Two Must-See Tech Documentaries You Can't Miss

Welcome to Installer No. 61

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 61, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. Happy Hallmark season to all newcomers! You can catch up on all previous editions at the Installer homepage.

What’s New This Week

I missed you all last week! Thank you to everyone who expressed that you missed Installer too—it warms my heart. Let’s dive into this week’s highlights.

What I've Been Up To

This week, I’ve been reading about:

• Venom and deadly car races
• Hockey phenoms
• Setting up my new Mac Mini
• Watching The Day of the Jackal (spectacular!) and Wolfs (fine)
• Devouring the books Dark Matter and Say Nothing before their adaptations
• Exploring Google’s Gemini app
• Restarting my notebooking habit with MyMind
• Listening to the Halt and Catch Fire soundtrack

I also have recommendations for you this week, including a new music-making gadget, interesting documentaries, and the next big thing in Dune.

Your Gift List

What’s on your gift list this year? Whether it’s stuff you want or items you're giving, it all counts! I’m gathering ideas for a gift guide soon, so share your recommendations!

The Drop

Here are this week’s recommendations:

Surveilled

Start by reading Ronan Farrow’s latest article in The New Yorker about how US government can easily hack your tech, followed by a new documentary that reveals similar happenings globally.

Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy

This documentary reveals the alarming tricks companies use to keep you spending money, paralleling The Great Hack and The Social Dilemma.

Teenage Engineering’s OP-XY

This new synthesizer/sampler/sequencer from Teenage Engineering is an exciting portable music maker that follows their iconic OP-1.

Dune: Prophecy

If you're obsessed with Dune like I am, this super-prequel may be slow on action but delivers captivating drama.

Year of the Ring

Polygon’s epic tale covers everything about The Lord of the Rings—books, movies, characters, and fanfiction.

Queue

A minimalist iPhone podcast app that offers a simple user experience with new episodes listed for your convenience.

Tokyo Override

An animated story that addresses deep themes such as capitalism and AI, while offering stylish visuals and intense commentary.

The Amazon Echo Show 21

A giant 21-inch smart display that can serve as the hub of your smart home, reshaping its purpose with a larger screen.

One Billion Users

A fun card game about starting a social network that can become a hit at your next family gathering.

JVC HA-NP1T “Nearphones”

Affordable open-ear headphones that allow you to enjoy music while remaining aware of your surroundings.

IMG_0001

A collection of mundane yet intimate videos uploaded from iPhones over a decade ago, compiled by Riley Walz.

Spotlight on Rich DeMuro

Rich DeMuro, known for his tech explanations on KTLA, shares insights into his home screen setup and the apps he finds essential.

Contact Rich

Rich carries three phones for reference, keeps his homescreen simple, and finds utility in apps like YouTube Music, Notion, and Claude for AI interactions.

Crowdsourced Recommendations

Here’s what the Installer community is enjoying this week:

• Neal: "SnowFall," a timed crossword puzzle game.
• Matthew: Deep dives into Apple TV Plus shows.
• Dylan: Using Cooked to organize social media recipes effectively.
• Sean: Switching to Thunderbird for better email management.
• Josh: Learning about vampire burial history with Milo Rossi.

Signing Off

It’s holiday movie season! I'm gearing up for the much-loved classics along with new Hallmark offerings. Share your favorite cheesy holiday movie recommendations!

See you next week!