Two nice new repairable devices

Hi, buddies! Welcome to Installer No. 141, your information to the most effective and Verge-iest stuff on the planet. (If you’re new right here, welcome, I’m newish right here too, and in addition you’ll be able to learn all of the outdated editions on the Installer homepage.)

This week, I’ve been getting again into the Installer groove, making an attempt out some ergonomic Switch 2 grips I bought on Etsy, researching bike stuff as a result of I’m about to get a Velotric e-bike, inching my approach by the fourth e book in The Dark Tower collection, making an attempt to determine what feels off about Sonic within the new Fortnite season, questioning why Mark Zuckerberg wants a fort, and swatting at a couple of too many flies which have snuck into the home.

This week, I even have for you a intelligent day by day puzzle recreation, the subsequent Jason Statham motion film, Pokémon cameras, and extra.

(As all the time, the most effective a part of Installer is your concepts and ideas. What do you need to know extra about? What are your favourite belongings you’ve watched / seen / listened to / performed with this summer season? Drop a line to installer@theverge.com. And if another person who may take pleasure in Installer, ahead it to them and inform them to subscribe right here.)

I used to be final featured on this part greater than a yr in the past forward of my earlier run with Installer. I figured it is likely to be price reintroducing myself and sharing my newest homescreen, which has advanced. Or, as you’ll see, maybe unevolved.

Hi, I’m Jay! Like David stated final go-round, I like wonky indie video games (play Big Walk, my favourite recreation of the yr up to now), diving deep into iOS betas (iOS 27 is nice), and taking my toddler on adventures round Portland, Oregon (we notably love the Oregon Zoo, which simply bought new red pandas).

Like many different individuals, I’m additionally making an attempt to spend much less time on my telephone, and I lately went all-in with a homescreen cleanup to check simply how minimal I might go. Here it’s — and I promise this isn’t a bit, I’ve been working this homescreen for a couple of weeks now.

The telephone: Still my iPhone 16 Pro I talked about final yr. I nonetheless assume it’s too heavy and too massive, and I nonetheless miss my iPhone 12 Mini. Next time, I’m going to purchase regardless of the lightest however latest iPhone is at the moment. But I in all probability received’t improve from this telephone for some time, as a result of it nonetheless works nice. It’s actually overkill for what I want.

The wallpaper: A black gradient I created utilizing the iOS wallpaper software. (I promise it’s totally different from the wallpaper I included final time, however I believe that’s as a result of I deleted the outdated one accidentally.) I additionally use iOS’s glassy icons to scale back how flashy my telephone is. I generally activate the grayscale mode, too — I also have a Control Center toggle for it — however that’s a ache once I need to take a look at an image of my daughter. It’s 50/50 if I’ve that on.

The apps: My homescreen is simply the Messages app, which is the first approach I talk with my spouse and my household. Otherwise, I entry apps by trying to find them or wanting on the App Library. I attempt to simply maintain useful apps I truly use on my telephone, which implies no social media or perhaps a browser.

Overall, the aim is to make my telephone as boring as doable. That approach, I’m not tempted to choose it up as a lot. If I’ve to make use of a display, I’m incentivized as an alternative to gravitate towards extra “productive” screens like my laptop computer (the place I can kind or work), the TV (the place I can watch a present or film or play a online game), or one thing like my Steam Deck, Switch 2, or Kindle. I do maintain my iPhone 12 Mini round to make use of to check apps, however I usually maintain that telephone hidden in a field someplace so I’m not tempted to choose it up once I needs to be doing one thing else.

That’s the idea, not less than, and for essentially the most half, the technique works. But iOS’s App Library is the thorn in my aspect. Even although I don’t have many attention-grabbing apps on my telephone, the truth that the App Library is merely a swipe away signifies that I usually nonetheless catch myself scrolling absent-mindedly. (If Apple would let me flip the App Library off, I’d.) And each every now and then, a social app or a browser sneaks its approach again — or, I simply waste time on Reddit on my laptop as an alternative of on my telephone. I’ve come to simply accept that there’s no excellent resolution and that it’s extra about making an attempt to encourage good habits for myself.

Last yr, I additionally shared that I’ve a Days Since widget displaying the variety of days I had gone with out ingesting alcohol. I finished ingesting to raised sustain with my very energetic daughter. The widget is gone, however the app stays on my telephone, and it’s nonetheless counting up. Last yr in Installer, it was at 165 days. Today, it’s at 630.

Here’s a couple of issues I’m into proper now:

Here’s what the Installer neighborhood is into this week. I need to know what you’re into proper now as properly! Email installer@theverge.com together with your suggestions for something and every little thing, and we’ll function a few of our favorites right here each week. For much more nice suggestions, try the replies to this post on Bluesky.

“Reading blog posts from the Atmosphere on my XTeink reader and loving it.” — Tynan

“Played / playing three excellent indie mystery games on Steam Deck: The Incident at Galley House, The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow, and The Mermaid Mask.” — Matt (Jay observe: I cosign The Mermaid Mask.)

“Still playing Pokopia.” — Joshi

“Just found out that Teenage Engineering has a DIY vinyl kit and basically about to hand over all my money.”

“I’ve been playing an ace wee app called Spaceplan. Simple and small, but tells a big story and insanely addictive. Add to that it’s cheap and there are no IAPs.” — Chris

“Lost Weekend, the new Phoebe Bridgers LP. It’s the ‘I’ve nicked your Dad’s copy of Vekatimest’ to Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘I’ve nicked his Head On The Door.’” — Iain

It’s been an amazing week for information about two of my favourite British TV reveals. The subsequent collection of Taskmaster, a hilarious present the place 5 comedians compete in ridiculous duties, debuts on September 3rd. And The Great British Bake Off (aka The Great British Baking Show within the US) can even premiere sometime in September, although a particular date hasn’t been introduced.

Should make for cozy TV in September and October. That will probably be completely timed; with all the anticipated tech information and online game launches this fall, I’ll want some laughs and cake.