Welcome to Installer No. 141
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 141, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome! I’m newish here too, and you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)
This Week’s Highlights
This week, I’ve been getting back into the Installer groove, trying out some ergonomic Switch 2 grips I bought on Etsy, researching bike gear in anticipation of receiving a Velotric e-bike, and inching my way through the fourth book in The Dark Tower series. I’m also working on figuring out why Sonic feels off in the new Fortnite season, pondering Mark Zuckerberg’s desire for a castle, and swatting at a few pesky flies that have invaded my house.
In addition, I’m excited to share with you a clever daily puzzle game, the next Jason Statham action movie, Pokémon-themed cameras, and much more.
(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What do you want to know more about? What are your favorite things you’ve watched, seen, listened to, or played this summer? Drop a line to installer@theverge.com. And if you know someone else who might enjoy Installer, share this with them and tell them to subscribe here.)
Featured Products
- The Fairphone 6 Plus. For the first time, Fairphone is selling one of its ultra-repairable smartphones directly in the US. With its improved chip and 12GB of RAM, the 6 Plus marks a notable upgrade from last year’s model. iFixit awarded it a perfect 10/10 for repairability, emphasizing its potential longevity. It’s refreshing to see a phone designed with sustainability in mind.
- Framework’s Laptop 12. Framework has launched the next generation of its 12-inch convertible laptop, now equipped with Intel’s latest Core Series 3 processors. Buyers can choose a pre-built version featuring Fedora Linux, starting at $699, which is $100 cheaper than its predecessor. This reinforces the resurgence of Linux operating systems.
- Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds. These newly redesigned earbuds now include user-replaceable batteries, and come in stylish metallic finishes. A notable feature that competitors, like Apple, should note.
- Dartwords. This engaging daily puzzle game brought to you by the creators of Blaseball challenges players to hit a darts bull’s-eye by guessing the correct word, offering a fresh twist on the word game genre for fans of Wordle.
- Mutiny. This Jason Statham-led film promises typical action-packed entertainment aboard a cargo ship. It’s the kind of big, silly summer blockbuster that’s likely worth a theater visit. If you tuned in to Prime Video at just the right moment earlier this week, you might have caught it on your couch—before it was removed.
- Mortal Shell II. Although I missed the first Mortal Shell, this new action RPG is gaining significant praise. Kotaku described it as a “third-person doom metal Soulslike,” which piques my curiosity.
- Polaroid’s Pokémon cameras. Combining nostalgia with photography, a Polaroid camera inspired by a Poké Ball is the perfect throwback for anyone who grew up loving Pokémon.
Introducing Myself: Jay
I last contributed to this section over a year ago, and thought it prudent to reintroduce myself while sharing a glimpse of my evolving homescreen setup. Hi, I’m Jay! Like David mentioned last time, I have a penchant for quirky indie games (have you played Big Walk? It’s my favorite of the year), I enjoy diving into iOS betas (the latest is iOS 27, and it’s impressive), and I love taking my toddler on adventures around Portland, Oregon—our frequent stop is the Oregon Zoo, which recently welcomed new red pandas.
In line with many others, I’m attempting to reduce my screen time. To that end, I recently initiated a homescreen cleanup, implementing a minimalist approach. Here’s what I’ve ended up with:
Image: Jay Peters / The Verge
My Minimalist Homescreen
The phone: I’m still using my iPhone 16 Pro, which I discussed last year. It feels a bit too heavy and bulky; I often reminisce about my iPhone 12 Mini. In the future, I aim to opt for the lightest new iPhone available. However, this current model works perfectly, despite being somewhat excessive for my needs.
The wallpaper: I’ve created a black gradient wallpaper using the iOS wallpaper tool. I assure you, it’s different from what I used previously—though I accidentally deleted the older one! To minimize distractions, I also utilize iOS’s glassy icons and occasionally enable grayscale mode. Although, I find this inconvenient when I want to view photos of my daughter.
The apps: My homescreen exclusively showcases the Messages app, the primary medium through which I communicate with my wife and family. For other apps, I rely on searching or accessing the App Library. I’ve made a concerted effort to keep only functional apps on my phone, steering clear of social media and browsing options.
The objective? To render my phone as simple as feasible, thereby reducing the temptation to mindlessly pick it up. If I do need to use a screen, I prefer more “productive” environments like my laptop, TV, or gaming devices such as my Steam Deck or Switch 2. Although I keep my iPhone 12 Mini handy for app testing, I try to keep it tucked away in a box to avoid distractions.
That’s the plan — and it’s mostly effective. Yet iOS’s App Library remains a challenge. Even with minimal apps on my phone, the App Library is too easily accessible. I still find myself scrolling without thinking. (If Apple would allow me to turn off the App Library, I would in a heartbeat.) Every so often, a social app or browser slips back onto my phone. I’ve come to accept that while no solution is perfect, promoting better habits is the key.
A year ago, I also shared my Days Since widget, which tracked my alcohol-free days to help keep up with my active daughter. That feature has been removed, but the app remains, currently counting up — it hit 630 days today!
What I’m Currently Enjoying
Here’s a few things I’ve been into lately:
- Portland’s local libraries. They serve as excellent summer destinations for my daughter. Recently, I’ve been trying to immerse myself in more physical books, providing joy in taking trips to pick up library holds.
- One of my recent favorite reads is Inside the Box by David Epstein. This book taps into the idea that constraints can facilitate creativity, a thought that has resonated with me across various facets of life.
- The Moon Ball. This bouncy toy was initially bought for my daughter, but I find myself playing with it more often than she does. The height it bounces is astonishing—it’s truly one of the best toys ever!
Community Recommendations
What are you into right now? Please email installer@theverge.com with your recommendations for anything and everything, and we might highlight some favorites here weekly. Check out our community’s latest favorites:
- Tynan: “Reading blog posts from the Atmosphere on my XTeink reader and loving it.”
- Matt: “Playing three excellent indie mystery games on Steam Deck: The Incident at Galley House, The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow, and The Mermaid Mask.” (Jay note: I can vouch for The Mermaid Mask.)
- Joshi: “Still enjoying Pokopia.”
- Community member: “Discovered a DIY vinyl kit from Teenage Engineering—I’m about to spend all my money!”
- Chris: “I’ve been playing an awesome wee app called Spaceplan. It’s simple yet tells a big story; incredibly addictive and inexpensive with no IAPs.”
- Iain: “Just started listening to Lost Weekend, the new Phoebe Bridgers LP.”
Looking Forward to Cozy Viewing
This week has been exciting for fans of British television with news about two beloved shows. The upcoming series of Taskmaster, a fantastic comedy competition, is set to launch on September 3rd. Additionally, the next season of The Great British Bake Off is slated for September, though an exact date remains under wraps.
These shows should provide delightful comfort viewing as the fall brings anticipated tech news and game releases. I’ll certainly need some laughter alongside cake to balance it all out!
Image Credit: www.theverge.com
