The ultimate toolkit for your small repair needs

Hey gamers! Welcome to Installer No. 135, your go-to source for the coolest and quirkiest finds in the gaming world. If you’re new here, kick back, turn up the AC, and feel free to explore past editions on the Installer homepage.

This week, I’ve been diving into cold plunges, getting lost in Colson Whitehead’s works, and exploring the food truck scene. I finally made it to the theater to catch Obsession, binge-watched The Agency (everyone’s favorite hidden gem), and nodded along to Adam Conover’s take on the decline of sitcoms. I was also hyped about the Dune: Part Three trailer, experimenting with Atlas as a visual journal, chuckling at the latest from InfoWars, and honing my s’mores-making skills on the grill.

I’ve got some handy recommendations for you this week, including a budget-friendly toolkit, a pair of earbuds worth checking out, and a fresh take on adult toys, among other goodies.

And I want to hear about your reading setups! I’ve been loving your Kindle hacks, clever book-shopping tips, and all the ways you’re transferring content from the web to your reading devices. Share your insights! I’m eager to learn more. Now, let’s jump in.

The Drop
* The iFixit Megalodon Driver Kit. After a year filled with various home repairs, I wish I’d had this kit sooner. It’s not a full gadget repair set (though they have a solid one), but it’s the perfect collection of bits, adapters, and drivers for all those little fixes life throws at you. This and a Hoto screwdriver will be my go-to toolkit from now on.
* The Nothing Earbuds 3A. These wireless earbuds have consistently ranked among the best for $99. I’m particularly excited about the new Audio Snapshot feature, which captures snippets of what you’re listening to—perfect for remembering podcast moments—and syncs them to your phone. Super convenient!
* Ugmonk’s Analog Card Variety Pack. For all the Analog fans out there, these new card types are fantastic for pen-and-paper productivity. I’ve been using a card a day to stay organized, and it’s been a game changer.
* GPT-Live. AI Voice Modes have always seemed like a mixed bag to me. While aimless chatbot conversations aren’t ideal, this new version is reportedly a significant upgrade—much more practical and less focused on being your buddy. Still, it might be a bit too much active listening for my taste.
* “Apple USB-C Earpods Review: Better Than You Think.” I’ve been advocating for Apple’s $20 wired earbuds for ages. They sound great, the mic is solid—just an excellent backup option. Don’t just take my word for it; check out this insightful video that puts them to the test.
* Blooms by Play-Doh. You can picture the brainstorming session at Hasbro: “Adults love Legos, so they’ll love Play-Doh too!” I have a three-year-old who adores it, and honestly, the logic holds up. Flower arrangements might not be the first thing I’d choose, but there’s definitely fun to be had here.
* Claude reflection. My colleague dubbed it “Claude Wrapped,” and that’s spot on. While it’s mainly a business analytics tool (where did all those tokens go?), having a Screen Time-style report on our AI usage is a smart idea if these tools are going to be part of our lives.
* The Man Will Burn. Understanding Burning Man is surprisingly key to grasping the current tech and cultural landscape. This four-part series, made by fans of the event, offers a unique perspective, especially in the first episode.
* Knockoff. This browser extension helps you navigate the maze of Amazon brands, distinguishing the genuine from the knockoffs, making it easier to find quality products. It’s a sad commentary on the state of Amazon that this is necessary, but it’s definitely a must-have to avoid those regrettable purchases.

Screen share
Ian Bogost is one of my favorite tech writers because he always asks the right questions: Is this new technology beneficial for us? I often revisit his love letter to landlines and his critique of email.

This week, Ian released a book titled The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life, which tackles that same question in a broader, more surreal way. He argues that we’ve lost touch with our surroundings, both figuratively and literally, and we need to reconnect. To delve deeper would sound like a philosophical ramble, but that’s part of the charm. (If you want to hear more, I had Ian on The Vergecast this week, and it was a fantastic, slightly trippy conversation.)

I asked Ian to share his homescreen with us, letting him choose the device. I was curious about his digital space, but I didn’t expect him to pick Homebridge! Here’s what he shared, along with some details about his setup:

The device: This is the plugin page for my Homebridge installation. Homebridge is server software that allows smart-home devices that don’t natively work with Apple’s home automation app to function within it. It’s a bit nerdy and requires an always-on server, so it’s not for everyone—but it’s definitely for me.

The wallpaper: You might think there’s no wallpaper, but even server software can be personalized! Mine runs the Orange theme in Dark mode. (Other options include Purple and Deep Purple, but I’ll admit Orange is the default.)

The apps: There’s a lot happening here. Bond lets me control ceiling fans through Apple Home. Pico allows me to reprogram Lutron Pico wall switch remotes for various tasks, like controlling ceiling fans or opening garage doors.

Garage Door Shelly1 connects a Shelly relay I soldered to an old-school gate remote, allowing me to open the alley gate with a button in Carplay, along with my garage door and house lock. UniFi Protect integrates my Ubiquiti security cameras into Home and helps my doorbell function (long story). I store all my camera footage locally on a 24TB RAID in my basement, which makes my house feel less interesting—something I wrote about for The Atlantic a while back.

I also asked Ian to share a few things he’s currently into. Here’s what he sent back:
* The r/oddlysatisfying subreddit.
* Asking ChatGPT for help with home repairs.
* Backgammon (just a tabletop set with a hard enameled surface that makes the dice dance and spin in a satisfying way).
* Power over Ethernet (POE) splitters.
* Mad Men, which I rewatched for the second time this summer—truly the best narrative television show ever made.

Crowdsourced
Here’s what the Installer community is enjoying this week. I want to know what you’re into as well! Email your recommendations to installer@theverge.com or message me on Signal — @davidpierce.11 — and we’ll feature some of our favorites here each week. For even more great suggestions, check out the replies to this post on Threads and Bluesky.

“Re-reading Neuromancer after Apple TV’s latest teaser. Totally agree that Apple TV is crushing sci-fi shows.” — Austin
“Playing the new puzzle game 4 x 3.” — Rohit
“Really enjoying Myke Hurley’s podcasts; hard to choose just one, but his Designed in California Kickstarter with Jason Snell on Apple’s history just wrapped up with $300K raised. Pretty impressive!” — Rowan
“I spent a few hours setting up a new Brother printer for my mom. It’s the opposite of enshittification—reasonable prices and it just works. It shouldn’t feel refreshing, but it does.” — Ben
“Reading the bittersweet but excellent Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro before Taika Waititi’s movie adaptation drops in October.” — Gatherer Hunter
“I dug my Sony Aibo ERS210 out of my mom’s attic to bring back to the US, but it didn’t fit in my luggage… So I’ll need to come up with another plan.” — Bart
“This video on the development of Western musical scales and notation was not only fascinating, but the production quality was top-notch. Highly recommended, even if you’re not well-versed in music theory!” — Arden
“The new The Ghost in the Shell anime on Amazon Prime is fantastic—true to the manga and produced by the same studio that did Dan Da Dan! Only one episode out so far, but I’m already excited.” — Ryan
“‘The Story Behind Star Wars Galaxies’ Notorious Jedi Problem.’ Best interview/video I’ve seen on YouTube in a while. It’s a captivating look at developing software for millions of users, especially the psychological aspects and the balance between user interests and corporate incentives.” — JStaal

Signing off
In unfortunate news, TV Time, a popular app for tracking favorite shows, is shutting down. You have until July 15th (next Wednesday) to export your data. On a brighter note, many other apps in this space have built TV Time importers! You can transfer your data to services like JustWatch or use popular media trackers like Trakt, Sofa, or Sequel, all of which offer import options. Make sure to do this ASAP to avoid losing years of tracking data. Here’s hoping this is the last of these apps to disappear for a while.

Catch you next week!