Fun With Charts: When Apple was in the red

So I was researching my chart about Apple in the 2000s when I came across a remarkable historical document on Apple’s website: CUPERTINO, California—January 15, 2003—Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2003 first ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Video: Editing Podcasts with Ferrite and Apple Pencil

Since last June I’ve edited just about every episode of The Incomparable on my iPad Pro using Ferrite Recording Studio and an Apple Pencil.Since people are often curious about just how using the Apple Pencil to edit a podcast works, I thought I | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #333: Throwing the Spaghetti at the Consumer

This week on the 30 minute tech show that’s like a wizard, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests Brianna Wu and Shahid Kamal Ahmad to discuss Samsung’s latest flip phone, security tips for elections and ordinary people, high refresh rate ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound #276: The Definition of Mixed Reviews

ToothFairy didn’t exactly fix Moltz’s AirPod problem but it kind of did.Taika Waititi has some thoughts on the butterfly keyboard.Reviews of Apple TV+’s new show Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet have been mixed. We explain what th... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #284: We're In the Ear Business

Why did Apple surprise developers with beta releases with intriguing new features this month? What does it mean for the future of Mac app development? Is a new keyboard going to be a major feature of new iPad Pro models? Would Apple really build Macs with... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Oscar-winner Taika Waititi tells Apple to fix its keyboards

Taika Waititi, director of Thor: Ragnarok, the upcoming Thor: Love & Thunder, What We Do in the Shadows, as well as this year’s Academy Award winner for Best Adapted Screenplay, really thinks Apple should fix those MacBook keyboards: Taika Wai... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Fun With Charts: A plague of Performas

Macworld Expo 2000: It’s so simple!When I mentioned that I was trying to do a weekly chart on Six Colors, Stephen Hackett suggested a few charts that he’d like to see—some silly, some serious. I’m not sure where this one falls.... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Bad AppleScript: Template Gun meets the Internet

Back in 2018 I wrote about Template Gun, my AppleScript app that lets me quickly generate new project folders for the podcasts I’m working on. (I picture the “Template Gun” as more of a hot-dog or t-shirt cannon.) The premise is th... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Sponsor) Sponsor: Previs Pro

Previs Pro is a brand-new iOS app for storyboarding film and video created by a multiple Apple Design Award winning team. If you make films or create videos, you already know the importance of using storyboards to design that perfect shot. But, unless y... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #332: One Hip Lies

This week on the 30 minute tech podcast that’s Roman all over, Dan and guest host Jason Snell are joined by special guests Carolina Milanesi and Matthew Cassinelli to discuss the best and worst of Apple in the year gone by, Google’s divisive S... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound #275: Bezos, I'm Home

Matt Birchler has some great thoughts on where watchOS should go.Six Colors gives its annual Apple report card.YouTube-dl is a command line tool for downloading YouTube videos.Ring doorbells had a bad 2019.Google admits it sent private videos to s... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #283: The Anger of the Panel

It’s time for our annual dive into the Six Colors Apple Report Card, as Jason and Myke interpret the scores and comments of 65 Apple-watchers and add their own views on where the company succeeding—and where it’s not. ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Apple in 2019: The Six Colors report card

It’s time for our annual look back on Apple’s performance during the past year, as seen through the eyes of writers, editors, developers, podcasters, and other people who spend an awful lot of time thinking about Apple.This is the fifth y... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound #274: A Monkey In This Hunt

Moviepass is no more.Apple has been in talks to be the future home of NFL Sunday Ticket.Apple had a good quarter.Apple has been in talks to acquire MGM.Apple has made a production deal with former Starz exec Carmi Zlotnik.Fantastical 3.0 is out.... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Apple and NFL Sunday Ticket

It’s Super Bowl week, which means that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gave his annual press conference on Wednesday. In a preview story on the Athletic (subscription required), reporter Daniel Kaplan mentioned Apple prominently: The NFL under te... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #331: Ambulatory Meat Sack

This week, on the 30-minute tech show that’s powering through, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests Jeremy Burge and Kathy Campbell to discuss our app preferences on macOS and iOS, if we’re TikTok’in’, our sleep-tracking habi... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Fantastical 3 steps out of Apple's shadow

Fantastical 3 on iPad is a huge upgrade. The left sidebar can come and go with a swipe.I’ve been using Fantastical as my calendar app across all my devices for years now. I’ve come to appreciate its thoughtful interface and its excellent n... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

A few notes on Apple's latest record quarter

So, another record fiscal quarter for Apple. Are we surprised? Not really, I suppose, though it’s interesting to remember that last year’s holiday quarter was actually smaller than the previous year’s, which set the record. 2019 is now t... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

This is Tim: Apple Q1 2020 results transcript

Here’s a transcript of the (ongoing) Apple conference call with financial analysts. It will continue to be updated.Tim Cook: Good afternoon and thanks to all of you for joining us. We’re thrilled to report Apple’s biggest quarter ever,... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Apple reports a record $91.8 billion holiday quarter

Apple announced that its calendar 2019 holiday quarter (the first quarter of its fiscal 2020) was its all-time best in terms of revenue, with a total of $91.8 billion, with a $22.2 billion profit. The company beat its estimates for the quarter, and in new... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

The iPad era turns 10

Moments before the presentation started.It’s the tenth anniversary of the iPad’s announcement. Here are some links for your enjoyment:This week’s Upgrade goes into detail about the iPad’s legacy over the past 10 years.Last ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #282: The iPad at 10

It’s the 10th anniversary of the announcement of the iPad! Myke and Jason discuss why the seeds of the iPad’s success were visible on day one, the changes in the iPad’s life cycle over time, and how the iPad fits in our daily lives today... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Fun With Charts: Apple's turnaround decade

Last week I followed a thread from my chart about the growth of Apple’s Services and Wearables categories and ended up marveling at the spectacular growth Apple experienced during the 2010s.Which got me thinking about decades. Because while itR... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound 273: You Talking to Me?

This week, on the irreverent tech show that sometimes goes international, it’s nearly all-encryption all the time as Guy explains the ins and outs of bits and bytes to John and Dan. Then it’s on to the newest iPhone rumors until we’re bl... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #330: I Call That the Airplane Squirrel

This week, on the tech podcast that’s having the time of its life, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests Jason Howell and Kelly Guimont to discuss digital wellbeing apps and features, movies and TV shows we thought would accurately predict the ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #281: Your Historical Knowledge Has Been Noted

We close the book on the 2010s with a special draft of Apple keynotes and media events from the past decade, joined by special guest Stephen Hackett. And in Upstream news, it’s a busy season of announcements for both Apple TV+ and Peacock. ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Clever, Powerful, Useful: Time to upgrade the Mac's energy settings

Back in the olden days of the early 1990s, the Mac’s built-in power-management software was not great. Third-party apps filled the gap, the most impressive of which was Connectix PowerBook Utilities (CPU). As Adam Engst wrote 28 years ago(!): CP... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Fun with Charts: A decade of Apple growth

I wrote a throwaway line in last week’s set of charts about just how the Apple of 2020 is not the Apple of 2010 just as the Apple of 2010 was not the Apple of 2000. I deleted the reference because I thought the thought deserved its own chart and its... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound 272: I Want Every Possible Option

This week, on the irreverent podcast that’s fully powered up for 2020, John’s got a bigger phone…sort of. Plus, Lex has some thoughts on notifications, Dan is still frustrated by browser changes, and everybody’s got their fill of e... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #329: Forgetting as a Service

This week, on the 30-minute tech show whose longevity is no puzzle, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests Lisa Schmeiser and Casey Liss to discuss our best security practices, the services we’d still like to see from tech companies, our thought... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #280: De Niro Can't Bend

With Myke reporting live from Hollywood, we discuss Netflix’s record Oscar nominations, and Apple’s first TV award and TV critic press tour. Jason makes a chart that explains why Apple execs can’t stop talking about Services and Wearable... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Fun with Charts: Why Apple's Services and Wearables are in the spotlight

Every three months, we get to peer inside Apple’s business via the financial disclosures that are mandatory for American public corporations. (The company will reveal the specifics of its holiday quarter on January 28.) Four years ago, aware that th... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound 271: Here's Another Stupid Robot

This week, on the irreverent tech show that can’t pronounce words, we discuss the latest “news” out of CES, John is still pining for a smaller phone, James has gotten thrown under the TV bus, and Dan is just hearing about this stupid rob... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #328: Kicking off 2020 for the Second Time

This week, on the 30-minute tech podcast that’s in 2020 for reals, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests Christina Warren and Zac Hall to discuss the coolest and weirdest announcements from CES, podcasts we’d like to see made into books, ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

How I rip DVDs and Blu-Rays in 2020 ↦

[Updated January 8, 2020.]I’ve got a couple of large plastic bins in my office that are full of DVDs and Blu-rays. Many of these are TV shows and movies that now stream in HD on one of the streaming services I subscribe to, making me question ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #279: I Predict It Every Year, Why Stop Now?

With a new year come Jason’s predictions for Apple in 2020. How varied can the iPhone product line get? Will Apple make its most interesting laptop yet—and will it run macOS or iPadOS? And how can Apple double down on the success of AirPods? W... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #327: Chiming in the New Year

This week, on the 30-minute tech show that’s now seeing 2020, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests John Voorhees and Jean MacDonald to discuss the tech we want to see in 2020, the tech we felt made the biggest difference to us in 2019, tech we... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound 270: The Joe Biden of MacBook Airs

The irreverent tech podcast returns for a new year and new decade, as we discuss the holiday tech gifts we got and gave, a few iOS wishlist items, our hopes for 2020, and whether or not we’re still Apple Arcade subscribers. ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Brydge introduces iPad keyboard with trackpad

Brydge, the maker of my favorite iPad keyboard, announced on Thursday that it’s opening orders for the Brydge Pro+, a new iPad keyboard that includes an integrated trackpad. The Brydge Pro+ will cost $200 for the 11-inch iPad Pro model, and $230 f... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #278: The 2019 Upgradies

As the year comes to an end, it’s time for the Sixth Annual Upgradies! Myke and Jason discuss their favorites of 2019, take the input of 1500 Upgradians, and hand out awards in numerous categories! Only the finest will walk away with the most covete... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

My favorite things from 2019

[This post is reprinted from the December issue of the Six Colors Magazine, a monthly newsletter only for supporters of Six Colors. Become a member today.]As much as I struggle with creating year-end lists, here’s a collection of stuff that I ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

NetNewsWire 5 for iOS arrives as public beta

NetNewsWire, the venerable RSS reader that returned to original creator Brent Simmons in 2018 to be revived as an open-source project that was released for the Mac in August, is now in public beta testing on iOS.I’ve been using it this week on... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #326: Why We Find Solace In Love

This week on the 30 minute tech show that knows a lot about elves, Dan and special guest co-host Jason Snell are joined by guests Allison Sheridan and Alex Cox to discuss our tech stocking stuffers, why the Mac’s community exists, Apple’s sate... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #277: Who Killed the Butterfly Keyboard?

This week we try to solve a technology mystery. What if there was a murder, but no body? What if there were victims, but no crime? We all want answers: Who killed the butterfly keyboard, and why? ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #325: Roomba vs. Baby

This week, on the 30-minute tech podcast that brings the holiday cheer, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests Caitlin McGarry and Devindra Hardawar to discuss sprucing up the holiday season with gadgets, our New Year’s tech resolutions, one new... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound 269: Seven Mac Pros for Seven Raccoons

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@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Sponsor) MacUpdater

My thanks to MacUpdater for sponsoring Six Colors this past week. MacUpdater is the easiest way to keep all your apps up-to-date effortlessly.MacUpdater automatically scans your apps and lets you know when there are updates available. In most cases, Mac... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #276: It's Always the Chips

How is Apple TV+ like a bicycle? Is the Mac Pro made in the USA? Why can you play Apple Podcasts from the Amazon Echo? This week Jason and Myke answer these questions, and ponder the negative reaction from some pro users to the price of the Mac Pro.... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago