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A new old idea about video stores

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A new old idea about video stores

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 109, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, hope you’re staying warm, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)

This week, I’ve been reading about Google Maps and shopaganda and life as a pop star, finally getting to watch F1 now that it’s streaming, rewatching the first two Avatars ahead of the next one’s release, pretending the new Taylor Swift tour doc is a reasonable replacement for actually seeing the tour, buying a bunch of Ikea smart buttons now that they’re on sale in the US, playing with the excellent new Obsidian update for mobile devices, and spending altogether too much time trying to figure out why my house is so cold.

I also have for you a fun new source of movies to watch, a game to play this holiday season, a new speaker worth a listen, and much more.

And I have a question, looking ahead to the last Installer of the year: What’s your favorite new thing from this year? It doesn’t have to be new this year, just new to you. (And you don’t have to pick your one favorite forever, just hit me with something new you loved this year.) I want to hear about books you discovered, podcasts you’re into, decade-old games you’re loving, things that made your house or office or whatever better, anything and everything is fair game. I’ll share mine if you share yours — email me at installer@theverge.com, find me on Threads at @imdavidpierce, or message me on Signal at @davidpierce.11.

All right, lots of stuff this week! Let’s go.

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(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What are you playing / reading / watching / listening to / cuddling up with by the fire this week? Tell me everything: installer@theverge.com. And if you know someone else who might enjoy Installer, forward it to them and tell them to subscribe here.)

  • The Letterboxd Video Store. A tightly curated set of movies to rent, filled with stuff Letterboxd knows people want to see but that you almost certainly won’t find anywhere else. Like all things Letterboxd, it’s all a bit high-minded, but I love this idea and suspect I will check it often. Perfect amount of stuff in there, too.
  • Skate Story. A late-breaking contender for the best game of 2025! You’re a demon, you skate. And skate. And skate. A lot of reviews say the controls take a little getting used to, but that they give way to something that feels great and looks spectacular.
  • The iFixit app. I can’t say I’m shocked that iFixit’s AI bot, FixBot, isn’t quite up to the task of automatically sussing out how to fix all your gadgets. But that’s fine; I’ll just be using this new iOS and Android app as a library of manuals and repair guides. Plus, the built-in battery monitor for your phone is extremely clever.
  • Darkroom 7.0. I totally forgot about Darkroom! It has long been one of the best photo editors for Apple devices, and the new version cleans up the user experience a bunch while also adding some retro-film effects and some high-end video features. Also: Being able to zoom all the way down to the individual pixel is pretty wild.
  • Google Photos. On the other end of the professional spectrum, the Google Photos app just got a bunch of CapCut-style video editing features along with some better tools for making highlight reels and slideshows. I’m suddenly tempted to make a lot of stupid year-in-review stuff to send to my friends.
  • Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair. I’m a sucker for a weird re-edit of a movie, so this is extremely my jam: two Kill Bill movies turned into the single, 4.5-hour bloodfest they were apparently always supposed to be. Apparently it’s a totally different story now! This feels like the best possible use of a weekend afternoon in a movie theater.
  • The Wiim Sound Lite. From one of the Installerverse’s favorite audio brands comes a new $229 portable speaker that looks like a strong competitor to Sonos’ new gear. (Or a HomePod, I guess.) If I were starting a home audio system right now, I’d probably start with Wiim.
  • Google Disco. An experimental new browser based on a weird and novel idea: turning collections of tabs into AI-generated, one-off web apps. I don’t expect Disco itself to ever leave Google Labs, but there’s something awfully futuristic in here.

Raffi Chilingaryan’s Spotted in Prod has long been one of my favorite sites for finding cool design and product touches from around the web. (I feel like, if you’re an app developer, your goal should be to make something weird and cool enough to catch Raffi’s eye.) Raffi’s also a designer and developer. He says right now he’s working on two iOS apps, a Strava competitor called Runbuds and a super clever alarm app called Shift that is designed to help you wake up earlier.

That’s all well and good, but my personal favorite Raffi thing is his new personal website, which includes an actual interactive version of his phone, so you can click around his homescreen and see into his apps. Dude took the whole “show us your homescreen” and just put me to shame on it. (Also, it’s a .zip domain, which I kind of love for a personal site?)

Anyway, all I have for you is a humble screenshot, but here’s Raffi’s homescreen, plus some info on the apps he uses and why:

The phone: iPhone 15 Pro.

The wallpaper: Solid gray background.

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The apps: Retro, (Not Boring) Camera, Google Maps, Photos, Claude, Safari, Apple Notes.

I have my apps organized into 4 folders (money, work, social, vibes), but that’s a bit boring so I’ll break it out like this:

  • TestFlights you should keep an eye on: Arena is a community of curious internet folks that I’ve long wanted to immerse myself into but only once the iOS build got to its current level did I find that easy to do. Net is a promising email startup that uses an AI card stack to make flipping through your emails a breeze with impeccable UX.
  • Apps that I will shill till I die: Retro is a weekly photo journal that inspires me to take more photos and lets you send POSTCARDS to your friends & family. (Not Boring) Camera is a gorgeous skeuomorphic camera with really nice presets. Bump is Find My Friends for Gen Z. Radio Garden lets you explore the world through local radio streams. Particle is an amazing AI native news app with super fluid UX. Mercury is the most lovely fintech product for both businesses and now personal banking — I hope they take over the world.

I also asked Raffi to share a few things he’s into right now. Here’s what he sent back:

  • TBPN & Stratechery podcasts.
  • Discovering creative developers and design engineers who showcase their work on tech Twitter.
  • Using Claude Code to ship iOS apps as someone without a formal background in software engineering.
  • The resurgence of Pokémon and the Trading Card Game app.

Here’s what the Installer community is into this week. I want to know what you’re into right now as well! Email installer@theverge.com or message me on Signal — @davidpierce.11 — with your recommendations for anything and everything, and we’ll feature some of our favorites here every week. For even more great recommendations, check out the replies to this post on Threads and this post on Bluesky.

“Now that finals are over I have been diving into Ghost of Yotei. Crazy beautiful game.” — Jeremy

“Finally reading “The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green. Despite John living an entirely different life than me, his experiences and understanding of the world possess so many similarities to mine. I give it five stars.” — Christopher

“I feel like everyone is sleeping on Amazon Luna, the cloud stream gaming platform that Amazon includes with its yearly subscription. It consistently has A+ games on it. I’m currently addicted to the newest Bethesda Indiana Jones game… I hooked up my PS4 controller and am playing one of the greatest games of the past few years at no extra cost.” — Alex

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Audible had an insane three months for $1 deal, so I’ve been getting back into audiobooks while I do chores and commute. Currently listening to / reading Alchemised by SenLinYu and it’s fantastic.” — Colin

“Got myself a Teenage Engineering PO-12 drum machine on a rare sale. What a glorious little device. Lovely design, and hours of music fun, even for a complete amateur like myself. Plus – it even has a headphone jack! That said – I kind of wish that I’d gotten the PO-20 instead.” —

StoneBlock 4, an amazing Minecraft modpack, is ruining all my productivity this week.” — Anne

“Yesterday I watched a badass Polish dude ski down Mt. Everest without oxygen. The feat is unbelievable, but I still think about the incredible footage.” — Denim

“I’m OBSESSED with the Xbloom robotic barista machine I’ve owned for a few weeks now. It’s basically like having a barista on demand 24/7 – if you love drip coffee this is an endgame coffee machine.” — Andrew

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“+1 for Skate Story. Also, the OST… 👌” — Andy

I spent a bunch of time this week learning about Model Context Protocol, which is one of those things that most people will never think about but might be crucial to how technology works going forward. The MCP story is fascinating, but if you just want to quickly understand how the protocol works, and why it’s so important to the whole supposed AI-based future of everything, you should watch this 20-minute video. Greg Isenberg and Ras Mic walk through the whole stack at the perfect level of complexity, and with visuals that actually help (unlike so many videos I watched this week). If every educational video on YouTube were like this one, I’d be a much smarter person.

One more Installer to come this year. See you next week!

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Govee’s new LED Lightwall comes with its own self-standing frame

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Govee’s new LED Lightwall comes with its own self-standing frame

Govee has announced an upgraded version of its hanging Curtain Lights Pro that can instead be used nearly anywhere you have access to an outlet or large battery. At $449.99, Govee’s new Lightwall is more than twice as expensive as the $199.99 Curtain Lights Pro, but comes with more LEDs in a denser array and a self-standing aluminum frame that can be assembled in 10 to 15 minutes without the need for any tools.

When hung from its stand the Lightwall measures 7.9 feet wide and 5.3 feet tall and features 1,536 color-changing LEDs spaced about 1.96 inches apart in a 48 x 32 grid. It’s water-resistant, and with the ability to refresh at up to 35fps the Lightwall almost sounds like it could be used as a personal backyard Jumbotron, but it’s not designed for watching TV or movies.

The Lightwall instead connects to Govee’s Home app where you can select from over 200 preset scenes and simple animations, choose from 10 different music modes that generate lighting patterns matched to beats, or synchronize its colors to other Govee lighting products to create a cohesive mood.

The app can also use AI to create custom animated GIFs from simple text prompts, or you can take matters into your own hands and create custom designs by sketching in the app with your finger and stacking up to 30 layers of doodles. The Lightwall is smart home compatible and supports Matter, too, so in addition to managing it through Govee’s app you can control it using voice commands through smart devices with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

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Roblox adds age-based accounts for kids and teens

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Roblox adds age-based accounts for kids and teens

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

If your child plays Roblox, they are part of a massive global audience. Roblox has reported more than 144 million daily active users, with a large share made up of kids and teens who log in to play games, create content and connect with friends. That reach is exactly why a new change rolling out in early June matters.

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Roblox is introducing two new account types designed to better match what kids play and who they can talk to based on age. The shift centers on structure. Instead of one shared experience with layered controls, Roblox is building separate environments for different age groups. As a result, content, chat and parental controls will adjust automatically as a child grows.

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OPENAI TIGHTENS AI RULES FOR TEENS BUT CONCERNS REMAIN

Roblox rolls out a new AI system that analyzes entire scenes in real time to detect harmful content across its platform. (Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

 

What are Roblox Kids and Roblox Select accounts?

Roblox is dividing younger users into two groups, each with its own rules and experience.

Roblox Kids (ages 5 to 8)

This is the most restricted environment. It is designed for younger children who need tighter guardrails.

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  • Access limited to games rated Minimal or Mild
  • Only games that pass a three-step review process
  • Chat is turned off by default
  • A distinct visual design so parents can easily recognize the account

The idea here is simple. Kids see a limited version of Roblox that removes riskier content and disables communication.

Roblox Select (ages 9 to 15)

AUSTRALIA REMOVES 4.7M KIDS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IN FIRST MONTH OF HISTORIC BAN

This group gets more flexibility, but still within limits.

  • Access to games rated up to Moderate
  • Same multi-step game screening process
  • Chat settings remain on by default in most regions
  • Visual indicators show the account type

At this stage, Roblox assumes users can handle a broader range of experiences, but still keeps filters in place.

How Roblox decides what games kids can play

Not every game makes the cut. Roblox is adding a continuous evaluation system that runs behind the scenes. Here’s how it works:

1) Developer verification

Creators must verify their identity, enable two-step security and maintain a Roblox Plus subscription.

2) Real-time evaluation

Older users, age 16 and up, effectively test new games first. Roblox studies how they interact and reviews reports before exposing those games to younger players.

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3) Content eligibility check

Games receive maturity ratings such as Minimal, Mild or Moderate. Certain categories, like social hangouts or free-form drawing, are excluded by default for younger users. This layered approach combines AI moderation, human review and real-world gameplay signals.

Age checks now control the entire experience

Roblox is expanding the same age-check system it introduced earlier this year for chat.

  • Users under 9 Roblox Kids
  • Users 9 to 15 Roblox Select
  • Users 16 and older standard with Roblox account

If a user does not complete an age check, they face stricter limits. They can only access lower-rated games and cannot use chat. Once verified, the system automatically moves them into the correct account type.

Roblox officials say the new system aims to proactively protect children while maintaining gameplay for compliant users. (Riccardo Milani/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

 

Accounts evolve as kids grow

There is no need to manually switch settings over time.

  • At age 9, users move from Kids to Select
  • At age 16, they move to a standard account

This automatic progression is designed to simplify things for families while keeping protections in place at each stage.

Parental controls get more precise

Roblox is also expanding what parents can do.

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  • Block specific games through age 15
  • Manage direct chat settings until age 15
  • Approve access to individual games outside default limits
  • View what games kids play and who they interact with

These tools give parents more direct control instead of relying only on broad content filters.

A move toward global content ratings

Later this year, Roblox plans to align with the International Age Rating Coalition framework. That includes familiar systems like ESRB in the U.S. and PEGI in Europe. The goal is to make ratings clearer and more consistent across regions. 

Why this matters to families

This update changes how Roblox works at a fundamental level. Instead of asking parents to constantly adjust settings, the platform builds age-appropriate experiences from the start. It also reflects a broader shift in tech. Platforms are under pressure to design safety into the product, not tack it on later.

As Larry Magid, CEO of ConnectSafely, an organization focused on helping families navigate digital safety, put it:

“By combining age assurance, stronger creator accountability, and parental controls, Roblox is helping set a higher standard for how platforms can better protect younger users while preserving positive online experiences.”

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Roblox targets nuanced rule-breaking by analyzing avatars, text and environments together instead of in isolation. (JasonDoiy/Getty Images)

Roblox is not removing risk entirely. No platform can. What it is doing is tightening the structure around how kids interact with content and other players. For parents, this could make things simpler. For kids, the experience will feel more tailored to where they are in life. The bigger question is whether this becomes the norm across gaming and social platforms.

If platforms start shaping experiences based on age by default, does that improve safety or limit how kids explore and learn online? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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YouTube now lets you turn off Shorts

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YouTube now lets you turn off Shorts

YouTube’s time management settings now have an option to put a zero-minute time limit on Shorts, effectively removing them from your app in Android and iOS. The option is an update to the Shorts timer YouTube originally announced in October; the lowest previous option was 15 minutes.

The feature was expanded in January to give parents some control over how long their kids spend scrolling through Shorts, with an option for zero minutes “coming soon.” According to YouTube spokesperson Makenzie Spiller, the option to set the timer to zero is now “live for all parents, and is currently being rolled out to everyone,” including users with regular adult accounts.

Regardless of age, it can be a handy tool for anyone who wants to spend a little less time scrolling. The Shorts tab won’t show any videos once you hit your limit, just a notification that you’ve “reached your Shorts feed limit.” In our tests, hitting the time limit also removes Shorts from the Home screen, so by setting the timer to zero you can ignore Shorts entirely if you want. To turn on the timer, go to the settings in the YouTube app and select “time management” then toggle on the Shorts feed limit and select a time for it.

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