Welcome to the latest edition of Installer No. 96, your comprehensive resource for the most exciting developments in tech and culture. If you’re new here, it’s great to have you! In case you missed previous editions, they are all available on the Installer homepage.
In recent weeks, I have been exploring a range of interesting products. I’ve been using a highly customizable keyboard paired with an attachable trackball, diving into the novels Dungeon Crawler Carl and The Dark Tower II, completing Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice with the aid of an easy mode mod, marvelling at the GeoGuessr World Championship grand final, and immersing myself in Wombo’s latest album.
This week’s highlights include the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong, the debut of Instagram on iPad, a new spinoff from The Office, and much more.
Additionally, David will be taking the reins of Installer again next week. It has truly been enjoyable writing this newsletter, and I greatly appreciate everyone who has sent in their suggestions and kind words during my time here!
(As always, your contributions are what make Installer special. What topics do you want to dive into? Do you have tips or apps worth sharing? Reach out to me at [email protected]. Feel free to invite friends who might enjoy Installer to subscribe as well.)
The Drop
- Hue Essentials. Philips Hue has introduced an affordable range of smart light bulbs, starting at $25 each or $15 per bulb in four-packs, making them a budget-friendly option compared to their premium color-changing bulbs. Signify, their parent company, has also unveiled a new bridge, additional lighting options, and a wired video doorbell.
- Hollow Knight: Silksong. After years of anticipation, Team Cherry’s sequel to Hollow Knight is finally available, with early reviews suggesting it meets fan expectations. As exploration continues, I’m eager to know if anyone can identify the character voiced by Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone in the game.
- Instagram for iPad. Nearly 15 years after its initial launch on iOS, Instagram has finally rolled out an official version for iPad, featuring a video-centric design that shows a feed of short Reels upon opening, with a similar update coming soon for Android tablets, according to Meta.
- The Paper. The spinoff of The Office has premiered on Peacock to positive early reviews, even though it reportedly takes time to find its rhythm. It has already been greenlit for a second season.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 FE. The latest entry in Samsung’s budget-friendly FE series is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, drawing design inspiration from the S25 Edge. Additionally, Samsung has launched new S11 and S11 Ultra tablets that come with an updated S Pen.
- Remarkable Paper Pro Move. This new E Ink digital notepad from Remarkable features a compact 7.3-inch display, making it portable enough to fit in a pocket. As a fan of small notebooks, the idea of using this E Ink device is appealing.
- Chipolo’s Loop. This new item tracker boasts a rechargeable battery, eliminating the need for replacements. It can last up to six months on a single charge and is compatible with Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find Hub networks.
- Mophie Max Headphones Charging Stand. Designed to charge AirPods Max and AirPods Pro (or any Qi-compatible device) simultaneously, this stand requires a USB-C dongle to charge the AirPods Max, allowing the headphones to enter sleep mode automatically. While convenient, it comes at a higher price point of $150.
In today’s segment, I want to introduce Paulus Schoutsen, who is the founder of the renowned open-source smart home automation platform Home Assistant and the president of the Open Home Foundation. With the recent smart home news from the IFA 2025 conference, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to showcase his homescreen setup. His thoughtful arrangement of apps is a reflection of his deep involvement in the smart home technology space.
As a side note, I received Paulus’s insights about his iOS homescreen in August; however, he mentioned that he has recently transitioned to a Google Pixel device. He has kept the same overall setup with a few adjustments to prioritize web app usage.
Current device: I am using an iPhone 15 Pro.
Wallpaper: The background on my homescreen is a blurred version of my Lock Screen wallpaper, which features an image associated with Home Assistant. I prefer simple wallpapers to avoid cluttering the view.
App choices: My homescreen features limited icons as I strive to minimize screen time.
- My widget at the top is a Smart Stack that displays battery level, calendar events, weather updates, and photos. I had to turn off suggested widgets due to irrelevant ads from Apple regarding McDonald’s.
- Home Assistant is on my homescreen as it is the premier platform for smart home management.
- I’ve excluded social media apps from my device and only access Bluesky and Mastodon through their websites, which I find discouraging enough to reduce usage.
- Previously, I utilized the Quiche browser (introduced via Installer!), tailored to my favorite websites for easy access. After switching to Pixel, I have opted to install my frequently visited sites as dedicated apps.
- In my AI endeavors, I currently use Claude. While I previously favored ChatGPT, I’ve transitioned to using the Claude Max subscription for programming purposes and therefore adopted Claude for personal use as well.
- Arc appears on my homescreen given its unique functionality. It pulls bookmarks from my desktop and, when accessed on my phone, opens compatible native apps as needed. This integration makes organizing files across platforms seamless. I’ve also been using Arc on my desktop and am concerned about the future of updates from The Browser Company.
- Obsidian is my choice for note-taking. Recently, I started using it due to the relaunch of Pebble watches and the increasing significance of AI. The limitations of Apple Notes became apparent, prompting my switch to Obsidian, which utilizes Markdown files for note storage. I have a button mapped for quickly adding notes, and with a custom script, I can incorporate AI instructions into my notes, enabling automatic categorization and prioritization of action items.
Additionally, I asked Paulus to share some of his current interests. Here are his responses:
- AI! Claude Code has proven invaluable. It enables me to progress on projects during meetings and provides quick feedback loops. It’s a delight to create projects with my 7-year-old, the recent collaborative effort resulted in a pong game that altered lights through Home Assistant with each bounce.
- Z-Wave is exciting. We recently unveiled our version of the Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2, a large antenna designed for optimal coverage of smart home devices.
- Staying connected with friends and family is a priority. Although based in Brooklyn, our summers are spent in Europe, balancing work and travel across the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary, and Denmark.
- I am thoroughly enjoying the third season of Foundation on Apple TV Plus, which continues to impress.
Crowdsourced
This section features insights from the Installer community. I’m eager to learn what’s currently capturing your interest! Send your recommendations to [email protected] and we may showcase your favorites here weekly. For additional recommendations, check the responses to this post on Technology News, this one on Threads, and this post on Bluesky.
“Some sequel to an indie game about a bug.” — DuckInAPond
“I got tired of streaming music and all the ephemeral aspects of it, so I bought a semi-janky MP3 player (they call them DAPs now, I guess) and I’m building a FLAC collection (shoutout to Bandcamp and my vinyl collection). I’m back to organizing ID3 tags 🤘” — William
“I came across a documentary over the weekend about Python, the programming language, and thought it was worth sharing. I’m not a developer myself, but I found it really engaging. The film narrates the journey of how this small, quiet language grew to shape various fields like climate science, astrophysics, crypto, and AI. It discusses some serious conflicts in the community that nearly caused a fracture, which got me reflecting on how different the tech landscape might be if that had transpired. Even if you’re not a developer, it’s surprisingly compelling.” — Hayley
“This week, I wasted time trying a new RSS app. It wasn’t quite functioning properly, so I ended up adding numerous side services until I suddenly realized my existing solution is more effective. Just wanted to give some extra love to Reeder. It offers everything I need in an RSS reader.” — Chris
“I’ve developed an appreciation for architecture and interior design videos. I find it captivating to see walkthroughs and hear insights from architects and designers about their work and notable structures. My favorite channels include Archimarathon, Architectural Digest, Design Anthology, Design Seed, and Open Space.” — Sunlight Express
“I’m not a birdwatcher, but I do love a great film. This documentary about birdwatching could be considered the film of the year.” — Michael
“You might enjoy this entertaining, light-hearted, and well-crafted birdwatching documentary.” — Andrew
“I’ve become quite enthusiastic about this relatively new post-hardcore band Static Dress. Especially their latest track ‘face.’ It captures the essence of 2000s screamy music while incorporating modern production techniques. An excellent listen.” — cowboyxboombap
“Lately, I’ve been tuning into NTS Radio. They offer fantastic DJ mix shows, and the experience has been incredible since subscribing. The NTS Breakfast Show with Flo is particularly popular for good reason!” — yatrik
Signing off
This year’s IFA show in Berlin featured numerous intriguing announcements, including robot vacuums capable of climbing stairs, an expansive range of smart lighting solutions, and vibrant party speakers. It resembled a mini version of CES. We have compiled a list of the most exciting products, but if you’re curious about comprehensive coverage, you can find it here.
David looks forward to connecting with you all next week!
