Hey there, tech enthusiasts! Welcome to Installer No. 80—your ultimate guide to the coolest, most Verge-approved tech finds, apps, and entertainment picks. (New here? Welcome aboard! If you missed previous editions, catch up on the Installer homepage.)
This week, I’ve been diving into:
📖 “The Telepathy Tapes” – A mind-bending read on digital consciousness.
👨👩👧 Extreme parenting in the age of social media – How do you raise kids when the internet is watching?
🎬 “The Men Who Built America” – A gripping docu-series on industrial titans.
🎮 4×3’s full game archive – Retro gaming nostalgia at its finest.
✍️ Easlo Journal – A sleek new writing app for organizing thoughts.
🎧 TikTok Shop impulse-bought headphones – Surprisingly good? Let’s find out.
🔍 Kagi Assistant – A promising alternative to traditional search engines.
Plus: A huge thanks to everyone who shared wallpaper ideas! Your setups are inspiring, and I’ll be showcasing them soon in Screen Share.
Now, let’s jump into this week’s must-see picks—some pricey, some priceless, all worth your attention.
🔥 The Drop: This Week’s Top Picks
🎬 Andor Season 2
The best Star Wars content right now isn’t even close. Season 1 redefined what a Star Wars story could be—gritty, political, and deeply human. Early buzz says Season 2 sticks the landing, delivering another masterclass in sci-fi storytelling.
📱 Motorola Razr Ultra (2025)
Flip phones are back, and Motorola is this close to perfecting them. The new Razr Ultra is sturdier, faster, and less of a compromise—except for that $1,299 price tag. Still, if you’ve been waiting for a foldable that doesn’t feel like a beta product, this might be it.
🎧 “Parker’s Obsessed with This Movie (But She Can’t Find It Anywhere)”
A delightful podcast mystery about a film with an IMDb page… that seemingly doesn’t exist. A fun deep dive into digital obscurity and lost media.
📸 Instagram Edits
Meta’s answer to CapCut, but with AI-powered enhancements. If you edit Reels or Stories, this could be a game-changer. (And yes, it’s another Meta copycat move—but at least they do it well.)
🗣️ Perplexity iOS Voice Assistant
Move over, Siri. Perplexity’s new assistant integrates with Reminders, Calendar, and system apps—something even Apple’s own assistant struggles with. Early tests show it’s way more responsive than most AI helpers.
🎮 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
A rare game that feels like a blockbuster movie—thanks to voice acting from Andy Serkis and a gripping narrative. If you love story-driven RPGs, this is a must-play.
🎒 WaterField Designs Tech Folio Tank Backpack ($419)
For the bag connoisseurs: This laptop-friendly backpack fits even the bulkiest devices, with pockets for everything. It’s a splurge, but if you’re a remote worker who values organization, it’s worth a look.
📷 Insta360 X5 ($550)
If GoPro had a smarter cousin, it’d be Insta360. Their new flagship action cam boasts replaceable lenses and pro-grade stabilization. Underrated brand, overdelivering product.
🕹️ The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
Bethesda just shadow-dropped a remaster of this 2005 classic—and fans are losing it. Updated graphics, smoother gameplay, and all the nostalgia.
📱 Screen Share: Inside Jeff Sheldon’s Ultra-Minimalist iPhone Setup
This week, we’re peeking at the home screen of Jeff Sheldon, founder of Ugmonk (the genius behind the Analog productivity system). Jeff’s philosophy? “Less clutter, more focus.”
📲 His Setup:
- Phone: iPhone 16 Pro
- Wallpaper: Pure black (“Busy backgrounds distract from the apps!”)
- Lockscreen: A serene shot from Copenhagen
🔝 Top Apps:
✔ Fantastical (for natural-language scheduling: “Lunch with Sarah tomorrow at 1PM”)
✔ MyMind (a private, ad-free Pinterest alternative)
✔ Dropbox Paper (cleaner than Google Docs, with built-in markdown)
✔ Due (widget for quick to-dos, later transferred to Analog Cards)
🎧 Jeff’s Current Obsessions:
- The Orchid by Telepathic Instruments (even non-musicians will want this)
- Herman Miller’s rebrand case study (design nerd heaven)
- Bon Iver’s SABLE, fABLE (on repeat for days)
- Limba Trip’s spin art (hypnotically trippy)
💬 Crowdsourced: What the Installer Community Is Loving
Here’s what readers are obsessed with this week:
- “OpenCase” – A MagSafe wallet case that actually prevents slips. (“No more lost wallets!” – Mike)
- “A Short Hike” – A charming indie game perfect for a relaxing evening. (“Beautiful little experience.” – Fil)
- “Tuesday Night Movie Night” – A curated film newsletter recommending one great movie per week. (“Bucking the algorithm!” – Phillip)
- “Slow Roads” – A zen driving simulator with no traffic, just vibes. (“Perfect for unwinding.” – Srirudran)
- “Lume Weather” – A GPT-powered iOS weather app with a slick UI. (“Needs widgets, though.” – Daniel)
Got a recommendation? Email installer@theverge.com or DM me on Signal (@davidpierce.11)—your pick could be featured next!
🚀 Signing Off: The Ultimate Bar Crawl Algorithm
Ever heard of the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP)? It’s a classic computing puzzle: “What’s the shortest route to hit every spot and return home?”
Well, someone solved it for all 81,998 bars in South Korea (Korea81998). The optimal bar crawl would take just under six months—and yes, there’s no faster way to do it.
For the math nerds, check out this deep-dive talk on solving TSPs. Not light viewing, but fascinating for algorithm lovers.
