Technology

Z-Wave is remaking itself to find a new place in your smart home

Published

8 months ago

April 4, 2025

Z-Wave is remaking itself to find a new place in your smart home

The invention of Matter was a grand kumbaya moment for the smart home. Built on the foundations of almost every concept smart home companies had dreamed up — from Apple’s HomeKit to Google’s Thread — the idea was to create a new technology on top of existing ones. One common standard to make it easier for manufacturers to build smart home devices and easier for people to use them, no matter which smart home platform they use.

But one protocol was left out of the party: Z-Wave, which is widely used in home security systems and embraced by the smart home enthusiast community. It was the latest example of Z-Wave getting left behind as the consumer smart home world explodes in popularity — and the latest reason to question whether the once-thriving standard still has a future.

Conceived in the late 1990s, Z-Wave is one of the original solutions for connecting IoT devices. It’s a local, RF-based wireless communications technology that relies on a central hub or gateway to talk to the cloud and other protocols. But that reliance on a hub is part of why it’s fallen out of fashion. You rarely see Z-Wave in mass-market smart home devices because other standards can connect straight to the internet. It was also a closed protocol, limited to one chip manufacturer, which could have driven up prices.

But in the five years since Matter launched, Z-Wave has been quietly reinventing itself. The once closed protocol is now open source. There’s a new version — Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR) — that addresses a common limitation of the smart home by extending the range of devices like locks, lights, and sensors. Perhaps more importantly, the Z-Wave Alliance is now working on the structure and framework needed to bridge Z-Wave devices into Matter.

Today, Z-Wave is at a critical turning point. Apple, Amazon, Samsung, and Google are all-in on Matter, and Z-Wave isn’t present in any of those companies’ flagship products. If the standard is going to survive, its creators need to show it has a purpose that other protocols simply can’t match.

What is Z-Wave, and why should I care about long range?

Even if you’ve never heard of Z-Wave, it might be in your home. A mesh-based protocol focused on interoperability, reliability, privacy, and security, Z-Wave radios are found in most home security systems, including Amazon’s Ring, and smart home hubs from companies like Home Assistant, Aeotec, Hubitat, and Homey.

Z-Wave was embraced early on by the home security industry, including ADT, Vivint, Alarm.com, and others, which saw its security, baked-in interoperability, and backward compatibility as a way to allow customers to integrate smart home devices with their company’s proprietary security systems. It’s also the only UL-listed smart home protocol, a requirement for devices integrated into a security system.

”Everybody puts a Z-Wave chip in their security panel.”

“Every residential security system in the US, except one, uses Z-Wave,” says Avi Rosenthal, chair of the Z-Wave Alliance board of directors. “From your big Honeywells, ADTs, and Rings, all the way down to your little Alulas, everybody puts a Z-Wave chip in their security panel. The only exception is SimpliSafe.” Rosenthal says that by some estimates, Z-Wave is in 40 million homes in the US; there are also over 100 million Z-Wave devices in the wild worldwide.

Despite its sizable footprint, Z-Wave remains a niche protocol. Its reliance on a hub makes it less accessible to casual users accustomed to plug-and-play Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices. And as a mesh network, multiple devices or repeaters are needed to ensure a stable connection, which can be an issue if you just want to install one door lock or light switch.

Z-Wave Long Range addresses some of these limitations. Introduced in 2020, and now beginning to appear in products, ZWLR extends range up to 1.5 miles line of sight — four times standard Z-Wave — and replaces mesh with the ability for all devices to connect directly to the hub, not to each other.

This should reduce failures caused by weak mesh networks or limited range. And, as all Z-Wave devices have to be backwards compatible, ZWLR can exist alongside Z-Wave mesh devices on a hub, as long as it supports both.

ZWLR devices connect directly to a hub up to 1.5 miles line of sight, whereas Z-Wave mesh devices rely on repeaters or other Z-Wave devices to connect to the hub.

Image: Silicon Labs

For smart home manufacturer Zooz, ZWLR has been a game changer. “Now we have ultra-reliable connectivity with unparalleled range,” says Agnes Lorenz, a VP at Zooz. Its direct hub-to-device communication means no need for repeaters, making existing devices more reliable and expanding the possibilities around outdoor devices, like motion sensors, leak detectors in the attic, and garage automation. “Now we can more easily automate things that are hard to access,” she says

Adoption is starting to ramp up, with over one hundred ZWLR-certified devices now on the market. Zooz transitioned its entire lineup to ZWLR, Shelly is also using the protocol, and the Z-Wave Alliance is working on expanding it to Europe. Just last month, Kwikset introduced two new long-range smart locks.

“This is one of the most compelling Z-Wave updates,” says Joshua Hodgson, product marketing manager at Kwikset. “Over a mile range versus 300 feet for standard mesh means connectivity challenges are no longer an issue.”

But does Z-Wave Matter anymore?

Even as the tech improves, Z-Wave’s biggest problem is that relatively few direct-to-consumer companies are implementing it in their devices.

While manufacturers such as Kwikset, who have used the protocol for years, still see Z-Wave as vital despite Matter’s rise, the fact is that there are very few “fun” Z-Wave gadgets out there. Much of what does exist are simple, utilitarian devices like sensors, lights, switches, and locks. There hasn’t been a splashy new Z-Wave product in years, and if you are looking to start a smart home with Amazon, Apple, or Google hardware, Z-Wave is just not part of the equation. That doesn’t look like it’s going to change anytime soon.

However, there is a hope for Z-Wave’s future in a Matter world. While Z-Wave’s reliance on a hub has arguably been its biggest barrier to adoption, Matter’s initial promise of a hub-free world hasn’t materialized. Matter controllers are essentially hubs, as are Thread border routers — both are necessary to use Matter devices. The smart home has come back around to the idea that you need a small computer somewhere in your home to run your devices. If these hubs must exist, why not include Z-Wave?

“Ultimately, it’s all about consumer choice,” says Jeff Sandoval of Kwikset. With Matter sparking renewed interest in smart homes, the idea of a universal hub to unify devices is gaining traction (again). Many advanced smart home hubs — including Homey, Home Assistant, and Hubitat — support both Z-Wave and Matter, but they remain niche. To survive, Z-Wave needs to co-exist with Matter and find its way into mainstream consumer products like smart speakers.

How non-Matter protocols can co-exist with Matter through bridging.

Image: Silicon Labs

One strategy is to bridge Z-Wave devices into Matter ecosystems like Apple Home, Home Assistant, and Amazon Alexa, similar to how Philips Hue, Ikea, and Aqara are bridging devices to Matter. While bridging has been part of the spec since Matter launched, Rosenthal says it’s not been possible to certify a Matter Z-Wave bridge.

“There are plenty of silicon solutions available today, but nothing has been ‘blessed’ by both alliances,” says Mariusz Malkowski of Trident IoT, the newest Z-Wave chipmaker, which also manufactures chips for Matter, Thread, and Zigbee. “We want to simplify the process for manufacturers to make a commercial product to support both Z-Wave, Zigbee, Thread, and Matter.”

While some Z-Wave-compatible hub manufacturers have found ways to connect Z-Wave and Matter devices in their ecosystems, there’s no official way to integrate them, meaning there’s no simple, straightforward way to use Z-Wave devices in mainstream Matter ecosystems.

“Reports of our death have been greatly exaggerated.”

The Connectivity Standards Alliance tells The Verge that it welcomes the Z-Wave Alliance’s efforts here. “We are happy to see efforts to make the adoption of Matter easier for manufacturers and consumers, including simpler ways to bridge devices to Matter,” says the CSA’s Daniel Moneta. Rosenthal says the Z-Wave Alliance is actively working on certification parameters and rules to define a standard Z-Wave to Matter bridge for its members.

Once this standard is released, adding Z-Wave devices to Matter ecosystems will become simpler. Manufacturers will just need to add a software stack to their hubs that, as long as it contains a Z-Wave radio, could bridge Z-Wave devices connected to the hub to any Matter platform, including Apple Home and Google Home.

The benefit is that if Z-Wave devices integrate with Matter, it will help bring Matter’s ambition of “one smart home standard to rule them all” closer to reality. That would both strengthen Matter’s position in the industry and give Z-Wave a compelling reason to stick around. “So that, to the consumer, everything magically works,” says Malkowski.

Z-Wave isn’t a threat to Matter. With the majority of the smart home industry behind it, Matter still has plenty of momentum despite some early stumbles. However, without support from Matter, Z-Wave could become obsolete. Maybe not anytime soon, but the possibility exists. Bringing Z-Wave into Matter would be better for everyone — manufacturers and smart home users alike.

In the meantime, Z-Wave is pushing forward with its reinvention, hoping to find its role in this brave new world. Its new long-range capabilities, shift to an open-sourced standard, and finally having more than one silicon vendor make this a much easier path. As Rosenthal puts it, “Reports of our death have been greatly exaggerated.”

Technology

You need to listen to Sudan Archives’ violin opus for the club

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

You need to listen to Sudan Archives’ violin opus for the club

My introduction to Sudan Archives was the song “Nont for Sale” from her first EP Sink in 2018. I’ve been a die-hard fan ever since. With each album, she finds new ways to sculpt the sound of her violin, contorting it in defiance of expectations.

Athena found her in conversation with it, leaving its timbre largely recognizable and organic, veering from experimental pop to more ambient passages. Natural Brown Prom Queen embraced the aesthetics of sound collage, samples, and modern R&B, blending her violin with more expressly electronic elements. The BPM has identifiable violin passages, but it fully embraces the more technological elements of Sudan Archives’ sound.

The album opens with “Dead,” which begins with gentle orchestral swells and a processed, but identifiable violin. Then, at the 1:30 mark, the beat drops — what sounds like high-pitched vocal chops dance around the stereo field, and an undulating synth bass drags he whole thing to the dance floor. The track serves as something of a mission statement, with multiple movements exploring the various incarnations of Archives’ sound as she asks, “Where my old self at? Where my nеw self at?” answering herself by chanting “right here, right hеre” in response to each.

What follows is a volatile tour of dance music, from the four-on-the-floor funk of “My Type,” to the trap-tinged tongue-in-cheek sex raps of “Ms. Pac Man” — there’s even an Irish jig in the middle of “She Got Pain.” Across the record, there are flashes of autotune, drum ’n’ bass breaks, house piano stabs, techno synth bass, and, of course, soaring violin flourishes. Often, there are multiple of these things in a single track as Archives eschews typical pop song structures, bouncing giddily from one style to the next.

Unsurprisingly, the tempo on The BPM is generally amped up compared to much of Archive’s previous records. But it’s not all club bangers. “Come and Find You,” winks at 80s and early 90s R&B of acts like Sade. And often the lyrics turn to matters of the heart, “I found a way to travel to you even when we’re not in sync, I’m gonna find my way back to you, Even when it’s really hard I like the push and pull,” she sings on “David & Goliath.”

The BPM is a dense, hectic record that revels in its unpredictability and sonic shrapnel. It’s also my favorite record of 2025. Despite only coming out in mid-October, it was my most listened to album according to my Apple Music Recap. Sudan Archives The BPM is available on Bandcamp and most streaming services, including Qobuz, Tidal, Apple Music, Deezer, YouTube Music, and Spotify.

Technology

Smart home hacking fears: What’s real and what’s hype

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Smart home hacking fears: What’s real and what’s hype

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

News of more than 120,000 Korean home cameras being hacked recently can shake your confidence in connected devices. Stories like that make you picture cybercriminals breaking into homes with high-tech gadgets and spying on families through smart cams. That reaction is natural. But most of these headlines leave out important context that can help you breathe a little easier.

First, smart home hacking is rare. Most incidents stem from weak passwords or from someone you already know, rather than from a stranger with advanced tools. Today’s smart home brands push out updates to block intrusion attempts, including patches for new AI-related vulnerabilities that often make headlines.

Let’s break down what actually puts a smart home at risk and what you can do to stay safe.

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SMART HOME DEVICE MAKER EXPOSES 2.7 BILLION RECORDS IN HUGE DATA BREACH

Smart home hacking headlines can look scary, but most threats come from weak passwords rather than targeted attacks. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Why criminals are not circling your house with hacking gear

Many people imagine cybercriminals driving around neighborhoods with scanners that look for vulnerable devices. In reality, Wi-Fi ranges and technical limits make that nearly impossible. Even high-profile hacks of casinos and large companies do not translate to criminals trying to breach residential smart locks for petty theft.

Burglars still choose low-tech methods. They look for unlocked doors or easy entry points. They avoid complicated hacking tools because the payoff is too small to justify the work.

So how do smart homes get hacked? Here are the real attack paths and how they work.

Common ways smart homes get attacked

Smart homes face a handful of digital threats, but most come from broad automated attacks rather than someone targeting your house.

1) Automated online attacks

Bots constantly scan the internet for weak passwords and outdated logins. These brute force attacks throw billions of guesses at connected accounts. When one works, the device becomes part of a botnet used for future attacks. That doesn’t mean someone is targeting your home on purpose. Bots search for anything they can breach. A strong password stops them.

2) Phishing attempts

Some phishing emails impersonate smart home brands. Clicking a fake link or sharing login details can open the door for criminals to reach your network. Even a general phishing attack can expose your Wi-Fi info and lead to broader access.

3) Data breaches from IoT companies

Hackers often go after company servers, not individual homes. These breaches may expose account details or stored camera footage kept in the cloud. Criminals may sell that data to others who might try to use it. It rarely leads to direct smart home hacking, but it still puts your accounts at risk.

4) Attacks on device communications

Early IoT devices had vulnerabilities that allowed criminals to intercept the data they sent and received. (IoT stands for Internet of Things and includes everyday connected gadgets like smart plugs, smart thermostats or Wi-Fi cameras.) Modern products now use stronger encryption, making these attacks extremely rare in the real world.

5) Bluetooth malware

Bluetooth issues still pop up from time to time, but most modern smart home devices use stronger security than older models. When a new flaw is discovered, companies usually release fast patches, which is why it’s important to keep your apps and gadgets updated. Today, these Bluetooth risks rarely lead to real smart home problems.

ADT HACKED: IS YOUR HOME SECURITY SYSTEM REALLY SECURE?

Who actually tries to hack smart homes

When hacking happens, it usually involves someone with some level of access already. In many cases, no technical hack occurs at all.

Simple steps like stronger Wi-Fi security and regular updates go a long way toward protecting connected devices. ( Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

A relation or acquaintance

Exes, former roommates or relatives often know login info. They may try to spy or cause trouble. Update all passwords if you suspect this.

Untrustworthy employees

There have been cases where employees at security companies snooped through camera feeds. This isn’t remote hacking. It’s a misuse of internal access.

Data thieves

They steal account lists and login details to sell. Others may buy those lists and try to log in using exposed credentials.

Blackmail scammers

Some send fake messages claiming they hacked your cameras and threaten you. Most of these scams rely on lies because they have no access at all.

Foreign governments

Some banned foreign manufacturers pose surveillance risks. The FCC maintains a list of companies that cannot sell security tech in the U.S. Always check that list before buying unfamiliar brands.

Smart home devices that can raise concerns

Some everyday gadgets create small but real entry points for trouble, especially when their settings or security features get overlooked.

Smart fridges

They often arrive with default passwords that owners forget to change. Older models may use outdated IoT protocols with weaker protections. Many do not get frequent security updates.

Wi-Fi baby monitors

Wi-Fi offers convenience but also adds risk. Weak routers and poor passwords can allow strangers to access a feed. Closed network monitors avoid Wi-Fi risks but still face basic signal interception attempts.

Smart bulbs

During setup, some bulbs broadcast an open temporary network. If a criminal joins at the exact right moment, they could reach the rest of your devices. These cases are rare but possible in theory.

Smart speakers

Voice ordering can be exploited by curious kids or guests. Set a purchase PIN so no one can order items with simple voice commands.

Steps to stay safe in your smart home

Strong habits and a few simple tools can block the most common threats that target connected homes.

1) Use strong passwords

Choose long, complex passwords for your Wi-Fi router and smart home apps. A password manager makes this simple. Consider using a password manager, which securely stores and generates complex passwords, reducing the risk of password reuse.

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager (see Cyberguy.com) pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com

2) Turn on two-factor authentication

Brands like Ring and Blink already use it. Add two-factor authentication (2FA) to every account that supports it.

3) Use a reputable data removal service

Removing your personal details from data broker sites helps prevent criminals from using leaked or scraped information to access your accounts or identify your home.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

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

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com

4) Add strong antivirus software on phones and computers

Strong antivirus protection blocks malware that could expose login details or give criminals a path into the devices that manage your smart home. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

Choosing brands with clear privacy practices and local storage options helps keep your home and data in your control. (CyberGuy.com)

5) Choose brands with strong encryption

Pick smart home products from companies that explain how they protect your data and use modern encryption to lock down your footage and account details. Look for brands that publish clear security policies, offer regular updates and show how they keep your information private.

6) Store sensitive footage locally

Pick security cameras that let you save video directly to an SD card or a home hub, rather than uploading it to the cloud. This keeps your recordings under your control (and helps protect them if a company server is breached). Many cameras from trusted lines support local storage, so you do not have to rely on a company server.

7) Keep devices updated

Install firmware updates quickly. Enable automatic updates when possible. Replace older gadgets that no longer receive patches.

8) Secure your Wi-Fi

Your router is the front door to your smart home, so lock it down with a few simple tweaks. Use WPA3 encryption if your router supports it, rename the default network, and install firmware updates to patch security holes. For a full step-by-step guide on tightening your home network, check out our instructions in “How to set up a home network like a pro.”

Kurt’s key takeaways

Smart homes feel intimidating when scary headlines surface. But when you look at real-world data, you see far fewer risks than the stories suggest. Most attacks rely on weak passwords, poor router settings or old devices. With the right habits, your smart home can stay both convenient and secure.

What smart home risk concerns you most, and what part of your setup makes you nervous? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

A new old idea about video stores

Published

15 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

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.

(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.

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

“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

“+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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