Notion Calendar and Claude AI come to Android

Hello, mates! Welcome to Installer No. 46, your information to one of the best and Verge-iest stuff on this planet. (If you happen to’re new right here, welcome, hope you want foolish devices, and in addition you’ll be able to learn all of the previous editions on the Installer homepage.) 

This week, I’ve been writing about Apple betas and AR devices, studying about Donald Glover and the scourge of conferences and what it takes to feed the Olympics, admiring Christian Selig’s keyboard format, watching Arduous Knocks and The Beekeeper, and making an attempt (and failing) to excellent my blueberry muffin recipe.

I even have for you a few nice iOS apps which might be lastly obtainable on Android, a brand new technique to play some basic Nintendo video games, an costly new digital camera, and stuff to observe this weekend each at dwelling and in theaters.

This week’s a bit of heftier than standard, each as a result of there’s quite a bit happening and since I’m on the point of go on trip. Installer will come as standard subsequent week after which off for 2 weeks earlier than we’re again on August seventeenth able to rumble. So, simply in case you’d in any other case run out of stuff to do, I figured I’d depart you with some extras. Let’s get into it.

(As at all times, one of the best a part of Installer is your concepts and ideas. What do you wish to know extra about? What superior tips are you aware that everybody else ought to? What app ought to everybody be utilizing? Inform me every little thing: installer@theverge.com. And if you understand another person who may get pleasure from Installer, ahead it to them and inform them to subscribe right here.)

• Notion Calendar for Android. I nonetheless actually hate the app icon, however apart from that, this is without doubt one of the best-looking and usually sharpest calendar apps on the market. It’s particularly nice for those who’re additionally a Notion person, however even when not, I feel it’s an improve on Google Cal.
• Claude for Android. Again and again the previous couple of weeks, I’ve been listening to folks speak about how a lot they like Claude 3.5 Sonnet — much more than they like ChatGPT. I like Claude’s app quite a bit, too, particularly its capacity to import and perceive screenshots.
• The TinyPod. It’s a case for an Apple Watch that makes it appear to be an iPod, and whilst I sort that, it sounds completely ridiculous. However you higher consider I might be shopping for this factor and seeing if it turns my Watch into the music-playing, message-sending dumbphone of my desires.
• Wild Wild Area. We consider area as, like, a grand lovely unknown. However in so some ways, it’s changing into simply one other place for firms to attempt to conquer. This HBO collection (based mostly on an ideal Ashlee Vance e-book) is a very epic — and considerably terrifying? — startup story.
• UTM SE. I might’ve fortunately wager you $10 that Apple would by no means approve an app that simply straight-up emulates a Home windows pc. I’m glad to have misplaced that wager! UTM SE can do retro video games, however it could actually additionally do all types of different stuff. (Simply don’t anticipate it to, like, really change your pc.)
• EA Sports activities Faculty Soccer 25. After 11 years, it’s again and apparently pretty much as good as ever. The story of this recreation is a hilariously excellent story in regards to the web, capitalism, and fame, however finally, I’m simply excited to lastly flip my alma mater into the soccer juggernaut it very a lot just isn’t.
• Overcast. A giant replace this week to top-of-the-line podcast apps for Apple gadgets. Marco Arment, the developer, is true when he says it’s noticeably sooner in nearly each means, and Overcast does issues like Sensible Velocity and quantity enhancement higher than anything. 
• The Canon R5 Mark II. Photographers and digital camera nerds have been ready for this one for some time, and with good motive. The R5 II is quicker for pictures, extra practical for video, and has a brand new autofocus system that sounds fairly nice. $4,300 ain’t low cost, however superior cameras by no means are.
• Nintendo World Championships: NES Version. A bunch of basic video video games, chopped up and put again collectively into tiny new items all designed to be performed at blisteringly quick speeds. Such a cool concept and an ideal new spin on some previous faves.
• Skywalkers: A Love Story. I can’t get sufficient of these YouTube movies of individuals parkouring their means round skyscrapers and deserted buildings, even when they do stress me out. This Netflix doc is lots of that type of stuff and a love story, multi functional.
• Dyson’s OnTrac headphones. Glad to see Dyson go rather less, uh, Bane-ish with its second set of headphones. The OnTrac are tremendous costly — $500! — however look fairly good, and I’m rooting for something going this tough on customization.
• Twisters. Right here’s a weekend plan for you. This afternoon, watch Tornado, which holds up shockingly properly 28 years later. (The consequences nonetheless rip, too.) Tonight, go see Twisters, which has gotten strong critiques and appears like precisely the type of film that ought to be seen in an enormous, loud movie show. Then, hit me up and inform me for those who preferred it. Sound like a plan?

Ryan Gilbert runs one of many newsletters I learn each single week. It’s referred to as Workspaces, and each week, it options some fascinating individual speaking about how they work and the way they’ve arrange their desk to work for them. I’m, uh, eternally obsessive about desk setups and by no means tire of seeing how different folks take into consideration their areas.

Homescreens are kinda like desk setups, I feel, in that they reveal quite a bit about the one who created them. So, I requested Ryan to share his homescreen to see what I’d study from him — and what he’s realized from all these interviews.

Right here’s Ryan’s homescreen, plus some data on the apps he makes use of and why:

The telephone: iPhone 14 Professional.

The wallpaper: My spouse and I throughout our engagement footage. I like how refined and distraction-free it’s as a background with it largely simply being a lightweight shade (mild mode > darkish mode for every little thing btw). 

The apps: X, Slack, Digicam, Clock, Overcast, Climate, Google Maps, ESPN, Spotify, Notion, Peloton, USGA GHIN, Campsite, LinkedIn, Apple Sports activities, Messages, Gmail, Safari, Telephone.

So, as you’ll be able to inform, my homescreen is a bit unorganized. I really prefer it that means. You’ll discover that Twitter is high left in prime actual property and out of doors of the “Social” cluster of apps within the backside proper. Fortuitously or sadly (I’ll allow you to determine), Twitter is an enormous a part of my day-to-day work, so I deal with that as extra of a piece app vs. social. The entire apps within the “Social” cluster are the apps I take advantage of with mates — issues like Snapchat or Instagram. Additionally, you will see random apps like Product Hunt and ESPN Fantasy Soccer being tossed in there. Not every little thing has to make sense.

I even have each ESPN and the brand new Apple Sports activities app on the homescreen. I’d love to maneuver away from ESPN, as their app has grow to be extraordinarily bloated and sluggish, so I’ve been making an attempt to drive the Sports activities behavior increasingly more. 

I like Overcast. It’s the place I take heed to all of my podcasts. I prefer to preserve this separate from the place I take heed to music (Spotify). 

Gmail… I’m not an inbox zero type of man.

I additionally requested Ryan to share a couple of issues he’s into proper now. Right here’s what he despatched again:

• USGA GHIN: The app that has in all probability by no means been featured right here earlier than! It’s for holding monitor of my golf scores and handicap. 
• I nonetheless play Wordle each morning. I prefer to assume it will get my artistic juices flowing, however actually, it’s only a technique to keep away from checking e-mail for an additional jiffy.
• My spouse and I attempt to go climbing ~twice per week. We actually prefer to spend as a lot time exterior as potential through the summer time. Being from Wisconsin, it’s worthwhile to get pleasure from it when you can!

Right here’s what the Installer neighborhood is into this week. I wish to know what you’re into proper now as properly! Electronic mail installer@theverge.com or message me on Sign — @davidpierce.11 — along with your suggestions for something and every little thing, and we’ll characteristic a few of our favorites right here each week. For much more suggestions, try the replies to this submit on Threads.

“Terrifying Questions is a good philosophy podcast by Futurama author Eric Kaplan and professor Taylor Carman. Every week, they talk about a philosophical query. It’s good, humorous, and fascinating however with out being inaccessible. The primary episode from a yr in the past about ChatGPT is a good place to begin.” — Jonathan

“Fable! It has been nice for me and bought me into studying once more!” — Ataya

“I really feel a bit of late to the celebration however watching Scavengers Reign, which is on Netflix exterior the US. Truthfully top-of-the-line reveals I’ve seen in a very long time. Not often does sci-fi really feel this alien or unknown. Even for those who don’t like sci-fi, watch it for the unimaginable music alone!” — Alex

“Star Trek Prodigy season two on Netflix has blown me away. Season one was good, however season two is without doubt one of the greatest seasons of Star Trek (up to now).” — J

“I’m making an attempt out Firm of Heroes 3 on the PS5. Consoles get a foul rap for RTS video games, however it’s solely as a result of porting playable controls takes extra effort. Haven’t performed sufficient to have an opinion on CoH3 but, however EndWar and Halo Wars on the 360 have been each nice to manage.” — Ian

“I can’t recover from Omnivore’s text-to-speech article reader! I had began off utilizing ElevenLabs’ Reader app to learn articles to me, and although their voices are extra sensible, I simply looove the best way Omnivore switches voices for a quoted passage. No concept when Omnivore made this replace, however I’m obsessed!” — Roxxy

“Been actually having fun with what AEW has been as much as lately, positively popping out of some artistic doldrums. They’ve a storyline the place Toni Storm is the champ enjoying a black-and-white film star (actually her intro and promos are B&W). They’ve been doing an All About Eve factor together with her protege Mariah Might who simply turned on her. They usually simply had a 59-minute match with Will Ospreay and MJF that was an incredible piece of storytelling. I’ll watch wrestling even when it’s mid, however this has been nice!” — Richard

“Just lately upgraded an previous iPod Traditional gifted to me by my GF’s dad! I put in a brand new backplate, faceplate, contact wheel, battery, and SD card growth module for it. Becoming a member of the ‘single-purpose’ tech development we’re on.” — Stefan

“Studying The Battle of the Beams, the story of the event of radar throughout WW2 and the countermeasures to it. Some unimaginable tales, actually eye-opening.” — Peter

“Ordered a pair of Dayton Audio B40 audio system. They sound like $50, however like… a extremely good $50. Dayton’s B452 and 652 audio system have been long-reigning champs of the ‘newbie audiophile,’ and it’s cool to see this replace.” — Emmet

“I’ve been enjoying round with the Move Minimalist Launcher. Up to now, it has led to me studying earlier than mattress as a substitute of scrolling and, at the very least for now, prevented me from shopping for a Boox Palma.” — Zachary

Some time again, after I was engaged on a narrative a few woodworking pc maker, I realized in regards to the designer Tom Sachs’ idea of “At all times Be Knolling.” Knolling is a extremely particular system that entails laying all of your stuff out at particular angles, however I take the broader concept as: don’t make cleansing and organizing into A Factor, simply at all times be doing it. I’ve been making an attempt to undertake this lately, and it’s superior. Once I’m on a telephone name, I tidy up my desk. Once I’m ready for one thing to export, I tidy up my desk. A couple of seconds at a time, I barely even discover, and my workspace is cleaner than ever. Now I simply have to determine the way to At all times Be Knolling with, like, laundry and dishes. Then I’ll be unstoppable.