
Upgrade
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.
Latest episodes

Jul 1, 2019 • 1h 33min
252: The Hippie Gets a Haircut
This week the Summer of Fun goes old school, as two of Jason's colleagues from back in the 1990s compare Apple's many transitions over the years to the ones Apple and its developers and users face today. Also, we wonder what happens to the movies and TV shows that aren't available via streaming, and if that means that important cultural works are in danger of fading away.
This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by:
Lumen5: The fastest video maker for social video marketing. Get 50% off your first month,
Bombas: The most comfortable socks in the history of feet. Use this link for 20% off.
TextExpander, from Smile: Get 20% off your first year.
Guest Starring: Shelly Brisbin and Andy Ihnatko
Links and Show Notes: This episode was recorded June 24, 2019. So if you're looking for Jony Ive commentary, you won't find any.
Support Upgrade with a Relay FM Membership Parallel - Relay FM Shelly's Web of Wonder Material - Relay FM MacBreak Weekly WGBH News DragThing Bare Bones Software | BBEdit 12 Default Folder X Diesel Sweeties Store - "I was a Mac user when Apple was doomed." shirt Why 2.7 million Americans still get Netflix DVDs in the mail - CNN Harry McCracken on Twitter: "When streaming emerged, I thought that it would lead to just about everything ever done being readily available..." Scarecrow Video Don Giller - YouTube David Letterman’s Unlikely Archivist - The New York Times My Late Night with David Letterman History – The Donz Blog by Don Giller For Sale: This Massive, Obsessive and (Probably) Obsolete VHS Boxing Archive - The New York Times The Flying Karamazov Brothers - The Comedy of Errors 1 of 2 - YouTube The Flying Karamazov Brothers - The Comedy of Errors 2 of 2 - YouTube Downie - YouTube Video Downloader for macOS - Charlie Monroe Software The Day the Music Burned - The New York Times

Jun 24, 2019 • 1h 54min
251: And Then You Eat the Ice Cream
It's Public Beta season, and Jason's spent the last week reviewing macOS Catalina. Are the Catalyst apps better this year? And what features were pleasant surprises? We also discuss JJ Abrams's big new streaming deal, share our own iPhone home screens, and Myke at the Movies calls on "Kiki's Delivery Service."
This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by:
Astropad Studio: Turn your iPad into a professional graphics tablet. Get started today with a 30-day free trial.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year package.
ButcherBox: Thoughtfully sourced meat delivered directly to your door. Get free bacon for life.
PDFpen 11, from Smile: Your ultimate PDF viewing and editing app for the Mac
Links and Show Notes: Support Upgrade with a Relay FM Membership Jason's Home Screen Myke Home Screen Cortex Wallpaper | grafiksyndikat Summer of Fun Desktop Wallpaper Summer of Fun Mobile Wallpaper Relay FM 5th Anniversary Live Show J.J. Abrams Said to Be Near $500 Million Deal With WarnerMedia - The New York Times Bad Robot Productions - Wikipedia Netflix’s Latest Adam Sandler Comedy Gets 30.9M Viewers in 3 Days – Variety First Look: macOS Catalina Public Beta - Six Colors Jason's Beta Equipment iTunes Column View - Google Image Search Daring Fireball: The Talk Show Apple's first 4 iOS apps for Mac are getting an upgrade. News needs it the most - CNET Steve Troughton-Smith's Catalyst Messages App Catalyst Can Rescue the Mac and Grow the iPad – MacStories iPadOS public beta preview: top features - The Verge Apple Releases First Public Betas of iOS 13 and iPadOS - MacRumors Connected #248: There Will Be Consequences - Relay FM Upgrade #200: The Podcasting and Anniversary Episode - Relay FM Wooji Juice on Twitter: "Porting Pro iPad apps to Mac." Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) - IMDb References to Miyazaki (Director) | The Incomparable Myke at the Movies | "My Neighbor Totoro" (Episode 45) The Incomparable | Wind is the Enemy (Episode 84) The Incomparable | A Real Imaginary Friend (Episode 194)

Jun 17, 2019 • 1h 9min
250: Building a Home Screen Together
After a brief commentary about Twitterrific 6 and the difficult world of App Store pricing, we kick off the The Upgrade Summer of Fun by building the official Upgrade iPhone home screen. 28 apps will be picked! Four will win coveted spaces in the dock! Rules will be invented on the fly! Also, we explain what a draft is.
This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by:
Hullo: A simple, natural pillow designed for comfort. Try it for 60 days.
KiwiCo: Change the way your kid plays, with KiwiCo! Get your first crate free!
Astropad Studio: Turn your iPad into a professional graphics tablet. Get started today with a 30-day free trial.
Links and Show Notes:
Apps: Messages, Camera, Fantastical, Notes, Twitterrific, Photos, CalZones, Shortcuts, Google Maps, 1Password, Carrot Weather, Music, Instagram, Find My Friends, Files, Settings, PCalc, Reminders, Timery, Phone, Clock, Home, Threes, MLB At Bat.
Dock: Overcast, Safari, Spark, Slack.
Support Upgrade with a Relay FM Membership Twitterrific 6: My favorite Twitter app just got better - Six Colors Twitterrific 6 Purchase Policy / Twitterrific / Knowledge Base - The Iconfactory, Inc Support List of draft results (spoilers!) AirBuddy ToothFairy: AirPods and Bluetooth utility for Mac iPadOS 13: The wish list meets reality - Six Colors

Jun 10, 2019 • 1h 35min
249: A Bridge to the Future
Myke and Jason get over their WWDC hangover with a discussion of our favorite new iPadOS 13 features. Then we take a look at the future of Apple's platforms with a discussion of Catalyst and SwiftUI and an exclusive interview with Apple's Wiley Hodges and Josh Shaffer.
This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by:
Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code UPGRADE at checkout for 10% off.
Pingdom: Start monitoring your websites and servers today. Use offer code UPGRADE to get 30% off.
eero: Life’s too short for bad WiFi. Get free overnight shipping.
Guest Starring: Josh Shaffer and Wiley Hodges
Links and Show Notes:
Support Upgrade with a Relay FM Membership The Full List of Automation Triggers in Shortcuts for iOS 13 – MacStories AppStories 114: Craig Federighi: The AppStories Interview Catalyst: The iPad and Mac are tied together like never before | Macworld Upgrade #237: New iMacs, iPads, and the 2019 March Event Draft - Relay FM Mac Power Users #485: WWDC and Interview with the Mac Pro Product Manager - Relay FM

Jun 3, 2019 • 1h 36min
248: Seven Layer Burrito of Innovation
The WWDC 2019 keynote was packed full with new announcements. Now, live from San Jose, Jason and Myke come together to talk about iOS 13, macOS Catalina, the introduction of iPadOS, and the new Mac Pro.
This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by:
Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code UPGRADE at checkout for 10% off.
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code UPGRADE at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year package.
Links and Show Notes: Support Upgrade with a Relay FM Membership Connected #245: Totes Ricky - Relay FM Interactive WWDC 2019 Draft Scorecard, created by Zach Knox iPadOS: The MacStories Overview – MacStories Steve Troughton-Smith on Twitter: "Hello mouse support on iOS 13!" James Thomson on Twitter: "Here’s PCalc, Project Catalyst Edition"

May 27, 2019 • 1h 26min
247: The WWDC Keynote Draft 2019
It’s time for our fourth annual competition regarding what will happen on stage next week at WWDC! Will there be new hardware? What will macOS be called? How many times will we see Tim Cook? This week we guess, but next week reality will be our judge.
This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by:
Bombas: The most comfortable socks in the history of feet. Use this link for 20% off.
Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code UPGRADE at checkout for 10% off.
TextExpander, from Smile: Try the new release with the visual editor. Get 20% off your first year.
ButcherBox: Thoughtfully sourced meat delivered directly to your door
Links and Show Notes: Support Upgrade with a Relay FM Membership Interactive WWDC 2019 Draft Scorecard, created by Zach Knox PDF WWDC 2019 Draft Scorecard Apple updates MacBook Pro processors and keyboard, extends Keyboard Service Program - Six Colors MacBook Pro 15" Touch Bar 2019 Teardown - iFixit Relay FM 5th Anniversary Live Show Upgrade (@_upgradefm) / Twitter Buy tickets for Relay FM LIVE at WWDC 2019

May 20, 2019 • 1h 19min
246: You Can't Fight the Magnets
With the WWDC draft a week away, Jason and Myke engage in a flight of fancy, discussing all their wishes for iOS and macOS developments that probably won't happen. Also, Jason has to retrieve his iPad.
This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by:
Burrow: The Luxury Couch for Real Life. Save $75.
Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code UPGRADE at checkout for 10% off.
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code UPGRADE at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Links and Show Notes: Support Upgrade with a Relay FM Membership Brydge Keyboard for iPad Pro 2018 | Brydge Technologies Adapt - Relay FM Disney Assumes Full Control of Hulu in Deal With Comcast – Variety AT&T will pull popular licensed series from Netflix and Hulu - The Verge NBC is expected to take Netflix favorite ‘The Office’ to its new streaming service - Los Angeles Times TV Talk Machine | A Fresher TVTM (Episode 217) Lions Gate shares soar on report that CBS wants to buy Starz - CNBC Amazon Nabs International Rights to Jean-Luc Picard ‘Star Trek’ Series – Variety inessential: The Under-Appreciated Awesomeness of Apple Events (the Technology) The new Apple Pencil made me a believer | Macworld Photos: Apple holds Apple Park opening ceromony- 9to5Mac

May 13, 2019 • 1h 35min
245: Get Ready for the Sensor Square
It's a busy week for Myke as Jason as they discuss hanging on to old software, how third-party apps react to Apple's app updates, the Supreme Court's ruling on an App Store antitrust case, the struggles of Apple Retail, and new reports about this fall's iPhone models. After all that, it's time to discuss the Brydge Pro and Logitech Slim Folio Pro and whether either of them can replace Apple's own Smart Keyboard Folio as our iPad Pro keyboard of choice.
This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by:
Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code UPGRADE at checkout for 10% off.
Pingdom: Start monitoring your websites and servers today. Use offer code UPGRADE to get 30% off.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year package.
Links and Show Notes: Support Upgrade with a Relay FM Membership Brave Peas Connected #242: An Incredible Critique of Modern Capitalism - Relay FM Accidental Tech Podcast: 325: Relive Your Calculator-Watch Dreams Supreme Court Allows Antitrust Suit Against Apple to Proceed - The New York Times Apple Store Locations: Reviews Show Customer Service in Decline - Bloomberg 2019 iPhone to Have Faster A13 Chip As TSMC Starts Production - Bloomberg Mark Gurman on Twitter: "Alleged next iPhone case moldings" Review: Logitech Slim Folio Pro - Six Colors Review: Brydge Pro 12.9 keyboard - Six Colors The new Apple TV app launches today on iOS, Apple TV, and Samsung TVs - The Verge

May 6, 2019 • 1h 25min
244: Push All the Sales Buttons
Apple's financial results lead us to discuss the company bringing a new focus to iPhone sales and throwing Intel under the bus. Then Mark Gurman of Bloomberg swoops in with a huge collection of new and slightly used macOS, iOS, and watchOS rumors for us to dissect.
This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by:
Burrow: The Luxury Couch for Real Life. Save $75.
Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy.
eero: Never think about WiFi again. Get $100 off the ‘Eero base unit and 2 beacons package’, and a year of eero Plus.
Links and Show Notes: Dongletown Surf Club Merch – Available until May 13th! Upgrade Merch | Cotton Bureau The Incomparable | San Francisco Rat (Episode 458) Subscribe to a podcast from the beginning - ⏪ rewind.website The Obamas’ Higher Ground Productions Reveals Upcoming Netflix Slate – Variety ‘Ghost Rider,’ ‘Helstrom’ Live-Action Shows Ordered at Hulu – Variety Apple second-quarter 2019 financial results - Six Colors Apple Q2 2019 Results – $58 Billion Revenue – MacStories This is Tim: Transcript of Apple's Q2 2019 call with analysts - Six Colors Apple's financial results: Learning to sell the iPhone - Six Colors Why Apple believes iPhone sales are finally turning around | Macworld Daring Fireball: Tim Cook and Luca Maestri on Intel Daring Fireball: Qualcomm to Record $4.5 Billion Revenue From Apple Settlement Apple WWDC 2019: iOS 13, macOS 10.15, watchOS 6, tvOS Features - Bloomberg PCalc on the App Store Marvel Unlimited | Comics | Marvel.com The Incomparable | I Wrote a Letter to Myself (Episode 454) Upgrade Your Wardrobe!

Apr 29, 2019 • 1h 17min
243: Fiddling Around With Folders
Jason struggles between the Mac's insistence on file management and iOS's lack of it, Podcasts take a step toward going viral with some help from Overcast, and we prepare for the Upgrade Summer of Fun with a new arrival from Dongletown.
This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by:
Hullo: A simple, natural pillow designed for comfort. Try it for 60 days.
Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code UPGRADE at checkout for 10% off.
ButcherBox: Thoughtfully sourced meat delivered directly to your door
Links and Show Notes:
Dongletown Surf Club Merch!
Check Out Our Merch! Comcast is pondering a sale of its minority stake in Hulu to Disney - CNBC AT&T will reveal its premium WarnerMedia streaming service in early fall - The Verge The Mac is becoming more like iOS—and I think I like it | Macworld About the Finder… | Ars Technica Clip sharing with Overcast – Marco.org A Relationship of Trust with Stephen Hackett — UNCO Podcast How Luminary’s Messy Debut Roiled the Podcast Industry – Vulture Hello from the Magic Tavern The Adventure Zone | Maximum Fun Dragon Friends Upgrade | Cotton Bureau
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.