Amazon Unveils Vibrant and Durable New Kindle Models

Hey there, gamers! Welcome to Installer No. 146, your go-to source for the coolest and quirkiest finds in the gaming world. If you’re just joining us, it’s already October, and you can catch up on past editions at the Installer homepage.

This week, I’m dreaming about Walmart’s potato drone delivery in Portland, checking out Mike Tomlin’s epic Minecraft city, debating whether the Gears of War pizza cutter is a genius idea or a total flop, exploring Craig Mod’s scenic walks, vibing with MKBHD’s insights on YouTube’s A/B video testing, wishing for more concerts to ban phones, and celebrating the arrival of soup season. It’s finally here!

Quick note: David will be back next week! It’s been a blast writing Installer again, and I appreciate all your feedback and suggestions. For now, I’ve got the scoop on Amazon’s latest Kindles, OpenAI’s Dots, the remastered Witcher 3, and more.

The Drop
* Amazon’s new Kindles. Amazon has really stepped up its game with this year’s Kindle updates. The new base e-readers feature flush front screens, an aluminum back option, and some fresh color choices. The Paperwhite and Colorsoft Signature Editions now support cases with page-turn buttons, and there’s a “Kindle Click” remote for easy page turning and brightness adjustments. My trusty old Paperwhite is still holding strong, but if it ever gives out, these new models would be hard to resist.
* OpenAI’s Dots. OpenAI has introduced its Muse-like AI agent, designed more for work assistance than as a personal life companion (that’s likely on the horizon). The Dots are cute, though I’d still give the Muse mascots the edge in charm.
* The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered. Eleven years after its debut, The Witcher 3 is receiving another major update. This free upgrade for current owners brings a host of features and tweaks, including visual enhancements, skill adjustments, a new accessibility section, cross-platform mod support, and more. Plus, it’s now available on Switch 2. Might be time for me to finally jump in.
* Bose’s Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds. These $99 USB-C wired earbuds come with noise cancellation, an in-line remote for volume control, and a built-in mic for calls, available in three colors. As a fan of Apple’s wired EarPods, these could be a solid upgrade in terms of quality.
* Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. Bandai Namco’s latest fighter-pilot game promises an exhilarating campaign filled with optimism and has quickly become one of the top-rated games of the year. Looks like a soaring success.
* Keurig’s Alta. The new Keurig coffee maker brews coffee using compostable pucks instead of recyclable pods. It can also whip up espresso and has a sleek design. Priced at $499.99, it’s not the cheapest option, but the convenience of a Keurig is hard to beat—especially for busy gamers.
* HP’s OmniBook 5 14. This lightweight HP laptop features 8GB of RAM, comes in stylish colors, and starts at $699.99, making it a great alternative for those seeking a MacBook-like experience with Windows.
* Ikea’s Förlig lamp. This LED lamp from Ikea offers 10 different color options and can be used on the floor or mounted on a wall, resembling a lightsaber. Super fun!

Screen share
Today, I’m highlighting Scott Stein, an editor known for his impressive work on wearables and VR. I had the pleasure of meeting him at recent events hosted by Snap and Meta.

I asked Scott to share his homescreen and the apps he values. Here’s what he had to say:

The phone: I’m currently using an iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The apps: I like to randomize my Home Screen apps. It might sound crazy, but I started doing it for fun with suggested Siri app widgets a few years back. I have two widgets, eight apps each, and the bottom eight are fixed, along with four in my dock.

My fixed apps are: Google Calendar, Photos, Notes, Camera, Music, Gmail, GMaps, Bluesky, Phone, Messages, Mail, Safari. These are my essentials.

The rest are a mix of frequently used apps that change based on context. It’s a bit like Home Screen gaslighting, but it keeps things fresh and often proves helpful. Today, I have the United app since I’m flying, along with Uber, Siri, Voice Memos, Signal, GChat, YouTube, Asana, and Yahoo Sports—mostly practical choices.

The wallpaper: My background is also randomized, featuring family and travel photos so I can see my kids and memorable moments while on the go. It brings me comfort.

I also asked Scott to share some of his current interests. Here’s what he sent back:
The apps:
* I’ve been into magic since childhood. Right now, I’m reading The Intuitive Magician: Mastering Magic Through Improvisation by Justin Higham. It’s a bit technical but explores the intersection of practice and improvisation, which resonates with other areas of my life.
* I’m also diving into Stephen King and Peter Straub’s Black House after finishing The Talisman. I loved the Dark Tower series, and the new Talisman trilogy is wrapping up soon, blending all the stories together.
* Lately, I’ve been fascinated by runes, part of my interest in portable trinkets and talismans, and how readings can serve as a form of meditation.
* I’m still playing Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave and looking forward to Panic Playdate’s third season. That little handheld is a gem.

Crowdsourced
Here’s what the Installer community is enjoying this week. I want to hear what you’re into as well! Email your recommendations to installer@theverge.com, and we’ll feature some favorites here each week.

“Arc Raiders (Expedition done and 2.0 coming in a week!) and Control Resonant. East of Eden.” — ProtoPhil
“I just started Widow’s Bay last night. Currently reading The Velvet Rage. Listening to the new Orville Peck album, Madonna, Adele, Amy Winehouse. Playing Stardew Valley.” — antwhat
“Started watching American Horror Story: 13, and the first three episodes were pretty interesting! Love seeing the old characters’ reunion.” — alee
“I’m rewatching Star Trek: Voyager! It’s light, serious, funny, and introspective—a great watch during these times of AI news.” — BlubberBacon
“I’ve got a stack of spooky season reads I can’t wait to dive into: The Nudge by Joseph Fink, Breakable Things and The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw, and The King in Yellow by Robert Chambers (Cthulhu’s grandpappy).” — Barbarian Librarian
“I’m playing Antivirus Survivors 2003 Professional because I’m apparently an ‘unc’ gamer.” — bubble_boy
“Two reading recommendations: Andrew Sacher’s Emo Revival and Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. Loved them both.” — securingsincity
“The latest episode of South Park America was brilliant!” — verge_user_BlorpBlorp

Signing off
Remember that minimal homescreen I showcased in my first issue back in August? I have to admit: it turned into a chaotic mess during my travels this month. I had multiple airline apps, an expense reporting app, Notes, Voice Memos, Uber, and more—it was overwhelming. Thankfully, I finally tidied things up, and my screen is back to just the Messages app. Calm has been restored. Well, until my next trip.

Catch you later!