Hello, readers! Welcome to Installer No. 95, your go-to source for the latest and greatest in tech innovations. If you’re just joining us, feel free to explore past editions on the Installer homepage.
This week’s highlights include my journey through independent radio (with special mention to Seattle’s KEXP), insights into Richard Scarry’s life, information on the protracted development of Hollow Knight: Silksong, and the viral trend of “silkposting.” Additionally, I’ve watched the trailer for the upcoming season of The Great British Baking Show, browsed through the Kottke.org Rolodex, researched summer sunset times, and enjoyed catching up with Masahiro Sakurai.
I’m excited to share news about Pixel’s upcoming foldable phone, the latest Samsung earbuds, an indie game that provides a relaxing experience, and more.
(As always, your feedback is vital to improve Installer. If you have suggestions or insights, what would you like to dive deeper into? What valuable tricks have you discovered? Which apps do you think everyone should try? Share your thoughts: [email protected]. If you know someone who would appreciate Installer, please forward this to them and encourage them to subscribe.)
The Drop
- Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Google has unveiled its latest foldable smartphone featuring an IP68 rating, providing enhanced dust resistance through a novel gearless hinge design. This adds a layer of confidence for those investing close to $2,000 in their devices.
- Pixel Watch 4. The newest iteration of the Pixel Watch now features removable screws on its chassis, facilitating easier repairs and replacements for the screen and battery—an improvement over previous models.
- Shutter Declutter. This innovative iOS app encourages daily photo organization by prompting users to review images taken on the same date across multiple years, making the curation process significantly simpler and more manageable.
- Galaxy Buds 3 FE. Samsung’s latest earbuds feature a stem design similar to AirPods, with battery life ranging from 6 hours with active noise cancellation to 8.5 hours without, all at a starting price of $149.99—$100 less than Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
- Nanoleaf 4D V2. The latest version of Nanoleaf’s immersive TV lighting kit provides a color-matched glow behind your screen, promising to enhance your viewing experience significantly.
- Insta360’s Go Ultra. This compact action camera boasts a larger sensor than its predecessor, the Go 3S, and can shoot 4K at 60 frames per second. Its new square design accommodates a bigger 500mAh battery.
- Sony InZone Mouse-A. Part of Sony’s latest gaming peripherals, this lightweight wireless mouse weighs in at only 48 grams. Priced at $149.99, it offers a solid option for gamers seeking a featherlight device.
- Herdling. In Herdling, players guide a flock of charming sheep-like creatures through picturesque landscapes accompanied by lovely music, resembling a tranquil shepherding journey akin to the game Journey.
This week, I’m spotlighting Jane Manchun Wong, known for her insightful leaks of upcoming features in tech products and apps, including an early reveal of Twitter’s edit button. Jane was also part of the launch team for Meta’s Threads. Given her extensive app usage, I’m curious to see which ones are on her phone. It turns out her apps are quite numerous and well-organized!
The phone: iPhone 16 Pro! The compact size suits me perfectly. I previously had the iPhone 15 Pro Max for its 5x optical zoom, but it became cumbersome to use one-handed. With the 5x optical zoom now available in the iPhone 16 Pro, I quickly switched back to the more manageable size.
The wallpaper: An aerial photograph from my flight to Seattle! I enjoy capturing images and using them as wallpapers, and this particular photo is part of my Photo Shuttle collection, featuring a rotating display of my “Nature” photographs!
The apps: You may be curious about my grid of folders on my Home Screen. I get it—while the App Library exists, I prefer to manually categorize my apps in ways that make sense to me (like “Outside” for navigation apps such as Waymo, Maps, SF311, and ridesharing). Many of my apps are from TestFlight and would just end up in the “TestFlight” category in the App Library.
Additionally, I use the Kalkyl app for quick calculations.
Jane also shared some of her current interests. Here’s a look at what she’s enjoying:
- I’m actively monitoring various apps and platforms for forthcoming features! Many companies are incorporating similar AI-related functionalities to remain competitive, analogous to their previous adaptations for social audio and NFTs. It always brings me joy when companies delve into unique and user-centric product features instead of merely adding another button for a chatbot.
- There are also hints about new hardware developments—details to come once there’s more information on it.
Crowdsourced
Let’s see what the Installer community is currently enjoying! I’m keen to hear about your recommendations too. Email [email protected] with your suggestions, and some favorites will be featured in future editions. For additional recommendations, check out the replies to this post on Technology News, this post on Threads, and this post on Bluesky.
“I’ve switched my task management system from Amazing Marvin (which is a great app) to TickTick. I’ve created Apple Shortcuts to help automate archiving to Obsidian because I can’t resist hoarding data.” — @feather.town
“I’ve been enjoying downloading PDFs of crossword puzzles to solve on my Remarkable 2 E Ink writing tablet. Completing a crossword in the morning is far more satisfying than endlessly scrolling through social media.” — jontomato
“I’m excited about the new Digg!” — dome_node
“I’ve discovered two fantastic websites: Retro Catalog and Retro Handhelds. Also, I’m a big fan of Russ from Retro Game Corps on YouTube, who has thorough discussions about retro handheld devices.” — verge_user_m498isna
“Boys Go to Jupiter is a wonderfully bizarre animated film about a teen trying to earn $5,000 as a delivery driver in a surreal representation of Florida. With a unique video game aesthetic, sublime lofi soundtrack, and weird humor, it stands out as one of the most original cinematic experiences in years!” — Daniel
“I believe many Verge readers are aware of Beeper, but it has a hidden use: accessing DMs without the distractions of the app itself. If you’re struggling to curb your compulsive use of Instagram or Discord, Beeper allows you to separate your DMs from the overwhelming content of those platforms. Consider deleting the main app and just keeping Beeper for your DMs!” — boblin
“I just wrapped up Aisling Rawle’s The Compound. If you enjoy Love Island but wish it had a dystopian twist, this book is for you. On the comic front, Absolute Martian Manhunter is the best showcase for the medium in a long time. I’m also slowly rewatching Mr. Robot, and it’s incredible how well the show still holds up.” — SocialJerm
Signing Off
For those who tuned into the recent Made by Google event, what was your take on the live, Jimmy Fallon-hosted format? It certainly differed from the standard Big Tech keynote style. Personally, I prefer a more traditional news-centric format, but I recognize that this event may not have been geared towards dedicated Verge and Installer readers. I appreciate Google for experimenting with a different approach.
Just a heads up: I’ll be on vacation next week, so expect the next issue of Installer to arrive on September 6th. Until then, take care!
