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 episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Fitbod: The fitness app for personalized exercise plans. Get 25% off your membership. Hover: Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name. Ooni Pizza Ovens: Bring the world’s best pizza to your own backyard. Use the code UPGRADE21 for 10% off. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. HoverBar Duo – Twelve South San Jose Fairmont Hotel files for bankruptcy and closes, will seek new brand, management Goodbye, parallel timeline: Apple discontinues the iMac Pro – Six Colors Apple Confirms iMac Pro Will Be Discontinued When Supplies Run Out, Recommends 27-Inch iMac - MacRumors Upgrade #237: New iMacs, iPads, and the 2019 March Event Draft - Relay FM Kuo: Apple to Launch Mixed Reality Headset in Mid 2022 and Augmented Reality Glasses by 2025 - MacRumors Connected #335: A Shelf is the Perfect Object - Relay FM

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. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: TextExpander, from Smile: Work smarter, not harder. Get 20% off your first year. Bombas: Give a pair when you buy a pair, and get 20% off your first purchase when you use this link. DoorDash: Get 25% off and zero delivery fees on your first order of $15 or more. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. Connected #334: A Wave of Nostalgia Hit Me in the Face - Relay FM What Apple Music can do to catch up with Spotify | Macworld Amazon Music HD with Dolby Atmos - Dolby Golden Globes 2021 winners: Netflix owns the night - The Verge Patriot (TV series) - Wikipedia Everything to know about Paramount Plus, the new version of CBS All Access - The Verge Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Loki, Monsters At Work get Disney Plus release dates - Polygon Kuo: New form factor MacBook Pro to feature HDMI port and SD card slot - 9to5Mac Prosser: 2021 iMac to Come in Five Colors, Apple Silicon Mac Pro to Resemble 'Stacked' Mac Minis - MacRumors The iMac G3 Project – 512 Pixels Twitter announces paid Super Follows to let you charge for tweets - The Verge Stratechery by Ben Thompson – On the business, strategy, and impact of technology.

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. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code UPGRADE at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. LinkedIn Jobs: Post a job for free by visiting this link. Literati Kids: Five books, delivered monthly. Click here for 25% off your first two orders. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. ‎PCalc on the App Store Control HomeKit from the keyboard with HomeControl Menu – Six Colors ‎Fantastical - Calendar & Tasks on the Mac App Store SwiftBar Bartender 4 Downlink Liftoff #143: The Perseverance Landing and "For All Mankind" with Ron Moore - Relay FM For All Mankind - a sub-podcast of TeeVee The Adventures of Dogcow and Spinning Rainbow Cursor in Finderland: The Game Apple & Skydance Animation Set Multi-Year Feature & TV Partnership – Deadline Upgrade #331: Mandatory Turkey Holiday - Relay FM Apple TV now available on Chromecast with Google TV - 9to5Google Apple TV+ unveils first look at new and returning Apple Originals - Apple TV+ Press Keyboard Service Program for MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro - Apple Support GitHub - aahung/Unshaky Hands on with new Brydge trackpad firmware, new 10.2-inch model – Six Colors Brydge Pro+ – Brydge Technologies Review: Brydge Pro+ iPad keyboard with trackpad – Six Colors Logitech Combo Touch - iPad Keyboard Case with Trackpad Logitech Combo Touch review: Not so magic keyboard – Six Colors Apple Is Working on Magnetic Battery Pack Attachment for iPhones - Bloomberg Apple Hiring Engineers to Develop 6G Wireless - Bloomberg Alleged Leaked Image Claims to Show Third-Generation AirPods and Case - MacRumors How I Modded the Silicone Tips of AirPods Pro with a Memory Foam Layer - MacStories

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. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. HelloFresh: Click this link and use code upgrade10 for 10 free meals, including free shipping! Spox: Chief Marketing Officer as-a-service. Get 25% off when you mention this show. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. Apple TV+ receives four Golden Globes nominations for ‘Ted Lasso’ and more - 9to5Mac Disney Plus Pops to 95 Million Paid Subscribers - Variety HBO Max will launch internationally in June - The Verge Apple launches ‘For All Mankind’ podcast – Six Colors ‎For All Mankind: Time Capsule on the App Store Liftoff - Relay FM Why does the Apple TV still exist? – Six Colors Apple TV: If we only had a wheelbarrow – Six Colors Most smart TVs are tracking you — Vizio just got caught - The Verge It’s time for Apple to get back into the smart home in a big way | Macworld LaunchBar Eleven Table Tennis on Oculus Quest | Oculus

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). This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Fitbod: The fitness app for personalized exercise plans. Get 25% off your membership. Hover: Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name. DoorDash: Get 25% off and zero delivery fees on your first order of $15 or more. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. Apple increases Apple Silicon DTK return credit from $200 to $500 - 9to5Mac Apple’s Riccio Shifts From Hardware Chief to AR, VR Headsets - Bloomberg Apple Car Talks Aren’t Happening, Say Automakers Hyundai, Kia - Bloomberg New Apple Mixed-Reality Headset Details: Swappable Headbands, Eye-Tracking — The Information Apple rolls out Big Sur 11.2, unmasks new iOS betas – Six Colors Daring Fireball: iOS 14.5 Beta 1 Allows Your Apple Watch to Unlock Your iPhone if You're Wearing a Mask Siri Setting in iOS 14.5 Beta Lets Users Select Default Music Streaming Service - MacRumors Hands on with Big Sur beta 11.3 – Six Colors The Mac's audio and AirPods support needs to be more like iOS | Macworld Stalwart call-recording tool succumbs to Apple silicon – Six Colors Call Recorder for Skype is joining the Hall of Fame - Ecamm Network Blog The mortality of software – Six Colors Ecamm Live Jason and his lasers – Cortex Animated: Episode 109 - YouTube

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. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: PDFpen, from Smile: The all-purpose PDF editor for Mac, iPad & iPhone. Bombas: Give a pair when you buy a pair, and get 20% off your first purchase when you use this link. Microsoft Lists: A Microsoft 365 app that helps you track information and organize work. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. 20 Macs for 2020 - Relay FM 20 Macs for 2020 Feed for Upgrade+ Members Q1 2021 financial results: Apple’s latest record holiday quarter – Six Colors Apple’s financial results: iPad, Apple silicon, and secret sauce – Six Colors Four lessons from Apple's record 2021 first quarter results | Macworld Apple Earnings, An Interview with Jay Goldberg About Chips and Intel – Stratechery by Ben Thompson Apple in 2020: The Six Colors report card – Six Colors Control HomeKit from the keyboard with HomeControl Menu – Six Colors

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. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Fitbod: The fitness app for personalized exercise plans. Get 25% off your membership. AirBuddy: Experience AirPods on your Mac like never before. First 100 Upgrade listeners get a 20% discount with this link. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. Apple Forecasted to Report Record-Breaking Quarter Next Week With Revenue Topping $100 Billion - MacRumors JP Richards Named Apple TV Plus' Head of Film Marketing Strategy - Variety Netflix promises at least one new movie every week in 2021 - The Verge 'No Time to Die' Release Date Delayed Again - Variety NBCUniversal to Shut Down Sports Network NBCSN at End of 2021 - Variety Peacock Becomes WWE Network Exclusive U.S. Streaming Distributor - Variety Time to Walk: An inspiring audio walking experience comes to Apple Fitness+ - Apple Apple's First VR Headset to Be Niche Precursor to Eventual AR Glasses - Bloomberg Apple Plans New MacBook Air with MagSafe, MacBook Pro With SD Card Slot - Bloomberg The case for a 12-inch MacBook Air | Macworld

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? This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Hover: Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name. DEVONthink: Get Organized — Unleash Your Creativity. Use this link for 10% off. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. TV Talk Machine - a podcast from The Incomparable Apple again extends Apple TV+ free trials, subscribers now get free access until July 2021 - 9to5Mac Ted Lasso Season 2 is officially in production – Apple TV on Twitter Apple Plans Podcasting Subscription Service in Threat to Spotify — The Information Apple Developing Podcast Subscription Service to Better Compete With Spotify - MacRumors Apple Mulls Podcast Subscription Service to Chase Spotify - Bloomberg Spotify's big bet on podcasts is failing, Citi says – CNBC Public media owners agree to sell Pocket Casts podcast platform | Current MacBook Pros With MagSafe Return in the Works - Bloomberg 2021 MacBook Pro Rumored to Feature More Ports: Here's a Look at What Previous Models Offered - MacRumors It’s time for the Mac to undergo a product-design renaissance | Macworld Apple Plans Redesigned iMac, New Mac Pro, Smaller Mac Pro, Cheaper Monitor - Bloomberg Upgrade #237: New iMacs, iPads, and the 2019 March Event Draft - Relay FM 20 Macs for 2020: #8 – Power Mac G4 Cube – Six Colors Total Party Kill - a podcast from The Incomparable Logitech MX ERGO Advanced Wireless Trackball with Tilt Plate Wacom Intuos Pro: creative pen tablet | Wacom M1 Mac external display workaround walkthrough - 9to5Mac SoundBot SB510 HD Water Resistant Bluetooth 3.0 Shower Speaker – Amazon

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 deplatform those planning political violence, and Jason exchanges helpful messages about buying late-model Intel Macs with someone who is a friend, a fish, or both. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Bombas: Super comfortable socks for you and someone in need. Use this link for 20% off. HelloFresh: Click this link and use code upgrade10 for 10 free meals, including free shipping! Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. The 'Letterama' Logo Roku Acquires Rights to Quibi Content for Less Than $100 Million - MacRumors Warner Bros. Guarantees Filmmakers a Payday for HBO Max Movies - Bloomberg Today Marks the 10th Anniversary of the Mac App Store - MacRumors With Mojave, Apple makes changes inside and outside Mac App Store – Six Colors Apple Glasses Reportedly Progressing Towards Engineering Verification Stage With Focus on Battery Life and Weight - MacRumors New iPad mini features: 8.4-inch display, smaller bezels - 9to5Mac Next Low-Cost iPad Said to Feature Thinner, Lighter Design - MacRumors New iPad Pro Said to Launch in March, 12.9-Inch Model Could Be Slightly Thicker for Mini-LED Display - MacRumors New AirPods Pro and iPhone SE Rumored to Launch in April 2021 - MacRumors iPhone 13 Rumored to Feature 'Thinner' Notch, Overall Design to Remain Unchanged - MacRumors Trump and Twitter – Stratechery by Ben Thompson Facebook and Twitter Suspend Trump, Parler Suspended Everywhere, Context and Culture – Stratechery by Ben Thompson It’s time to deplatform Trump - The Verge Permanent suspension of @realDonaldTrump – Twitter Blog Dithering Dust in the Light – Stratechery by Ben Thompson Pretend it's a City – Netflix

2021 has arrived, so it's time for Jason to predict what he thinks Apple will do this year. But it's also time for Myke to look back on his 2020 predictions and judge how well those came out. Also, DC joins Marvel in amplifying streaming-service programming plans. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code UPGRADE at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. TextExpander, from Smile: Recall your best words. Instantly, repeatedly. Get 20% off your first year. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. 20 Macs for 2020 - Relay FM Upgradies Hall of Fame Warner Bros. schedule for 2022 films coming to theaters and HBO Max - Polygon Amazon buys Wondery, setting itself up to compete against Spotify for podcast domination - The Verge Former Fox executives plead not guilty in Fifa bribery case | Fifa | The Guardian Roku Nears Deal to Buy Rights to Quibi’s Content - WSJ 2020 predictions in review: Magic Keyboards, M1 Macs, & pricey iPhones | Macworld The Mac in 2020: New keyboards, ARM Macs, and an iMac reboot? | Macworld 2020 iOS Predictions: iPad Pro and so many iPhones | Macworld 2021 Mac Predictions: Bigger iMacs and MacBooks, & more Apple silicon | Macworld 2021 iOS Predictions: New iPad Pros, less drama | Macworld 31.5'' UHD 4K Ergo IPS Monitor with USB Type-C™ | LG Kuo: Apple to Unveil AirTags, Augmented Reality Device, and More in 2021 - MacRumors Feedbin