Hello, and welcome to the 81st edition of Installer, where we explore the latest and greatest in technology and culture. For newcomers, enjoy this week’s edition, and feel free to catch up on past issues at the Installer homepage.
This week, I delved into several intriguing topics, including group chats among tech entrepreneurs, the evolution of ChatGPT, and The Rest is History. In addition, I contemplated purchasing a Xiaomi car while configuring a Slate Truck, and marveled at Steven Soderbergh’s impressive filmmaking. I’ve also been experimenting with the Limitless Pendant and revisiting my Mario Golf skills thanks to the recent N64 update in Delta.
In this edition, I’ve curated a variety of highlights for you: a noteworthy companion app for power users of Mac, a remarkable new Marvel film, an innovative smartphone, cutting-edge headphones, intriguing AI tools, and a high-tech planter, among other surprises. Let’s dive in.
(As always, your contributions are invaluable to Installer. What catches your interest these days? What should others be viewing, reading, playing, purchasing, or creating? Feel free to share your suggestions at installer@technologynewso.com. If you think someone else would enjoy Installer, don’t hesitate to pass it along and encourage them to subscribe.)
The Drop
- One Million Chessboards. Created by the mind behind One Million Checkboxes, this new venture features a million chessboards in simultaneous play. The option to move pieces between boards adds an exciting layer of complexity that quickly captivated me.
- Meta AI. I’m torn on whether a constant stream of AI-generated content is beneficial or not. My inclination is to prefer using Meta AI as a standalone application rather than within Instagram.
- Kayak.ai. This conversational interface allows for a more intuitive travel planning experience by letting you describe your trip instead of sifting through endless options. While it’s still a work in progress, it’s already an improvement over traditional booking methods.
- Raycast for iOS. Raycast remains my go-to app on Mac, and though the iOS version is less robust at this stage, it still offers useful features like AI chat and note syncing.
- Thunderbolts. Could this signify the resurgence of Marvel? The consensus is that this film, centered around a group of lesser-known antiheroes, is receiving overwhelming acclaim, with many labeling it the best Marvel offering since Endgame.
- Shokz OpenDots One. This new $200 ear-clip headphone design is gaining popularity for its comfort during casual outings and virtual meetings, allowing for easy on-the-go listening, proving quite convenient.
- The Nothing CMF Phone Pro 2. The first CMF Phone was a big hit, and this new model enhances the modularity with added cameras while maintaining an attractive design. Unfortunately, it won’t be available in the US.
- Letter Lock. A new daily game within Words With Friends that balances simplicity with challenge, enticing me to return daily despite my dislike for its interface.
- Wonder Blocks. The creators of the charming Bird Buddy now offer an easy-to-maintain nature kit that’s already exceeded its Kickstarter goal. If you’re not interested in the complete package, you can opt for the Petal camera independently.
The community aspect of Installer is invaluable. Your recommendations, feedback, and inquiries keep this platform alive. Increasingly, I’ve noticed many of you are sharing your impressive home screens in response to our features, inspiring me to include you in this section once a month! If you’re interested in contributing, please reach out, and I’ll provide more details to highlight your setup.
This week, we hear from Zach Schiffman, a colleague at Vox Media and a subscriber of Installer. As a social media editor for New York Magazine, his sense of style and coolness shines through his homescreen, as showcased below:
The phone: iPhone 15 Pro.
The wallpaper: Featuring Street, Dresden by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, this wallpaper adorns not only my phone but also my computer and iPad. I recently swapped out another Kirchner painting for this one, and it constantly delights me.
The apps: Fantastical, Photos, Overcast, Slack, Apple Notes, Apple Fitness, Gmail, Camera, New York Times, Google Maps, Instagram, Spotify, Clock, Citi Bike, Barcodes, Settings, Venmo, YouTube, Substack, Riverside, Reeder, New York, Readwise Reader, CityMapper, Phone, Outlook, Safari, Messages
Messages remain the only app that overwhelms me with notifications. Outlook serves me well, despite my ongoing struggle with my old iCloud email. I’ve used Fantastical and Things for years and ponder if switching to the standard apps might simplify my life.
I cannot get enough of Overcast, even employing both the app and widget on my homescreen. I utilize Riverside to record my unique podcast, Out of Breath, where I interview guests while jogging in Prospect Park.
I made the switch to Ladder for workouts, moving away from Future due to cost, though I miss the latter’s interface. For newsletters and RSS feeds, I enjoy Reeder and the Substack app, mainly for specialized content. Readwise Reader stands out as the ultimate read-later app, and I appreciate Installer for introducing me to it, as it helps me extract quotes for social media from New York articles.
I also asked Zach to share some current interests. Here’s what he shared:
- I recently found a Static Comp Bag by Colin Meredith, a versatile messenger bag that fits my 14-inch MacBook Pro perfectly and can be worn as a crossbody or tote.
- During Tony Awards season, I’ve been listening to the new cast recording of Gypsy featuring Audra McDonald repeatedly. If you enjoy musical theatre, check out the Broadway Legends package from New York.
- I upgraded to Up First Plus from NPR. While I’m usually fine with ads, enjoying an ad-free daily news podcast while getting ready in the morning is a nice upgrade.
- We recently acquired a DJI Osmo Pocket 3 for creating social media videos, and I’ve been eagerly following YouTubers who review this fascinating little camera.
Crowdsourced
Here’s what the Installer community is enjoying this week. I’d love to hear your recommendations too! Please reach out via email at installer@technologynewso.com or connect with me on Signal — @davidpierce.11 — to share your favorites, and I’ll highlight some each week. For even more inspiration, check out the responses to this post on Threads and this post on Bluesky.
“Mini PCs are interesting! They’re compact, powerful, and a great way to start a home lab. I’m looking into popular brands like Beelink and Minisforum, even though tariffs are impacting pricing.” — Cizzo
“OneCast for Xbox remote and cloud gaming. I’m not a fan of third-party apps, but this one worked impressively on iOS. Looks better than web apps and offers a trial along with a one-time purchase.” — Uli
“I watched a fascinating video on how gondolas are becoming a viable public transit option in Latin America.” — Mark
“I recommend Sunderfolk, an RPG that finally got my wife to play video games with me. Its clever use of phones as controllers makes it super accessible for non-gamers.” — Paulo
“Been revisiting Mixolumia, a visually stunning and challenging variation of Tetris.” — Sophie
“I came across an intriguing YouTube video titled “The Internet Used To Be A Place,” which explores how the internet used to be a physical experience tied to shared computers.” — Nicholas
“After leaving Pinterest, I’ve been using Cosmos for visual inspiration organization. It’s straightforward and calming compared to Pinterest.” — Brooks
“I’ve been watching Loot on Apple TV, starring Maya Rudolph as a tech billionaire’s ex-wife navigating life and her charity work. It’s been super enjoyable and easily my favorite comedy this year, alongside The Residence.” — Ben
“I’ve been playing ‘Arena’ mode in the VR game Space Pirate Trainer DX, which offers an incredible immersive experience for VR headset users.” — Filip
Signing Off
Have you all seen Conclave? It’s definitely worth your time! The papal selection process is intriguing, layered with secrecy and significance. For more insights into this process, check out CPG Grey’s video “How to Become Pope.” There’s also a lengthy documentary on Max about papal history, which doubles as a Catholic Church history lesson. In a curious twist of events, betting on potential future popes has become possible. Prepare as the next conclave approaches next week!
See you next week!
