Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 114, your go-to source for the latest and greatest in tech. (If you’re new, nice to have you! Feel free to send over any Arc Raiders tips, and you can check out past editions on the Installer homepage.) This week, I dug into wind turbines, phishing scams, and oboes; got organized with the super-minimal Attn app; played around with the lovely Aeronaut Bluesky client; and spent way too much time researching electric snow shovels. I finally upgraded my favorite podcast headphones to a new Beyerdynamic pair and started yet another rewatch of Superstore. Now I’m debating whether to trade my iPhone 16 for the iPhone 17 or a Pixel 10. I’m leaning toward Pixel.
I also have a cool upgrade for an Apple gadget, an awesome new AI search tool, some great shows to catch, new Sonos gear, and more. Plus, I’d love to know: what’s your favorite non-Big Tech gadget? Many folks are looking to ditch devices from Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and others for various reasons. If you’ve found something great, drop me a line! You can reach me at installer@theverge.com or find me on Signal @davidpierce.11. Now, let’s dive in!
(As always, the best part of Installer is hearing your ideas and tips. What are you reading, watching, listening to, or playing this week? Tell me about it at installer@theverge.com. If you know someone who might enjoy this, forward it to them and encourage them to subscribe here.)
Apple AirTags: This comes at the perfect time since all my AirTag batteries are running low. I’m excited about the new model’s louder speaker, along with several little upgrades that should enhance this already handy gadget.
Yahoo Scout: This has quickly become my favorite AI search tool online. It provides loads of links without being overly complex or weirdly friendly—think of it like an auto-generating Wikipedia page on your chosen topic. Just remember to follow the links instead of fully trusting the bot!
Crushable: Big week for Yahoo! Think of this as Wordle meets Candy Crush, if that makes sense. I like the idea of a game that encourages you to play just a few minutes a day. Also, I just learned that the Yahoo Games app exists—and it’s actually pretty good!
OpenClaw: Don’t refer to it as Moltbot or Clawdbot—it’s OpenClaw now. Whatever the name, this tool for controlling devices via AI and messaging apps is making waves online. Tread carefully with it, but wow, it’s powerful.
Wonder Man: Today, I found out Wonder Man is a real thing! While I’m generally skeptical of every new Marvel addition, the reviews for this series have been solid, and it seems to stray far from being just another superhero show.
Shrinking Season 3: This show just keeps impressing me! I’ve officially reached the “I hope they make endless episodes, and I’ll watch every one” phase of fandom. Plus, it looks like there’s even more star power this season!
Halide Mark III: A significant upgrade (still in preview) to one of the best iOS camera apps available. Process Zero is one of the top ways to take phone photos, and I’m already enjoying the new film-simulation preset.
The Sonos Amp Multi: This is the first new Sonos hardware in a while, though it’s not exactly mainstream. It’s designed for people who create and install large, complex systems. If that’s you, this could be a game-changer.
Chrome Auto Browse: AI agents are becoming essential for any web browser, even if they don’t always function perfectly. That said, if anyone can make it work well and navigate the web for you, it’s Google. I’ll be giving this one a thorough test.
He probably doesn’t know it, but Christopher Mims (who I’ve always referred to simply as “Mims”) gave me some of the best writing advice I’ve ever received. Back when we worked together at The Wall Street Journal, he taught me how to be clear and concise, and how to get straight to the point.
Speaking of Mims, his new book, How to AI, just came out this week. I’m already halfway through, and it’s fantastic—straightforward, thorough, and easy to grasp. It neither treats AI as a miracle solution nor condemns it outright. It’s exactly as the title implies—great stuff!
I asked Mims to share his homescreen and some of his favorite apps, just to see if he’s fully embraced AI. Here’s what he shared:
The phone: I had to look it up. It’s an iPhone 15 (hey, work provided it). These days, I don’t think it matters much what phone you have unless you’re using it for photography or high-quality video.
The wallpaper: It’s Apple’s standard “view of Earth from space right now.” I appreciate the reminder—like Carl Sagan said, we’re just a tiny mote of dust in a sunbeam.
The apps: Google Keep, Google Tasks, Chrome, Hark, Google Maps, Spotify, Overcast, BitCam, Camera, Phone, Messages.
In the lower-left corner is BitCam, great for fans of the original black-and-white dithering algorithm. On the right is Hark, which I love because it’s a unique podcast clipper/aggregator with top-notch editorial judgment.
I also asked Mims for a few of his current favorites. Here’s what he sent:
Bluesky has improved greatly now—just don’t spread the word. The BBC has revealed some fantastic archival documentaries, including one about windmills that looks so beautiful it could be showcased at MoMA. I’m still an obsessed Polytopia player; it’s very calming. I’ve also mastered the technique of recording all my calls while taking handwritten notes during them, which has boosted my recall and comprehension. Maria Konnikova, an exceptional poker player turned science writer, has a great newsletter explaining the science behind this method.
Now, let’s see what the Installer community is into this week! I want to hear what you’re enjoying right now too! Shoot me an email at installer@theverge.com or reach out on Signal (@davidpierce.11) with your recommendations, and we’ll highlight some of our favorites. For more suggestions, check out the replies on Threads and Bluesky.
“I’ve been hooked on The Roottrees are Dead, a game where you investigate in 1998 to piece together a family tree. You do this using retro internet search engines and a corkboard with string. Plus, the soundtrack fits the vibe perfectly.” — Jonathan
“I use Apple’s Home app to manage all my smart home devices. I installed Wemo light switches about six years ago, but they were hit-or-miss. Recently, I swapped them for Tapo’s Matter-enabled switches. If it’s Matter or just better tech, they haven’t disconnected from the Home app once. Highly recommended!” — Ryan
“The Mecha Comet is a modular Linux handheld that I’ve completely fallen for!” — @trainsandinternet
“I’m currently playing through Halo: The Master Chief Collection and lamenting how Microsoft mishandled this iconic franchise. With Cortana as your AI assistant, it’s disappointing they took that route! And don’t even get me started on the Halo TV series and the latest games!” — Anshuman
“Just watched Send Help, which is the third bloody horror film I’ve caught in theaters this month.” — Kev
“I recently discovered FocusFlight, and it’s now my go-to app for focused work. It’s a cool mix of ideas, and as an aviation fan, it’s perfect for staying focused. It does need to simplify the number of taps to start a session, but I love the new mode that lets you watch clouds pass by your airplane window while you work.” — Adam
“My Fiio Snowsky Disc DAP from AliExpress arrived last weekend, and it’s been a blast to use. It’s designed to resemble an old-school music player, but it’s super tiny and palm-sized, can take a large microSD card, and has incredible sound quality.” — Brian
“The newest update for the Pokémon TCG Pocket just dropped, and I’m excited to start ripping packs and building fun new decks. Finally, Stadium cards are in the game!” — Bob
“Check out Blood on the Clocktower! It’s a social deduction game in the vein of Mafia or Werewolf, but every role has a purpose, allowing players to participate even after they’re out of the game. Thanks to No Rolls Barred and Good Time Society showcasing the Dropout cast, it’s gaining traction, and I can’t wait to find a group to play with!” — Jack
I’ve touched on this before, but I’m really captivated by the concept of local-first software. The idea is pretty simple: software shouldn’t assume it’s relying on cloud data, but rather that everything it needs is stored locally on your device. It should still offer all the features you want and be completely collaborative while delivering the speed and security of local files. Loading screens are the enemy!
The folks at Ink & Switch wrote a fantastic essay on local-first software a while back, and I recently found a 10-minute YouTube doc from CultRepo that delves into the concept even more. It all makes so much sense to me, and these local-first principles are shifting how I search for and use software. Files for the win!
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