GoKawiilis 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. 119, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, hope your agents are well, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)
I also have for you a new game to add to your daily list, an enticing new Sonos speaker, a huge new book about Apple’s first half-century, a fun new way to YouTube, and much more. Let’s get into it.
(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What are you watching / reading / listening to / playing / taking on spring break this week? 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
Parseword . A new game from Josh Wardle, the creator of Wordle, this one is based on the concept of cryptic crosswords. The concept is substantially harder to explain than Wordle, but tickles my word game-loving brain in a similarly delightful way. A new game from Josh Wardle, the creator of Wordle, this one is based on the concept of cryptic crosswords. The concept is substantially harder to explain than Wordle, but tickles my word game-loving brain in a similarly delightful way.
The Sonos Play . Sonos’ first new speaker in more than a year is too expensive — $299 is just a lot for a wireless speaker — but otherwise sounds kind of ideal? Big and powerful enough to be a good living room speaker, portable enough to actually throw in a bag or carry to the backyard. And it does plain ol’ Bluetooth, too! I want one. Sonos’ first new speaker in more than a year is too expensive — $299 is just a lot for a wireless speaker — but otherwise sounds kind of ideal? Big and powerful enough to be a good living room speaker, portable enough to actually throw in a bag or carry to the backyard. And it does plain ol’ Bluetooth, too! I want one.
Apple: The First 50 Years . David Pogue’s latest book is 600 pages of deep Apple lore, lovely photos, and a lot of new information about how the company evolved over the decades. I’ve been paying attention to Apple for a long time, and I learned a ton from this book. David Pogue’s latest book is 600 pages of deep Apple lore, lovely photos, and a lot of new information about how the company evolved over the decades. I’ve been paying attention to Apple for a long time, and I learned a ton from this book.
Perplexity Personal Computer . There are a bunch of apps coming out now that I would classify as “OpenClaw, but simpler and less risky.” People seem to like this one from Perplexity — it still requires a dedicated device and comes with some risks, but it’s a lot easier to get up and running. There are a bunch of apps coming out now that I would classify as “OpenClaw, but simpler and less risky.” People seem to like this one from Perplexity — it still requires a dedicated device and comes with some risks, but it’s a lot easier to get up and running.
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