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. 128, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, sorry this one’s so Mac-heavy, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)
I also have for you a couple of really useful Mac utilities, a new book in the Installerverse’s favorite series, a new tool for managing the fediverse, and much more. Let’s get into it.
(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What are you reading / watching / playing / listening to / cutting into nifty shapes 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
Mole . I’ve been following this Mac app’s development for a while, and I’m a big fan. It does a great job of hunting down huge files, un-needed apps, memory-hungry processes, and other things mucking up your computer, without being overzealous about it (or constantly trying to upcharge you). For $9, I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve been following this Mac app’s development for a while, and I’m a big fan. It does a great job of hunting down huge files, un-needed apps, memory-hungry processes, and other things mucking up your computer, without being overzealous about it (or constantly trying to upcharge you). For $9, I can’t recommend it enough.
A Parade of Horribles . Dungeon Crawler Carl is back! I’m still catching up on the series, but I’m confident the eighth book in the story brings even more chaos to Carl and Donut. DCC is maybe the most-recommended thing in the history of Installer, so this book is huge news. I can’t wait. Dungeon Crawler Carl is back! I’m still catching up on the series, but I’m confident the eighth book in the story brings even more chaos to Carl and Donut. DCC is maybe the most-recommended thing in the history of Installer, so this book is huge news. I can’t wait.
The Twelve South PowerClip . I am a big proponent of always carrying a giant backup battery, but I’m oddly charmed by this tiny $40 dongle that isn’t designed to fully charge your phone but rather to keep it from dying. Clever that it can also act as a USB-C cable, too. I am a big proponent of always carrying a giant backup battery, but I’m oddly charmed by this tiny $40 dongle that isn’t designed to fully charge your phone but rather to keep it from dying. Clever that it can also act as a USB-C cable, too.
Bartender Pro . Bartender has always been a classic power-user Mac app for cleaning up your menu bar. For $15 a year, Bartender Pro does way more: It adds a bunch of small utilities, like audio controls and your calendar, to the notch in your Mac’s screen. (Or just the middle of your menu bar.) My favorite? Zero-click AirDrop from my computer to my phone, just by dragging a file. Bartender has always been a classic power-user Mac app for cleaning up your menu bar. For $15 a year, Bartender Pro does way more: It adds a bunch of small utilities, like audio controls and your calendar, to the notch in your Mac’s screen. (Or just the middle of your menu bar.) My favorite? Zero-click AirDrop from my computer to my phone, just by dragging a file.
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