro. Jason reports straight from the event--and still on the Apple Park campus!--as we break down all the details.
Jason and Myke predict what will happen at next week's Apple media event. What new features will the new iPhones have--and will they be more expensive? Will the Apple Watch expand? And what other surprises might propel one of us to a decisive draft victory?
Before the sun sets on the Summer of Fun, Jason has rounded up three Apple automation experts--Federico Viticci, Rosemary Orchard, and Matthew Cassinelli--to discuss the present and future of user automation on Apple's platforms. Also, Myke and Jason debate the iOS 16 music scrubber.
Federico Viticci, Matthew Cassinelli, and Rosemary Orchard
Edited by Jim Metzendorf.
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.
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.
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.
Edited by Jim Metzendorf. Welcome, Jim!
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.
David Smith, James Thomson, and Shelly Brisbin
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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+.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
We're joined by Apple VPs Tom Boger and Tim Millet to discuss Apple's chip-design philosophy and how it factored into the company's first high-end Mac chips, the M1 Pro and M1 Max. Also, Jason and Myke discuss Apple's latest record quarterly results and Myke takes delivery of his new MacBook Pro.
Tim Millet and Tom Boger
Jason's spent the last week with the new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max processor, and we've got his in-depth review. And at last, Jason and Myke both review the new Apple Watch Series 7.
The new MacBook Pros are here! Jason and Myke break down what's new with Apple's pro laptops, welcome the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, and even devote a little time to new AirPods and colorful HomePods. Also, Myke's wallet is a little bit lighter.
Surprise! Jason and Myke predict what will happen at next week's Apple media event. What ports will be on the much-rumored MacBook Pro? Will it appear in familiar colors, or will Apple branch out and offer something new? Will we see updates to the Mac mini, new AirPods, or--dare we dream--an affordable external display? It's all to play for.
Apple Watch Series 7 pre-orders lead to more Apple color confusion, Apple's App Store rules may need to skate to a puck that's headed for a courtroom, and Myke takes his iPad mini on a train.
The iPhone 13 and iPad mini are out and MacBook Pros may be on the way shortly, so it's time for us to answer your questions! It's an extended #askupgrade covering new hardware, how to use the iPad mini, and the value of ProMotion.
Myke and Jason review the iPhone 13 and iPad mini, settle on their preferred iPhones, and wonder if Apple should appoint a Color Czar.
iOS 15 is here and Myke and Jason share their opinions about new features! Also we've got a lot of Apple Event follow-up, and now that Ted Lasso has won eight Emmy Awards, it's time to back the truck full of money up to Jason Sudeikis's house.
Apple announced new iPhones, Apple Watches and iPads on Tuesday, and this is our quick reaction to the news. What color is the saddest rainbow? Why was Joz locked out of Apple Park one night? Why is Myke disappointed about the Apple Watch design but excited about iPhone photography? Together, we'll make sense of Apple's tour of California.
It's another emergency draft! In this bonus episode, Jason and Myke predict what will happen at Tuesday’s Apple media event. What form will the new iPhones take? Will a new Apple Watch make an appearance? And what special bits of stagecraft might propel one of us to a decisive draft victory?
As Jason and Myke wait for the announcement of an iPhone launch event, they discuss Apple's curious set of incremental changes to App Store policies, what those changes mean, and how they inform Apple's possible future strategies.
It's the first-ever Upgrade Call-In Show! This week, Myke and Jason answer listener questions about Apple, themselves... and popular dance steps. Go ahead caller--we're listening.
This week we kick off our annual fundraising for St. Jude, ask listeners to call in with their questions, and discuss how Apple approaches putting features in--and taking them out--of its public betas.
This week Jason and Myke ponder what it means to be a native Mac app in the era of SwiftUI, Catalyst, and Electron. They also consider the fallout and further disclosures from Apple's child-protection announcements, celebrate Ted Lasso Christmas, and talk about how they're traveling with iPads and Macs today.
We discuss Apple's multiple announcements related to child safety, including what prompted Apple's actions, the different ways any technological tool can be used, where Apple has chosen to intervene, and the dangers of sliding down a slippery slope. In lighter news, we also talk about Apple's rediscovery of its online store and various attempts for streaming services to build new franchises. Also, alert Broadway and the West End: we may have invented a new segment.
Myke's headed off on vacation, but before he goes, he's made time to discuss last week's Apple financial results. Then Jason welcomes special guest Julia Alexander for a mega-Upstream about ScarJo v. Disney, the future of the movies, and the current state of affairs for streaming services.
This week Myke and Jason join Netflix in pretending to be gamers while cable TV channels pretend to be streaming services. We also ponder a smarter Apple display, and Apple has designs on fancy Hollywood real estate. And Myke goes to the Streaming Services as we discuss "Loki" and the first episode of "Ted Lasso."
Jason's back, and Myke has a lot of questions about his vacation. They also discuss a load of Apple TV+ news, new Safari betas, the MagSafe battery pack, and a bunch of Apple hardware rumors.
For the first time Jason is (mostly) off this week! After discussing who’s winning the streaming wars, Myke challenges John Siracusa to describe his ideal Mac, asks Merlin Mann to share what he’s excited about, and answers a #myketalk from Jay Miller. But don’t worry, lasers return later on.
Jay Miller, John Siracusa, and Merlin Mann
Presenting Upgrade 360, a new program designed to improve your podcast listening experience by letting you choose the level of podcast quality you wish to receive. Perhaps you want to hear us talk about the podcast bubble without any audio artifacts! Maybe you'd like our discussion of the macOS Public Beta to be delivered at a shockingly low bit rate! It's the same old Upgrade, but delivered in a few new ways--plus the usual way, we should be clear it's also just being delivered the usual way.
The Upgrade Summer of Fun kicks into gear with new beachwear, a very special summer-themed edition of Ask Upgrade, dreams of larger iPads, and a bunch of streaming news. On the less fun side, we discuss why Apple has reacted the way it has to threats of new laws and regulations that might change how it does business.
We discuss the future of the Apple Watch, from new materials to new shapes to all the sensors Apple might want to put on any product that touches your body. And then we talk about the risks Apple might face by failing to learn the right lessons from the pandemic about altering its corporate culture.
WWDC 2021 is over! This week we discuss a lot of the hidden details of Apple's announcements, and share our first reactions to using the first developer betas. (Jason isn't mad at Safari, just disappointed.)
Myke and Jason break down the WWDC 2021 keynote, which brought Apple's various devices together in some surprising ways. Were the changes to iPadOS exciting or disappointing? Are we excited about Shortcuts on the Mac? Will Focus modes keep us focused? And the Upgrade Draft results take an unexpected turn.
It’s time for our sixth annual competition regarding what will happen at Apple's WWDC keynote! Is this the year iPadOS gets all the love? Will there be Mac hardware? Can Myke and Jason figure out the future of HomeKit and watchOS? It's time to let our imaginations run wild--we'll leave the harshness of reality for next week.
Jason reviews the new iPad Pro, Myke reviews the new 24-inch iMac, and the future of Apple silicon might be coming into focus.
Jason's been using an orange 24-inch iMac for the last week and we've got his review. Also, Apple Music goes for high quality and spatial audio, WarnerMedia is on the move again, and Jeff Bezos is a television genius.
This week Myke and Jason debate the form of future Mac laptops, discuss Apple and Epic's first week in court (complete with angry emails!), and then imagine what's next for iOS and iPadOS.
Apple had a record-breaking quarter that showed strong growth in all areas of its business, but clouds loom on the horizon. A global semiconductor shortage threatens Mac and iPad sales, the EU ruled that the App Store is anticompetitive, and Apple's court case with Epic Games is about to kick off. Did Tim Cook suggest that Apple is ready to change its policies to avoid even harsher sanctions? And upon further consideration, does Apple Podcasts Subscriptions create another barrier to competition in the App Store?
Apple's Colleen Novielli and Navpreet Kaloty visit the show to discuss the new 24-inch iMac in depth. Then Jason and Myke discuss the positioning of the new iPad Pro, and what it means that Apple has given it an M1 processor and added other hardware features previously available only on the Mac.
Navpreet Kaloty and Colleen Novielli
New iMacs and iPads! The long-anticipated debut of AirTags! Podcast subscriptions! A new Apple TV remote! Ted Lasso's secret shortbread recipe! Fresh from viewing Apple's latest event, Jason and Myke break down all the announcements.
Emergency draft! In this bonus episode, Jason and Myke predict what will happen at Tuesday’s Apple media event. Will there be new iPad Pro models, and if so, will new accessories accompany them? Will we finally see a new iMac design? What other unexpected announcements might await us?
This week we ponder Apple's moves both outdoors (additions to the Find My network) and in (possible new smart home products). Apple's also launching new original podcasts tied to Apple TV+ projects, and we discuss why some of Apple's product launches this year may have been delayed.
It’s a big news week! Myke and Jason break down Tim Cook’s podcast interview with Kara Swisher, and discuss some big changes at Apple Arcade. There’s also WWDC 2021 and Apple’s rumored augmented-reality headset to talk about.
Myke and Jason celebrate 20 years of OS X by discussing how we use our Macs today and whether the arrival of Apple silicon is changing how we work, not just today but over the rest of this year. We also discuss whether Apple should do "events" anymore, big news in the conflict between streaming and theatrical movies, and the possibility of a more rugged Apple Watch.
This week we consider the future of the iPad Pro, watch as the 21.5-inch iMac begins to fade away, and ponder what the HomePod mini means for Apple's overall home strategy. Myke gets recommendations for soundbars, and Jason explains the NFL's new TV deals.
Myke's on a quest for new TV speakers as we ponder the misfire of Apple's high-end speaker and the potential fate of Apple's high-end headphones. Jason runs with his Apple Watch, and more apps go native on Apple Silicon. Thanks for following Upgrade!
This week we ponder the future of WWDC, say goodbye to the iMac Pro, investigate a new iPad stand, and wonder about the misplaced priorities of the Paramount+ roll-out.
This week we grapple with rumors of colorful new Macs and additional ports on MacBook Pro models, note the arrival of Paramount+ to the Streaming Wars, debate the merits of Twitter's attempt to actually do something resembling anything, and wonder if Apple's content to run the only music service without a high-quality tier.
New iPad keyboards make us notice the magic of the Magic Trackpad, AirPods might be getting an unwelcome makeover, and the butterfly keyboard isn't really gone as long as we remember it.
Disney+ keeps growing and its original content is flowing, and Apple TV+ brings new marketing muscle to bear for the second-season launch of "For All Mankind." And what can Apple do to make its Apple TV hardware more appealing? Sit down with a cup of tea and join us.
Change is coming for us whether we like it or not. This week we ponder the possibility of an augmented-reality future, and mourn the loss of a piece of software we’ve used for every single episode of Upgrade (until now).
It's now February 2021, but before we turn the page entirely it's time to look back one last time at 2020. Apple had a record holiday quarter with growth across the board, and Apple watchers filled out the annual Six Colors Apple Report Card. Spoiler: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Is Apple really going to release a high-end VR headset, and if so, why? Is the MacBook Air getting smaller again? Are you ready for Dolly Parton to tell you a story while you take a walk? And we discuss why movies and sports are becoming ever more important to streaming-media outlets.
If reports are to be believed, 2021 is shaping up to be a year where the Mac takes two steps forward--but only after taking one step back. We analyze the rumors of new MacBook Pros, iMacs, and Mac Pros. A new Apple display? The death of the Touch Bar? Magsafe returns to the Mac? Is it 2015 again or are we just dreaming?
It's January and the avalanche of 2021 Apple product rumors has already begun. But we also take time to reflect about the first decade of the Mac App Store, have a difficult discussion about when tech companies should