Notion Calendar and Claude AI come to Android

Hello, mates! Welcome to Installer No. 46, your information to the very best and Verge-iest stuff on the earth. (In the event you’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 gadgets, studying about Donald Glover and the scourge of meetings and what it takes to feed the Olympics, admiring Christian Selig’s keyboard layout, watching Hard Knocks and The Beekeeper, and making an attempt (and failing) to good my blueberry muffin recipe.

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

This week’s just a little heftier than common, each as a result of there’s rather a lot occurring and since I’m on the point of go on trip. Installer will come as common 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 all the time, the very best a part of Installer is your concepts and suggestions. What do you need to know extra about? What superior methods have you learnt that everybody else ought to? What app ought to everybody be utilizing? Inform me every part: installer@theverge.com. And if another person who would possibly take pleasure in Installer, ahead it to them and inform them to subscribe here.)

• Notion Calendar for Android. I nonetheless actually hate the app icon, however apart from that, this is among the best-looking and usually sharpest calendar apps on the market. It’s particularly nice when you’re additionally a Notion consumer, however even when not, I believe it’s an improve on Google Cal.
• Claude for Android. Again and again the previous few weeks, I’ve been listening to individuals speak about how a lot they like Claude 3.5 Sonnet — much more than they like ChatGPT. I like Claude’s app rather a lot, too, particularly its means 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 will probably be shopping for this factor and seeing if it turns my Watch into the music-playing, message-sending dumbphone of my desires.
• Wild Wild Space. We consider area as, like, a grand stunning unknown. However in so some ways, it’s changing into simply one other place for corporations to try to conquer. This HBO collection (primarily based on a great Ashlee Vance book) is a very epic — and considerably terrifying? — startup story.
• UTM SE. I’d’ve fortunately guess 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 guess! UTM SE can do retro video games, however it may possibly additionally do every kind of different stuff. (Simply don’t anticipate it to, like, really exchange your pc.)
• EA Sports College Football 25. After 11 years, it’s again and apparently pretty much as good as ever. The story of this recreation is a hilariously good story concerning the web, capitalism, and fame, however in the end, I’m simply excited to lastly flip my alma mater into the soccer juggernaut it very a lot will not be.
• Overcast. A giant replace this week to probably the greatest podcast apps for Apple gadgets. Marco Arment, the developer, is correct when he says it’s noticeably sooner in virtually each method, and Overcast does issues like Sensible Velocity and quantity enhancement higher than the rest. 
• The Canon R5 Mark II. Photographers and digital camera nerds have been ready for this one for some time, and with good reason. The R5 II is quicker for pictures, extra useful 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 Edition. A bunch of basic video video games, chopped up and put back together into tiny new items all designed to be performed at blisteringly quick speeds. Such a cool thought and an excellent new spin on some previous faves.
• Skywalkers: A Love Story. I can’t get sufficient of those YouTube videos of individuals parkouring their method round skyscrapers and deserted buildings, even when they do stress me out. This Netflix doc is plenty of that type of stuff and a love story, multi function.
• 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 difficult on customization.
• Twisters. Right here’s a weekend plan for you. This afternoon, watch Twister, which holds up shockingly nicely 28 years later. (The results nonetheless rip, too.) Tonight, go see Twisters, which has gotten strong evaluations 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 when you appreciated it. Sound like a plan?

Ryan Gilbert runs one of many newsletters I learn each single week. It’s known as Workspaces, and each week, it options some attention-grabbing individual speaking about how they work and the way they’ve arrange their desk to work for them. I’m, uh, forever obsessed with desk setups and by no means tire of seeing how different individuals take into consideration their areas.

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

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

The telephone: iPhone 14 Professional.

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

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

So, as you’ll be able to inform, my homescreen is a bit unorganized. I really prefer it that method. You’ll discover that Twitter is high left in prime actual property and outdoors of the “Social” cluster of apps within the backside proper. Thankfully 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. All the apps within the “Social” cluster are the apps I exploit 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 part 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 turn out to be extraordinarily bloated and gradual, so I’ve been making an attempt to drive the Sports activities behavior increasingly. 

I really like Overcast. It’s the place I take heed to all of my podcasts. I wish 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 just a few 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 preserving monitor of my golf scores and handicap. 
• I nonetheless play Wordle each morning. I wish to suppose it will get my inventive juices flowing, however actually, it’s only a strategy to keep away from checking e-mail for an additional couple of minutes.
• My spouse and I attempt to go mountain climbing ~twice per week. We actually wish to spend as a lot time exterior as attainable throughout the summer time. Being from Wisconsin, it is advisable take pleasure in it when you can!

Right here’s what the Installer group is into this week. I need to know what you’re into proper now as nicely! E mail installer@theverge.com or message me on Sign — @davidpierce.11 — together with your suggestions for something and every part, and we’ll characteristic a few of our favorites right here each week. For much more suggestions, try the replies to this post on Threads.

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

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

“I really feel just a little late to the occasion however watching Scavengers Reign, which is on Netflix exterior the US. Actually probably the greatest reveals I’ve seen in a very long time. Hardly ever does sci-fi really feel this alien or unknown. Even when you don’t like sci-fi, watch it for the unbelievable music alone!” — Alex

“Star Trek Prodigy season two on Netflix has blown me away. Season one was good, however season two is among the greatest seasons of Star Trek (up to now).” — J

“I’m making an attempt out Company of Heroes 3 on the PS5. Consoles get a nasty 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 had been each nice to regulate.” — 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 way in which Omnivore switches voices for a quoted passage. No thought when Omnivore made this replace, however I’m obsessed!” — Roxxy

“Been actually having fun with what AEW has been as much as just lately, positively popping out of some inventive doldrums. They’ve a storyline the place Toni Storm is the champ taking part in 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. And so they 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

“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 enlargement module for it. Becoming a member of the ‘single-purpose’ tech pattern 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 unbelievable tales, actually eye-opening.” — Peter

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

“I’ve been taking part in round with the Flow Minimalist Launcher. Thus far, it has led to me studying earlier than mattress as a substitute of scrolling and, a minimum of for now, prevented me from shopping for a Boox Palma.” — Zachary

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