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Hello, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 65, your ultimate guide to the coolest and most cutting-edge stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome! Get ready to clear out all your phone’s storage space, and don’t forget you can catch up on previous editions on the Installer homepage.) This marks the final Installer of the year! I’ll be taking a few weeks off for the holidays, and I hope you’re able to relax as well. A huge thank you to everyone who has subscribed to this newsletter, shared recommendations, called me out on my obsession with to-do lists, and been part of the Installerverse this year. Creating this newsletter is a blast, and I’m excited to make it even bigger and better next year!
This week, I’ve been diving into topics like Spotify’s ghost artists, Formula 1, Mufasa, and the amusingly hapless New York Jets. I’ve been watching Hot Frosty (judge me if you must) and re-watching 30 Rock. I also managed to beat Balatro for the first time and have been unsuccessfully trying to convince my toddler that waking up at 4am isn’t as fun as she thinks.
I have some exciting finds for you this week, including a new smart home controller, a cutting-edge social networking app, details on the next Sonic movie, and much more. Plus, we’ve got our most-requested homescreen feature ever? Let’s dive in!
As always, your ideas and suggestions are what make Installer truly special. What are you loving right now? What games, books, shows, projects, or upgrades should everyone be checking out this holiday season? Share all your thoughts with me at [email protected]. And if you know someone who’d enjoy Installer, be sure to tell them to subscribe here.
The Drop:
– Home Assistant Voice: I’m trying my best to resist becoming a Home Assistant enthusiast, but this new voice assistant and microphone, which you can call Jarvis, has me intrigued. I might just spend the holidays transforming my house into a smart home wonderland.
– Flipboard Surf: If you’re into the fediverse, Surf is a game-changer. It lets you create and browse feeds from platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky, as well as RSS and YouTube. The app is currently invite-only, but definitely worth getting on the list.
– Google Whisk: Google’s prompt engineering tool is a fresh take on generating ideas. Just upload inspiration images and describe what you want, and voila! It’s a fun tool to experiment with, even if it’s not entirely practical.
– Sonic The Hedgehog 3: The Sonic movies don’t get enough love, in my opinion. The latest installment has received rave reviews, and Jim Carrey’s performance is said to be outstanding.
– Acorn 8: Acorn is like Photoshop for beginners, offering a range of automated editing and selection features. The new version introduces Shortcuts integration and other useful updates.
– Niagara Launcher: My go-to Android launcher, Niagara now includes a Usage Breaker feature to help you manage screen time in a subtle and thoughtful way.
– 1-800-ChatGPT: A phone hotline for chatting with AI, this service may seem gimmicky, but it’s oddly charming. You can even message the number on WhatsApp for a chat.
– LG Signature OLED T: For our final Installer of the year, I present the most extravagant item we’ve ever featured: a 77-inch transparent TV that’s both cool and completely unnecessary, now available for $59,999. If you decide to splurge on one, do let me know. I’m curious about your experience.
Screen share:
When I first conceptualized Installer, I had a list of individuals I felt epitomized the essence of the newsletter. Hank Green was at the top of that list. Hank is a multi-talented content creator, educator, and all-around beloved internet personality. For this special year-end edition, Hank graciously agreed to share his homescreen with us!
Here’s a peek at Hank’s homescreen, along with some insights into his app choices:
– Wallpaper: A playful image of Hank’s son wielding a cat tail and the planet Mars.
– Apps: A diverse mix including Shopify, Wikipedia, YouTube, Duolingo, Apple Notes, Google Authenticator, Google, Philips Hue, FocusFriend, Gmail, Phone, Messages, and Google Calendar.
Hank admits his homescreen may appear chaotic, but it’s been finely tuned over the years to suit his needs. Noteworthy is his use of Wikipedia as a primary search engine, a choice he finds efficient given how often he ends up on the site. He’s also made Twitter less accessible on his phone, recognizing the need for a bit of distance. Hank heavily relies on Apple Notes for organization, and there’s a secret project hidden among his apps for a soft launch.
Additionally, Hank shared some of his current interests:
– Adrian Tchaikovsky: Dive into Tchaikovsky’s work, particularly “Children of Time,” for captivating explorations of consciousness and the future.
– Bluesky: An emerging platform for tech enthusiasts that Hank believes will become a mainstream hub in the coming years.
– The Narwhal Wikipedia Page: Hank recommends a humorous analysis of this page by the YouTube channel HG Modernism for an entertaining watch.
– Sean Carrol’s Mindscape: A podcast that delves into deep topics like the origin of life and consciousness, offering a technical perspective Hank finds engaging.
– Frontline: An exceptional investigative documentary series by PBS that Hank feels deserves more recognition for its quality content.
Crowdsourced:
Here’s what the Installer community is currently excited about. Share your recommendations with me at [email protected] or via Signal (@davidpierce.11) for a chance to be featured in our weekly highlights. For even more suggestions, check out the replies on Threads and Bluesky.
– Tana: Unleash the power of Tana, a revolutionary personal knowledge management tool that’s redefining how we organize information.
– The Agency: A star-studded show featuring Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, and Richard Gere that’s flying under the radar but definitely worth a watch.
If you’re enjoying Installer, be sure to spread the word to others who might appreciate it. Wishing you all a fantastic holiday season filled with fun discoveries and unforgettable experiences!