The Ultimate Guide to Tracking Everything: Apps, Trends & Tech

Welcome to Installer No. 55

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 55, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. If you’re new here, you might want to get ready to ruin your phone’s storage with amazing apps and ideas. You can also explore old editions at the Installer homepage.

This week, I’ve delved into topics ranging from AI girlfriends and baseball pitchers to watching Nobody Wants This and the latest season of Chef’s Table. I've also rediscovered my love for Coldplay, listened to John Oliver tackle journalism, and have been actively playing Alphaguess. Oh, and I’ve painstakingly moved all my junk to my stunning new blue iPhone 16!

In this edition, we’ll cover innovative methods to manage your life on Apple devices, a new anime recommendation, the upgraded Oura smart ring, and much more. Let’s dig in!

What’s New This Week

Gadgets and Apps Worth Trying

• Pebblebee Clip Universal: This tracker is compatible with both Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device systems, making it an excellent and versatile option for multiplatform users.
• Croissant: This user-friendly app lets you post simultaneously to Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon—making social media cross-posting a breeze.
• Raspberry Pi AI Camera: Priced at $70, this camera features a built-in AI processor for machine vision and more, which is perfect for tech enthusiasts.
• Arc Search for Android: Arc remains a favorite browser, and its improved version is now in beta for Android users.
• How I Replaced Notion: Joan Westenberg’s exploration of Apple’s productivity tools offers a smart and effective alternative for most users.
• Microsoft Copilot: This AI tool from Microsoft is becoming more than just a work assistant; it’s a handy personal helper.
• Oura Ring 4: This sleek new version is designed for comfort and features notable improvements.
• Dan Da Dan: A new anime featuring a captivating story about ghosts and aliens that’s been praised for its animation quality.
• ChatGPT Canvas: This tool allows users to create and edit content interactively, stepping away from traditional chatbot interactions.
• The Franchise: A fictional behind-the-scenes look at superhero movie production, offering a fresh perspective that fans of shows like Unreal will appreciate.

Home Screen Spotlight

I recently asked Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, to share his home screen with us. Here’s a glimpse into his tech world:

• Device: Pixel 6A – It has a 5/10 repairability score, and the lack of a headphone jack is a daily hassle.
• Wallpaper: Features a nature-inspired dark mode setting that’s easy on the eyes.
• Apps Used: Audible, Pocket Casts, Google Maps, Google Photos, Slack, and more, with a significant emphasis on audiobooks.

Zing Coach:

Recommended by Calvin, this AI-driven workout app takes your parameters like age and injuries into account to design an optimal fitness schedule.

Crowdsourced Recommendations

• SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex 4K: An efficient OTT viewing experience, as recommended by Joseph.
• Imagining Arc Podcast: Perfect for tech lovers, this podcast dives into browser design challenges.
• Daily To-Do App: Yet another app in the endless quest for organization, praised by Eddy.

Final Thoughts

This week’s installment reveals just a part of the endless landscape of innovation and creativity in tech. If you have any recommendations on what to watch or try, please share! Feel free to email me at installer@theverge.com or connect on Signal.

Until next week, remember: you can never have too many charging cables, and being a bit of a mess can be just fine!