Hello everyone! Welcome to Installer edition 137, your source for the finest and most Verge-like finds around. (New here? Great to have you, enjoy the phone season, and catch up on past issues via the Installer homepage.)

This week I explored stories on Google Zero and luxury armored vehicles, dove into many That’s a Bad Idea clips after YouTube picked up on my Curry Barker interest, tried the fresh 2Do update for managing tasks, viewed a strong documentary on designer Susan Kare, fixated on every clip from Jauffre’s Sounds on TikTok, used the new Mononote app to send lockscreen reminders, and attempted to build a searchable archive of all Installer content. We may need extra tokens for that.

I also have exciting phone concepts, a compact e-reader worth checking, an easy entry to Linux, and plenty more. Here we go.

(Your suggestions make Installer shine. What are you watching, reading, playing, listening to, or powering up this week? Share everything at installer@theverge.com. Know someone who might like it? Forward the newsletter and invite them to subscribe.)

The Drop

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. I have not held the latest wide foldable yet, yet nearly everyone who has finds the shape and size just right. It remains pricier than needed for broad appeal, but Samsung is building a stronger case for foldables. Also, the purple color is great.
Tagline. A fresh game from Merriam-Webster where players solve three puzzles using words from the same seven letters. It proves challenging! It sits nicely between word and trivia games, and I enjoy attempting it daily.
The Xteink X4 Pro. Small e-readers have become a real category. (Even Boox offers one now!) The touchscreen on the new $99 model is optional, but the built-in light makes it the top choice. It is surprising how many people enjoy these compact devices.
“Technically Competent: Installing Linux.” I admire the McElroy family and MBMBAM, yet I did not expect to appreciate their tech skills. This video offers a fun and useful introduction to Linux. It is reassuring to see that dongles fail for everyone.
The Dink. This pick may stem from my fondness for Jake Johnson and New Girl. Still, pickleball culture suits comedy well, and there are too few 100-minute comedies these days. I am on board.
Splatoon Raiders. The Splatoon style with paintball action and bright colors fits me perfectly. Online team shooters usually do not, but this version focuses on single-player, keeps stakes low, and suits my pace.
“It has been a wild year.” I have followed C. Scott Brown’s YouTube channel and valued his honest review of his first year creating content. It covers the real challenges of building an audience, the highs and lows, and the oddities of depending on YouTube.
The Peak Design Field Bracket. A smart camera add-on from a brand skilled at accessories. The two models fit most cameras and ease vertical shooting while adding Find My support, new straps, and extra accessory options. I have begun looking for a new DSLR, and this makes me eager to get one soon.
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender. The Avatar universe runs so deep that this film includes a full “Previously On” recap at the start. That detail works well. Early views call it visually strong with an average story, which suggests it should still entertain.

I have tracked the Light Phone from its start. The Light Flip, announced this week, appears to be the company’s strongest concept and product so far. It is a sleek $299 minimalist flip phone meant not to replace your main device but to let you leave it behind sometimes. Shipping begins early next year, and I plan to preorder soon. Light may have found the right formula.

To mark the release, I asked CEO and cofounder Kai Tang to share his homescreen. I noted he likely keeps a smartphone nearby and wanted to see it. He insists he lives fully with the Light Phone and sent the smallest image file I have received. Here it is along with details on his setup:

The phone: A Light Phone III.

The wallpaper: The Light Phone III offers no wallpaper option, so the screen shows matte black or light grey. Mine is black because I prefer a quiet look.

The apps: Phone, Alarm, Weather, Directions, Music, Language.

Most tools are basic: calls and texts, maps, music, and similar. The Language tool is a custom item made for Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar’s pgLang in 2023. Limited edition phones with this tool sold out quickly, which was exciting. We also enjoy their music. The tool works like an Eight Ball but is called Language. Shake the phone for a random reply such as “ask again, but less aggressive,” “not much doubt,” or “I’d rather not say.”

It is not public, yet the 2023 collaboration felt meaningful, so I kept the tool on my screen.

I also asked Kai for a few current interests. Here is what he shared:

NASA’s public image and video library! Hours can pass while viewing the collection and reflecting on how small yet remarkable we are on this spinning planet called Earth.

I joined the local Rockland Astronomy Club, a nonprofit group for astronomy education. I found them while seeking a dark-sky spot near New York City, and they are only a few hours away. I wish I had more time for their events.
I saw Hamilton, one of the finest Broadway shows, and enjoyed it greatly.
Finally, I have attended Lincoln Center’s “Summer For The City” $5 pay-as-you-wish orchestra events. They come highly recommended.

Crowdsourced

Here is what the Installer community enjoys this week. I want your current picks too! Email installer@theverge.com or message me on Signal at @davidpierce.11 with any recommendations, and we will highlight favorites here each week. For more ideas, see the replies to this post on Threads and this post on Bluesky.

“The Incident at Galley House came out last week and I finished it yesterday. It is a well-acted, richly illustrated remake of last year’s Type Help, one of the strongest deduction games I have played.” — Andy

“The Hawk on Netflix. Will Ferrell feels like a comforting hug for a millennial.” — Tyler

“The New Guys audiobook is a charming author-narrated title about the Shuttle astronauts. I recommend it highly as a follow-up to A Man on the Moon.” — James

“My wife and I have been playing Unrailed on Switch Online with her sister and her husband. It is like Overcooked but more relaxed.” — Dan

“The Boroughs is an interesting series with an older cast, and it is refreshing to see a sharp, current sci-fi show led by older actors that addresses timely social issues. It is excellent so far.” — Shane

“The App Store has many strong film-simulation camera apps, but similar apps on Android often feel unreliable and produce poor photos. Candela Camera stands out. It uses the Android camera API correctly, offers high-quality film looks, supports built-in and imported LUTs, and costs $5 for a lifetime license.” — Evancito

“Reading Dead Hand Rule by Max Gladstone. Necromantic lawyers and magic capitalism create a strong atmosphere. It may not suit everyone, but I have liked every book he has written in this world.” — Vernacular Ham

“Open Minis. After reading Federico Viticci’s piece, I installed it right away and connected it to Claude. Watching it perform agent tasks on my phone is captivating. As an iOS user, being able to describe a complex Home Assistant automation from my phone and see it work out the APIs feels like a real step forward.” — Burns

“I have started playing video games again. I tried some Game Boy emulation. Touch controls were not great, so I picked up a used Backbone Pro and became a fan immediately. The experience is solid and turns any phone into a strong game system.” — Tanner

Signing off

Last week we discussed reading setups and I asked for advice on handling newsletters. I received many replies, most of which said something like “I just receive them in email and manage.” That works for many, including me. One tool came up several times, however. It is called Kill the Newsletter. It provides an email address for newsletter subscriptions and then routes everything to a feed you can read anywhere. Send that feed to an RSS reader, share it with an AI chatbot, or use it however you like. If I were building a newsletter habit today, this is where I would begin. Let me know if you use it or have other strong newsletter tips.

See you next week!

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David Pierce