Abdelrahman
Hello there, friends! You’ve just tuned into Installer No. 71, your ultimate resource for the most intriguing and Verge-worthy content out there. If this is your first time here, we extend a warm welcome and wish you a wonderful long weekend to those who are celebrating! You can also catch up on previous editions at the Installer homepage.
This week, I’ve been diving into topics like Alan Turing, exploring the realm of OnlyFans, sampling street drinks from convenience stores, dusting off my skills in Fortnite, indulging in The Ministry of Time, braving the kitchen to prepare air fryer donuts, testing out the Sony ZV-1 M2 as a webcam, binge-watching The White Lotus in anticipation of the third season, experimenting with Anybox for bookmarking and note-taking, and checking if the Simplify Gmail extension can enhance my email experience.
Additionally, I’ve curated a list of the top SNL sketches to enjoy, along with a fantastic pair of Beats headphones, a versatile drawing tablet for creators, an engaging sci-fi movie on Apple TV Plus, and plenty more!
Special thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts on music last week! I received an overwhelming amount of insights, and to be fair, I haven’t had the chance to go through them all yet. This means next week will feature an extensive music-themed edition, so if you have thoughts on music services, favorite gadgets, or anything else related, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Here’s to a fantastic streaming weekend ahead. Let’s get started!
(As always, the heart of Installer is fueled by your suggestions and insights. What topics would you like to explore further? Do you have any amazing tricks or must-have apps to share? Let me know everything at installer@theverge.com. Also, if you know someone who would enjoy Installer, encourage them to subscribe here!)
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SNL50. I am super excited about the three-hour SNL anniversary special airing on Sunday, and even the concert on Saturday night has me thrilled. Plus, the new Peacock landing page is a treasure trove of iconic sketches, monologues, and musical numbers—you could easily spend the entire weekend diving into these clips! - Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. These earbuds offer all the great features found in the AirPods Pro but come in vibrant colors with secure ear hooks that ensure they stay in place. I recently snagged a pair in the understated “quick sand” hue and couldn’t be happier with my choice, though I wish the microphone quality was a bit better.
- The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep. I haven’t delved much into the entire Witcher universe on Netflix due to mixed reviews, but this animated film promises cool monster-hunting without any prior baggage—it sounds right up my alley.
- The Wacom Intuos Pro. This is a game changer for drawing tablets, with more tactile controls and a more compact design. I’m impressed, but I wonder how long-term users will need to adapt to these changes.
- The Gorge. The concept intrigues me—a narrative involving two characters on opposite sides of a deep, fog-laden gorge tasked with protecting the world from what dwells below, intertwined with a romantic storyline—so much so that I don’t even mind the less-than-stellar reviews.
- Apple TV Plus for Android. A new way to enjoy The Gorge on-the-go! Apple has timed this rollout perfectly with Severance returning and the forthcoming MLS season, marking a significant win for existing subscribers.
- Apple Cider Vinegar. A Netflix series that appeals to both my wife and me, exploring influencer culture and the bizarre lengths people go to secure likes. Along with An Update on Our Family, it’s contributing to a rather bleak yet fascinating genre we’re dabbling in together.
- Is This Seat Taken? Currently only available as a Steam demo, this puzzler combines elements of Guess Who and RollerCoaster Tycoon—it’s engaging, humorous, and easy to get lost in, much like Balatro, which is both thrilling and alarming.
- Routine for Android. I’ve been monitoring this app’s progress, and it’s evolving into a powerful (though slightly complex) tool for notes, tasks, calendars, and more. While not all features are fully operational yet, it’s definitely worth a trial run.
I enjoy exploring a multitude of gadgets (a perk of my role). But let’s talk about Sean Hollister—he’s really taken gadget experimenting to another level! Whether it’s researching for his incredible video series or dissecting devices with elaborate Apple tools, I often find myself envious of his gadget escapades. Just recently, he got his hands on double magnetic rings—something I had never come across before but now desperately want!
I asked Sean to share a peek at his homescreen, hoping to uncover some fantastic new apps along the way. Here’s what he provided, along with a rundown of the apps he values and why:
The device: Galaxy Z Flip 5.
The wallpaper: The plain default wallpaper, without a known name.
The applications: Openvibe, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, Facebook, Reddit, NewsBlur, Yelp, Google Photos, The Verge, Slack, Evernote, MyFitnessPal, Discord, Chrome, Gmail, Google Calendar, Home Assistant, Phone, Messages, Camera, Google Maps.
What you see is the homescreen of someone constantly engaged with information—it’s evident! Firstly, I’ve only got 36 percent battery left at 4:25 PM and I’ve hardly used the device today… so I’m currently searching for my next phone.
Secondly, I have four social media clients at the top as I’m deliberating which ones to continue using—you’ll notice there are notifications from X, yet no app icon on the homescreen since I follow only a few accounts there for news! Instead, The Verge has its own shortcut.
Thirdly, Signal and Messenger are grouped together in an unappealing drawer due to my efforts to limit support for Meta following certain societal developments, although I haven’t fully succeeded yet.
The main apps on my homescreen are MyFitnessPal, which I rely on almost daily for calorie tracking to aid my weight loss journey; Evernote, which holds a significant portion of my memories; and Home Assistant for managing various aspects of my home. However, I find the first two apps becoming increasingly bloated with unnecessary features, and my smart home setup tends to malfunction!
Not featured: Pokémon TCG Pocket, which I recently moved to the fifth homescreen to lessen my dependency.
I also inquired about Sean’s current interests. Here’s what he shared:
- I’m in catch-up mode! Playing 1000xResist, which made it to Polygon‘s best of 2024 list, while also watching The OA, a cult favorite I missed the first time around. They share some similarities: both are peculiar works of science fiction, featuring complex, relatable antagonists.
- Additionally, I’m currently enjoying the fresh K-drama When The Phone Rings. The first episode bored me at first, but I later realized how cleverly the twist was concealed, making it one of the most enjoyable series I’ve watched recently. Avoid Googling it if possible, as even a short synopsis could spoil the first episode.
- In the meantime, I can’t get enough of Hairo Satoh’s Game Boy modding escapades. He has brilliantly demonstrated that an extra Game Boy Advance SP screen makes everything better. If you’re reading this, Satoh-san, we’d love to interview you about your fascinating process!
Here’s what the Installer community is currently into! I’d love to hear about your favorites too—feel free to email me at installer@theverge.com or message me on Signal — @davidpierce.11 — with your recommendations, and we’ll highlight some of our favorites here each week. For more great suggestions, be sure to check out the replies to this post on Threads and this one on Bluesky.
“I’m striving to maintain my sanity by limiting my news consumption and screen time amid the ongoing chaos. I’m currently reading The Wager by David Grann, the same author behind Killers of the Flower Moon. It presents your typical conflicting accounts of a real-life Lord of the Flies set in the 1700s, which is utterly fascinating!” – Colin
“We just started binging Paradise and it’s been fantastic so far.” – Jules
“As discussions around digital self-determination grow (it’s becoming relevant here in Germany as well), I’ve been exploring various operating systems for my smartphone. I stumbled upon a decent alternative to Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS known as /e/OS. It’s working quite well, and I’m still able to use all my usual apps. They also provide phones with pre-installed /e/.” – Christian
“I’ve been playing this game called Hole. The title might be unfortunate, but it’s inexpensive and provides a great time.” – Sophie
“I’m not sure how many people are aware, but Notion and TickTick now have a two-way integration, which is fantastic! I still find its functionality somewhat limited, though, as it currently allows only one list to be sent at a time, which doesn’t quite make sense, and caps it to three lists.” – Barry
“I experienced a moment of joy online this week with this video, which plays the Star Trek TNG theme song as if it were blaring from the Enterprise itself!” – Mike
“I recently downloaded the National Film Board app, and it’s delightful! It offers free access to the largest collection of Canadian films online, with no subscription or ads.” – Christine
“After Instagram directed me to some video clips from BBC’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, I began exploring older episodes. If you enjoy British humor and can tolerate some musical interludes, it’s gloriously entertaining! I’ve found myself laughing out loud on public transport once again.” – Sinan
“I recently discovered Bear Blog. It’s a minimalistic blogging platform with a lot of customization, and it features a Discovery page reminiscent of Hacker News.” – Sammie
Among my favorite new discoveries online is Reddit Answers. I’ve been utilizing it extensively, and it serves as an excellent platform for gathering suggestions—like “What are some fantastic, lesser-known dark chocolate brands?” which resulted in a comprehensive list with links to relevant discussions. “Are Bose or Sony headphones superior?” sparked a thoughtful exchange. “What are the most popular conspiracy theories regarding Severance?” led to a captivating rabbit hole!
As with all AI search tools, my approach is straightforward: avoid high-stakes questions, and don’t trust the answers without checking the sources. The more I engage with Answers, the more I feel there’s genuine value, and my belief in Severance theories is growing!
