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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

As the year comes to an end, it's time for the Seventh Annual Upgradies! Myke and Jason discuss their favorites of 2020, 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: Upgradies Winner. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: DoorDash: Dinner from your favorite restaurant delivered to your door. Get $5 off your first order. 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, 2021, and can be used only once. Sanebox: Clean up your inbox in minutes. Sign up for a two-week free trial and a $25 credit. Hover: Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. Upgradies Hall of Fame(Beware of spoilers) Lifetime Achievement Upgradies Winners

It's the Upgrade Holiday Special! But first, Myke reviews the AirPods Pro Max and Jason reviews Apple Fitness+. Then we get into the spirit of the season with a holiday-themed #askupgrade, and Myke watches "A Charlie Brown Christmas" for the very first time! 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. 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, 2021, and can be used only once. Sanebox: Clean up your inbox in minutes. Sign up for a two-week free trial and a $25 credit. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. The Seventh Annual Upgradies Nomination Form Upgradies Hall of Fame Behold, the majesty of HBO Max in full-screen mode on an M1 Mac – Six Colors iOS 14.3 adds dedicated 'Originals' tab, improving discoverability of Apple TV+ content - 9to5Mac Google’s new Chromecast is getting an Apple TV app soon - The Verge Skydance Animation in Talks to Move 'Luck,' 'Spellbound' to Apple - Variety John Lasseter - Wikipedia 'Wonder Woman 1984' Gets Early PVOD Release in U.K. - Variety 'The Office' Streaming on Peacock Exclusively Starting January 2021 - Variety Connected #325: You Can't Mail a Rock - Relay FM ATP 409: Midrange Snob — Accidental Tech Podcast Apple Clarifies Power-Saving Modes of AirPods Max When Not in Use - MacRumors One day with Fitness+ – Six Colors Membership Post Adina's Comic showing Myke's favourite decorations – Sticking Out on Instagram Jason's favourite ornament ‎One Christmas at a Time by Jonathan Coulton & John Roderick on Apple Music Holiday Cocktails — Basics With Babish A Charlie Brown Christmas on Apple TV+ Peanuts - Wikipedia

There's a lot of streaming-media news this week, as Warner Media faces intense criticism of its decision to move all its 2021 film releases to HBO Max, Apple faces criticism for killing a show based on Gawker, and Disney fires off its Death Star, unveiling a slate of originals that are likely to take Disney+ to the next level. Oh, and Apple announced a $550 pair of headphones! 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. Mailroute: Protect your email today. Get 10% off the lifetime of your account. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. Apple Fitness+: The next era of fitness is here, and everyone’s invited - Apple Apple CEO Says Most Staff Won’t Return to Office Until June - Bloomberg Chance Miller on WWDC 2021 – Twitter The Seventh Annual Upgradies – Nomination Form Christopher Nolan Rips HBO Max as "Worst Streaming Service," Denounces Warner Bros.' Plan | Hollywood Reporter The 52 biggest Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney announcements from its end of year event - The Verge Disney unveils Star, its new international streaming service - The Verge Disney 2020 event: Every Marvel movie, Star Wars show & animated film announced - Polygon Disney finally revealed the real Disney Plus - The Verge Apple TV Was Making a Show About Gawker. Then Tim Cook Found Out. - The New York Times The Talk Show ✪: Ep. 303, With Matthew Panzarino How Apple prices its products: 3 rules to understand | Macworld AirPods Max First Impressions Roundup - MacStories

Warner Media is moving all its 2021 releases to HBO Max, but what will that mean for the future of the movie industry? Will streaming reign supreme, or is there a future for movie theaters? Meanwhile, a new Bloomberg report gives some shape to the future of Apple's M-series processors--it turns out the M stands for "more cores." This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: DoorDash: Dinner from your favorite restaurant delivered to your door. Get $5 off your first order. KiwiCo: STEM, STEAM & Science Kits for Kids. Ooni Pizza Ovens: Bring the world’s best pizza to your own backyard. Use the code UPGRADE10 for 10% off. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. Nano-cromatic: Bruises by Chairlift - YouTube App Store Small Business Program - Apple Developer Kuo: Two redesigned MacBook Pros with mini LED in 2021, more affordable MacBook Air in 2022 - 9to5Mac Rumor: Apple memo to service providers suggests potential new hardware announcement next week - 9to5Mac The Seventh Annual Upgradies – Nomination Form Warner Bros. Smashes Box Office Windows, Will Send Entire 2021 Slate to HBO Max and Theaters | Hollywood Reporter HBO Max Ends Free Trial Offer Ahead of 'Wonder Woman 1984' Premiere - Variety 'Wonder Woman 1984' Eyes Early Debut on Demand in U.K. - Variety Fun with Charts: Imagining the M2 processor – Six Colors Apple Preps Next Mac Chips With Aim to Outclass Highest-End PCs - Bloomberg 20 Macs for 2020 - Relay FM ‎Sleep++ on the App Store ‎AutoSleep Track Sleep on Watch on the App Store Beddit Sleep Monitor Apple TV+ ‘For All Mankind’ mission patch set signed by Ronald Moore launch for second season - Space Explored

This week Jason embraces the iPhone 12 mini and then reboots his complaints about Apple's focus on Mac security leading to bad user-experience issues. Then we consider the future, as we interpret early reports about new Apple Watch, iPad, and MacBook Pro models for 2021. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: 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, 2021, and can be used only once. Sanebox: Clean up your inbox in minutes. Sign up for a two-week free trial and a $25 credit. Hover: Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. The Seventh Annual Upgradies – Nomination Form Rich Greenfield's Tweet Quinn's iPhone 12 mini Tweet Rogue Amoeba’s apps updated for M1–with a catch – Six Colors Rogue Amoeba | Installing ACE on M chip-based Macs Kuo: iPhone 12 demand strong, new form factor Apple Watch and MacBooks in late 2021 - 9to5Mac Kuo: Redesigned MacBooks With Apple Silicon to Launch in Second Half of 2021 - MacRumors Kuo: Mini-LED iPad and AirPods 3 Coming First Half of 2021 - MacRumors Mini-LED M1 MacBook Pro and Mini-LED iPad Pro Models Coming First Half of 2021 - MacRumors Steve Troughton-Smith on Twitter: macOS as an App “We are giddy”—interviewing Apple about its Mac silicon revolution | Ars Technica Apple Fitness+ Promotion Ramps Up as Launch Approaches - MacRumors Transcript: Phil Schiller, Craig Federighi and John Ternus on the state of Apple’s pro Macs | TechCrunch Jason Snell on Twitter: Discussion on the ARM transition

Myke and Jason have spent a week running Big Sur on M1 Macs and are here to report back on what the future feels like. Also, HBO Max gives up and plans a streaming release of "Wonder Woman 1984" so everyone but Myke can see it, and Apple pulls a PR move that gives a raise to small developers while enraging its loudest critics. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Sanebox: Clean up your inbox in minutes. Sign up for a two-week free trial and a $25 credit. Mailroute: Protect your email today. Get 10% off the lifetime of your account. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+. More content, no ads. The Seventh Annual Upgradies – Nomination Form Upgradies Hall of Fame Hollywood’s ‘We’re Not in Kansas Anymore’ Moment - The New York Times Following Apple TV+ exclusivity backlash, the holiday Peanuts specials will also air on PBS - 9to5Mac Apple announces App Store Small Business Program - Apple Apple’s biggest App Store critics are not impressed with its new fee cut for small developers - The Verge Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney likens fight against Apple to fight for civil rights | TechCrunch “We are giddy”—interviewing Apple about its Mac silicon revolution | Ars Technica Is Apple silicon ready? macOS Big Sur Review: Third age of Mac – Six Colors Upgrade #308: The Adventures of Dr. Icon - Relay FM