CMF Phone 1: Stylish and Affordable Android Excellence

Installer No. 45 is here to keep you updated with the best and most interesting in the world according to Verge. If you’re tuning in for the first time, welcome! You can catch up on previous editions at the Installer homepage.

I’ve come back from some relaxing days off, feeling refreshed and yes, a bit sunburned. Thank you to everyone who showered me with birthday wishes! Lately, I’ve been diving into Made for Love, getting lost in stories about AI gamers and AI musicians, and exploring the future with Ferrari EVs. I’ve also watched Turning Point, switched my weather app to Lazy Weather, and ranted about Ira Glass listening to podcasts at 2x speed. Oh, and I’ve been sharing my feelings with the Dot AI bot.

This edition comes jam-packed with new tech, a podcast reunion, an exciting sci-fi show, a cool update to a recipe app, and a fascinating new AI podcast. July is buzzing with activity! Let’s dive in.

As always, your tips and ideas are the heart of the Installer. What’s been catching your eye lately? Share what you’re reading, watching, playing, or eating at installer@theverge.com. Know someone who’d enjoy Installer? Tell them to subscribe here.

The Drop

• The CMF Phone 1 — An eye-catching Android phone priced at just $200, boasting an OLED screen, interchangeable backplates, and a drawer full of cool accessories. Available in orange, naturally.
• The Samsung Galaxy Ring — Still loving Samsung’s foldable tech, but the Galaxy Ring stands out with its stellar smart ring hardware and innovative gesture controls.
• The Diggnation Reunion Part 1 — Tech enthusiasts will reminisce watching Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht’s antics. Part one of their reunion is a delight, with part two also available!
• Delta 1.6 — The game emulator now on iPad! Perfect for those wanting a larger display and the ability to play multiple games simultaneously.
• Amazon’s new Echo Spot — The ideal Alexa device for a nightstand, featuring a touchscreen but no camera, and currently just $45.
• Sunny — A captivating Apple TV Plus sci-fi series where a woman grieving her husband receives a robot from his tech company. Tune in before Episode 3 launches on Wednesday.
• Openvibe — An app that combines Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads, and Nostr into one seamless timeline. A nifty hack that smooths the social media experience.
• Pestle — This recipe app now allows users to import recipes from Instagram Reels. Simply drop a link to transform a video into a detailed recipe.

Screen Share

Years ago, while interning at Wired, I was part of a fascinating project where a writer tried to disappear off the grid. That writer, Evan Ratliff, has continued to produce incredible work, including co-founding The Atavist Magazine and creating the Persona podcast. Recently, Evan launched a new podcast, Shell Game, which explores the madness of using an AI clone of his voice.

Here’s a sneak peek into Evan’s homescreen, along with some of his favorite apps and their uses:

Homescreen rules: No social media or news apps to minimize distraction. Twitter is a strict no-go.

• Kids [group]: Numerous apps for managing school, camp, and bus schedules for his children.
• Ships/planes: Using AR apps like Flightradar24 and MarineTraffic to track logistics.
• CloudBeats: Essential for listening to podcast drafts while on the move.
• Libby: A must-have for grabbing ebooks and audiobooks from the library.
• Instapaper: The go-to app for reading longform content.

Here’s what else Evan is currently into:

• Moss: Enthusiastic about all things moss-related, including maintaining a moss garden and learning from moss experts like Mossin’ Annie.
• The new Charley Crockett album: Enjoying it while walking through his moss garden.
• Revisiting The Braindead Megaphone by George Saunders.
• Watching Taskmaster, a British comic game show, for some light-hearted fun.

Crowdsourced

Here’s what the Installer community is buzzing about this week. Share your latest obsessions at installer@theverge.com or message me on Signal at @davidpierce.11. Some favorites will be featured here weekly. For even more great recommendations, check out the replies to this post on Threads.

“I want to recommend an app called Slick Inbox for organizing newsletters separately from your personal email. It’s a great solution for anyone tired of cluttered inboxes.” – Denis

“I just binged all six episodes of Netflix’s Supacell. It’s like Heroes set in South London, with a predominantly Black cast. It’s one of the freshest and most exciting shows I’ve seen this year.” – Guilherme

“Currently reading The Singularity is Nearer by Ray Kurzweil and finding it fascinating to witness human evolution in real time.” – Matthew

“Exploring Best Ball drafts on Underdog Fantasy. A thrilling version of fantasy football where you draft entire teams quickly and compete against strangers. It’s like the excitement of a March Madness bracket but with fantasy football.” – Noah

“Using the VR Exercise Tracker app by the VR Health Institute for scientifically measured VR workouts that sync with Apple Watch and other fitness devices.” – Dan

“As a new dad, Dungeons & Daddies resonates with me deeply. This hilarious D&D podcast follows four dads in a fantastical realm, making for some of the funniest and most touching moments I’ve encountered recently.” – Mark

“I’ve recently gotten a Boox Go 10.3 E Ink tablet, which is lightweight, well-designed and great for reading articles via Omnivore. It’s a strong competitor to the Remarkable 2.” – Patrick

“Reading Deep Work by Cal Newport to regain focus in a world full of distractions. It’s been effective in helping me concentrate deeply once more.” – Dave

“Apple PenLite: The iPad Before the iPad. Colin Holter’s channel is a gem, and this video featuring interviews with former Apple employees sheds light on a fascinating era at Apple.” – Ian

Signing Off

“Every Frame a Painting” is hands down the best YouTube series of all time. If you haven’t already, binge every episode. Start with this one on Edgar Wright, or maybe the one on David Fincher, or even the sound of Marvel movies. Dive into all of them! The channel recently teased a new limited series and short film—I’m incredibly hyped. It’s like fast-tracking a film school education. Highly recommended!