is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.
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Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 118, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, please take my Switch away so I can get some work done, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)
I also have for you Apple’s cheap(er) new laptop, a new model from OpenAI, a fun new feature for your Pixel phone, and SO MANY great games to play this weekend. Let’s do this.
(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What are you watching / reading / playing / listening to / gazing wistfully at right now? Tell me everything: [email protected]. And if you know someone else who might enjoy Installer, forward it to them and tell them to subscribe here.)
The Drop
The Apple MacBook Neo . I described this on a Vergecast stream as “Fisher Price My First MacBook,” and I think that’s about right. But I suspect this thing is going to be the exact right mix of fun colors, just enough power, and a terrific price ($599!) to make it a lot of people’s first MacBook. I will say, though: I don’t love the yellow. Indigo all the way. I described this on a Vergecast stream as “Fisher Price My First MacBook,” and I think that’s about right. But I suspect this thing is going to be the exact right mix of fun colors, just enough power, and a terrific price ($599!) to make it a lot of people’s first MacBook. I will say, though: I don’t love the yellow. Indigo all the way.
OpenAI’s GPT-5.4 . OpenAI is pushing hard to catch up to Claude Code, and I keep hearing that this new model is a big step in that direction. Plus it adds native computer use, which you should approach EXTREMELY carefully, but puts an LLM in a position to be even more useful. One to play with this weekend for sure. OpenAI is pushing hard to catch up to Claude Code, and I keep hearing that this new model is a big step in that direction. Plus it adds native computer use, which you should approach EXTREMELY carefully, but puts an LLM in a position to be even more useful. One to play with this weekend for sure.
Formula 1 on Apple TV . One, I think if you’re reading this there’s a strong chance you’d appreciate F1, which is as much a tech thing as a sports thing. Two, the races will now be on Apple TV, and so far it appears Apple has some great ideas about how to show them. You have until Sunday to catch up on One, I think if you’re reading this there’s a strong chance you’d appreciate F1, which is as much a tech thing as a sports thing. Two, the races will now be on Apple TV, and so far it appears Apple has some great ideas about how to show them. You have until Sunday to catch up on Drive to Survive
Slay the Spire 2 . Oh boy were a lot of you in my inbox about this this week. The much-anticipated sequel to a beloved roguelike is out (technically in early access, but it seems to be extremely playable already), and I know has already ruined the productivity of many of us in the Installerverse. Don’t miss this one.
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