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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. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Memberful: Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required. Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code UPGRADE to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once. PDFpen, from Smile: Powerful PDF editing on your Mac. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. Tim Cook and Connected - Getty Images Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is back in its all-online format - Apple Apple Aiming to Announce Mixed-Reality Headset With In-Person Event in 'Next Several Months' - MacRumors Apple Adds New SVP of Hardware Engineering John Ternus to Leadership Site - MacRumors Credible Leaker Says New iMac to Feature 'Really Big' Display Larger Than Current 27-inch Model - MacRumors Apple adds two brand new Siri voices and will no longer default to a female or male voice in iOS | TechCrunch Apple TV on Twitter: "There are some great ensembles out there, but we believe in the #TedLasso team. #SAGAwards https://t.co/7fCrNpx1YR" / Twitter Netflix Buys 'Knives Out' Sequels for $450 Million - Variety Apple Arcade Expands More Originals and iOS Classics - MacStories GameClub - a new way to play! Frenzic: Overtime Apple’s C.E.O. Is Making Very Different Choices than Mark Zuckerberg - The New York Times ‎Sway on Apple Podcasts Sway on Spotify Sway on Overcast

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 episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: DoorDash: Get 25% off and zero delivery fees on your first order of $15 or more. Ooni Pizza Ovens: Bring the world’s best pizza to your own backyard. Use the code UPGRADE21 for 10% off. Loopback, from Rogue Amoeba: Cable-Free Audio Routing for Mac. Get 21% off with the code UPGRADE21. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. Connected #338: KanBanBanSubHub - Relay FM The Connected 'Mode' Survey Mac OS X turns 20 – Six Colors The Talk Show ✪: Ep. 310, With Jason Snell iOS 14.5 Beta 5 References Unreleased 'A14X' Chip Rumored for iPad Pro - MacRumors New Apple Silicon iMacs referenced in latest macOS Big Sur 11.3 beta - 9to5Mac 'Black Widow,' 'Cruella' to Debut on Disney Plus and in Theaters - Variety Cineworld, Warner Bros Reach Deal For WB Films; Regal Reopening – Deadline Apple Watch News: Rugged Model For Extreme Sports Under Consideration - Bloomberg Daring Fireball: Gurman: Apple Considering Rugged Apple Watch Model for Sports

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. 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. Beam: The Smart Soundbar for Your TV | Sonos WGA Awards: Winners List – Deadline Amazon’s $10 billion NFL TV deal is Big Tech’s first move into Big Sports - Vox iMac Pro removed from Apple's website, officially discontinued - 9to5Mac Apple Discontinues 512GB and 1TB SSD Configurations of 4K 21.5-inch iMac - MacRumors Apple HomePod Mini Secret Sensor for Smart Home Thermostats - Bloomberg Apple To Announce New iPads in April - Bloomberg Daring Fireball: Gurman: New iPad Pros in April Connected #337: The Mini Version of Nothing - Relay FM First Impressions: Kensington's StudioDock Aims to Turn Your iPad Pro into an Expandable Desktop Workstation - MacStories Kuo: Mini-LED 12.9-inch iPad Pro to Enter Mass Production in 'Mid-to-Late April' - MacRumors Connected #336: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - Relay FM

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 episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. DEVONthink: Get Organized — Unleash Your Creativity. Use this link for 10% off. Spox: The best story wins. Get 25% off when you mention this show. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. Live from Comic-Con: Will iTunes replace your local comics store? | Macworld Comic-Con embraces the iPad era | Macworld Comic-Con: iPads are mainstream, but there's still digital drama | Macworld Photoshop, DaVinci Resolve get M1 updates – Six Colors Apple AirPods 3 not launching until Q3, says Ming-Chi Kuo - 9to5Mac Apple sues 11-year veteran MacBook designer for allegedly stealing trade secrets for a journalist - The Verge Apple adopting the word 'follow' for podcasts as users associate 'subscribe' with paid content - 9to5Mac Running with the new Overcast watch app – Six Colors Apple discontinues original HomePod, will focus on mini | TechCrunch Scott McNulty - Relay FM Matias Keyboards

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