The Verge’s Installer newsletter details tech shifts and personal productivity habits
Tech writer JA Westenberg shares a home screen tour featuring productivity apps, while the newsletter also covers new hardware and community recommendations for gaming and operating systems.
The Verge has published edition 139 of its Installer newsletter, authored by tech writer JA Westenberg. The edition focuses on personal productivity and technology recommendations, featuring a detailed home screen tour of Westenberg’s iPhone 17 Pro Max. Key highlights include the release of Madden NFL 27 Mobile on Apple Arcade, which eliminates ads and paywalls, and reviews of hardware such as Bose QuietComfort headphones and the Clicks Power Keyboard. The newsletter also incorporates community contributions regarding operating systems and communication apps, while noting Westenberg’s upcoming parental leave.
Westenberg’s home screen setup utilises an iPhone 17 Pro Max with 512GB of storage, set against a wallpaper of Hermione von Preuschen’s 'Mors Imperator'. The writer details a mix of applications designed for work, reading, and leisure, including Kerouac, a writing studio for professional bloggers, and Post Through It, a microblogging platform. Westenberg emphasises a preference for web apps to avoid app store gatekeeping, noting that these tools are used daily to ensure they meet high standards.
Communication is managed through Beeper, which aggregates chats across platforms such as Discord, Slack, Telegram, and WhatsApp. Westenberg also uses Buffer for social media posting, connected via an MCP agent, and avoids installing traditional social media apps on the device. For entertainment, the setup includes GenZD, a client for playing classic 3D shooters, and Marvel Unlimited for digital comics, alongside reading applications like Kobo and Readwise Reader.
A significant portion of the newsletter is dedicated to community recommendations and recent tech releases. Readers highlighted the release of Madden NFL 27 Mobile on Apple Arcade, noting that the version removes ads, virtual currencies, and paywalls, while adding controller and Apple TV support. Other community members discussed switching to CachyOS for gaming PCs, upgrading to a Fractal North PC case, and utilising the Hoy app for Mac OS to facilitate communication via iCloud.
Westenberg also shared personal updates regarding upcoming parental leave, which has prompted a significant change in device usage. The writer plans to silence all non-call notifications on their iPhone, citing a desire to reduce digital noise and avoid the persistent reminders from health tracking apps. This shift reflects a broader trend among peers who are silencing notifications to maintain focus, with Westenberg intending to check messages only when actively choosing to do so.
