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One streaming app to (almost) rule them all

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One streaming app to (almost) rule them all

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 78, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, sorry everything’s about to get so expensive, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)

This week, I’ve been reading about baseball bats and work-life balance and BYD and Scarlett Johansson, watching Paradise, rekindling my love of pear-flavored jelly beans, sharing Robin Sloan’s AI take with anyone who will listen, grooving to the greatest unexpected Doechii remix of all time, and finally finding the monitor mount that makes my webcam upgrade work.

I also have for you a couple of great new apps for streaming and gaming, a look back into Microsoft’s history, the latest on the Switch 2, a screed against screen time, and much more.

Oh, and a programming note: Installer is off next week. Taking a little break before we ramp up for Developer Conference season. But we have lots to do today! Let’s get into it.

(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What are you into right now? What should everyone else be reading / listening to / watching / downloading / sipping on this week? Tell me everything: installer@theverge.com. And if you know someone else who might enjoy Installer, tell them to subscribe here.)

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  • Plex. Plex has spent a lot of time and energy trying to become a proper, legit streaming platform, and the new mobile app is by far the most mainstream-useful thing it has ever made. Mixing streaming media with my library, and lots of discovery tools, feels really nice. Fair warning, though: you’ll need a $4.99 monthly sub to get a lot of Plex’s best features.
  • Delta 1.7. The iPhone’s best game emulator, now with online multiplayer! (At least for DS games.) It also has nice screenshot support and some new N64-specific updates, which gives me great hope for the Mario Golf ROM I’ve already put too many hours into.
  • Skylight. It looks exactly like TikTok, but it runs on the same AT Protocol that powers Bluesky. That is a very enticing combination — and it’s a really nice app for something so brand new. Bluesky is really starting to look like the fediverse.
  • Celebrate 50 years of Microsoft with the company’s original source code. This week was the 50th anniversary of Microsoft, and Bill Gates marked the occasion by releasing all its original Altair BASIC source code — via one of the cooler retro-style websites you’ll ever use.
  • The Nintendo Switch 2. I know, we’ve talked about this before, and I know, it’s not launching until June. But the new Switch — a console I am outrageously, maybe unprecedentedly, excited about, especially now that we’ve learned more about its specs and its game lineup — is officially launching in June, and I just needed you to know so you don’t miss it. I will be there. You can’t preorder it yet, because of chaos, but I’ll keep you posted.
  • I hate my phone so I got rid of it.” Been a while since a 46-minute YouTube rant had me nodding this hard — but Eddy Burback does a great job of explaining both why our phones are a problem, and why life without a phone feels increasingly impossible. Using a landline? Can you imagine?
  • A Minecraft Movie. The reviews are meh, because of course they are. But I’ll watch Jack Black in anything, and I’m genuinely curious to see both what the blocky movie world looks like and how this very clearly Lego Movie-inspired flick pulls off the whole “just keep building” bit.
  • DEVONthink 4.0. DEVONthink is, like, the ultimate Mac app for just storing all your junk. The design’s a little ’90s for my taste, but the new beta has some nice updates and a huge set of AI tools for finding, summarizing, and organizing content. I’m tempted to throw my whole life back in the app.
  • Koira. Another delightful entrant (for Steam and PS5) in one of my favorite game genres — the quiet, simple puzzler that never tries to do too much but somehow seems to keep your attention forever. Plus, you get a puppy friend!

We’ve talked about the app Sofa a few times here in Installer. It’s a really good-looking, powerful app for Apple devices that lets you manage all the stuff you want to watch, read, listen to, and everything else. I’ve come to appreciate having it as the app I go to when I deliberately want to relax. Rather than just aimlessly scroll on Reddit or whatever, Sofa is just a giant list of stuff I actually want to consume.

Sofa’s big new feature this week is a podcast player, which is full-featured enough that you can use Sofa as your one and only podcast app. Like everything else in Sofa, it’s really nicely made and is already as good at queue management as any app I’ve tried.

On the occasion of the new update, I asked Shawn Hickman, Sofa’s developer, to share his homescreen with us. I figured he might have some widget ideas, you know? Here it is, plus some info on the apps he uses and why:

The phone: iPhone 16 Pro Max. I love the big phones and have embraced the PopSocket life.

The wallpaper: My homescreen rotates images from my photo library (one of my favorite iOS features), and I use the blurred version of it as my “wallpaper.”

The apps: Camera, Phone, Apple Maps, Clock, Wallet, Settings, Photos, Reminders, App Store, Music, Safari, 1Password, YouTube, Bear, YouTube Studio, Lightroom, Things, Blackmagic Camera, Reeder, Discord, RevenueCat, ChatGPT, Apple Sports, Mail, Messages, Sofa, Apple Notes.

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I keep very few apps on my homescreen and tend to rely on search more. Also, I’m not a big widgets person. I have a few on my first page (Photos, Weather, and Calendar), but I prefer scanning app icons rather than widgets 🤷‍♂️.

Things, Bear, and Reeder are a few of my favorite apps of all time. I’ve used Reeder (now Reeder Classic) for a long time and have always been impressed with the app’s craftsmanship. The new Reeder is even better. I actually like the “news feed” approach more than the traditional RSS feed / inbox approach. I find it to be a low-stress way to keep up with different news sources.

Bear is where I write and store a lot of my “work” notes. I love writing in markdown, the flexibility of the app’s tagging system, and its visual design. Things is my favorite app ever. I’ve been using it for so long and couldn’t imagine managing my work without it. Simply the best.

I have a YouTube channel. I’ve been experimenting with shooting Apple Log, and the Blackmagic Camera app is by far the most flexible. You need to do a bit of learning, but it’s pretty sweet once you’ve gotten a handle on it. I love photography, and really love editing photos, so I tend to spend a lot of time in Lightroom. I find it relaxing, and tend to edit photos when I’m stuck on a problem. It weirdly helps me think.

RevenueCat is a great service that makes implementing and managing Sofa’s app subscriptions much easier.

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

  • Severance. It’s probably my favorite TV show since the first season of Stranger Things… and I really want to buy one of the keyboards the MDR team uses! Now we must all endure the long wait for season 3.
  • I’ve been on a history kick, and there are a few documentaries I’ve really liked: Benjamin Franklin, The Roosevelts: An Intimate History, and I’m currently watching The War.
  • Framelines: I’m a photography enthusiast, and one of my favorite YouTube channels, and now magazines, is Framelines. They focus a lot on street photography but expand beyond that quite a bit. Their channel is great, and I love getting their physical magazines, too.

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.

“I played Dungeon Pages for the first time on my iPad last night and REALLY enjoyed it! Would be even more enjoyable on paper to get away from doomscrolling for a while.” – Dylan

“I initially had my heart set on the Fujifilm X100VI, but a friend suggested the X-T50. It’s been a great learning experience, and I’m pleased with the photos I’ve taken. I’m still discovering all the nuances of the Fujifilm ecosystem.” – Paul

“If you’re liking your SodaStream, you should check out Simpli Soda — they’re a family business out of SE Wisconsin that does mail-in cylinder swaps for all brands (including quick-connects like your SodaStream Art uses) for less $$.” – Cori

“Late to the party, but Baldur’s Gate 3. I was blown away by how quickly I got immersed, and I’m only on my first playthrough. I didn’t realize that it ran natively on macOS until last month.” – Drake

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“Wanted to recommend a great app I have been happily using (+ paying for) for five years that no one else seems to talk about: Mealime. It’s the perfect app if, like me, you struggle not only at planning recipes for the week but also the act of shopping itself. Normally, when I make a grocery list, I crisscross the grocery store looking for what I need. Mealime gives you tons of recipes, lets you filter by dietary preferences, make a meal plan, and then it makes a grocery list grouped by section of the grocery store. It’s a total game-changer for me.” – Drew

“I absolutely love Li Hing pineapple rings. I’m told they’re common in Hawaii, but on the East Coast, they’re new to me. Sour and delicious. I order mine from Wholesale Unlimited Hawaii, and they’re fun and delicious and unique. The store has tons of snacks I’ve never seen around where I live, and everything I’ve bought is really good.” – Steve

“I finished watching Reacher season 3 on Prime Video. I liked the season as an action flick, but it doesn’t feel like a Reacher-level story. The investigation element was missing from this season. Season 1 was the strongest offering in this series.” – Ankur

“I just found out about the Johnny.Decimal system last night. Diving in to reorganizing my work files as I descend further down the PKM rabbit hole.” – Dirk

Otherwise Objectionable is an excellent history of Section 230. Hosted by Mike Masnick and featuring recollections from the folks who were there at the inception of the ‘26 words that created the Internet.’ Section 230 is under threat (yet again), so it’s a good time to learn why it’s so important we don’t screw it up with badly written and misguided legislation.” – Zip

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If you were extremely online during a very specific time period, the names Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld might mean a lot to you. They were two of my first favorite online comedians, part of a brilliant CollegeHumor gang that was way ahead of its time making funny stuff on the internet.

If you’ve never watched a Jake and Amir, head to their YouTube channel, sort by oldest, and give it a whirl. But if you can quote as many of their bits as I can, you really should check out the “Greatest Jake and Amir Episode Ever” tournament the two guys are doing on the channel, rewatching and commenting on some of their best work. (If you’re on their Patreon, you can already see who won the tournament, but as I write this, the YouTube channel is only up to the Final Four.) I was shocked at how many of these videos I can still recite, pretty much word for word, all these years later. No keeding.

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Meta is reportedly working on smart glasses that would be recording all the time

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Meta is reportedly working on smart glasses that would be recording all the time

Meta might be the next company to make an always-on AI wearable. The company is working on prototype “super sensing” always-aware smart glasses that could continuously record audio and snap photos “every few seconds,” according to the Financial Times. The wearer could then ask Meta AI about the captured audio and images.

However, the images and audio might not be directly available to the user. Here’s how the FT describes one way the glasses could use the data:

In one proposed system, raw footage and audio would not be stored by Meta or made available to the user, several people said. Instead, the metadata from that audio and images would be extracted and uploaded to the server for Meta’s AI to query, which proponents argue would have fewer privacy implications.

But currently, Meta is planning for the LED recording indicator to remain off in “super sensing” mode, the FT reports. In a July 2025 whitepaper, the company said that it would reserve the LED indicator for “active capture” scenarios where the user is saving photos or videos, and leave it off during “AI Feature” use — such as scanning a menu — to avoid users becoming too used to the indicator. (If the indicator was on during the “super sensing” mode, it might also be harder to know when the glasses are actually recording video.)

Meta is also discussing if it would use the captured data for training its AI models. It may also bring the “super sensing” features to glasses it has already released, the FT says.

“While we don’t comment on internal prototypes, we’re committed to getting our glasses right because they need to be loved by both people wearing them and those around them,” Meta spokesperson Dave Arnold says in a statement to The Verge. Arnold also notes that “Our approach has been to develop new technologies that will help people throughout their day, with privacy built in from the ground up.”

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Meta hasn’t been shy about some type of always-aware glasses being a possibility. CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in the company’s Q1 2026 earnings call, said that he was “really excited to see the glasses evolve from being able to answer questions to being able to be a personal agent that’s with you all day long, helping you remember things and achieve your goals.” In a March blog post about new Ray-Ban Meta glasses, the company wrote that “with ongoing software updates, Meta AI on glasses will transition from something you have to prompt with a question each time, to a more continuous, in-the-moment assistant that can help throughout the day.”

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Get a $30 credit when you reserve Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy phones

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Get a  credit when you reserve Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy phones

Even though they haven’t been officially announced yet, Samsung is giving you a chance to save some cash when you preorder what we’re expecting to be the brand’s updated Galaxy Z Fold phones. The next Galaxy Unpacked event will take place on July 22nd, 2026, and features the tagline “A new shape unfolds.” In addition to seeing updated versions of the existing Flip and Fold form factors, we anticipate the debut of a new, wider foldable phone. If you register your interest ahead of time and end up preordering one of the new phones shortly after they’re announced, Samsung will give you a $30 store credit at checkout.

There are some caveats to this offer. You have to use the credit when you preorder the phone. No saving it for later. Also, the credit can’t be applied to the cost of the phone either, so you’ll have to put it towards the cost of accessories or extra services. Samsung specifically calls out that select Galaxy rings, earbuds, watches, and tablets are eligible, or you can use it to help pay for Samsung Care Plus.

There are no downsides to registering your interest, so if you think you might be interested in buying one of the upcoming phones, it’s worth filling out the form. As long as you use the same email during checkout, the credit will be automatically applied.

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Apple AI security update proves hackers move fast

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Apple AI security update proves hackers move fast

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A security update rarely feels dramatic. You see the alert, promise yourself you will install it later and then go right back to whatever you were doing. This time, Apple is giving you a stronger reason to pay attention.

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Apple released iOS 26.5.2, iPadOS 26.5.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 on June 29, 2026. The updates include security fixes for vulnerabilities tied to the kernel, WebKit and WebRTC. Apple says these fixes were first made available through the iOS 26.6, iPadOS 26.6 and macOS Tahoe 26.6 betas before being pushed out early to everyone.

That is the part that should make you pause. Apple usually rolls many security fixes into larger software updates. This time, the company moved faster.

AI IS NOW POWERING CYBERATTACKS, MICROSOFT WARNS

Apple pushed out security fixes early because AI can help hackers study software flaws faster. (Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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Why Apple released this AI security update early

Apple reportedly accelerated the updates because artificial intelligence can help speed the creation of malicious hacking tools. Once a fix appears in a beta, attackers may be able to study it, reverse-engineer the weakness and move faster than before.

Apple said there was no evidence that the newly patched vulnerabilities had been exploited. Still, the company wanted to shrink the time between when fixes were first visible and when they reached your devices.

That is a major shift. It suggests Apple sees AI as a force that changes the timing of security. A flaw that once gave defenders more breathing room may now become a race.

What Apple fixed in iOS 26.5.2

Apple’s iOS 26.5.2 and iPadOS 26.5.2 notes list fixes for iPhone 11 and later, along with several supported iPad models. The security content includes kernel vulnerabilities that could let an app crash the system, corrupt kernel memory or leak sensitive kernel state.

The update also fixes multiple WebKit issues. WebKit powers Safari and web content inside many apps. Some of these flaws involved malicious web content that could lead to crashes, memory corruption, data leaks or sandbox escapes.

Apple also fixed WebRTC issues that could be triggered by malicious web content and lead to Safari or process crashes.

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For Mac, Apple lists macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 as the current release. If your Mac runs macOS Sonoma or macOS Sequoia, Apple also lists Safari 26.5.2 as a June 29, 2026, security release.

A woman uses a smartphone outside an Apple Store on June 20, 2026, in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. (Cheng Xin/Getty Images)

Why AI hacking tools change the security race

AI can help legitimate researchers find bugs faster. That is good when the work leads to stronger software and responsible disclosure. However, the same general capability can also help bad actors move faster. A criminal does not need to understand every line of code if an AI tool can help summarize a patch, compare software changes or suggest where a weakness may be hiding.

That is why Apple’s move is important. It shows that big tech companies may need to release security fixes sooner and more often, even when those updates do not include flashy new features. The wider AI world adds pressure here. Frontier AI companies have released or tested systems with stronger coding and cybersecurity capabilities. Some models are available only through limited previews, approved access or extra safeguards because of their potential cyber use.

Similar efforts are also emerging outside the United States. Several international AI labs and security companies now promote models designed to find vulnerabilities, analyze code and assist cyber defense. The takeaway for you isn’t that AI is automatically bad. The real point is speed. Security teams, attackers and AI tools are now moving on a shorter clock.

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How to update your iPhone or iPad

Before you update, plug in your device and connect to Wi-Fi. You may also want to back up your iPhone or iPad first.

Then do this: Open Settings > General > Software Update > Download and Install.

After the update finishes, go back to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates. Make sure automatic updates are turned on. Apple also lets your device automatically install system file updates that improve security without changing the full software version. If you do not see the update right away, check again later. Apple releases updates in stages, and your device also needs enough battery and storage.

How to update your Mac

On a Mac, start with a backup. Then click the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update . Choose Update Now if macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 appears.

Next, check your background update settings. On macOS Tahoe 26 or later, go to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update . Click the More Info button next to Automatic Updates and make sure Install system data files and security updates is turned on.

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If your Mac runs Sonoma or Sequoia, look for Safari 26.5.2 in Software Update as well. That Safari update may be the protection your Mac needs if you are not on Tahoe.

BEWARE OF HACKERS SHOWING UP PRETENDING TO BE IT

What this Apple security update means to you

You may see more security updates that feel sudden or small. That can be annoying, especially when you are busy or your device needs to restart.

Still, these updates are becoming more important. Apple is reacting to a world where AI can help shorten the time between a public fix and a possible attack.

So, when your iPhone, iPad or Mac asks you to update, do not treat it like background noise. The update may be closing a door someone else is already trying to find.

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Updating your iPhone, iPad and Mac helps close security holes before attackers get more time to exploit them. (Katharina Kausche/picture alliance via Getty Images)

How to stay safe after the Apple security update

Installing the Apple AI security update is the best first move. After that, tighten a few habits that make attacks harder.

1) Keep your apps updated

Your operating system is only part of the security picture. Outdated apps can still create risk, especially if they handle messages, web links, photos, files or account logins. Open the App Store and install available updates regularly.

2) Watch out for suspicious links

Be careful with links in texts, emails and social media messages. WebKit and browser flaws are a reminder that malicious web content can be part of an attack. When in doubt, open the official app or website yourself instead of tapping a link.

3) Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication

Use strong, unique passwords for every account and store them in a password manager. Then turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. If one password gets exposed, you do not want it opening the door to your email, bank or Apple account.

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4) Use strong antivirus protection

Use strong antivirus protection on your Mac and other connected devices. It can help catch malicious files, phishing attempts and suspicious activity before they do damage. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

5) Back up your data regularly

Back up your iPhone, iPad and Mac before problems hit. A recent backup can help you recover faster if an update fails, your device gets stolen or malware locks you out of important files. CyberGuy’s guide to backing up your devices walks you through ways to protect your files using cloud storage, an external drive or both.

6) Use a personal data removal service

Use a personal data removal service to reduce how much of your personal information is floating around online. Data brokers and people-search sites can expose your name, address, phone number and relatives. Scammers can use those details to make phishing messages feel more believable. 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.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Apple’s early security release shows how fast the cyber threat landscape is changing. The company says there is no evidence these newly patched flaws were exploited, but it still moved the fixes out before the wider 26.6 release. That tells me the old habit of waiting weeks to update is getting riskier. AI can help defenders, but it can also help criminals study weaknesses faster. My advice is direct: update your Apple devices now, turn on automatic security updates and stop putting off patches that protect the phone and computer you use every day.

Do you think AI will make your devices safer because companies can find flaws faster, or more vulnerable because hackers can move faster too? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Automatic updates, strong passwords and a personal data removal service can make you a harder target after the update. (Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images)

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