Upgrade 577: Apple's Own Tier List
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Aug 18, 2025 The hosts dive into an imaginative tier list of Apple products, assessing everything from iPhones to Macs. They critique the iPhone Plus for falling short and passionately debate the relevance of the Mac Pro and Mac Mini. The conversation shifts to the evolving relationship with AI, highlighting the future redesign of Siri and innovations in smart home assistants. Personal anecdotes spice up the mix, from kayaking adventures to amusing tech mishaps, making for a delightful blend of insights and humor.
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Early Celebrity Encounters
- Jason Snell recalled meeting character actor Morgan Sheppard and getting a treasured signed headshot.
- He described childhood encounters with TV productions and an autograph from Melissa Gilbert at his father's orthodontist office.
How Apple Estimates Product Usage
- Apple likely derives product-usage stats from post-purchase surveys and extrapolation, not pure telemetry.
- That explains why corporate numbers are often precise estimates rather than absolute counts.
Patent Workaround Restores Blood Oxygen
- Apple implemented a workaround to route Apple Watch blood-oxygen data through the iPhone to avoid a patent block.
- The readings now appear in the iPhone Health app while the watch acts as the sensor, restoring functionality for affected US models.