
Upgrade
639 episodes — Page 10 of 13
Ep 189189: Obsolescence Isn’t What It Used to Be
Special Guest Merlin Mann joins Jason to discuss the weather, old speakers, Apple's latest TV acquisition, the long slow fade of 32-bit Mac apps, and the arrival of a new version of his favorite iOS writing app.
Ep 188188: An Elephant on the Bridge
What is the future of the Mac? This week we connect the future of the Mac Pro, the possibility of Apple abandoning Intel processors, and the rumored unification of Mac and iOS development. Also, Jason reviews the new sixth-generation iPad.
Ep 187187: Whiz-Bang Wonderfulness
This week Jason steps up to the baseball plate and takes a second swing at the meaning of Apple’s education event, while Myke defends the viability of pen and paper. We also discuss what’s new in Apple’s latest software updates, and once again fail to solve the riddle of the HomePod.
Ep 186186: Black Market Crayons
Jason attended Apple's education event and reports live and direct from Chicago to discuss the new sixth-generation iPad, Apple's place in the education market, the relevance of the Apple Pencil for education, and the whole scene at Lane Tech College Prep High School.
Ep 185185: The March 2018 Apple Event Draft
Apple’s holding a media event at a school in Chicago, and next week Jason will be there to report back about what got announced. But in the meantime, it’s time for another draft, as Myke and Jason attempt to predict what will be shown on stage in Chicago. Apple also announced WWDC dates this week and made some more moves to grow its unannounced video service.
Ep 184184: The Claim Chowder Secret Society
What are our top five Apple products of the past five years? Jason and Myke list their choices in something that is almost, but not quite, a draft. Also: Did Jason accurately predict the extended survival of the MacBook Air? A watchful Upgradian provides the answer. We also muse about the future of keyboards and discuss Netflix as a future home for a former president.
Ep 183183: It’s Dumb Until We Do It
Would Apple really update the MacBook Air at this late date? We break down the possibilities, plus Jason finally finishes his HomePod review, Netflix and Apple keep investing in original video content, and then we take off and nuke the site from orbit as Myke at the Movies revisits 1986's “Aliens.”
Ep 182182: March of Minor Products
This week we discuss rumors about new AirPods and this fall’s iPhones, speculate about what makes a good Apple TV app, revisit the idea of ARM Macs in the context of Windows 10's ARM limitations, and save a moment to praise Alto’s Odyssey.
Ep 181181: Banana Slug Bookshelf
What does the death of Twitter for Mac say about the future of Mac software? Is Apple making big changes to how it releases software, and how will it impact the quality of the Apple product experience? We ponder these questions, note some surprising additions to Apple's video programming, and briefly discuss how Jason permanently scarred his bookshelf.
Ep 180180: Too Much Speaker
After a weekend with the HomePod, it’s time for Myke and Jason to discuss what they like and dislike about Apple’s new connected speaker. Is it so loud that Myke is angering his neighbors? Will Jason replace his Amazon Echo? How does the HomePod match up with other products in the category? Plus, Apple introduces its new battery interface and one of the company’s first big TV shows loses its creative team.
Ep 179179: Somewhere Between One and a Gabillion
Apple reaches a record high in revenue and profit, but what’s up with the iPhone and Mac sales figures? This week we break down Apple’s huge holiday quarter, including the calendar quirk that has cut Apple both ways.
Ep 178178: On a Dark Desert Highway
How did Apple do in 2017? Jason and Myke break down the annual Six Colors Apple Report Card, based on a survey of 50 notable Apple-watchers. Also, the HomePod gets pre-orders, a ship date, and a new set of listening parties for journalists. You can check out of the Apple Store any time you like, but you can never leave.
Ep 177177: Stuck in the Mud
What comes next? The iPhone product line may see more changes in 2018, but do the rumors of two new models make sense? Is Apple missing its shot in the voice-assistant market with the delays of HomePod and the limitations of Siri? Is Apple’s move to return its cash hoard to the U.S. a financial diuretic that will boost American productivity? And if you want to get Myke’s reaction to finally seeing “Hamilton”, just you wait… it’s coming at the very end of the show.
Ep 176176: Final Cat Pro
What are Jason and Myke’s hopes and dreams for iOS, the iPhone, and the iPad in 2018? Also: Apple buys more TV shows, a podcast tip, and the visual-effects industry tests Jason.
Ep 175175: $4,999, Cheap!
Jason reviews his new base-model iMac Pro, we speculate about the unified (or not) future of Apple's software-development platforms, and there's an awful lot of news from the world of streaming media.
Ep 174174: The 2017 Upgradies
Presenting the Fourth Annual Upgradies! In this episode Myke and Jason discuss their favorites of 2017 across many categories, with important input provided by you, the Upgradians! Only the finest will walk away with the coveted title of Upgradies Award Winner.
Ep 173173: The 2017 Upgrade Holiday Special
Just in time for Christmas, Jason and Myke look back at the trends of 2017 and reveal their 2018 Apple wish lists. Then it's time for special guests Serenity Caldwell and Stephen Hackett to join us for a round of very special #askupgrade, the first-ever Upgrade Secret Santa, and a Myke at the Movies look at "Home Alone 2."
Ep 172172: My Brain Was Slowly Expanding
Has Disney changed the future of streaming TV with its purchase of Fox? Has Jason bought himself an iMac Pro? Have Myke and Jason watched “The Last Jedi”? Yes to all of the above. (Don’t worry if you haven’t seen the movie, we’ll save that until the end and fire off the Spoiler Horn before we start talking details.)
Ep 171171: Really Weird Chess Game
What do Amazon's battles with Google and Apple say about the strategies of the tech giants? Also, Jony Ive returns to the White Room, and a meeting with the hosts of Jason and Myke's favorite podcasts brings some perspective regarding the connection between podcasters and their listeners.
Ep 170170: The Rat King of Cables
All the Apple operating-system bugs in the world can’t stop us from discussing Jason’s office clean-out, holiday decorations, the new Kindle Oasis, and podcasting tools and techniques. And yes, in the end we have to discuss Apple’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week.
Ep 169169: Discontinue All Other Products
Myke returns from his trip to catch up on everything Jason and John did on last week’s show: summoning Siri, selling merchandise, and proposing entirely new classes of Apple product. We discuss Myke’s travels with the iPhone X, a possible update to the iPhone SE, and whether or not Apple should one day make a laptop that runs iOS.
Ep 168168: Hail Hydrant
John Siracusa joins Jason to discuss the possibilities of an iMac with an A10 processor inside, the delay of the HomePod, whether Apple understands the concerns of professional Mac users, the return of Twitterrific for the Mac, and the proper way to refer to keyboard shortcuts.
Ep 167167: The White Room of My Mind
Jumping off from two Bloomberg reports about Apple hardware, Myke and Jason discuss the future of the iPad Pro and what in the world Apple is thinking as it develops an augmented-reality headset. We’ve also got updates on Apple’s television venture, the future and influence of the iPhone X, and Apple Pay for iMessage.
Ep 166166: The Machine That Makes Money
Myke abandons the #plusclub for an iPhone X, and compares notes with Jason after a week of using Apple’s new phone, including cameras, OLED, Animoji karaoke, and Face ID. We also discuss Apple’s latest quarterly results, which show great news for the iPad and Mac and the promise of a record-setting holiday quarter to come.
Ep 165165: The iPhone X Review
This week is all about the iPhone X, which Jason reviewed and now has in his hands to answer Myke's—and your—questions.
Ep 164164: The Lost Phone for Nerds
What if Jason went to a tech conference with a brand-new iPhone and nobody cared? We discuss the curious case of the iPhone 8, the challenges entertainment and tech companies both face when trying to launch video streaming services, and the future of the Mac as viewed through the inbox of Apple executives.
Ep 163163: Kindle Bubbles
This week there's a bunch of news from the world of entertainment. Apple's new TV execs made their first big deal in Hollywood, which brings up lots of questions about what Apple's video service will be and when it will arrive. There's also a new service that brings your iTunes purchases to Amazon and Google and vice versa. Speaking of Amazon, there's also a new Kindle you can take in the bathtub--if you have a good bathtub.
Ep 162162: The Spider Is a Metaphor
Jason’s iMac gets a unwelcome visitor and he ponders an upgrade--but is the iMac Pro overkill, or a wise investment? Also, an influx of new emoji are coming to iOS and macOS in the near future, which is more important than you’d think.
Ep 161161: I Look at My Phone and the Money Leaves
Myke and Jason have taken delivery of the Apple TV 4K and have some initial thoughts, Apple gives us a deeper dive into how Face ID works, and Amazon introduces many Echos and gets in a fight with YouTube. Plus, this entire description now fits in a tweet... if you’re special.
Ep 160160: A Helipad on Your Table
Jason and Myke discuss the new iPhone 8 and 8 Plus and the Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular, plus there’s a little bit about macOS High Sierra. And then Myke at the Movies is back with “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.”
Ep 159159: Retcon Incident
Our wallets much lighter than last week, we discuss what new Apple products we’ve ordered and what we’re still waiting for. We also spend a lot more time dissecting the iPhone X and Face ID, and leave room for plenty of follow-up and #askupgrade
Ep 158158: New Theater Smell
Apple unveiled three new iPhones, a new Apple Watch, a 4K Apple TV, and the new Steve Jobs Theater at its September media event. Jason was there and returned home just in time to join with Myke in recapping and analyzing everything that went on at Apple Park.
Ep 157157: The 2017 iPhone Event Draft
It’s time for Jason and Myke to reveal their picks for what will happen on stage at the iPhone launch event next week! They draft 12 different things they expect (or hope) to happen at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino next week. Who will pick wisely? We’ll know in less than a week.
Ep 156156: The Silly Season
Special guest Merlin Mann joins Jason to talk about Apple event rumors, why we care about Apple kremlinology, our approaches to keeping and deleting files in our digital libraries, and Jason's recent 11-day road trip to the total eclipse.
Ep 155155: Apple Hardware Draft
The Upgrade Summer of Fun continues! A special panel of guests convenes to draft our favorite hardware created by Apple. And in an unprecedented installment of Myke at the Movies, John Siracusa joins us to discuss the Final Cut edition of "Blade Runner."
Ep 154154: Masters of Automation
From Automator to Workflow, automation can make regular users (who are definitely not programmers) more productive. This week Jason talks to Myke about why he cares about automation, and then we've got a special automation panel discussion featuring a bunch of special guests. Plus, the Upgrade Summer of Fun begins!
Ep 153153: Three Ficuses
Myke reports in from New York as we discuss a grab bag of Apple news, including a possible cellular Apple Watch, even more details from the HomePod firmware leak, the surprising strength of iPad sales in Apple’s quarterly results, and next year’s crop of emoji.
Ep 152152: August State of Mind
A HomePod firmware leak may have given us our best look yet at the features of the next iPhone, including face detection. Photos of Apple Park’s aggressively open-plan workspaces lead us to the most spirited discussion of space planning you may ever hear. Plus: The iPod dies, the Apple Watch might get an update, and Jason gets over his Game of Thrones hangover.
Ep 151151: Caulk and Spackle
Does the Mac mini have a place in the Mac line-up, or should it fade into the sunset? Which Mac laptop--MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Escape--is the best choice for a new college student? All this, plus lasers _and_ fireworks, on this week’s edition of Upgrade.
Ep 150150: I Worry About You, Jason
This week Jason is making some big changes in his life, including trying out a to-do app and using his iPad Pro extensively via a cellular network. Myke looks into what’s motivated these changes, and how well they’re working. Plus we discuss emoji, AirPods, and at the very end of the show, “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”
Ep 149149: The Taste of Danger
Is Apple taking a risk in potentially releasing a high-end, high-cost iPhone model in addition to the regular models this fall, as is rumored? Also, Jason and Myke try to come to terms with the possibility of a $1000-plus ‘iPhone Pro’. Jason also talks about inviting the Amazon Echo Show and its touchscreen into his kitchen, and we discuss peanut butter alternatives guaranteed to make Myke uncomfortable.
Ep 148148: I Think I Think What You Think
Jason convinces Myke to upgrade to iOS 11 so they can both talk about using it on their iPads, including the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro. Also, Jason announces his enormous strategic partnerships and sends the stock market on an adventure! Finally, Jason breaks down Photos on macOS High Sierra.
Ep 147147: Outside the Zone of Secrecy
An Apple secrecy presentation is leaked to the press? Jason and Myke break down an exclusive from The Outline, before moving on to discuss Scott Forstall's emergence from Broadway to talk about 10 years of iPhone.
Ep 146146: It's About the Journey
The new iPad Pros have arrived, and Jason and Myke have spent the last week with both the 12.9- and 10.5-inch models. We give our reactions to the new displays, detail what’s new with previous versions, get excited about one day using iOS 11, and offer advice about which iPad Pro model is the right one to buy. In other news, we also ponder a grim future where an Amazon robot allows you to squeeze Whole Foods produce in virtual reality.
Ep 145145: Wandered into the Unicorn Grove
Jason and Myke pick up many threads from WWDC 2017, including San Jose’s suitability as an event host, the first reviews of the iPad Pro, a bunch of news we didn’t know about during our last episode, and Jason’s close encounter with a functioning HomePod speaker.
Ep 144144: Don't Call It the Finder
Live from San Jose, in the immediate aftermath of the WWDC 2017 Keynote, Jason and Myke break down the entire event. We've got new Macs, new iPads, new versions of all of Apple's operating systems, and the official results of our keynote draft.
Ep 143143: The WWDC Keynote Draft 2017
It’s time for Jason and Myke to reveal their picks for what will happen on stage at the WWDC 2017 keynote! They draft 20 different things they expect (or hope) to see featured on stage in San Jose next week. Who will emerge with this year’s prediction crown? We’ll all know on June 5.
Ep 142142: You Want Applause
Jason and Myke discuss potential hardware announcements at WWDC--what they might be, and what message they might send. We also discuss a little bit about Google IO, including announcements about Google Photos and emoji, and get a little misty while thinking about Steve Jobs’ last product, Apple Park.
Ep 141141: I Export My Voice
With WWDC only three weeks away, Jason and Myke delve into the latest rumors about what might be announced at the conference, and then discuss Apple's billion-dollar initiative to invest in American business--and the potential motives behind it.
Ep 140140: Disappointed Dad Tim Cook
Apple’s latest financial statements give Jason and Myke a jumping-off point for analyzing where Apple’s going with the iPad and iPhone, the massive growth in Apple’s services business, and the company’s problems in China and possibilities in India.