Are you tired of endless to-do lists that never seem to get done? Imagine a world where you could simply tell your phone what to do, and it would actually do it. Sounds like science fiction, right? Well, it's closer than you think! Welcome to Installer No. 113, your guide to the coolest and most cutting-edge stuff out there. Consider this a slightly condensed version this week, a 'bug fixes and performance improvements' update, if you will, due to a particularly hectic week. But fear not, there's still plenty of good stuff to explore! And remember, the best part of Installer is your contributions! What are you loving this week? Share your recommendations by emailing installer@theverge.com. Know someone who would enjoy this? Forward it to them and encourage them to subscribe! Let's dive in!
The Drop: Your Weekly Dose of Awesome
Todoist Ramble: (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=1025X1701640&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%3Fid%3D1025X1701724%26xs%3D1%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.todoist.com%252Framble) Want to turn your chaotic thoughts into organized tasks? Todoist Ramble, fresh out of beta, lets you record your stream of consciousness, and its AI magically transforms it into actionable projects, tasks, and deadlines. It's like having a personal assistant who can decipher your brain! Could this be the ultimate productivity hack?
The NexPhone: (https://nexphone.com/blog/the-tale-of-nexphone-one-phone-every-computer) One phone to rule them all? The NexPhone, a decade in the making, is a midrange Android phone that also runs Linux and Windows. (https://www.theverge.com/tech/864595/nexphone-android-linux-windows-11) The idea is that you can use it as your primary computer. While it's still a ways off from shipping and raises some questions about performance and practicality, the sheer audacity of this project is exciting. But here's where it gets controversial... Is it really feasible to cram three operating systems into a phone and expect it to perform well? Or is this just a cool concept that will ultimately fall short?
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!: (https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/308112-mel-brooks-the-99-year-old-man) A star-studded, two-part HBO documentary directed by Judd Apatow celebrating the comedic genius of Mel Brooks. After watching the doc, you HAVE to revisit classics like Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and Spaceballs. A masterclass in comedy!
Crossplay: (https://www.nytimes.com/games/crossplay) The New York Times' first multiplayer word game! Think Words with Friends but with a cleaner design and fewer ads. A big win for word-loving couples! The only downside? It requires a separate app download.
MIO: Memories in Orbit: (https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/games/mio-memories-in-orbit) Some reviews are comparing this indie game to Silksong and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which is incredibly high praise! It's visually stunning and apparently punishingly difficult. So, if you like a challenge, this might be your next obsession. And this is the part most people miss... The combination of beauty and difficulty could be a stroke of genius, attracting both casual players who appreciate aesthetics and hardcore gamers seeking a real test of skill.
The Sony LinkBuds Clip: (https://www.tkqlhce.com/click-8836598-15268034?url=https%3A%2F%2Felectronics.sony.com%2Faudio%2Fheadphones%2Fall-headphones%2Fp%2Fwflc900-c) Clip-on, open-ear earbuds are popping up everywhere, and the Sony LinkBuds Clip are Sony's take on the trend. Given Sony's reputation for excellent noise canceling and microphones, these could be a serious contender.
TR-49: (https://www.inklestudios.com/tr-49/) Love games where you have to figure out how things work? TR-49 (https://www.theverge.com/games/864630/tr49-review-steam-iphone) drops you in front of a WWII-era computer and challenges you to decipher its mysteries. Available on iOS, it's a serious productivity killer!
"Joe Rogan Experience #2440 - Matt Damon & Ben Affleck": (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVEZBy1uAk8) This might be the only time you'll see a JRE episode recommended here, but Affleck and Damon offer insightful commentary on Hollywood, AI, money, and the future of entertainment. The viral clip about Affleck's views on AI is just the tip of the iceberg.
Nightshift: (https://www.youtube.com/@nightshift_kurzgesagt) From the creators of Kurzgesagt, comes a new, darker channel. Hopefully, there will be pirates.
Crowdsourced: What the Installer Community is Loving
Here's what the Installer community is obsessing over this week. What are you into? Share your recommendations by emailing installer@theverge.com or messaging me on Signal — @davidpierce.11. Check out even more recommendations on Threads (https://www.threads.com/@imdavidpierce/post/DT0bk1ljdnS?xmt=AQF0pLINm6P-L78sLAfSCWWe9EDau9nsEI6vfY_RQFginw) and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/davidpierce.xyz/post/3mczlcrvuhg2m) .
Boomerang Fu: "A friend recently introduced us to Boomerang Fu (https://www.boomerangfu.com/). As adorable anthropomorphic foods, you hurl boomerangs to neatly slice each other in madcap local multiplayer chaos rounds. Remaining the last food standing as the various power-ups stack up becomes increasingly hilarious. Our whole family loves it." — E.E.
Clawdbot: "Clawdbot (https://clawd.bot/). It runs on your machine and you can message it using Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack, or even iMessage, whichever is most accessible to you — and it can do anything you’d expect from something like Claude Code or ChatGPT Codex. It can also connect to a bunch of other tools, so it can interact with nearly every aspect of your digital identity. It can even rewrite its own code if you ask it to, which can get into some dangerous territory if you’re not careful." — Drake. Rewriting its own code? That definitely sounds like a potential recipe for disaster! What are your thoughts on AI rewriting its own code? Is it a revolutionary step forward, or a Pandora's Box waiting to be opened?
Bazzite: "Going on two weeks with Bazzite (https://bazzite.gg/) after switching from Windows on my main gaming PC! Zero regrets, has been solid." — Kolin
Dirtywave M8: "I’m convinced musicians have the best gadgets. Right now, I’m putting hours upon hours into the Dirtywave M8 (https://dirtywave.com/products/m8-tracker-model-02), which is the most compact, powerful music-making tool. It’s also made by a single person. It even comes with a hex key, welcoming you to repair and mod it yourself. I think more people should know about it. I’ve also had my share of fun with the OP-XY (https://teenage.engineering/products/op-xy) from Teenage Engineering, but it felt too restricted in an ‘Apple’ way, as opposed to the geeky freedom of the M8." — Jakub
Hex: "Check out Hex (https://github.com/kitlangton/Hex) for on-device LLM voice dictation, completely for free. Hold Alt, talk, and your words appear." — Andrew
Legacy of the Forge DLC for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: "I’m ready for a cozy weekend playing the Legacy of the Forge DLC for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (https://www.deepsilver.com/games/kingdom-come-deliverance-ii). It’s so nice to see Henry (the main character) become a homeowner after such a rough ride navigating the politics of medieval Bohemia." — Alex
Alma: "I’m really enjoying Alma (https://www.alma.food/) as a food-tracking tool. It’s a great use of AI, where I can just casually type out what I’m eating and it will figure out the macros." — Michael
The Iron Snail: "Currently obsessed with The Iron Snail (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheIronSnail) on YouTube. Best content on clothing I have seen in years." — Nishant
PowerWash Simulator 2: "I held out for a while, but I eventually gave in and bought PowerWash Simulator 2 (https://www.futurlab.co.uk/games/powerwash-simulator-2). As a result, I’ve completely abandoned all real chores around the house." — Nic
Signing Off: Bite-Sized Living
Life is busy. It feels like it's always busy. In my ongoing quest to find a healthier relationship with technology, I've realised I often skip things I want to do because they feel like too much of a commitment. It's easy to scroll through TikTok for five minutes, but watching a movie or reading a book feels like a whole ordeal. But I've had an epiphany: you can consume almost anything in five-minute chunks! I've been watching movies in 20-minute segments while my baby naps. I'm reading books a few pages at a time. I'm training myself to read two pages instead of opening TikTok while waiting in line. I'm planning to watch every James Bond movie ever, one nap at a time. I still love spending hours with a good movie or book, but life doesn't always allow it. Everything can be bite-sized! So, embrace the bite-sized approach! See you next week!
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- David Pierce
