GoKawiilHi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 126, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, I need 10 or 15 skirts from Calvin Klein, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)
I also have for you a new gaming controller, a bunch of fun stuff to watch this weekend, a couple of interesting AI-y things, and a lot of feelings about how we use technology. Let’s get to it.
(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What are you watching / reading / playing / listening to / scouring estate sales for 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
The Steam Controller . I really respect the way Valve just understands what its users want. In this case, users want a super comfortable, outrageously customizable $99 controller that can be used in basically whatever bonkers way you can imagine. Sounds like we all would tweak the joysticks a little, but that Valve basically nailed this. I really respect the way Valve just understands what its users want. In this case, users want a super comfortable, outrageously customizable $99 controller that can be used in basically whatever bonkers way you can imagine. Sounds like we all would tweak the joysticks a little, but that Valve basically nailed this.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 . I swear, this and I swear, this and Hokum have all the makings of a Barbenheimer-style doubleheader. And if you don’t get to a theater this weekend for what is evidently a pretty solid sequel, at least watch the original Devil Wears Prada this weekend. Holds up.
Widow’s Bay . All my TV-nerd friends have been waiting with bated breath for this new Apple TV show, and All my TV-nerd friends have been waiting with bated breath for this new Apple TV show, and apparently it delivers . Funny and scary in equal measure is very hard to pull off, and I’m thrilled Matthew Rhys and co. are going straight on my watchlist.
Zed . I’ve been hearing good things about this super-fast code editor for a while, and it I’ve been hearing good things about this super-fast code editor for a while, and it finally officially launched . Some interesting AI integrations in here, but really its job is to work everywhere and never ever slow down. On that front, it seems to be a hit.
Talkie . Such a cool idea: a large language model exclusively trained on text from before 1931, with all the trappings of modern AI interaction but no knowledge of the modern world. These “vintage models” are starting to become a thing, and they’re a fascinating way to interact with history. Such a cool idea: a large language model exclusively trained on text from before 1931, with all the trappings of modern AI interaction but no knowledge of the modern world. These “vintage models” are starting to become a thing, and they’re a fascinating way to interact with history.
“ I’m done renting my digital life .” Really great video in which Iskren gets fed up with all the subscriptions in his life, and tries to go hard into physical media, self-hosting, and more. It’s fascinating! And hard! And expensive! Really great video in which Iskren gets fed up with all the subscriptions in his life, and tries to go hard into physical media, self-hosting, and more. It’s fascinating! And hard! And expensive!
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