Foldable and flip phones are reaching new heights of innovation.

Hey there, gamers! Welcome to Installer No. 137, your go-to source for the coolest and quirkiest tech out there. If you’re new, welcome aboard! It’s phone season, and you can catch up on all the previous editions at the Installer homepage.

This week, I’ve been diving into Google Zero and the world of luxury armored cars, binge-watching “That’s a Bad Idea” videos (thanks to YouTube knowing I’m a fan of Curry Barker), testing out the revamped 2Do app for my task management, enjoying a fantastic documentary on the iconic designer Susan Kare, getting lost in the sounds of Jauffre’s Sounds on TikTok, sending myself lockscreen notes with the new Mononote app, and attempting to create a searchable archive of everything featured in Installer. Looks like we might need more tokens for that!

I’ve also got some exciting phone ideas, a compact e-reader you might find interesting, a fun entry point into the Linux scene, and a lot more. Let’s jump in!

The Drop
* The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. I haven’t had the chance to hold this new wide foldable yet, but everyone who has seems to agree it’s the right shape and size. Sure, it’s still priced higher than it should be to compete effectively, but Samsung is finally making a strong case for foldables. And that purple color? Love it!
* Tagline. A fun new game from the folks at Merriam-Webster where you solve three puzzles using words made from the same seven letters. It’s challenging and strikes a perfect balance between word games and trivia, and I’m enjoying the daily struggle!
* The Xteink X4 Pro. Tiny e-readers are officially a trend now (even Boox is in on it!). I’m not sold on the touchscreen of this new $99 model, but the built-in light makes it the best option out there. It’s surprising how many people rave about these little devices.
* “Technically Competent: Installing Linux.” I’m a big fan of the McElroy family (MBMBAM forever), and I didn’t expect to appreciate their tech skills! This fun and humorous video serves as a great introduction to the Linux world. It’s comforting to know that everyone has tech mishaps!
* The Dink. My recommendation here is definitely influenced by my love for Jake Johnson and New Girl. But honestly, pickleball culture is a fantastic backdrop for humor, and we need more 100-minute comedies like this one. I’m all in!
* Splatoon Raiders. The vibrant Splatoon aesthetic, with its paintball battles and colorful visuals, is totally my vibe. While online team shooters aren’t usually my thing, this one leans more towards single-player, making it a better fit for me.
* “It’s been a wild year.” I’ve been enjoying C. Scott Brown’s YouTube channel, and his candid reflections on his first year as a YouTuber are refreshing. He shares the challenges and oddities of being a creator, which is relatable for many.
* The Peak Design Field Bracket. A clever camera accessory from a brand that knows its stuff. It supports most cameras and adds features like vertical shooting, Find My compatibility, and new straps. I’ve been eyeing a new DSLR, and this makes me want one even more!
* Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender. The Avatar lore is so rich that this new movie even has a “Previously On” segment! The general consensus seems to be that it looks fantastic but has a so-so story, which usually means it’ll still be a fun watch.

Screen share
I’ve been following the Light Phone’s journey since its inception. The newly announced Light Flip looks like their best idea yet—a sleek, $299 minimalist flip phone designed to encourage you to leave your smartphone at home occasionally. It won’t ship until early next year, but I’m definitely preordering as soon as possible. It seems like Light might have finally hit the mark.

To celebrate the launch, I asked Kai Tang, Light’s CEO and cofounder, to share his homescreen with us. I had a hunch he was hiding a smartphone, but he insists he’s fully committed to the Light Phone lifestyle. He sent over his homescreen in the smallest image file I’ve ever seen. Here’s what he shared, along with details about his device setup:

The phone: A Light Phone III.
The wallpaper: There’s no wallpaper or background setting on the Light Phone III, so it’s either matte black or light grey. I have the black version because I prefer a muted look.
The apps: Phone, Alarm, Weather, Directions, Music, Language.
Most of the tools on my phone are straightforward: calls, texts, maps, music, etc. The “Language” tool is a custom feature we created for Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar’s pgLang back in 2023. The limited edition Light Phones with this tool sold out within hours, which was thrilling. We’re big fans of their music. The tool functions like an Eight Ball, but it’s called “Language.” You can shake the phone for a random response, like “ask again, but less aggressive,” “not much doubt,” or “I’d rather not say.” It’s not publicly available, but it holds sentimental value for me from that collaboration three years ago, so it remains on my homescreen.

I also asked Kai to share a few of his current interests. Here’s what he sent back:
* NASA’s public image and video library! I can spend hours exploring those and reflecting on our place in the universe.
* I joined a local astronomy club called Rockland Astronomy Club, a non-profit dedicated to astronomy education. I found them while searching for a dark stargazing spot near NYC, and they’re just a few hours away! I wish I had more time to attend their events.
* I recently saw Hamilton, one of the best Broadway shows, and I loved it.
* Lastly, I’ve been enjoying the Lincoln Center’s “Summer For The City” $5 pay-as-you-wish Orchestra events. Highly recommended!

Crowdsourced
Here’s what the Installer community is into this week. I want to hear what you’re enjoying right now too! 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 this post on Bluesky.

“The Incident at Galley House was released last week, and I finished it yesterday. It’s a brilliantly voice-acted, beautifully illustrated remake of last year’s Type Help, one of the best deduction games I’ve ever played.” — Andy
“The Hawk on Netflix. Will Ferrell is like a comfort hug for a millennial ????” — Tyler
“The New Guys audiobook is a delightful author-read book about the Shuttle series of astronauts. I can’t recommend it enough as a sequel to A Man on the Moon.” — James
“My wife and I have been playing Unrailed on Switch Online with her sister and husband… it’s like Overcooked but more laid back.” — Dan
“The Boroughs is a really cool show featuring an older cast, and it’s refreshing to see a hip, relevant sci-fi series led by older actors, tackling important social topics. It’s fantastic so far.” — Shane
“The App Store has great film-simulation camera apps, but Android alternatives are often disappointing. Not Candela Camera, though! It effectively uses the Android camera API with high-quality film simulation, built-in & imported LUTs, and it’s just $5 for a lifetime license!” — Evancito
“Reading Dead Hand Rule by Max Gladstone. Necromantic lawyers and magic capitalism create a unique vibe. It might not be for everyone, but I’ve enjoyed every book he’s written in this universe.” — Vernacular Ham
“Open Minis. After reading Federico Viticci’s article, I installed it and linked it to Claude. Watching it perform tasks ON MY PHONE is mesmerizing. I’m an iOS-first person, and being able to describe a complex Home Assistant automation from my phone and see it figure out the APIs is next level.” — Burns
“I recently started gaming again with some Game Boy emulation. Touch controls aren’t great, so I picked up a used Backbone Pro and became an instant fan. It’s an awesome way to turn any phone into a top-tier gaming console.” — Tanner

Signing off
Last week, we discussed reading setups, and I asked for your tips on managing newsletters. I received a lot of responses, most of which boiled down to: “I just get them in my email and deal with it.” Fair enough! I’m in the same boat. However, one tool that came up multiple times is called Kill the Newsletter. It provides you with an email address to subscribe to newsletters, then aggregates everything sent to that address into a feed you can read anywhere. You can pipe that feed into an RSS reader or share it with your favorite AI chatbot—do whatever you like with it! If I were starting a newsletter habit now, this is exactly what I’d use. Let me know if you try it or have any other great newsletter tips!

Catch you next week!