Notion Calendar and Claude AI come to Android

Hello, buddies! Welcome to Installer No. 46, your information to one of the best and Verge-iest stuff on the planet. (Should you’re new right here, welcome, hope you want foolish devices, and in addition you possibly can learn all of the previous editions on the Installer homepage.) 

This week, I’ve been writing about Apple betas and AR devices, studying about Donald Glover and the scourge of conferences and what it takes to feed the Olympics, admiring Christian Selig’s keyboard format, watching Onerous Knocks and The Beekeeper, and attempting (and failing) to excellent my blueberry muffin recipe.

I even have for you a few nice iOS apps which can be lastly obtainable on Android, a brand new method to play some traditional Nintendo video games, an costly new digital camera, and stuff to look at this weekend each at residence and in theaters.

This week’s a bit heftier than typical, each as a result of there’s lots occurring and since I’m on the point of go on trip. Installer will come as typical 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 at all times, one of the best a part of Installer is your concepts and ideas. What do you need to know extra about? What superior methods are you aware that everybody else ought to? What app ought to everybody be utilizing? Inform me every thing: installer@theverge.com. And if you already know another person who may get pleasure from Installer, ahead it to them and inform them to subscribe right here.)

• Notion Calendar for Android. I nonetheless actually hate the app icon, however apart from that, this is without doubt one of the best-looking and usually sharpest calendar apps on the market. It’s particularly nice should you’re additionally a Notion person, however even when not, I feel it’s an improve on Google Cal.
• Claude for Android. Time and again the previous couple of 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 lots, too, particularly its potential to import and perceive screenshots.
• The TinyPod. It’s a case for an Apple Watch that makes it seem like an iPod, and at the same time as I kind that, it sounds completely ridiculous. However you higher consider I shall be shopping for this factor and seeing if it turns my Watch into the music-playing, message-sending dumbphone of my goals.
• Wild Wild Area. We consider area as, like, a grand lovely unknown. However in so some ways, it’s changing into simply one other place for firms to attempt to conquer. This HBO collection (primarily based on an incredible Ashlee Vance e 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 laptop. I’m glad to have misplaced that guess! UTM SE can do retro video games, however it will probably additionally do every kind of different stuff. (Simply don’t anticipate it to, like, truly change your laptop.)
• EA Sports activities Faculty Soccer 25. After 11 years, it’s again and apparently pretty much as good as ever. The story of this sport is a hilariously excellent story in regards to 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 isn’t.
• Overcast. An enormous replace this week to among the best podcast apps for Apple units. Marco Arment, the developer, is true when he says it’s noticeably quicker in virtually each approach, 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 purpose. The R5 II is quicker for photographs, extra practical 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 Version. A bunch of traditional video video games, chopped up and put again collectively into tiny new items all designed to be performed at blisteringly quick speeds. Such a cool concept and an incredible new spin on some previous faves.
• Skywalkers: A Love Story. I can’t get sufficient of these YouTube movies of individuals parkouring their approach round skyscrapers and deserted buildings, even when they do stress me out. This Netflix doc is numerous 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 tough on customization.
• Twisters. Right here’s a weekend plan for you. This afternoon, watch Tornado, which holds up shockingly properly 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 must be seen in an enormous, loud movie show. Then, hit me up and inform me should you preferred it. Sound like a plan?

Ryan Gilbert runs one of many newsletters I learn each single week. It’s referred to as Workspaces, and each week, it options some fascinating particular person speaking about how they work and the way they’ve arrange their desk to work for them. I’m, uh, perpetually obsessive about desk setups and by no means tire of seeing how different individuals take into consideration their areas.

Homescreens are kinda like desk setups, I feel, in that they reveal lots 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 principally simply being a light-weight shade (mild mode > darkish mode for every thing btw). 

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

So, as you possibly can inform, my homescreen is a bit unorganized. I truly prefer it that approach. You’ll discover that Twitter is prime left in prime actual property and out of doors of the “Social” cluster of apps within the backside proper. Fortuitously or sadly (I’ll allow you to resolve), Twitter is a giant 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 buddies — issues like Snapchat or Instagram. Additionally, you will see random apps like Product Hunt and ESPN Fantasy Soccer being tossed in there. Not every thing 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 grow to be extraordinarily bloated and gradual, so I’ve been attempting to drive the Sports activities behavior increasingly more. 

I like Overcast. It’s the place I hearken to all of my podcasts. I wish to hold this separate from the place I hearken 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 holding observe 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 method to keep away from checking e-mail for an additional jiffy.
• My spouse and I attempt to go climbing ~twice per week. We actually wish to spend as a lot time outdoors as attainable through the summer season. Being from Wisconsin, it’s good to get pleasure from it when you can!

Right here’s what the Installer neighborhood is into this week. I need to know what you’re into proper now as properly! E-mail installer@theverge.com or message me on Sign — @davidpierce.11 — along with your suggestions for something and every thing, and we’ll characteristic a few of our favorites right here each week. For much more suggestions, take a look at the replies to this publish on Threads.

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

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

“I really feel a bit late to the get together however watching Scavengers Reign, which is on Netflix outdoors the US. Truthfully among the best reveals I’ve seen in a very long time. Not often does sci-fi really feel this alien or unknown. Even should you don’t like sci-fi, watch it for the unimaginable music alone!” — Alex

“Star Trek Prodigy season two on Netflix has blown me away. Season one was good, however season two is without doubt one of the finest seasons of Star Trek (to this point).” — J

“I’m attempting out Firm of Heroes 3 on the PS5. Consoles get a foul rap for RTS video games, nevertheless 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 have 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 lifelike, I simply looove the way in which Omnivore switches voices for a quoted passage. No concept 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 a tremendous piece of storytelling. I’ll watch wrestling even when it’s mid, however this has been nice!” — Richard

“Lately upgraded an previous iPod Basic gifted to me by my GF’s dad! I put in a brand new backplate, faceplate, contact wheel, battery, and SD card growth 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 unimaginable tales, actually eye-opening.” — Peter

“Ordered a pair of Dayton Audio B40 audio system. They sound like $50, however like… a very good $50. Dayton’s B452 and 652 audio system have 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 Circulate Minimalist Launcher. Up to now, it has led to me studying earlier than mattress as a substitute of scrolling and, not less than for now, prevented me from shopping for a Boox Palma.” — Zachary

Some time again, once I was engaged on a narrative a couple of woodworking laptop maker, I realized in regards to the designer Tom Sachs’ idea of “All the time Be Knolling.” Knolling is a very particular system that entails laying all of your stuff out at particular angles, however I take the broader concept as: don’t make cleansing and organizing into A Factor, simply at all times be doing it. I’ve been attempting 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. A number of seconds at a time, I barely even discover, and my workspace is cleaner than ever. Now I simply have to determine how one can All the time Be Knolling with, like, laundry and dishes. Then I’ll be unstoppable.