Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 30, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome. So psyched you found us, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)
Technology
A better way to find stuff to watch
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25338350/2024_03_15_INSTALLER.jpg?ssl=1 "A better way to find stuff to watch")
This week, I’ve been playing the fun puzzler Close Cities, scrounging up money to buy TikTok, reading the latest in my favorite spy-thriller series, debating becoming a mansion squatter, testing Today for simple tasks, taking notes on this great video about the editing in Oppenheimer, and yelling “SPACE!” while watching the most recent SpaceX launch.
I also have for you a new AI productivity tool, a great way to find stuff to watch, some new shows about old events, and a deep dive into the collapse of the Apple Car. Let’s do it.
(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What app are you obsessed with right now? What show can you not stop talking about? What game is burning all your controller batteries 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 Drop
- Likewise. I’ve been a fan of Likewise as a show and movie and podcast recommender for a while, and the app just got a redesign I really like. It’s extremely just TikTok, but it kind of works — you just scroll from title to title and trailer to trailer until you find something you like.
- The Apple Car – A $10 Billion Failure. There’s been a lot of great reporting about what happened to Apple’s car project, and this is a great summary. It also makes a pretty good case that, actually, the things that make Apple Apple are exactly the reasons it was never going to win in the car biz.
- Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War. We all rewatched Oppenheimer this week after its big Oscar win, right? If not, go do that, it’s on Peacock. But if you’re looking for some more, this Netflix series is it: a deep dive into how the Cold War started, and whether it ever actually ended.
- Proton Mail for desktop. I’m pretty ready to call Proton the best non-Gmail email service on the internet. (Gmail’s not even that great, it’s just… it’s Gmail.) The new Mac and Windows apps include both mail and calendar, and it’s silly they don’t work offline yet, but that’s apparently coming soon.
- The Dyson 360 Vis Nav. A $1,200 robot vacuum seems silly, in the way that Dyson’s prices always seem silly, but they do seem to be worth it a lot. Early looks at this one seem sort of split on whether it’s worth the price, but its mega power and apparent skill with corners is pretty enticing.
- Evernote. I never, ever thought I’d mention Evernote here — the app seemed to be on a slow road to nothingness. But under new ownership, it’s kind of on a tear? It got Outlook calendar integration this week, plus some handy new formatting stuff (I love collapsible headers in long notes), and suddenly I’m tempted back to an app I once left for dead.
- Manhunt. A seven-part miniseries about the epic hunt for Abraham Lincoln’s killer? (Which, fun fact, apparently took place in part in the neighborhood where my wife grew up, but that’s not the point?) I’m here for it. I need to read the book it’s based on, too, which I’m told is terrific.
- Dola. I have long extolled the virtues of text messaging as a productivity tool. This is a really clever (and surprisingly powerful) version of that: an AI assistant that communicates through text messages, that can set reminders, make calendar events, and more. I’ve been using it for one-off reminders all week, and it works great.
- Ozone on Bluesky. This is the fediverse stuff that gets me excited: the Bluesky team is open-sourcing its moderation tool, so that anyone can build their own moderation systems and users can use whichever one they want. And it all gets integrated right into Bluesky.
Screen share
Michael Fisher goes by many names. Michael Fisher is one of them. But he’s also MrMobile, and Captain2Phones, and — this is my personal nickname for him — The World’s Only Remaining Fan of The Palm Pre. He’s also, as of recently, the co-founder of a nifty new keyboard case for iPhone called Clicks.
Michael and I recently had a long, fun chat about keyboards, which is coming to a Vergecast feed near you very soon. But I also asked him to share his homescreen, because, I mean, there aren’t many people on Earth who have had as many homescreens as he has. I secretly hoped he’d send me 12 screenshots and just say, like, “Sorry, these are all my daily drivers.”
Alas, all I got was one. But it’s a fun one. Here’s Michael’s homescreen, plus some info on the apps he uses and why:
The phone: Google Pixel Fold. Thirteen years of reviewing smartphones has cursed me with an unquenchable thirst for novelty, so I switch devices constantly even when I don’t need to — but I find the Pixel Fold never gets far from my daily rotation. Turns out a digital Moleskine is quite a comforting thing to carry, at least for tech nerds of a certain age.
The wallpaper: I’ll be honest: when Google briefed me on its emoji wallpaper last year, I rolled my eyes. But having a bunch of icons representing your interests splayed out in a pleasing pattern on the screen you see the most? Turns out it’s pretty cool! (Also, I like how it “breathes” when I tap it.)
The apps: Phone, Google Voice, NYC Ferry, Instagram, Gmail, Reddit, Todoist, Slack, Food Bazaar.
One of the things I adore about large-format foldables is all the space they afford me to just… spread out. So my choice of layout is more notable than my list of apps, which I’ve clustered into five folders for two-tap access whether the phone is open or closed. Alongside those, an anchor row of apps that used to be critical core features… but as I write this, I realize how little I actually use the dialer or Google Voice (my SMS solution since it was called GrandCentral before Google scooped it up). Habit is a helluva drug.
Another thing I’ve spent too long doing: letting phones try to guess which apps I might want to use at any given time. That’s the bottom row there, and Google’s done a pretty good job of suggesting, on this Monday midafternoon, a mix of productivity and messaging apps. I generally save my Reddit sessions until after bedtime, and I’ve never used my local grocery store app before sundown, so those are oddballs… but I still appreciate the suggestions that do make sense.
I will shout out one app: NYC Ferry, which lets me navigate my fair city by sea instead of subway. If you live in New York City and you don’t use the ferry, I genuinely don’t know what you’re doing. (Bonus: they let local elementary schoolers name all the boats, so you’re whisked to and fro by vessels bearing legends like “Tooth Ferry” and “Lunchbox.” It’s the best.)
Finally: I’m big on glanceable info, so I use a trio of widgets to make sure I’m getting useful data the second I open my phone. All three are from Google: Calendar for my schedule, Weather for whether I need an umbrella, and At A Glance to give me reminders about stuff I might have missed on the other two.
I also asked Michael to share a few things he’s into right now. Here’s what he said:
- In preparing for a recent episode of the Living In The Future podcast, I watched the classic science-fiction film Outland. A 1981 Sean Connery playing a federal SPACE MARSHAL! Sent to tame a rough-and-tumble mining colony on one of Jupiter’s moons! Yes, it’s High Noon in space, but that’s the best kind of compliment — and what really puts it over the top is the production design, whose blend of Alien and Star Trek II is the purest form of cassette futurism.
- Speaking of old stuff: I’ve recently fallen back in love with text adventures, the interactive fiction stories that first opened my eyes to computer gaming. Alter Ego was originally written for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and their contemporaries back in 1986 — and these days it’s playable as an app or in a browser. It allows you to live an entire human life, from birth to death, making choices to dictate your path along the way. Playing through a whole lifetime on my phone was surprisingly fulfilling and even at times profound (even if I died in the dumbest way possible, catching a pitch in a softball game).
- Finally, out in the real world: I had my first experience at a cat cafe this weekend. If you’re not familiar: this is a cafe you can visit that — yes — is festooned with felines. It was a deeply necessary opportunity for me to get away from the digital world and reconnect with the natural one, and if you have a cat cafe near you, it’s the perfect activity for a rainy Saturday. You just need to be prepared for the overwhelming urge to adopt one — or two! — and by the time you read this, I may well have two fluffy new roommates as a result of my own visit! Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.
Crowdsourced
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 +1 (203) 570-8663 with your recommendations for anything and everything, and we’ll feature some of our favorites here every week.
“I’m a week late, but I wanted to get a single point on the board for Pandora. The new music page highlights artists that match my tastes, and they still have a stupendous radio feature — hardly surprising considering they popularized it. Also, Pandora has a slight edge by keeping podcasts (a feature I do not use) tucked away out of sight, while Spotify loses points, like some people I know, for never shutting up about Joe Rogan, who clearly peaked in the 90’s on News Radio.” — Will
“New Pokémon TCG set coming next week, so prepping for that, as well as playing Pokémon Go, because well… I’m always playing Pokémon Go… always.” — Bobby
“One small stuff that completely changed the way I use my lockscreen on iOS… Random photos. When I realized that I can hand pick the photos super easily, apply cool filters and make them change randomly when I touch the screen, it became the best way to revive weekends, holidays or last night’s parties by featuring the five-to-ten best pictures on my lock screen. It’s so much more practical and fun than having to open the Photos app.” — Benoit
“More and more of my friends have been signing on to BeReal — wonder if any other friend groups are seeing this growth. Also, the app keeps trying to get you to view public profiles and I would like them to stop that.” — Wisdom
“The amazing Empty Fasting app that launched this week. One-time fee for a beautifully designed fasting app.” — Esteban
“I thought I’d throw in a great ‘audio products’ reviewer, Darko Audio. He has some good info and thoughts at the high end and some nerdy written content on streaming protocols. Personally, I’m a Spotify user since, as you say, it’s everywhere. I do feel pushed ever further away from Spotify with each software update that seems to chip away at what was a near perfect interface.” — David
“Bought a used, but excellent condition Pixel 7 Pro. After trade-in, $201. Wife recently got the same-condition iPhone 13. Makes you think about upgrade cycles. Also Zack from JerryRigEverything has left an impression on me regarding recycling tech and parts and whatnot.” – Omar
“It’s owl breeding season, and I’m back to watching live streams of nesting European eagle owls. In addition to being cute, the camera quality for bird cams is so much better than it was just a couple years ago. Tristan and Isolde on Cam 3 have a clutch of 4 eggs this year!” — Daniel
“Watching Mr. & Mrs. Smith and organizing my notes using the PARA method in Microsoft Loop and Capacities.” — Carter
Signing off
Over the last two weeks, my 15-month-old son has become a Train Kid. He wants to look at trains, make train noises, yell at the trains outside, walk by the train car outside the library whenever we go past. After months of just, like, watching Wiggles videos on repeat, trains are a terrific new trend.
And y’all: if you’re not already into TrainTube, you are missing out. Hours upon hours of beautifully shot videos of awesome-looking trains in beautiful locations. It’s peaceful, it’s surprisingly good background noise for working to, and there is nothing funnier to me than the fact that an hourlong video of trains has 107 million views — and according to the comments, most of them are toddlers. I love the internet.
Continue Reading
Though Tim Cook is shedding his CEO title for the role of Apple’s executive chairman, it appears he’ll keep one of his most important duties: that of the company’s Trump whisperer.
“As executive chairman, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world,” Apple writes in a press release. Translation: he’s sticking around to deal with thorny political relationships — in particular the one with President Donald Trump.
Throughout his tenure, Cook has navigated Apple through tricky political terrain. He’s had to balance the company’s massive business interest in China with US policymakers’ concerns, and he’s worked to appease Trump for favorable regulatory decisions, without alienating too many Apple employees and customers in the process.
Cook has navigated Apple through tricky political terrain
The task of wooing Trump has repeatedly placed Cook in embarrassing situations: Cook showed the president around a factory in Texas in 2019, where Trump wrongly boasted that because of his policies, Apple was building a new manufacturing plant in the US. Last year, he presented Trump with a symbolic gift of “Made in the USA” glass from Apple supplier Corning set in 24-karat gold.
Recently, Cook took criticism from Trump critics for attending a movie night at the White House, for a screening of the documentary Melania, the same day that Alex Pretti was killed by federal agents on the streets of Minneapolis during a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Cook later vaguely referred to the “events in Minneapolis,” and referenced a “good conversation with the president.”
As Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus takes over as CEO, the company will need to overcome significant policy challenges, including global efforts to regulate AI, and a push for app stores to verify user ages. Lucky for Ternus, Cook will still be there to take on that job.
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Just about every day, we receive emails from readers who have encountered new scams. Many involve cryptocurrency. The pattern keeps repeating. Someone receives a message that feels urgent, emotional or exciting. The person on the other end sounds confident and persuasive. Before long, the victim is being asked to send money through cryptocurrency. Once the money is sent, it often disappears forever.
Cryptocurrency appeals to scammers for a simple reason. Transactions move quickly, often cross international borders and usually cannot be reversed once completed. That combination makes crypto payments especially attractive to criminals.
Kate recently wrote to us with a great question.
“Could you do an article that illustrates the scripts used by scammers to lure people to send money using cryptocurrency. Those scripts must be very convincing to get so many reasonably intelligent people to send money. Maybe five or six examples of the scripts, so people, especially seniors, will know what to watch out for.”
Kate is absolutely right. These scripts are convincing because scammers practice them constantly. They use psychology, urgency and emotion to push people toward quick decisions.
FAKE GOOGLE GEMINI AI PUSHES ‘GOOGLE COIN’ CRYPTO SCAM
Crypto scammers use polished scripts built on urgency, trust and emotion to pressure victims into sending irreversible payments. (gpointstudio/Getty Images)
Let’s break down some of the most common crypto scam scripts, so you know what they sound like before they reach your inbox or phone.
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The investment opportunity script
This script often begins with a friendly introduction through social media, email or even a text message.
Example script:
“Hi, I work with a private investment group that trades cryptocurrency. We’ve helped many people earn steady returns. If you invest $500 today, you could earn $5,000 within weeks. I can show you proof of other investors’ success.”
The scammer may send fake screenshots of profits. Some will even allow a small withdrawal early on to build trust. Eventually, they push the victim to send larger deposits. Once the larger transfer is sent, the account suddenly stops responding.
The romance crypto script
This scam often starts with a simple message on a dating app, Facebook or Instagram. The first contact is friendly and low-pressure.
Example initial script:
“Hi, insert name here, I hope you don’t mind me saying hello. Your profile caught my attention, and you seem like a very kind person. How has your day been?”
After a few days of conversation, the scammer begins sharing details about their life. They often claim to work overseas as an engineer, doctor or business owner. Eventually, they mention cryptocurrency trading as something they do on the side.
Later message in the script:
“I have been doing some short-term crypto trading after work. It has helped me save a lot faster. If you are interested, I can show you the platform I use. It is very easy to start with a small amount.”
From there, the scammer guides the victim to a fake trading site or asks them to transfer cryptocurrency to a wallet they control. At first, the account may show fake profits. The victim believes the investment is working and sends more money. Eventually, the victim cannot withdraw any money.
MALICIOUS MAC EXTENSIONS STEAL CRYPTO WALLETS AND PASSWORDS
From romance schemes to fake government threats, scammers often follow repeatable crypto scripts designed to sound convincing. Knowing the pattern can help you stop the fraud early. (Nhac NGUYEN / AFP via Getty Images)
The government impersonation script
Scammers often pretend to represent government agencies or law enforcement.
Example script:
“This is an urgent notice regarding your tax account. Your Social Security number has been linked to suspicious activity. To prevent legal action, you must verify your identity and pay the outstanding balance today using cryptocurrency.”
Government agencies do not demand payment through cryptocurrency. The goal is to scare you into acting quickly without checking the facts.
The tech support emergency script
This scam often begins with a pop-up warning or an unexpected phone call.
Example script:
“Your computer has been compromised by hackers. Your bank information may be at risk. To secure your system, we need you to transfer funds temporarily into a protected cryptocurrency wallet.“
The scammer claims the funds will be returned once the system is secure. In reality, the transfer moves the money directly to the criminal.
The crypto giveaway script
This scam frequently appears on social media or video platforms.
Example script:
“We are celebrating a new crypto launch. Send 0.1 Bitcoin to this wallet, and we will immediately send back double the amount.”
The message may appear to come from a well-known company or public figure. The wallet address belongs to the scammer. Anyone who sends funds receives nothing in return.
The fake recovery service script
This scam targets people who have already lost money.
Example script:
“We specialize in recovering stolen cryptocurrency. Our investigators located the wallet that received your funds. To begin the recovery process, we require a small crypto payment to unlock the legal tracing tools.”
The victim believes they are hiring professionals to recover their money. Instead, they are being scammed again.
Why these scripts work so well
These scams succeed because they exploit human behavior. First, they create urgency. Victims feel pressured to act quickly.
Second, they create trust. The scammer may sound friendly or sympathetic.
Third, they promise rewards. Investment scams offer profits that feel life-changing.
Finally, cryptocurrency adds confusion. Many people are still learning how it works. Criminals take advantage of that uncertainty.
Understanding these scripts is the first step to protecting yourself. Once you recognize the patterns scammers use, it becomes much easier to stop the conversation before money is involved.
How to protect yourself from crypto scams
Crypto scammers rely on urgency, trust and confusion to pressure victims into sending money. These practical steps can help you recognize warning signs and avoid costly mistakes.
1 CLICK COST A FATHER $4 MILLION IN BITCOIN TO VISHING SCAMMERS
Criminals favor cryptocurrency because transactions move fast, cross borders easily and usually cannot be reversed. That makes crypto a powerful tool for scammers. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
1) Slow down when money is involved
Scammers depend on urgency to push victims into fast decisions. If someone pressures you to send money immediately, treat it as a warning sign. Pause the conversation and verify the situation independently. Contact the company, agency or person through a known phone number or official website. Taking even a few minutes to step back can stop a scam before money leaves your account.
2) Never send cryptocurrency to someone you do not know
Cryptocurrency transactions work very differently from credit cards or bank transfers. Once funds are sent, they usually cannot be reversed. Scammers prefer crypto because it moves quickly and often crosses international borders. If someone asks for payment through Bitcoin, Ethereum or another digital currency, assume the request is suspicious until proven otherwise.
3) Verify investment opportunities independently
Many crypto scams promise fast profits or guaranteed returns. Legitimate investments never guarantee profits. Before investing, search the company name, website and contact information online. Look for warnings from regulators or consumer protection agencies. If you cannot find reliable information about the company, that is a major red flag.
4) Use strong antivirus software on your devices
Scammers frequently use phishing links, fake websites and malicious downloads to trick victims. Strong antivirus software can help detect these threats before they cause damage. Strong antivirus software can warn you about suspicious websites, block malicious downloads and help stop phishing attempts that try to steal your financial information. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
5) Reduce the personal information scammers can find online
Scammers often research their targets before sending messages. They may gather details from public records, social media or data broker websites. Limiting the amount of personal information available online can make it harder for criminals to craft convincing messages. Removing your data from people search sites with a data removal service can reduce the chances of becoming a target. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
6) Be cautious with online relationships
Romance scams often begin with friendly messages on dating apps or social media. Over time, the scammer builds trust and eventually introduces a crypto investment opportunity. If someone you have never met begins discussing cryptocurrency investments or asks you to move money, take a step back. Real relationships do not require financial transfers to strangers.
7) Never trust screenshots or profit dashboards
Crypto scammers often show screenshots of trading accounts that appear to generate large profits. These images are easy to fake or are displayed on fraudulent websites controlled by the scammer. Even if a platform shows profits, it does not mean the money exists. If you cannot withdraw funds easily through a verified exchange, the investment may be fake.
8) Watch for requests to move conversations off the platform
Many scams begin on social media, dating apps or messaging platforms. After the first contact, scammers often ask victims to continue the conversation on WhatsApp, Telegram or another private messaging app. Moving the conversation helps them avoid detection by the original platform. If someone quickly asks you to switch apps, treat it as a warning sign.
9) Talk to someone you trust before sending money
Scammers often isolate their victims and discourage them from discussing the situation with friends or family. Before sending cryptocurrency or making a large investment, pause and talk to someone you trust. A second opinion can often spot warning signs that are easy to miss when emotions are involved.
What to do if you already sent cryptocurrency to a scammer
If you believe you sent cryptocurrency to a scammer, act quickly. Contact the exchange or platform you used to send the funds and report the transaction immediately. Some exchanges may be able to flag the receiving wallet and help investigators track suspicious activity.
You should also report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and notify your local law enforcement agency. If the scam began on a social media site, dating app or messaging platform, report the account there as well so it can be investigated and removed.
While recovering funds can be difficult, reporting the incident can help authorities identify larger fraud networks and potentially prevent others from becoming victims.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Cryptocurrency scams continue to grow because the scripts are polished and carefully tested. The criminals behind them understand human psychology. They know when to apply pressure, when to build trust and when to promise rewards. Recognizing these patterns is one of the most powerful ways to stop them. When you know the script, the scam becomes much easier to spot.
Have you ever received a message that tried to convince you to send cryptocurrency, and did the script almost sound believable? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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- For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com – trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
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As if there weren’t already enough devices listening in on everything being said in your home, Prego, the pasta and pizza sauce brand, is releasing a device designed to record everything said around the dinner table for posterity. The Connection Keeper, which looks like an oversized pasta jar lid, was created in collaboration with StoryCorps, the nonprofit organization focused on preserving the stories of Americans in a collection housed at the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center. There’s no AI, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth, but you can optionally upload recordings to StoryCorps’ website to make them easier to share with family.
Prego says the goal of the device is to encourage families to make memories through conversation during dinner instead of staring at their phones — but only for a small number of families. The company is only planning to make less than 100 of them. The Connection Keeper will be available for purchase online starting on April 27th for $20 as part of a bundle that includes the device, a jar of Prego sauce, spaghetti noodles, and a deck of cards featuring conversation prompts and ideas.
Using the device is as easy as plopping the Connection Keeper down in the middle of everyone at the table and pressing one button to start recording. Using a pair of microphones, it captures CD-quality audio to a 16GB microSD card for up to eight hours when fully charged.
When dinner’s over, the recordings can be transferred to a computer over USB-C and then uploaded to a dedicated microsite created by StoryCorps where they’re preserved and accessible only by the uploader, unless they choose to share them with other StoryCorps users or the general public. You even have the option to archive them within the Library of Congress, which makes them public automatically, so hopefully your family talks about more than just stealing brainrots.
The recordings can be accessed on a smartphone through the StoryCorps app, but Prego intentionally left phones out of the rest of the process to discourage their use at the table. It’s also why the Connection Keeper lacks a screen. The goal was to minimize interactions with the device so family members instead focused on talking with each other.
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