Upgrade

By Relay FM

What's Upgrade about?

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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Upgrade episodes:

04.22.2024
509: Save the Fines
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.
04.15.2024
508: You’re Judging It Wrong
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.
04.08.2024
507: Differently Social
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.
04.01.2024
506: Legacy When? Legacy Now?
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.
03.25.2024
505: Abolish Drafts: The 2024 iPad Draft
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!
03.18.2024
504: Tone 47
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...
03.11.2024
503: We Own the Refs, the Stadium, and the Field
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.
03.04.2024
502: It's the Way Towards Colour
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!
02.26.2024
501: The Perfect Noodling Computer
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.
02.19.2024
500: Core Face/Peripheral Face
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.
02.12.2024
499: We Have All the Cushions
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.
02.05.2024
498: Leap the Uncanny Valley
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.
01.29.2024
497: The Poison Pill
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.
01.22.2024
496: 40th Anniversary of the Mac Draft
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.
01.15.2024
495: Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong
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.
01.08.2024
494: Copyright Violation Machine
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.
01.01.2024
493: Upgradies Hall of Fame
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.
12.25.2023
492: The 2023 Upgrade Holiday Special
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?
12.18.2023
491: The 2023 Upgradies
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:...
12.11.2023
490: The Cat Has a Team of Lawyers
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.
12.04.2023
489: The Future Is on CompuServe
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.
11.27.2023
488: The New Numbers
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.
11.20.2023
487: Under the Thumb of Qualcomm
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.
11.13.2023
486: On the Side of Reality
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.
11.06.2023
485: Best Witch and Beast Feature
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.
10.31.2023
484: Space Grayer
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...
10.27.2023
483: The 2023 October Event Draft
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.
10.23.2023
482: It’s Covered in Soap!
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.
10.16.2023
481: What If… Octobox?
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...
10.09.2023
480: Never Do a Deal with the Preference Daemon
Jason contacted technical support.
10.02.2023
479: The Three Oranges
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.
09.25.2023
478: Hi, We’re the Weirdos
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.
09.18.2023
477: Tails O'Clock
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.
09.13.2023
476: Friends in the Couch Cushions
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...
09.04.2023
475: The 2023 September Event Draft
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...
08.28.2023
474: I'm Not a Doctor, I'm an Auditor
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...
08.21.2023
473: I Can Talk About the George Foreman Grill Now
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.
08.14.2023
472: Step Aside, Bob!
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. We try to imagine what portions of Disney's business Apple would actually want.
08.07.2023
471: A Technological 23rd Century Star Trek Thing
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.
07.31.2023
470: Magic Titanium
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...
07.24.2023
469: Bring in the Boffins
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...
07.18.2023
468: Nonstop Bangers Involving Saxophone Solos
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.
07.10.2023
467: The Least Important Mac
We struggle to balance empathy with reality as we try to explain why the Mac Pro is the way that it is. Also, the Summer of Fun ends up taking on the future of social media, and Myke asks Jason...
07.03.2023
466: Try to Stop Me Now, Batman
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...
06.26.2023
465: No Dark Modes, Only Dark Rooms
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.
06.19.2023
464: Godzilla Is Always There
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.
06.12.2023
463: Respect the Tripod
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! It's all coming to you...
06.06.2023
462: Time Moves the Sun
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.
05.29.2023
461: The WWDC Keynote Draft 2023
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?
05.22.2023
460: Mr. QuickTime is Now Mr. Headset
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.

What's Upgrade about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Upgrade episodes:

509: Save the Fines

508: You’re Judging It Wrong

507: Differently Social

506: Legacy When? Legacy Now?

505: Abolish Drafts: The 2024 iPad Draft

504: Tone 47

503: We Own the Refs, the Stadium, and the Field

502: It's the Way Towards Colour

501: The Perfect Noodling Computer

500: Core Face/Peripheral Face

499: We Have All the Cushions

498: Leap the Uncanny Valley

497: The Poison Pill

496: 40th Anniversary of the Mac Draft

495: Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong

494: Copyright Violation Machine

493: Upgradies Hall of Fame

492: The 2023 Upgrade Holiday Special

491: The 2023 Upgradies

490: The Cat Has a Team of Lawyers

489: The Future Is on CompuServe

488: The New Numbers

487: Under the Thumb of Qualcomm

486: On the Side of Reality

485: Best Witch and Beast Feature

484: Space Grayer

483: The 2023 October Event Draft

482: It’s Covered in Soap!

481: What If… Octobox?

480: Never Do a Deal with the Preference Daemon

479: The Three Oranges

478: Hi, We’re the Weirdos

477: Tails O'Clock

476: Friends in the Couch Cushions

475: The 2023 September Event Draft

474: I'm Not a Doctor, I'm an Auditor

473: I Can Talk About the George Foreman Grill Now

472: Step Aside, Bob!

471: A Technological 23rd Century Star Trek Thing

470: Magic Titanium

469: Bring in the Boffins

468: Nonstop Bangers Involving Saxophone Solos

467: The Least Important Mac

466: Try to Stop Me Now, Batman

465: No Dark Modes, Only Dark Rooms

464: Godzilla Is Always There

463: Respect the Tripod

462: Time Moves the Sun

461: The WWDC Keynote Draft 2023

460: Mr. QuickTime is Now Mr. Headset