Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 106, your guide to the best and most interesting stuff out there. If you’re new here, happy Thanksgiving Week! You can catch up on older editions at the Installer homepage. This week, I’ve been diving into prediction markets, following Hilary Duff and Matt Belloni, and even learning about yeast. I cleared some space for a Steam Machine, took Stephen Totilo’s advice and played News Tower, and made sure I still remember all the lyrics to Wicked (which I do, don’t worry). I’ve also given up on my fantasy football team and recorded season two of Version History. It’s shaping up to be a fun one!
I’ve got some cool stuff for you this week, too: a new way to use your Windows computer, Google’s latest LLM, a documentary that’ll fill your weekend in the best way, and a lot more.
(As always, the best part of Installer is hearing from you. What are you reading, watching, playing, building, or snacking on this week? I want to know everything: [email protected]. And if you know someone else who might enjoy Installer, forward it on and let them know they can subscribe here.)
Raycast for Windows. Raycast — a versatile launcher, clipboard manager, shortcut system, and more — is my go-to app on any new Mac. Now, it’s finally available on Windows too! While it’s still in public beta and not quite on par with the Mac app, it’s looking good and should improve how you use your computer.
Kirby Air Riders. A surprise to many, this game is a sequel to a quirky GameCube title, now on Switch 2. It combines racing and battling, allowing for plenty of chaos. Sounds like fun to me!
Marvel’s Deadpool VR. I can’t remember the last time a VR game encouraged me to take my Quest out of its charging stand, but with Neil Patrick Harris as Deadpool, this one might do the trick!
Gemini 3. Google’s new LLM seems to be one of the best all-around models available right now. You can use it in apps, in Search, or to create apps and visualizations. Google might just be pulling ahead.
The Samsung Smart Keyboard. This lightweight, compact keyboard is a surprisingly great travel accessory. Pair it with your phone or tablet, and you’ll be amazed by how much you can accomplish without your laptop. While you can find cheaper alternatives to its $110 price tag, its size and weight are hard to beat.
Comet for Android. Many AI browsers start on Apple devices, mainly Macs, so it’s refreshing to see them branching out to other platforms. Quick summaries and answers are a fantastic fit for mobile browsing.
The American Revolution. Ken Burns is at it again! His timely 12-hour documentary explores the creation of the USA. Even the snippets I’ve seen are rich and likely to stir up some feelings—no one does it quite like Burns.
“NASA Shares Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Images.” Just another day sharing data and stunning images of a comet from another solar system. This hour-long stream is totally worth your time, and there’s a great explainer on the NASA site too.
The Analogue 3D. I’ve been eagerly waiting for this Analogue console based on the Nintendo 64. Finally shipping now! Reviews are excellent, and the game library is extensive. The only issue? It’s hard to keep these in stock!
At this point, my most-used device besides my phone is my Boox Palma. If you’ve been following my updates, this won’t surprise you. I’ve become something of a guide for Palma users, showing off this pocket-sized, minimalist device.
I recently reviewed the new Palma 2 Pro, which left me excited but ultimately disappointed. It got me reevaluating my Palma usage. I like how my new home screen turned out, so I transferred it back to my trusty Palma 2. Here it is:
(Funny note: That screenshot doesn’t look like that on my Palma! It’s black and white on the E Ink screen, and looks way better in that format.)
The wallpaper: It’s called “Tree,” one of the built-in options. I had it blank for a bit, but this one feels just right.
The apps: Claude, NYT Games, MyMind, Libby, Roku, Kindle, Readwise Reader, Workflowy, Spotify, Pocket Casts.
It’s pretty simple, really. I use Kindle and Libby for books, Reader for articles, Spotify for music, and Pocket Casts for podcasts (not a fan of Spotify for that!). Workflowy is excellent for quick notes, while MyMind stores quotes and snippets I come across. NYT Games is my go-to for winding down in bed, and Claude helps with quick info searches to avoid typing on the Palma. I keep Roku as a backup remote, which has come in handy more than once.
The only other app on my Palma is 1Password, but it doesn’t need to be on the home screen. This setup does everything I need without any extra fluff—exactly what I’m looking for!
Let’s see what the Installer community is into this week. I’d love to know your current favorites, too! Email [email protected] or hit me up on Signal — @davidpierce.11 — with your recommendations, and we might feature a few each week. For even more great suggestions, check out the replies to this post on Threads and this one on Bluesky.
“Just replaced the battery in a 10-year-old PS Vita with an iFixit kit and it took me like 20 minutes and was actually super fun.” — Jonathan
“After years of ignoring advice about this unusual way to learn a language, I gave in and tried a few short Language Transfer lessons. I’m captivated! The method is simple yet effective, and I’ve even adjusted my own teaching. Language Transfer is that good—and it’s free!” — Pieter
“Currently reading a fantastic coffee table book about the Jordan Brand. It focuses on advertising, his brand, the photography, and more rather than his playing career. The first chapter dives into 40 years of shoe evolution.” — Boukou
“Rewatching Stranger Things seasons 1-4 before the final season drops next week.” — Alex
“I’ve gotten back into physical pocket notebooks. I bought a Space Pen, and I now keep a Field Notes notebook handy for everything: to-do lists, ideas, journaling, etc. It’s addictive and I highly recommend it.” — Josh
“Trying a new animated wallpaper app for Mac called Backdrop. It’s the only one that unifies the animated wallpaper between your desktop and lock screen.” — Russ
“Just started reading Beyond a Boundary by CLR James. It’s termed THE GREATEST SPORTS BOOK EVER WRITTEN, but I picked it up because I loved The Black Jacobins. Plus, the cover is top-notch!” — Rich
“My recommendation is Cyberspace.online. It’s text-based social media reminiscent of a better internet era. I haven’t had this much fun online since original Tumblr!” — Jordan
“Check out the Rock Planner app for iPad. It’s a bit buggy but allows you to annotate calendar entries directly with a pencil. It even has a to-do section next to it. It’s from the creators of the Rock paper and pencil tip, which I highly recommend.” — Mario
We’re living in strange times where it’s hard to tell what’s real and what isn’t. When I first saw a skydiver in front of the sun, I dismissed it as AI. But it turned out to be one of the most remarkable photos I’ve ever seen—requiring incredible planning and creativity. The photographer, Andrew McCarthy (known as @cosmic_background on Instagram), has a portfolio full of similarly stunning work. Definitely worth a follow!
