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“Hello, dear friends! Welcome to Installer No. 59, your ultimate guide to the most amazing and cutting-edge things in the world. (If you’re new here, a warm welcome to you! We are thrilled that you have discovered us, and don’t forget that you can catch up on all previous editions on the Installer homepage.) This week, my interests have been piqued by HotWired, DRAM, and Mike Solana. I’ve been enjoying watching The Diplomat, grooving to Dua Lipa’s Tiny Desk concert, exploring Smashing for news and cool discoveries, pushing my bandwidth limits with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 downloads, and diving deep into the six-hour-long Acquired Meta episode.
I also have some exciting new AI search products, fresh Apple gear, intriguing documentaries for your weekend viewing, a Windows calendar app, and so much more to share with you. And a big thank you to everyone who reached out about the Omnivore acquisition. It’s a bummer, I know. I’ve been hearing from many of you who are wondering where to turn next, and I feel a sense of responsibility for introducing some of you to an app that’s now fading. I’m here to help you navigate the transition! But I need your input: what features of Omnivore, or any other reading app, are absolutely essential to you? Let me know your preferences, and I’ll do my best to guide us in the right direction.
There’s a lot on our plate this week. Let’s dive in!
(As always, the heart of Installer lies in your ideas and tips. What do you want to learn more about? What cool tricks do you have up your sleeve that everyone should know about? Which app is a must-have for everyone? Share it all with me: [email protected]. And if you know someone who would enjoy Installer, pass it along to them and encourage them to subscribe here.)
DropChatGPT search. It may not have the most exciting name like SearchGPT, but it’s exactly what we anticipated: live web search integrated into OpenAI’s chatbot. While it resembles Perplexity and Bing, I have a feeling many will gravitate towards it simply because it’s conveniently part of ChatGPT.
Ask Maps. This AI search feature has me particularly optimistic: Google leveraging Gemini with the Maps app, making it easier to find activities and places to visit. If AI can spare me the tedious task of sifting through countless reviews for keywords like “kid-friendly,” all the AI hype might just be worth it.
Fantastical for Windows. When it comes to managing my calendar, I usually turn to either Fantastical or Notion Calendar. Notion Calendar is free and quick, but Fantastical boasts a sleek design and robust features. The new Windows app encompasses all the bells and whistles, and it’s definitely a winner in my book.
The new Mac Mini. Amidst the excitement surrounding the new MacBook Pros and the vibrant iMac releases, the faster, sleeker Mini steals the show for me. This powerful little computer will undoubtedly become my everyday workhorse the moment it hits the shelves.
The new Magic Keyboard. Here’s the truth: $149 seems steep for this keyboard (not to mention $199 for the black version with a number pad). However, once you experience a Mac keyboard with integrated Touch ID, there’s no turning back. And the fact that it no longer requires a Lightning cable? What a time to be alive!
Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Described by our friends at Polygon as a game centered around a protagonist and their quirky band of trauma-laden companions, this game has my curiosity piqued. While it may take a bit to ramp up, the payoff seems well worth the initial investment.
Uncanny Valley. Wired’s new podcast, hosted by familiar faces (including a couple of former Verge staffers), delves into the chaos and news of Silicon Valley. The first episode surprisingly features a fair amount of hoodie talk! I’m eager to see where this podcast journey leads.
Endurance. If you haven’t delved into the book this new series is based on — detailing British explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated expedition to the South Pole — make it a priority this weekend. I’ve only heard rave reviews about the documentary adaptation, and it’s a true gem.
Nintendo Music. For years, I found solace in writing while listening to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack, adding an epic touch to my work. Now, I’m fully immersed in the Boss Battles playlist on this delightful new streaming app, and I’m loving every minute of it.
Music by John Williams. It seems to be a week of soundtracks! John Williams is a legend, and Disney has assembled an impressive lineup of other legends to discuss his monumental impact on the film industry. The trailer, especially the Jaws segment, has me eagerly awaiting this release.
Pokémon TCG Pocket. While the Pokémon trading card games haven’t been my forte, a mobile app like this makes perfect sense for quick gaming sessions. Whether you have a few minutes or a few hours to spare, this game promises a fun and engaging experience.
Screen shareA few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a coffee shop in New York City called Coffee Check, founded by David Cogen, known as the face of TheUnlockr YouTube channel. Earlier this year, after over a decade as a content creator, he ventured into a new realm by opening a coffee shop while continuing to create content. Intrigued by his ability to balance both worlds, I sat down with David for an insightful discussion, which culminated in a lively episode of The Vergecast. Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder how he managed it all and what his homescreen might unveil about his priorities. So, I requested him to share!
Here’s a glimpse of David’s homescreen, along with insights into the apps he uses and why:
The phone: Pixel 9 Pro. I switch entirely to the phone I’m reviewing, and as I’m behind on reviews, the Pixel 9 Pro is next in line.
The wallpaper: Default wallpaper on the phone. I change wallpapers only if they’re too flashy. Otherwise, I opt for a minimalist landscape from Google’s Wallpapers app to maintain a serene backdrop.
The apps: Spotify, Phone, Gmail, Chrome.
I typically feature a multiple-clock widget that displays my current time and the time back in NYC, aiding me during my frequent travels. In the tools section, I rely on Notion as a replacement for Evernote, alongside Airtable.
Recently, my folder has expanded due to the coffee shop, incorporating Homebase for barista scheduling, Poplin for cleaning rag services, Shopify for inventory management, Ring for surveillance, and Peerspace for renting out the space.
David also shared some of his current interests with me. Here’s what he had to say:
Unsurprisingly, coffee. I’m gearing up to roast beans in the coffee shop, aiming to source beans from various locations, refine my roasting skills, and experiment with different flavors.
I’m keen on attending coffee classes and events to delve deeper into the coffee realm and explore the innovations within. Balancing the worlds of coffee and YouTube is a challenge I look forward to tackling in the future.
CrowdsourcedHere’s a peek into what the Installer community is enjoying this week. I’m eager to hear about your current interests too! Drop me an email at [email protected] or reach out to me on Signal — @davidpierce.11 — with your recommendations on anything and everything. We’ll showcase some of our top picks here each week. For additional recommendations, check out the responses to this post on Threads.
“I noticed Coffee Golf on your iPad Mini homescreen. It features in-app purchases and is decent at best. You might have a better experience with Golf…”