The Ultimate James Bond Game Has Arrived
Hey there, gamers! Welcome to Installer No. 130, your go-to source for the coolest and most exciting stuff in the gaming world. If you’re new here, welcome aboard! Don’t forget to stay hydrated, and feel free to check out past editions on the Installer homepage.
This week, I’ve been diving into the world of Victor Wembanyama, exploring mahjong, soaking up some wisdom from Merlin Mann, and watching more of the Scripps National Spelling Bee finals than I anticipated. I’ve also spent way too much time tweaking settings in Vivaldi, cleaning up my Google Photos library, and finally getting my home office somewhat organized.
I’ve got some exciting updates for you, including the best new Bond game in years, a significant upgrade to a popular smart ring, a fresh entry in the Spider-Verse, and much more. Let’s jump in!
The Drop
* 007 First Light. After playing countless James Bond games over the years, most of which left me disappointed (especially since Goldeneye set such a high bar), this one seems to be the Bond game we’ve all been waiting for. I can’t wait for the Switch 2 version to drop!
* The Oura Ring 5. My main issue with the Oura Ring has always been its size — it’s just bulky enough to be annoying. The new version is lighter and smaller, plus it comes with some clever new features. That’s a win in my book.
* Spider-Noir. The Spider-Verse films are some of the most innovative superhero movies I’ve seen in a long time. This new show looks stylish, though it might lack a bit in depth. Still, I’m definitely tuning in.
* Halide Mark III. Halide remains the top choice for third-party camera apps, and the latest update introduces a fantastic feature: you can now take RAW photos with other cameras and process them using Halide’s impressive filters and presets. It’s a far better photo editor than I am!
* The Sennheiser Momentum 5. Sennheiser deserves more recognition in the headphone space. The new model boasts longer battery life, improved noise cancellation, and a user-upgradeable battery. I’m eager to see how it stacks up against Sony and Bose when it launches next month.
* Mina the Hollower. Everyone seems to agree that this could be the best game of the year so far. From the creators of Shovel Knight, it’s being compared to some of the all-time greats. It looks simple at first glance, but there’s something huge and ambitious waiting to be uncovered, and I can’t wait to dive in.
* Backrooms. I’m torn on whether to watch Kane Parsons’ inventive YouTube series before checking out the movie adaptation or to go in blind. Either way, it’s a fascinating story that blends YouTube and Hollywood, and the horror aspect is definitely worth experiencing.
* Spotify Articles. A collection of curated, narrated long-form journalism, with Premium users getting a few free listens each month. While some article choices are a bit odd, there are also some classics, including the legendary cocaine treasure hunt.
* Star City. For All Mankind is a long-time favorite around here, so this spinoff focused on the Soviet Union might already be on your radar. It may not quite reach the original’s heights, but the space exploration content keeps coming, and I’m all in for that.
* The Ferrari Luce. This might just be the priciest item ever featured here! I’m not a fan of the design of Ferrari’s first EV (and it seems I’m not alone), but there are some genuinely impressive features under the hood. If you want to take me for a spin, I won’t say no!
Screen Share
I had a great chat with Danielle Steussy, a product manager who’s all about enhancing our experience with journalism and storytelling online. She’s been instrumental in developing our new homepage and has some exciting features in the pipeline that I know will make many of us happy.
Curious about her homescreen, I asked Danielle to share it with us. Here’s what she’s using and why:
The phone: iPhone 14 Pro in Deep Purple. I’m due for an upgrade, but I’m holding onto this one a bit longer. Fun fact: I bought it while living in Australia when the 14 Pro first launched, so I ended up with the UK version that has one eSIM and one physical SIM. Moving back to the US with both numbers was a hassle!
The wallpaper: A photo shuffle of my son!
The apps: Settings, Google Maps, Photos, Camera, ChatGPT, Google, Chrome, Brave, Calendar, Apple Notes, Find My, CareConnect, Phone, Messages, Spotify, Mail.
I’m trying to limit my phone use by keeping it mostly utilitarian and straightforward.
I use Spotify for both podcasts and music. I’ve been a loyal fan for years, especially since it was my go-to while teaching fitness classes. Not a fan of the 20th-anniversary icon, though…
I absolutely love the Hatch sound machine for my toddler. The app is pretty solid, and I enjoy creating a calming atmosphere for bedtime.
I also asked Danielle to share a few things she’s currently into. Here’s what she sent back:
* Death by Lightning. Just finished it. LOVED it.
* ChatPRD. An AI tool for product managers created by Claire Vo, who’s been an interesting figure in the PM/AI space. I mainly use it for brainstorming and processing my product ideas.
* The Techno Sapiens newsletter. This evidence-based parenting newsletter by Jacqueline Nesi, a clinical psychologist and professor at Brown University, is super accessible and helps me feel better about raising a kid in this tech-heavy world.
* Tomato gardening. Living on the Central Coast of California means tomatoes practically grow themselves. I’ve got 13 plants this year, including last season’s survivors and some new additions from our local university Ag department. I’m growing Tasmanian Chocolates, Bodacious, Beauty King, and others, all meticulously tracked in a serious Google Sheets planting matrix.
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 favorites here each week. For even more great suggestions, check out the replies to this post on Threads and Bluesky.
“Finally getting around to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on PS5. Such a fun adventure game, very well performed with puzzles that hit the sweet spot. It scratches that Uncharted itch. Really enjoying it.” — Colin
“With storage prices still sky-high, I’m rediscovering burning files/photos onto CDs and DVDs using ImgBurn software.” — Allen
“Thinking about catching Obsession in theaters again after being blown away by it on my first watch.” — Kev
“I’m currently obsessed with playing Huntdown: Overtime in early access on Steam. It’s an absolute blast — a retro-themed, dystopian, Blade Runner-esque side-scroller/shooter/platformer, and it’s SO addictive.” — Kent
“With Allbirds gone, I’ve been rocking Oofos tennis shoes, which are fantastic recovery shoes for the beach, the office, and definitely after a long run.” — Jimmy
“I just finished Kurt Vonnegut’s debut novel from 1952, Player Piano, about a near-future dystopia where automation has displaced all labor, leaving engineers and management living in luxury without doing anything. Nothing relevant there!!” — Andy
“I bought a Kobo Clara BW in January to read more and scroll less. I’ve largely succeeded, and I’d recommend the Red Rising book series by Pierce Brown. I’m on the third book, Morning Star, and it’s fantastic so far. It has sci-fi, romance, and societal commentary, making it an excellent series with an escalating plot! I’m really enjoying it, and reading it on my Kobo has been a delight.” — James
“Watched Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu movie yesterday. It could have just been two episodes in the show, but it was good.” — Justin
“I downloaded Poppy but found it too verbose and sometimes incorrect. A while back, I discovered Extra, an AI-first app for emails and calendars. It’s finally out of Beta, and I’m really liking it.” — Jay
Signing Off
Spotify’s Page Match feature is my favorite new tech discovery. You take a picture of your book, whether it’s on paper or an e-reader, and Spotify finds the exact spot in the audiobook to pick up. It can also guide you back to the right page in your book. It’s fantastic!
I have Spotify Premium, so I get a bunch of audiobook hours for free each month, and being able to switch between reading and listening has helped me get through books much faster. Read in bed, listen while walking the dog, read on the couch, listen while folding laundry. I can’t recommend it enough.
Also: Listening to audiobooks counts as reading. No questions accepted. Yay audiobooks! Catch you next week!
