Time to Switch Up Your Browser!

Hey gamers! Welcome to Installer No. 149, your go-to source for the coolest and quirkiest tech in the gaming universe. If you’re new here, welcome! It’s finally starting to feel like fall in my area, and you can catch up on all the previous editions at the Installer homepage.

This week, I’ve been diving into the world of Demis Hassabis, computer chips, and permafrost, catching the first episodes of Machine Gods, and filming the next season of Version History (it’s pet season!). I’ve been glued to You Can See Everything, absorbing every bit of content about it, meticulously updating my 1Password, crafting tiny documents with Tiny Little Office, and enjoying Conan O’Brien’s hilarious Subway Takes, reminiscent of his Hot Ones days. I’m also getting the hang of CapCut and blasting the soundtrack to The Mandalorian while I work.

I’ve got some exciting new tech to share, including a fresh AI assistant, a must-have app for the iPhone Duo, my quest for the ultimate browser, and more. Let’s jump in!

The Drop
* Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. While Grand Theft Auto VI is the standout release of the year, a new COD always makes waves. This installment doesn’t promise a radical overhaul but rather enhances what already works. I’m particularly stoked about the significant improvements in the campaign mode.
* The Blink Mini 4K. While Ring cameras often steal the spotlight, Amazon’s budget-friendly brand offers solid options too. At $80 for a 4K camera with two-way audio and smart security features, it’s a steal.
* JustWatch TV. As streaming costs keep climbing, I’m leaning more towards free services. JustWatch’s new offering is surprisingly well-stocked right from the start, likely due to smart content curation based on user searches.
* Claude Duet. Anthropic’s response to Muse, Instinct, and Dots, Duet aims to boost your productivity at work by helping with to-do lists, meeting coordination, and data compilation. It’s currently waitlist-only, but I’m curious to see how it stacks up against Muse.
* Wildwood. Before you check out this stunning stop-motion film, dive into the behind-the-scenes details of its creation. No generative AI here—just pure human creativity and hard work. Artists truly rock, and this movie is a testament to that.
* The Teenage Engineering EP-35. Officially dubbed “Life is fantastic!”, this battery-powered, multi-input, multi-instrument amp is packed with effects and looks incredibly cool. I have no use for it, yet I want it badly.
* Nintendo Switch Sports Resort. Nintendo hasn’t strayed far from the classic Wii Sports formula, and I’m all for it. Anything that brings back that active tennis and bowling vibe (plus volleyball, boxing, thumb wrestling, and more) is a win in my book.
* Delta 2.0. With Apple’s foldable phone on the horizon, developers are rolling out intriguing app updates. Delta is already impressively emulating any handheld console, including the Sega Genesis!
* Kindle Plus. This is mainly a rebranding of Kindle Unlimited, but Amazon has added some interesting features to its $12 monthly reading subscription, including AI-narrated audiobooks. I’m skeptical but excited about the expanded audiobook access.

Spotlight
The biggest bummer this week is the news that Arc is shutting down. This was expected after The Browser Company shifted focus to the more AI-centric Dia two years ago, leaving Arc in maintenance mode. Now, it’s officially going away, and by Christmas, the app will be gone for good.

So, many of us are on the hunt for a new browser. There are countless options out there, ranging from “heavily inspired by Arc” to “a direct copy of Arc I whipped up in Codex.” I need to test a bunch of them, and here are some I’m considering:

* Dia. It’s recently adopted many of Arc’s best features, and the AI tools are pretty neat (and easy to disable). The Browser Company’s design aesthetic is top-notch, so I’m starting my search here.
* Zen. A total homage to Arc, and I mean that in the best way. Zen runs on Mozilla’s Gecko engine instead of Chromium, which is a plus for those wanting less Google influence. Last time I tried it, it was a bit buggy, but I’ve heard it’s improved.
* Orion. As a happy Kagi user, I’ve heard great things about this browser’s simplicity and resource efficiency. With seamless Kagi integration, I’m hoping this one becomes my go-to.
* Vivaldi. I enjoyed using Vivaldi for its customization options, but it felt a bit fiddly. I might give it another shot to see if I can get comfortable with it.
* Helium. The complete opposite of Vivaldi, this minimalist browser might be exactly what I need.
* Firefox. Despite its confusing stance on AI, I appreciate many recent design and feature updates. I’m also intrigued by Firefox forks like Waterfox and Floorp for added customization.
* Brave. Brave has always felt a bit heavy and pushy with its proprietary features, but it consistently ranks high in privacy comparisons, so I might revisit it.

On mobile, Quiche is my top choice for iOS browsers. Arc never excelled on Android, so I suspect many of us didn’t switch there.

Of course, there are the default browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Edge, but each has its shortcomings, so my search continues. If you’ve found your perfect browser, let me know! Otherwise, I’ll keep you updated on my journey.

Crowdsourced
Here’s what the Installer community is buzzing about this week. I want to hear what you’re into as well! Shoot me an email or message me with your recommendations, and we’ll feature some favorites here weekly. For even more great suggestions, check out the replies on social media.

“Youth is an absolute SCREAM on HBO Max at the moment.” — Jonathan
“Todoist has a stellar integration with Siri AI that has finally made me fully commit to just using it. If you delete Reminders, Todoist becomes the default on Siri AI, allowing you to add tasks to any project with tag and location support using Apple Maps saved locations! The best part? It all works WITHOUT having to say ‘… in Todoist’ at the end of each query!” — Sajishnu
“Apple added Sound Glow to existing HomePod models, and it’s just fun to watch the light on top of the HomePod glow and flash. I’m using it with some of my favorite playlists.” — Connor
“I’m reading How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler to improve my analysis skills and reading comprehension.” — Rhoades
“My girlfriend took a train ride up the west coast, and four different people asked her if her 2024 Samsung Galaxy Z-Flip 6 was the new iPhone Duo.” — Nicholas
“I recently read Bodies of Magic by Freya Marske, and it was excellent. Imagine if med school was magical, but everyone was still entangled in relationships and stressing over student loans, only for an unexpected dead body to show up during finals.” — Emmett
“I got a Framework Laptop 13 Pro running Ubuntu last month, and I’m really happy with it. I’m trying to see if I can replace Capture One with Darktable, which would break my last tie to macOS and lead me to replace my iMac with a Framework Desktop.” — Morgan
“Exploring the new Nektropos Castle dungeon in EverQuest Legends has been a nostalgic trip back to 1999, but experiencing new content in an old game is a bizarre delight.” — Alex
“Setting up Navidrome and having Claude build me a definitive ‘Songs From the Black Hole’ playlist from my Weezer MP3 collection. It’s trickier than it sounds: is ‘Lisa’ track 12 or not!?” — Micheal
“Best Buy had an insane deal on a Bambu A1 Mini, so I got my 12-year-old son a 3D printer for his birthday. It’s amazing how easy it was to produce a seemingly perfect PLA print compared to horror stories from older printers.” — Jeff

Signing off
Last week, my wife and I went car shopping. Our plan was just to test drive a bunch of vehicles since we needed something with three rows and had no prior experience. A few hours later, we found ourselves as proud and slightly bewildered owners of a new Kia Carnival.

So far, the car has been great, but wow, there are a lot of strange tech features in modern vehicles. I’m fine with CarPlay and Android Auto, but I’m not a fan of how everything has turned into a touchscreen. What’s most surprising is how many features now exist in a companion app. How do we feel about this? I almost miss the days when I didn’t have to worry about the check engine light.

Anyway, I’m officially a minivan dad now, and I think I’m okay with it. Send me your car tips! Send me your minivan tips! Send help! See you next week!