Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 108, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, hope your holiday shopping is going well, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)
Technology
Red Dead Redemption is so back
This week, I’ve been reading about Ariana Grande and pelvic floors and Josh Shapiro and Las Vegas, finishing and then immediately rewatching The Chair Company, working by the light of this extremely rad MoMA lamp, installing a bunch of Hue Dimmer Switches around my house, trying desperately to hide the giant box that came with my new Frame TV, wondering if my 12,983 minutes of Spotify time this year is a lot or a little, and getting my Christmas tree out of storage. Which took some work.
I also have for you a 15-year-old game that feels as good as new, a great new entrant in the Wrapped Wars, a couple of fun productivity tools, and much more. Year’s almost over, but the new stuff keeps coming! Let’s dig in.
(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What are you watching / reading / listening to / playing / wrapping with a bow 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.)
- Red Dead Redemption. If you just off-handedly asked me my favorite modern video games, without thinking about it I’d probably say Red Dead and the Arkham Batman series. Cool to see the 2010 game come to mobile (though for Netflix subscribers only), even cooler to see it updated for modern consoles, including my beloved Switch 2. I haven’t checked in with John Martson in a while, but I’m confident this one has held up.
- Fizzy. From the folks behind Hey and Basecamp, a really nifty new kanban tool that reminds me of Trello, only both more chaotic and much cleaner. It’s really fast, and my brain loves a good project-management board… plus, it’s open-source, so it might spawn some other really fun stuff.
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. I know at least a few folks who have been waiting for this game to see if it completes the appeal of the Switch 2. By all accounts, it seems to be handily worth the price of admission, even if there’s some “modern games!” cruft in the mix.
- It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley. I keep hearing things about this doc, about Buckley’s life and the remarkable album he made, Grace. This will not be a joyful watch, I suspect, but for anyone who loves even just his version of “Hallelujah,” it’s worth the watch.
- YouTube Recap. This is Wrapped Week, so everybody from Spotify to Google Photos is rolling out years in review. I love YouTube’s already, since it just feels the most revealing about my actual personality. It also made it clear that I watch, uh, too much YouTube.
- Mirumi. This furry little robot was one of the delights of last CES, and is now finally becoming real. (Real-ish, anyway — it’s still a Kickstarter project.) It’s pretty expensive, given that it does, you know, nothing! But I mean, look at it.
- Halo. The team at Matter continues to have the best-looking reading app on the planet, and their new habit tracker for iOS looks just as good. Some potentially interesting, potentially annoying AI stuff in here, but even the basic tracker stuff is just lovely to look at and use.
- Routine. After more than a decade of start-and-stop development, this game turned into an unusual, engrossing, deeply fun and deeply stressful sci-fi title for PC and Xbox. One of those games I can tell I’m going to enjoy just from the vibe of the trailer.
- Notion Calendar. This is such a dumb, small thing: Notion finally updated this app so you can hide the right sidebar! Now it’s all calendar and no nonsense. This was already my daily driver calendar app, but for some reason that tiny change makes me like it even more.
Here are two of the fun things about working with The Verge’s Jess Weatherbed: she has a deep knowledge of creative tools and always writes fascinating stuff about how people make art in the future, and it seems every single time we’re in a meeting together she has completely reorganized and redesigned her home office. Every time the Meet loads, Jess has some new treasure in the background.
Jess is as much an artist and designer as she is a tech reporter, and I’m also told she’s a very accomplished D&D player. I asked her to share her homescreen with us to see how all those interests smash together into a single device. I was not disappointed.
Here’s Jess’s homescreen, plus some info on the apps she uses and why:
The phone: I currently have an iPhone 14 Pro Max, but not for much longer; I’m literally waiting on my new iPhone 17 Pro Max to arrive. I was mostly enticed by the iPhone 17 Pro in a glorious orange, which, after begging Apple to remember that color exists for the past few years, felt too personal to ignore.
The wallpaper: The wallpaper itself is nothing special, just some unwatermarked stock imagery I found a while back. I like how it’s a photograph that shows some texture instead of a flat digital image, but I mostly just wanted something colorful to complement the image widgets I have.
The shots on my main screen were taken from a tokusatsu-inspired photoshoot for W Magazine’s 2023 feature “Jennifer Coolidge Will Destroy You.” I absolutely adore Coolidge and kaiju- / mecha-related media, so when I saw the shoot I became kinda obsessed?? I’m planning to get a few images blown up into hi-res posters that I can frame in my hallway. I just feel so much joy every time I look at them.
The photo on my second homescreen page is my cat, Trevor. He’s a silly 12-month-old Maine Coon who’s totally mastered the art of rage-baiting me. We have the same birthday. It was fate.
The apps: Settings, Calendar, Clock, App Store, Camera, Slack, WhatsApp, Messenger, Phone, Chrome, Discord, TikTok.
I don’t think my apps are anything special. I keep the most-used selection loose on my main homescreen, and everything is tinted yellow because it matches the overall vibe and also feels easier on my eyes. I have a Spotify widget because I like having the album art of whatever I’m listening to on my screen. I’m also stuck with Facebook Messenger because my family exclusively uses it to chat; otherwise I only message friends using WhatsApp or Discord. I can’t remember the last time I actually texted someone.
The mess on my second homescreen page is actually incredibly organized for me. I have folders for all my apps, like “games and entertainment,” “shopping,” and “useful crap” for anything that doesn’t fit into other categories.
Some of my current favorite apps include Focus Friend, which is a fun gamified focus timer that helps me keep my ADHD in check, and Next Spaceflight, which tells you about upcoming rocket launches and space missions. I also love learning about what’s around me, so I use apps like Merlin Bird ID and Seek by iNaturalist to identify birds and plants, and because I live on the coast, MarineTraffic to ID passing ships. It’s like a flight tracker, but for boats!
I also asked Jess to share a few things she’s into right now. Here’s what she sent back:
- I’ve been trying to cut down on my TikTok consumption, but I’ve really been enjoying two accounts lately. The first is @drinksonmemusic, who posts “Beat Battle” challenges with @southbymusic where both lads will make electronic remix tunes based on randomized, often ridiculous prompts. It’s fun, silly, and makes me feel energized.
- The second account is @shef_phoenix, which is a cooking channel that mostly experiments with making small food big and big food small (though it’s nice to see that he’s been branching out into other cooking projects). The guy has been hounded into trying to make a “giant grape,” and watching that madness unfold has entertained me greatly.
- Outside of TikTok, I’ve most enjoyed watching Dropout these last few months. The cast and shows are fantastically funny, and it’s something that I can reliably throw on in the background when friends come over, which eventually catches all of our attention. Worth every penny.
- Comics have also recaptured my attention lately as I’ve attempted to walk back my screen time. I’ve been re-reading Cerebus the Aardvark, which I first found decades ago in my family’s attic, the Hellboy omnibus, and DC’s Absolute Universe. I’ve especially enjoyed Absolute Batman, which feels like something the old edgy teenage me would have been obsessed with.
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.
“Haven’t played online multiplayer shooters since Halo 3 and COD 4 days, but Arc Raiders has turned that all around. Solo or with some friends, this game has been an obsession. Almost at 40 hours of play time and I only got it a few weeks ago. Been playing this on the Steam Deck and it runs like a dream.” — Mike
“I just got my Nomad! Super excited for a rugged portable speaker — and the promise of CarPlay in my Tesla.” — Zebulon
“Switching over more light switches to Tapo Matter switches. Have had some installed for the past six months, and appreciate that they just work when disconnected from Wi-Fi or when we have guests over.” — Tim
“The Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake LED. Amazing, and hard to get.” — Chris
“My Retroid Pocket G2 showed up today. Sean already had an article about Valve funding Fex for Android / PC emulation, and with Winlator and Gamehub, there are some amazing options for emulating steam games on handhelds. Some of them get better performance than a Steam Deck!” — Cameron
“The new Enterprise model from Lego might take the win for IP blend of the year. My geek gauge broke.” — David
“Buying a BenQ ScreenBar Pro LED light bar for my monitor was the best home office upgrade I’ve done in a long time. It just mounts on top of your monitor and your webcam mounts on top of the light bar. Very nice light for your workspace and perfect when you’re working late with kids sleeping nearby.” — Shady
“I’ve been obsessed with Vampires SMP as of late, a narrative roleplay series set within Minecraft with an insanely fun and dramatic cast. I can’t stop thinking about this show and its characters to a degree that few TV shows have managed.” — Eris
“Spreading managed democracy in Helldivers 2 is awesome.” — Ani
I’ve written a bunch here in the last few weeks about Raycast, the launcher / note-taker / AI chat / many other things app that has become a key part of my computing life. (I also had Thomas Paul Mann, the company’s CEO, on The Vergecast last weekend.) I’ve heard from a bunch of you that you want to know more about how to use Raycast. This is a good idea! Especially now that it’s on Windows, a Raycast deep dive is a good idea, and I’m on it. But in the meantime, you should check out Raycast’s YouTube channel, which is as good a set of product videos as you’ll find — some deep dives on features, some user interviews, lots of good stuff. The “101 Things You Can Do With Raycast” video is also a fabulous place to start. I find new things every time I watch it.
More to come, though. I love Raycast, I know a lot of you do too, and we’ll get in the weeds on how to make the most of it. If you have tips / favorite features, send them my way!
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Google Home users can now ask Gemini to complete more complex, multi-step tasks and combine multiple tasks in a single command. Google has updated Gemini for Home to Gemini 3.1, which it says will improve the smart home assistant’s ability to interpret and act on requests. The upgrade will also make Gemini for Home better at handling recurring and all-day events and allow users to “move around” upcoming events.
In addition to the Gemini upgrade, Google also announced improvements to the camera experience, new automation capabilities, and two public previews: Ask Home on Web and a new notification feature. Ask Home on Web will allow Google Home users to manage their smart home from a computer, including searching camera history with natural language, checking on devices, and creating automations. Google is also releasing a public preview for “improved and expanded notifications” that include “quick action” buttons that can be used for device control directly in the notification.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
It happens to a lot of us when we travel abroad. You land, open your streaming app and realize the shows you watch are gone. The library has changed, and some of what you expect to see is suddenly unavailable. It is one of those inconveniences that may rarely cross your mind before a trip. Still, it happens to millions of travelers every year. But the streaming problem is just one part of a bigger issue.
Whether you are at home or on the other side of the world, the way you stream says a lot about how exposed your data is, how fast your connection runs and how much control you actually have over what you watch. Most of us have never thought about any of that. Although we probably should.
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WHY YOUR HOME WI-FI NEEDS MORE THAN JUST A STRONG PASSWORD
A VPN can help travelers access their usual streaming subscriptions while adding a layer of privacy on public networks. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What actually happens to your data when you stream
Every time you fire up a streaming app, your device sends and receives a large amount of data. That data passes through your internet provider, through various servers and sometimes through networks like hotel Wi-Fi that are far from secure.
Your internet provider can see what you stream and when. On public or shared networks, that visibility can extend further. In the background, your IP address gets logged by every service you connect to, quietly building a record of your habits.
Most people assume streaming is passive. From a data standpoint, it is anything but.
How a VPN protects your streaming and privacy
A VPN encrypts your connection before it leaves your device. That means your internet provider cannot see what you are watching, networks you connect to cannot monitor your activity, and the IP address shared with streaming platforms isn’t your real one.
For everyday home streaming, that is a meaningful privacy upgrade that most people have never applied to their TV habits. The benefits become even more noticeable the moment you travel.
Not all VPNs are built for streaming. Performance matters here. A VPN that protects your connection but slows your speed misses the point. Buffering isn’t an acceptable trade-off.
The best options use high-speed networks and optimized servers designed for streaming. That helps HD and 4K content stay smooth, even when your connection routes through servers far from your location.
IS YOUR VPN ENOUGH WITHOUT ANTIVIRUS PROTECTION?
Simple steps like avoiding public Wi-Fi, updating devices and turning off auto-connect can help protect your data while traveling. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How to stream your content when traveling abroad
When you are abroad and want to watch the content you subscribe to at home, like local news, sports or your usual streaming lineup, a VPN lets you connect through a server back home and stream as if you never left.
With servers located around the world, including across the United States, your subscriptions stay within reach wherever you are.
It also means you avoid relying on hotel or airport networks for security. Your connection stays encrypted end to end, which matters more when you are away from your home network than almost any other time. For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.
Ways to protect your streaming and data when traveling
Traveling puts your devices on networks you do not control, which makes a few simple habits go a long way. If you want to keep your streaming private and your accounts secure, start here:
1) Avoid public Wi-Fi when possible
Airport and hotel networks are convenient, but they are also the easiest places for your data to be exposed or intercepted.
2) Use a VPN before you connect
Turn on your VPN before joining any network, so your connection stays encrypted from the moment you go online.
3) Stick to your own devices and accounts
Logging into streaming services on shared or hotel devices can expose your login details long after you leave.
4) Keep your apps and devices updated
Updates often include security fixes that protect against known vulnerabilities and exploits.
BEWARE OF FAKE WI-FI NETWORKS THAT STEAL YOUR DATA WHEN TRAVELING
A VPN can help protect your streaming data by encrypting your connection before it leaves your device. (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images)
5) Turn off auto-connect to Wi-Fi
Your device can automatically reconnect to saved networks without you realizing it, which can increase your exposure if those networks are unsecured or impersonated. Turn off auto-connect in your settings to stay in control of when and where you connect.
6) Log out when you are done
If you do sign in on a shared device, make sure you fully log out and clear the browser if possible.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Streaming has quietly become one of the biggest data pipelines in your daily life. Most people focus on content, not on what happens behind the scenes. Once you understand how much data moves every time you press play, the case for adding a layer of protection becomes much clearer. A VPN does more than unlock content while traveling. It gives you more control over your privacy, your connection, and your overall experience. That applies just as much on your couch as it does in a hotel room halfway around the world.
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If you pay for streaming every month, should you also have more control over who can see what you watch and where you can watch it? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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On the morning of May 5th, 1961, 37-year-old Alan Shepard woke up, ate a breakfast (consisting of a filet mignon wrapped in bacon, scrambled eggs, and orange juice), strapped into the Freedom 7 rocket, and blasted off into space, becoming the first American astronaut to do so.
Shepard’s historic flight — and the first crewed flight of Project Mercury — did two things. It demonstrated that after getting beat to space by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, America was still in the race. And it proved the United States could safely send a human into space and back, helping to restore national confidence during the Cold War. Shepard’s flight only lasted 15 minutes, but it provided enough critical information to serve as a foundation for America’s human spaceflight program in the years to come.
Shepard’s flight only lasted 15 minutes, but it provided enough critical information to serve as a foundation for America’s human spaceflight program in the years to come
Sixty-five years later, the Artemis program is attempting to build off that foundation by proving that humans can not only survive in space, but also build permanent infrastructure and thrive there. The Artemis II mission, which just concluded last month, was a particular high-water mark for human spaceflight, with the crew traveling farther than anyone in the history of the space program.
There have been ups and downs, of course. We’ve lived through enough mission delays, aborted launches, and funding cuts to know that anything we do in space is still constrained by the political and financial realities of what takes place here on the ground. Commercial space companies are not riding to the rescue; their priorities are tourism, satellites, and perhaps orbital data centers. Americans are looking around at rising prices and wondering why so much money is being spent on rocket launches. It’s no longer enough to prove we can go to space. The question now is: Why do we keep going back?
We know that human spaceflight is a remarkable tool for inspiring people to pursue a STEM education. It drives students and engineers and future astronauts to try to solve some of the biggest mysteries in the universe. Ultimately, it’s a desire to explore. These photos from America’s first foray into the human spaceflight program are a good reminder of that instinct.
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