My top feel-good series has returned!
Hey gamers! Welcome to Installer No. 139, your go-to source for the coolest and quirkiest finds in the gaming universe. If you’re new here, welcome aboard! You can catch up on all the previous editions at the Installer homepage.
This week, I’ve been diving into the world of Johnny Knoxville, exploring Google Zero, and tracing the history of bicycles. I’ve also been spamming my WhatsApp chats with @everyone notifications just because I can, revisiting the classic short story “There Will Come Soft Rains” since it’s that time of year, and trying to see if Black Sabbath can help me tackle my screen time issues. Plus, I’ve rearranged my home office yet again, indulged in way too much of that amazing Trader Joe’s snack mix, tested out the Clicks Power Keyboard, and started gearing up for my fantasy football drafts—because I refuse to finish last again.
I’ve got some exciting stuff lined up for you this week, including the return of a beloved TV show, some new bags for carrying your gear, a couple of fresh Android apps, and more. Let’s dive in!
The Drop
* Ted Lasso Season 4 is here! The new season has received plenty of positive buzz, and it’s kind of a soft reboot for the series. The few negative reviews complain about the lack of conflict, but honestly, I see that as a win. More shows that leave me feeling good at the end of each episode, please!
* The Peak Design City Backpack is a standout. The entire City product line, which includes totes and crossbody bags, looks fantastic, but I’m a backpack enthusiast at heart. I love the dedicated AirTag pocket, the integrated hook, and the perfect blend of sleek design and organization. I really don’t need a new backpack, but here we are…
* Bose QuietComfort headphones are making waves. Noise-canceling headphones are like the latest gaming tech—everyone claims to have the best until the next one drops. I’m particularly excited about Bose’s adaptive EQ for dialogue and the improved passthrough feature when you want to turn off the ANC. Plus, the mint color is a nice touch!
* Nothing’s CMF Clip Pro headphones are also on my radar. Nothing’s earbuds are tough to beat at $100, and open earbuds are just awesome. Add in that vibrant orange color I love from my Shokz headphones, and I might just end up with two new pairs of headphones this week.
* Tony is a new film from director Matt Johnson, who’s officially on my must-watch list after BlackBerry. This latest project dives into Anthony Bourdain’s early days as a chef and has received great reviews, hitting all the right notes for my interests.
* Sunbird is back with a fresh take on “iMessage for Android,” promising to address previous security concerns. While you should always be cautious with messaging aggregators, the concept is undeniably useful.
* Notability for Android has finally launched! After months of anticipation and beta testing, this powerful note-taking app is now available on Android devices. I haven’t used it extensively yet, but it’s stable and fast—especially great for those who prefer handwriting.
* The Sega Dreamcast Watch is a must-see. From Sega and SuperGroupies, this rad series of watches is designed to resemble classic consoles. While you can also snag Mega Drive and Sega Saturn models, the Dreamcast’s color scheme is unbeatable.
Screen Share
JA Westenberg is one of those creators who always seems to be on the same wavelength as me. Their piece “I Deleted My Second Brain” still lingers in my mind whenever I find myself fiddling with a note-taking app. They’ve also coined the term “cockroachmaxxing” in conversation, and I’m forever envious of their insight that YouTube feels like one massive show with countless hosts.
They’ve developed some cool productivity apps, including Kerouac (think GitHub commit chart but for writing) and Post Through It, a journaling app that mimics a private Twitter. Clever stuff!
I asked JA to share their homescreen to see if they had any sneaky tips or awesome apps to showcase. Here’s what they sent, along with some details about their app choices:
The phone: I use an iPhone 17 Pro Max, 512GB.
The wallpaper: My wallpaper is Mors Imperator (“Death Is the Ruler”), by the German artist Hermione von Preuschen. I fell in love with it during a recent trip to Berlin. She was famously banned from displaying it, opting instead to rent a house and charge entry fees to see it—very punk rock for the 1800s.
The apps: Insight Timer, Beeper, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Buffer, Cursor, 1Password, Replit, Termius, Granola, Kilo, Kerouac, Post Through It, Buzz, Wikipedia, Marvel Unlimited, Linear, Medium, GenZD, The New York Times, Obsidian, Vimcal, Readwise Reader, Kobo.
My home screen is a blend of reading, working, and playing. I want to highlight Kerouac (a writing studio for pro bloggers) and Post Through It (microblogging for one), both of which are PWAs I launched this year. I’m a big advocate for web apps to bypass app store restrictions, so I’m committed to making my own tools as top-notch as possible by using them daily.
I keep the Kobo app in my dock to encourage myself to read actual books instead of doomscrolling. I don’t have any social media apps installed; if I want to post, I use Buffer, which is connected to my Hermes agent via MCP. Beeper helps me manage chats across Discord, Slack, Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, etc.—a lifesaver that pulls me out of chat chaos multiple times a day.
GenZD and Marvel Unlimited are my go-tos. GenZD is a GZDoom client for playing classic shooters like Doom 1 and 2, Heretic, and Hexen, while Marvel Unlimited is where I’m trying to read every Spider-Man story since the character’s debut. Beyond that, it’s all about work, note-taking, and podcasts.
I also asked JA to share a few current favorites. Here’s what they sent back:
* I’ve rediscovered my love for MC Lars, a “nerdcore” indie rapper known for songs about Edgar Allan Poe and Shakespeare. He’s been a favorite for years, and I introduced my kid to his music this year—now it’s on constant rotation. “I Was Never Afraid” is his best track.
* The Paradox is the best band I’ve heard in a decade. Their pop-punk energy is infectious, and I can’t help but jump out of my seat when I hear them. Check out their track “Good For Me,” which I believe will be on their new EP in October.
* I’m reading “Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco” by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar. It’s a wild tale of leveraged buyouts and Wall Street excess in the 1980s—an absolute page-turner, even if you’re not usually into that kind of thing.
* My brother and I have started a Daggerheart campaign. It’s a tabletop RPG that emphasizes storytelling, and it’s the freshest take on roleplaying I’ve experienced in a while. It really encourages you to dive deep into your character, which is a fantastic exercise for me as a writer.
Crowdsourced
Here’s what the Installer community is into this week. I want to hear what you’re enjoying right now too! Shoot me an email with your recommendations, and we’ll feature some of our favorites here each week.
“Madden NFL 27 Mobile just dropped! The wild part? The Apple Arcade version removes **ALL** the recent annoyances: ads, virtual currencies, paywalls, etc. With controller and Apple TV support, it feels like playing Madden from the early 2000s, in the best way.” — Brian
“I’m waiting for my Retroid Pocket Nova to replay Rogue Squadron on GameCube and Need for Speed: Carbon on PS2, and I’m organizing my ROM library in the meantime.” — Josue
“I switched my gaming PC to CachyOS (tried Bazzite before and got frustrated). So far, it’s been amazing. I also upgraded my PC case from an old NZXT to a Fractal North. These cases are seriously impressive.” — Kolin
“Silo season three.” — Amanda
“Biological War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen, the author of Nuclear War: A Scenario. I honestly can’t believe it’s that easy to wipe us off the planet.” — Dawit
“Found this neat little Mac OS app, Hoy, for communicating via iCloud. I’m really enjoying the simple UI and how it fits nicely in my menu bar.” — Julius
“Reading John Ousterhout’s excellent A Philosophy of Software Design to prepare for a presentation at the gRPC conference next month.” — Tim
“Watching the anime Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia. I’m enjoying learning about that period of history (the show sent me down a Wikipedia rabbit hole), and I’m excited to see how the magic elements come into play.” — J
Signing Off
I’m about to go on parental leave, which has historically been a great time for me to declutter my phone. I delete all work apps, silence notifications, and so on. But this time, the Google Health app is pushing me to make changes. I haven’t worn my Fitbit Air lately—no real reason, just not finding it useful—and every day the app sends me a sad notification begging for data. No thanks, I’m over it.
I’ve also noticed that some of the smartest people I know always have “notifications silenced” in iMessage. So, I’m taking a page from their book and turning everything off. From now on, my phone will only buzz for calls. I’ll check my phone on my own terms… which hopefully won’t be too often. Silent phones for the win!
In theory, I’ll be here next week before I head out. If not, you’ll be in great hands with someone else for a while. Either way, see you next week!
