Greetings, friends—and a warm welcome to *Installer* No. 104, your personal compass directing you toward the most intriguing, distinctive, and delightfully Verge-esque discoveries the world has to offer. If this is your first time joining us, an extra hello and a belated Happy Halloween to you! You can always revisit our earlier issues by heading straight to the *Installer* homepage, where every past edition awaits your curiosity and exploration.
Over the past week, my intellectual and entertainment diet has been a peculiar mix: I’ve been delving into thought-provoking readings about lotteries, the multifaceted career of Jennifer Lawrence, and the complex rise of what people are calling ‘religious AI.’ When taking breaks from reading, I’ve been indulging in a guilty pleasure—*Finding Mr. Christmas*—while simultaneously experimenting with turning *MyMind* into both my daily digital journal and a modern-day commonplace book. I somehow fell deep into learning obscure details about Taylor Sheridan’s storytelling empire, as well as bingeing James Hoffman’s masterclass on the craft of cold brew. In the midst of this, I tried replacing most of my laptop work with extended sessions on the iPad Pro, and attempted—heroically but unsuccessfully—to restrain myself from consuming our leftover Halloween candy. Reader, I failed spectacularly.
This issue also brings an exciting mix of fresh discoveries for you: an updated streaming app that’s transforming how you watch, some fast-paced and inventive battle royale games to dive into, an impressively affordable smartphone, a tale or two from the world of humanoid robotics, and plenty more gems worth your time. So, shall we begin?
As always, *Installer* thrives on the shared enthusiasm of its community—your innovations, ideas, and recommendations breathe life into each edition. Tell me what’s caught your imagination lately: what are you watching, reading, listening to, or even carving into pumpkins this week? Send your stories and suggestions to installer@theverge.com. And if you know someone who might delight in this communal exploration of creativity and tech, please forward this along and encourage them to subscribe.
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### Channels 7.0
A significant, aesthetically refined update arrives for one of our *Installer* favorites. The revision focuses on enhancing the Channels interface, making it notably sleeker and more intuitive across both mobile platforms and Apple TV. Those who meticulously curate and manage large media libraries will find this a major quality-of-life improvement. The new release also allows users to experience full multiview capability—simultaneous access to multiple video streams like never before.
### The Outer Worlds 2
Although I never personally ventured into the original *Outer Worlds*, its reputation for expertly balancing sharp satire, immersive world-building, and engaging characters precedes it. Early impressions suggest the sequel advances every meaningful aspect—stronger narratives, deeper humor, and an even richer sense of place. The franchise’s ongoing lampooning of corporate greed and government overreach feels particularly poignant in today’s climate.
### Bad Influencer
Few things amuse me more these days than the emergence of an entire subgenre dedicated to the cataclysmic misadventures of influencers gone awry. Netflix’s newest miniseries dives head-first into the chaotic world of counterfeiters, scam artists, and dark online ecosystems, offering a wildly entertaining portrayal of the influencer culture’s shadowed underbelly.
### The Nothing Phone 3a Lite
This one earns a sigh of envy from those of us stateside—it’s another excellent device locked to the UK and European markets. Elegant design, robust battery, vibrant large display, and impressive performance for its budget class—around $300—make it a striking testament to how far low-end Androids have evolved. Affordable smartphones are having a renaissance moment.
### Battlefield Redsec
Imagine the adrenaline of *Battlefield* meeting the chaos of a battle royale. That’s *Battlefield Redsec*: a sprawling multiplayer experience that offers diverse modes, from solo engagements and squad missions to alternative objectives beyond mere survival. Expect extensive customization and all the glorious confusion that entails. I’m certain I’ll be terrible at it—and that’s part of the fun.
### Fortnite: Sidekicks
Yes, another big week for battle royales. This time, *Fortnite* expands with *Sidekicks*, an irresistibly charming array of companion characters to accompany your customized persona. I’ve recently rejoined the *Fortnite* universe after a long absence, and to my delight, it’s never been livelier. The current season—with its delightful *Simpsons*-inspired aesthetic—is a messy, nostalgic joy.
### Board
The dream of merging digital and analog play surfaces inches ever closer with *Board*: an interactive tabletop that functions both as a display and a responsive playing field. While the idea has floated through tech showcases for years, this iteration seems particularly polished and thoughtfully designed. I can’t wait to experience how it blends tactile play with augmented storytelling.
### “I Tried the First Humanoid Home Robot. It Got Weird.”
Joanna Stern once again proves unmatched in her exploration of tech’s most uncanny frontiers. Her recent investigative video leads viewers inside a company developing humanoid robots—machines that remain remotely operated prototypes but hint toward the domestic automation of tomorrow. Nothing quite works as promised yet, but watching the awkward, charming early stages is a delight of its own.
### Tor 15
Long respected for its security and privacy provisions, the *Tor Browser* has historically struggled with usability. Version 15 brings a welcome polish: sleeker aesthetics, vertical tabs, and clever organizational tools. While few people require Tor’s extreme privacy protections for daily browsing, the refinements make it feel substantially more user-friendly and mainstream than ever before.
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Like many of you, I keep an ever-growing backlog of shows and films I fully intend to tackle someday. Yet, inexplicably, when I finally collapse onto the couch, remote in hand, I gravitate toward the familiar—comfort television. Despite endless novelty waiting to be explored, *The Office* once again finds its way onto my screen, and I have no regrets. There’s an undeniable magic in revisiting stories that have already proven themselves reliable companions.
When I asked you all to share your own endlessly rewatchable favorites, the range of responses was both delightful and illuminating. Unsurprisingly, many of my go-to series—*Parks and Recreation*, *30 Rock*, *New Girl*, *Veep*, *Community*, and *Schitt’s Creek*, among others—appeared repeatedly in your suggestions. Clearly, a certain flavor of witty, character-driven comedy has a universal rewatch appeal.
Across the community’s recommendations, the diversity was inspiring. From nostalgic sitcoms and timeless dramas to cult animated classics and emotional documentaries, every genre found representation. Highlights included perennial favorites like *Law & Order* and *Friends*, alongside thoughtful gems such as *Detectorists* and *Please Like Me*. On the cinematic side, titles ranged from blockbusters (*The Lord of the Rings*, *Harry Potter*, *Mad Max: Fury Road*) to more quietly profound fare like *Sideways* and *The Martian*. Even YouTube and podcasts made strong showings, with creators like *Todd in the Shadows* and shows like *Stuff You Should Know* earning honorable mentions.
I sincerely appreciate everyone who contributed to this sprawling catalog of rewatchable treasures. Your insights have refreshed my watchlist—still dominated by the classics I can’t quit—and added two dozen new entries I promise I’ll eventually reach… right after I re-binge *Community*.
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When I reached out to *The Verge*’s newest news writer, Stevie Bonifield, to share their homescreen setup, I expected a disciplined tech snapshot. Instead, Stevie—true to their multi-device nature—offered six distinct configurations spanning Linux machines, iPhones, Androids, and Macs. While I initially requested a Linux screenshot, Stevie submitted a phone image, quipping that it gave them an excuse to bring up Pebble—an answer that could only come from someone destined to fit perfectly at *The Verge*.
Stevie currently uses the *Nothing CMF Phone 1*, a remarkably capable $250 device. Its minimalist design and clean interface balance affordability and style, though Stevie notes a lingering fondness for iOS’s ecosystem. Their wallpaper? A warm-toned artwork from *Firewatch*, chosen to complement the phone’s orange backplate—aesthetic harmony at its finest.
Their homescreen philosophy revolves around intentional minimalism: only essential applications sit front and center—Discord, Spotify, Gmail, Google Maps, Firefox, and a handful of daily basics. The rest live neatly tucked into three organized folders, though Stevie admits this system is flexible enough that a few stray apps, like *Focus Friend* and the revived *Pebble* app, merit special placement. With Pebble’s long-awaited *Time 2* release on the horizon, Stevie keeps close tabs on the community’s custom watchfaces.
Beyond apps, Stevie shared some of their current fascinations: diving deep into *Critical Role Campaign 4*, relishing Apple TV’s tense fourth season of *The Morning Show*, and sinking hours into *The Outer Worlds 2*, where early narrative choices and dynamic NPC interactions are already proving rewarding.
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Meanwhile, the broader *Installer* community continues to impress with its eclectic recommendations. Jim is hooked on *Clues by Sam*, a daily logic puzzle that sharpens deductive reasoning. Greg champions *Yomi 2*, describing it as a hybrid marvel that fuses the strategic tension of fighting games with the thoughtful pacing of card play. Kaleb recommends a fascinating behind-the-scenes feature dissecting the editing of *Severance*’s finale—a masterclass in visual storytelling. And Jon highlights Australia’s beloved annual poll for Bird of the Year, a national event delightfully animated by even the Prime Minister’s participation.
Other favorites include Geoff’s endorsement of *Kagi* search via the *Orion* browser, which integrates privacy and usability beautifully; Iain’s admiration for Guillermo del Toro’s visually sumptuous adaptation of *Frankenstein*; and Jeroen’s poetic appreciation of Ocean Vuong’s *The Emperor of Gladness*, a collection resonating with the complicated tenderness of modern American life. From Pooja’s enthusiastic nod to *House of Guinness* to Atmos’s praise for the AI-powered discovery app *Sublime* and Eddy’s glowing review of the Linux-based *Bazzite* system—these shared curiosities weave an expanding cultural tapestry.
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Finally, the sports world is enjoying a particularly rich season: the NBA has tipped off, football at both collegiate and professional levels is in full swing, the World Series is captivating baseball fans, and hockey glides steadily along. Amid this spectacle, NBC’s basketball coverage has emerged as a standout—a showcase of production mastery. As Sports Video Group reports, behind those crisp broadcasts lies an impressive array of upgraded systems and technical wizardry, proving once more that what looks effortless on-screen is the product of extraordinary complexity.
So, as you enjoy your next game—or perhaps your next replay of *The Office*—remember to appreciate not just what appears before you, but the technology, artistry, and community that make every moment possible.
Stay curious, stay connected, and, of course, keep watching, reading, and playing endlessly.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/tech/811575/best-shows-rewatch-multiple-times-installer
