Importance Score: 15 / 100 🟠
Welcome to Installer No. 77, your weekly briefing on noteworthy developments and recommendations within the tech and entertainment landscape. This edition explores a range of topics from RISC architecture and Ben Affleck’s latest endeavors to Google’s leadership changes in search. We also delve into practical upgrades like installing a SodaStream to manage beverage consumption, explore trending entertainment such as binge-watching How I Met Your Mother alongside its companion podcast, and review intriguing content like Dead Talents Society. Additionally, we revisit musical highlights through a Benny Blanco interview, observe the growing user base on Signal, and engage in retro gaming with New Star GP.
This week’s installment also features a review of a compelling new Apple TV Plus series, an analytical look at the enduring relevance of fax machines, the latest advancements in AI technology, and more. While considered a lighter week in terms of sheer volume, there remains significant content to explore. Let’s examine the highlights.
(Installer thrives on community input. Share your insights, tips, and app recommendations at [email protected]. Encourage others to subscribe and join the Installer community.)
This Week’s Recommendations
The Studio on Apple TV Plus
Highly anticipated, The Studio, a comedy starring Seth Rogen as a Hollywood executive navigating creative aspirations and corporate pressures, has premiered. Early reviews are positive, and the initial episode is notably strong. Despite reports of lower viewership for Apple TV Plus, the platform continues to deliver high-quality programming.
ChatGPT Image Generation
The integration of image generation in ChatGPT has sparked considerable interest and some controversy online. Users are producing impressive and unsettling visuals, marking a potential advancement in image synthesis technology beyond previous iterations.
Twelve South AirFly Pro 2
The Twelve South AirFly Pro 2, a Bluetooth headphone adapter for wired audio systems, addresses a niche need effectively. The updated model offers improved audio fidelity and quicker device pairing, justifying its $59.99 price point for users requiring this functionality.
“Beyond ‘I’m Back’: How the Fax Machine Sent Sports to the Future”
An engaging retrospective examines the pivotal role of fax machines in shaping modern sports history. This article highlights how this once-innovative technology facilitated key moments in sports and evokes a sense of nostalgia for its era.
Vivaldi Browser with Built-in VPN
Vivaldi browser introduces a significant update with a free, integrated VPN service powered by Proton. This feature streamlines VPN access, making it conveniently accessible within the browser environment and user account, enhancing online privacy.
Paul American Documentary Series
Paul American, an eight-part Max documentary about the Paul brothers, is described as almost self-parodic. Despite this unconventional premise, it holds a certain captivation, promising to be a compelling watch.
Side Quest: Mythic Quest Spinoff
Side Quest expands upon the acclaimed comedy series Mythic Quest, known for its standalone episodes. This new installment further explores the game world central to the series, offering fans a deeper immersion into its narrative.
Atomfall Game Preview
Atomfall, an upcoming post-apocalyptic survival game set in Britain, features an expansive open world and intricate storyline. This title appeals to fans of exploration-driven games with its immersive environment and narrative depth.
Tech Editor’s Homescreen: Marina Galperina
Marina Galperina recently joined The Verge as a senior tech editor, bringing insightful questions and a unique perspective. Her inquiries range from relevant topics like “bird flu” to personal anecdotes, quickly establishing her as a valuable team member.
To assess her gadget affinity, Marina shared her phone homescreen, providing insight into her app usage and preferences:
Device Details:
Phone: iPhone 14 Pro. Despite a cracked screen, it remains a functional and appropriately sized device.
Customization:
Wallpaper: A Gothko, specifically Mark Rothko’s Untitled (Black on Gray), encountered at the Guggenheim. Sourcing the original image proved challenging due to the prevalence of AI-generated content and copycat prints in search results.
Key Applications:
Apps: Way of Life, Photos, Apple Notes, Messenger, Google Sheets, Camera, Signal, Clock, Momence, Apple Fitness, Expense, Google Maps, Slack, YouTube, WhatsApp, Hue, Pocket, Chase, Bluesky, Messages, Phone, Safari, Gmail.
Gamification of fitness is a current focus, influenced by The Verge’s Victoria Song, who introduced Apple Fitness and Ladder. Twitter remains solely for professional necessity. Letterboxd is favored as a superior social networking platform.
Way of Life, a habit tracker, offers detailed visual analytics of habit consistency, enhancing motivation through data visualization.
Marina’s Current Interests
Marina shared recent media consumption highlights:
Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan
A novel exploring complex relationship dynamics, described as a compelling read.
Companion Film
Despite a moderate rating on Letterboxd, Companion, a science fiction film, remains thought-provoking, leaning towards metaphorical exploration over hard sci-fi.
Gaming Anticipation: Silksong
Gaming has taken a backseat due to work commitments, with high anticipation for the release of Silksong. Past gaming habits include extensive playthroughs and completionist approaches, such as mapping out Hollow Knight.
Community Recommendations
The Installer community shares their weekly recommendations. Contribute your own suggestions via [email protected] or Signal (@davidpierce.11). Further recommendations are available on Bluesky and Threads.
“For Formula 1 enthusiasts, MultiViewer app enhances live race viewing with multiple streams, real-time data, and compatibility with F1 TV subscriptions, IndyCar, NASCAR, and WEC.” – David
“GetInvoice automates invoice and receipt extraction from emails and web portals, significantly saving time during tax preparation.” – Miki
“Amazon’s book download restrictions prompted a shift to self-hosting ebooks accessible on Kobo devices.” – Dan
“Lunatask is a comprehensive life-tracking platform with cross-platform functionality, end-to-end encryption, and features beyond task management, including notes, calendar integration, journaling, mood tracking, habit tracking, and relationship management.” – Matin
“Khakee: The Bengal Chapter on Netflix is highly recommended.” – Rahul
“iOS Journal app facilitates daily reflection and productivity tracking, serving as a digital review tool rather than a traditional diary.” – Colin
“Healthy Minds Program, a customizable and free meditation app developed by scientists, offers personalized meditation sessions.” – Liviu
“Exploring new Game Boy games on ModRetro Chromatic reveals a vibrant scene of polished indie titles available on itch.io and other platforms, beyond official releases like Dragonyhm and Hermano.” – Justin
“Runna training app provides structured marathon training plans with a serious approach, contrasting with more casual apps but carrying a premium price.” – Tyler
Snack Obsession
Beyond apps and entertainment, a deep interest in snacks persists, involving scouting for Trader Joe’s finds like Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread and Elote Corn Chip Dippers, and experimenting with various snack flavors.
Snack recommendations are encouraged, inspired by Cabel Sasser’s annual snack roundups, leading to both snack discoveries and an appreciation for snack-related content. The future of Installer might even lean into snack reviews.
Update March 30th: The featured image has been updated to align with newsletter content, replacing an AI-generated image.