Are you tired of typing? Imagine dictating your to-do list to your phone and having it magically organize your life! This week, we're diving into a world of AI-powered productivity, a phone that's also a computer, and a whole lot more. Welcome to Installer No. 113, your curated guide to the coolest and most Verge-worthy finds. (New here? Welcome! Feel free to explore past editions at the Installer homepage: https://www.theverge.com/installer-newsletter.)
Lately, my reading list has been a mixed bag, from investigative pieces on the often-overlooked world of private garbage collectors (https://www.propublica.org/article/trashed-inside-the-deadly-world-of-private-garbage-collection?utmsource=substack&utmmedium=email) to the allure of vintage watches (https://www.economist.com/interactive/1843/2026/01/09/vintage-luxury-watches?utmsource=substack&utmmedium=email&__readwiseLocation=) and a deep dive into the 'My Favorite Murder' podcast (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/my-favorite-murder-10-year-interview-hardstark-kilgariff-1236474448/). On the screen, I endured 'The Running Man' (https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/798645-the-running-man) (not a winner) but reveled in 'Sinners' (https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1233413-sinners) (a definite must-see). I also gave my Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=1025X1701640&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%3Fid%3D1025X1701724%26xs%3D1%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.meta.com%252Fai-glasses%252Fray-ban-meta%252F) another go, got nostalgic with The Format’s new album (https://theformat.lnk.to/boycottheaven), caught the new 'Star Search' (https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/306657-star-search) on Netflix, and finally dove into 'Dungeon Crawler Carl' (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/43C/dungeon-crawler-carl/) thanks to your recommendations. Oh, and I battled the horrors of airplane Wi-Fi. Seriously, life's too short for that.
This is a slightly shorter issue this week – a "lite" version, if you will. Think of it as a quick software update: bug fixes and performance improvements! It's been a wild week, both personally and professionally, but there's too much good stuff to skip. We've got a fascinating smartphone, a new soundtrack for your workday, and insightful perspectives on Hollywood. Let's jump in.
(Remember, the best part of Installer is you! What are you watching, listening to, playing, buying, or reading? Share your recommendations at installer@theverge.com! And if you know someone who'd enjoy Installer, forward it and encourage them to subscribe here: https://www.theverge.com/subscribe.)
The Drop
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): This is a game-changer for productivity! Imagine just talking your to-do list into existence. You record your thoughts, and Todoist uses AI to turn your rambling into organized projects, tasks, and deadlines. It's still relatively new, but it's already out of beta and proving incredibly effective. A fantastic way to kickstart your workday. But here's where it gets controversial: Is relying on AI for organization making us less organized in the long run, by weakening our own planning skills? What do you think?
The NexPhone (https://nexphone.com/blog/the-tale-of-nexphone-one-phone-every-computer): One phone, three operating systems. This isn't your average Android device. The NexPhone, a decade in the making, comes pre-loaded with Android, Linux, and Windows (https://www.theverge.com/tech/864595/nexphone-android-linux-windows-11), potentially replacing your primary computer. It's still in development, and questions remain about its practicality. And this is the part most people miss: While the idea is exciting, will the hardware be powerful enough to run all three operating systems smoothly? Will it truly replace a dedicated computer for demanding tasks? It's a bold concept, and I'm excited to see if it's viable.
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! (https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/308112-mel-brooks-the-99-year-old-man): A two-part HBO documentary celebrating the comedic genius of Mel Brooks. Directed by Judd Apatow, this star-studded series is the perfect excuse to revisit classics like 'Blazing Saddles,' 'Young Frankenstein,' and 'Spaceballs.' Get ready for a laugh riot!
Crossplay (https://www.nytimes.com/games/crossplay): The New York Times' first multiplayer word game! A win for Wordle-loving couples everywhere. Think 'Words with Friends,' but with a cleaner design and fewer ads. My only gripe? It requires a separate app download. But here's where it gets controversial... Some argue that forcing users to download a dedicated app is unnecessary in the age of web-based games. Do you agree?
MIO: Memories in Orbit (https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/games/mio-memories-in-orbit): Early reviews are comparing this indie game to 'Silksong' and 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' – incredibly high praise indeed! Gorgeous visuals and a punishing difficulty level suggest this could be a hit for those who love a challenge. Are you brave enough to tackle it?
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 I'm intrigued. Given Sony's reputation for excellent noise canceling and microphones, I'm eager to see how they perform in this new form factor.
TR-49 (https://www.inklestudios.com/tr-49/): If you enjoy games that challenge you to decipher complex systems (think 'Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes' (https://keeptalkinggame.com/)), 'TR-49' (https://www.theverge.com/games/864630/tr49-review-steam-iphone) is right up your alley. You're thrown in front of a WWII-era computer and must figure out how to operate it, all while uncovering a hidden narrative. I've been playing the iOS version, and it's dangerously addictive.
“Joe Rogan Experience #2440 - Matt Damon & Ben Affleck (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVEZBy1uAk8).” This might be the only time you see a JRE episode recommended here, but Affleck and Damon offer incredibly insightful commentary on Hollywood, AI, money, and the future of entertainment. The viral Affleck-on-AI clip is just the tip of the iceberg. Even if you're not a regular listener, this episode is worth your time. And this is the part most people miss: They offer a nuanced perspective on the potential benefits and dangers of AI in the creative industries, moving beyond the typical fear-mongering.
Nightshift (https://www.youtube.com/@nightshift_kurzgesagt): From the creators of Kurzgesagt, a YouTube favorite, comes a new, slightly darker channel. The initial content is promising, and I'm personally hoping for a series on pirates! What topics would you like to see them cover?
Crowdsourced
Here's what the Installer community is buzzing about this week. Share your recommendations by emailing installer@theverge.com or messaging me on Signal – @davidpierce.11. Also, check out the discussions on Threads (https://www.threads.com/@imdavidpierce/post/DT0bk1ljdnS?xmt=AQF0pLINm6P-L78sLAfSCWWe9EDau9nsEI6vfY_RQFginw) and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/davidpierce.xyz/post/3mczlcrvuhg2m).
“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 (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
“Going on two weeks with Bazzite (https://bazzite.gg/) after switching from Windows on my main gaming PC! Zero regrets, has been solid.” — Kolin
“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
“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
“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
“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
“Currently obsessed with The Iron Snail (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheIronSnail) on YouTube. Best content on clothing I have seen in years.” — Nishant
“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
Life is undeniably busy. We're all juggling countless commitments. In my ongoing quest to improve my relationship with technology, I've realized I often avoid things I genuinely want to do simply because they feel too demanding of my time. Scrolling through TikTok or Instagram feels easy and low-commitment, but settling into a movie or book feels like a significant undertaking. But here's my epiphany: You can consume almost anything in small increments. Lately, I've been watching movies in 20-minute segments while my baby naps on me. I've been reading books a few pages at a time. I'm training myself to read a couple of pages instead of mindlessly opening TikTok while waiting in line. I'm even planning to watch every James Bond movie ever, one nap at a time! While I still cherish those long, immersive experiences with a good movie or book, life doesn't always allow for them. Everything can be bite-sized! Embrace the bite-sized approach!
See you next week!
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- David Pierce
