Hello, pals! Welcome to Installer No. 98, your information to the perfect and Verge-iest stuff on the planet. (For those who’re new right here, welcome, please inform me should you purchased an orange iPhone, and in addition you possibly can learn all of the outdated editions on the Installer homepage.)
This week, I’ve been studying about aggressive therapeutic massage and area soda and how individuals actually use AI, testing Adolescence now that it gained all these Emmys, taking part in The New York Occasions’ new domino sport, lastly listening to The Lazarus Heist, doing a bunch of writing in Ulysses, utilizing Remind Me Sooner for all my task-writing wants, and taking copious notes on Federico Viticci’s iOS 26 evaluate.
I even have for you a brand new set of sensible glasses, a browser you must take a look at, an attention-grabbing new AI product from Google, and a few vital viewing and listening in regards to the web.
And I’ve a query for you: what lists do you retain, and the way do you retain them? I wish to know all about your to-do lists, your bucket lists, your grocery lists, your motion pictures to look at, your favourite locations to eat pasta, all of the lists you retain. Why do you retain them, and the way do you keep them? I’m a enormous list-maker, and I’ll share mine should you share yours.
(As all the time, the perfect a part of Installer is your concepts and ideas. What are you watching / studying / listening to / taking part in / constructing out of toothpicks this week? Inform me the whole lot: [email protected]. And if you already know another person who may get pleasure from Installer, inform them to subscribe right here.)
- Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Gen 2. Meta’s new sensible glasses with a display appear to be a technical achievement, however should you’re out there for sensible glasses, the easy mannequin looks like the correct one. The upgraded model is dearer at $379, however comes with double the battery and a bunch of different upgrades too. It’s nonetheless not a must have system, however I actually like mine.
- Skate. I’ve been ready for this sport for some time, and it largely delivers: it’s an enormous, open area wherein you largely simply wander round leaping over stuff, and it’s very enjoyable to take action. The sport continues to be in early entry, and there’s solely a lot to take action far, however I’m having enjoyable.
- American Sweatshop. A thriller a few content material moderator is each a genius premise and a very 2025 one. It’s about what individuals do, what individuals submit, and the way it modifications all of us on-line. Evaluations are good, it sounds fairly intense, and I’m prepared for it.
- Vivaldi 7.6. A giant replace to certainly one of my favourite browsers, which is absolutely near changing Arc as my day-to-day app. The massive new factor right here is all customization, and be warned: you’ll, like I did, spend half a day getting your browser precisely the way in which you need it. Eh, no matter, I had a blast.
- Google for Home windows. 1,000,000 years in the past, Google had a extremely helpful desktop app that might search recordsdata, the net, and extra out of your desktop. Bizarrely sufficient, it’s again as an area AI software! It’s solely an experiment, however I’ve been listening to good issues about it.
- Swiped. Within the vein of Dropout and WeCrashed, this Hulu film appears to be kinda-sorta true and kinda-sorta labored over to be a greater story. However it’s about Whitney Wolfe Herd, founding father of Bumble and a key character within the rise of on-line relationship. She’s fascinating; I’ll watch.
- The Kuxiu X40 Turbo charger. I’m an enormous proponent of multi-device charging stands, which turn into only a default place to drop all of your crap day by day. My colleague Thomas Ricker loves his Kuxiu charger, and this one’s much more highly effective — and folds up tremendous small for journey.
- Notion 3.0. Notion’s huge thought is to construct an AI system that may do all of the busywork you do in Notion — and doubtlessly elsewhere. Its new instruments sound extremely bold, and perhaps extra intrusive than some persons are in search of. I’m fascinated by the scale of the swing, and curious to see whether or not it makes this complicated app make just a little extra sense.
- “How Social Media Exacerbates Catastrophe & Disinformation.” Actually, actually nice episode of Jon Stewart’s The Weekly Present podcast, speaking to The Atlantic’s Charlie Warzel about how Being On-line has modified us each individually and collectively. It’s bleak! However it’s vital.
- Lego Voyagers. I really like this idea a lot: a cooperative two-player puzzle sport wherein each answer entails constructing of some sort. Any individual please persuade my spouse to spend one million hours taking part in this with me.
For those who’ve ever listened to The Vergecast, you already know I’m not an individual who is aware of issues about TVs. Usually talking, I’ve all the time simply stolen opinions and theories from Caleb Denison, who labored at Digital Traits for a very long time earlier than beginning his personal YouTube channel this yr known as CalebRated. It is best to subscribe! It’s nice!
I initially requested Caleb to share his homescreen earlier this yr, across the unique launch of his channel, however then he received embroiled in a authorized dispute about all of it. Now it’s settled, and he’s again making nice stuff! So, to mark the relaunch, I requested Caleb once more. And he agreed.
Right here’s Caleb’s homescreen, plus some data on the apps he makes use of and why:
The telephone: iPhone 16 Professional Max — I gotta have the perfect video seize and largest display!
The wallpaper: It’s inventory. Name me boring, however the extra distracting the wallpaper is, the much less I like trying on the telephone. I get pleasure from trying on the a part of the globe I’m at present in — it’s enjoyable to have that little reminder after I’m touring, which is usually. It’s additionally mortifying after I notice the solar’s about to come back up and I haven’t but slept.
The apps: Mail, YouTube, YouTube Studio, Instagram, X, The Climate Channel, Messenger, Waze, Google Maps, Pictures, Google Calendar, Calendar, Google Pictures, Podcasts, Pockets, FaceTime, Digital camera, Clock, Settings, Premiere Rush, Instacart, Peacock, Telephone, Chrome, Messages, Starbucks.
Look, I seek for my apps as a result of I don’t have time to recollect what folder I put one thing in. Consequently I’ve stopped placing issues in folders. The one apps I faucet are The Climate Channel, as a result of it’s persistently essentially the most correct of any of the climate apps, despite the fact that I despise the app itself; the Digital camera app, as a result of I can’t be bothered to arrange a shortcut; and the Google Calendar app, which I take advantage of religiously. Oh, and the Settings app. I take advantage of {that a} good bit.
I don’t know why Peacock is there — I don’t know the way it received there or why I haven’t moved it. I don’t at present subscribe, even. It simply sits there… mocking me. Mocked by the ’Cock. Dammit.
I additionally requested Caleb to share a number of issues he’s into proper now. Right here’s what he despatched again:
- I’m into rewatching exhibits I liked a decade in the past. I began with Misplaced, then it was Jail Break, and now The Blacklist. Misplaced was excellent TV. The latter two are formulaic as all get-out, however they’re senseless with out being trashy, which is strictly what I want. I take advantage of these binges to get me in between episodes or seasons of actually glorious modern-day exhibits, like Reacher, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, no matter Star Wars drivel Disney is trotting out, and, like, The Evening Supervisor was freaking pleasant!
- I play about 30 weddings per season (I play trumpet) and that has me touring everywhere in the Pacific Northwest, from the far reaches of Idaho to the Southern Oregon Coast. I hearken to a LOT of music and podcasts on the highway in my little 2005 Audi TT with the highest down (complete midlife crisis-mobile, and I don’t care). Favourite podcasts are: Ear Hustle, Radiolab, and Snap Judgment, not essentially in that order.
- I additionally spend WAY an excessive amount of time classic audio gear on the web. I’ve a significant factor for tube amps, tube pre-amps, classic receivers, reel-to-reel decks, and turntables. It’s like I can odor them by means of the display. Speak about a dopamine hit! WHOOOO!!!!
Right here’s what the Installer group is into this week. I wish to know what you’re into proper now as effectively! E mail [email protected] or message me on Sign — @davidpierce.11 — together with your suggestions for something and the whole lot, and we’ll function a few of our favorites right here each week. For much more nice suggestions, take a look at the replies to this submit on Threads, this submit on Bluesky, and this submit on The Verge.
“After having fun with KPop Demon Hunters, I labored by means of Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE. I had no data of the competitors earlier than diving in. I nonetheless haven’t watched the YouTube portion of the competitors. You get to form of see what it takes to make your approach right into a Okay-Pop band with a consistently altering competitors.” — Sean
“After getting actually uninterested in cheaters in Fortnite, I’ve began studying Overwatch 2, and I’m having a blast. I imply, it’s like making an attempt to play pickup basketball the place each participant has 5 completely different roles, however when it really works, it’s magic!” — Laszlo
“New Highlight in MacOS Tahoe is a sport changer for operating Shortcuts and different automation.” — Jack
“Of us, should you’re not into comics, now is a good time to get into them. DC Comics simply renewed the Batman collection with Batman 1 written by Matt Fraction, artwork by Jorge Jimenez, letters by Clayton Cowles, and coloration by Tomeu Morey. It’s a well-known but completely different tackle Batman with glorious artwork each panel.” — John
“Burning through seasons of Taskmaster NZ with a purpose to snigger relatively than cry — extremely advocate (it’s on YouTube!)” — Amaro
“The DJI Mini Professional 5 is prrreeeety good with the after darkish security upgrades (tempting me to commerce within the 4). Nice breakdown video right here. “ — Jonny
“I’ve spent each morning this week within the firm of NTS Radio. I actually just like the number of the music the hosts play — something from Wilco, latin jazz, and ambient music to obscure 80s meditation tapes and online game soundtracks. It’s 24/7, ad-free, and listener-supported!” — tobysaurus99
“I’m into studying this guide Apple In China by Patrick McGee, and it’s a doozy. Plenty of studying, gossip and drama. The right combine for a guide to maintain me glued to it.” — Sencion
“I’ve been unwinding with Hindsight, a low-stress, no FOMO RSS reader. As an alternative of real-time feeds, it exhibits you yesterday’s information. It’s turn into a welcome a part of my morning routine!” — Kyle
It’s been per week, y’all. Life’s busy, information is nuts, only a lot taking place! For some purpose, the factor that has made me really feel higher again and again this week has been Smartypants, the actually genius Dropout present wherein very sensible individuals give completely unhinged shows about deeply weird topics. You might need seen Hank Inexperienced fixing grocery shops or Alexis Rhiannon instructing you learn how to e mail like a white woman, however nothing has made me snigger like Zach Reino’s argument towards the ocean. I’ve since used the phrase “per time period” no less than 500 instances per time period.
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