One of my pandemic hobbies that got stuck was home automation. I discovered Home Assistant – the popular open source, extremely customizable home automation platform – and all the complex things you can do with it to make your housework work better. I have ADHD and have found the home assistant to be a valuable … Read more
After what can be generously called a questionable tenure as the CEO of the company The Washington PostWill Lewis is stepping down this week after mass redundancies. Jeff D’Onofrio, Tumblr’s former CEO from 2017 to 2022, will step in as acting CEO and publisher. D’Onofrio has been the Post’s CFO since last June, meaning he’s … Read more
GOG recently posted a job opening for a Senior Software Engineer focused on porting its Galaxy desktop client to Linux. Now, in response to a Reddit AMA, the GOG team has revealed that native Linux support is already in the works. According to the Reddit thread, it’s still too early to give an estimated arrival … Read more
It’s quite a coincidence that I installed Linux around the same time as my colleagues Nathan Edwards and Stevie Bonifield. A few months ago I decided to breathe new life into a 2019 Dell XPS 15 that had been gathering dust for a few years. Despite its (at the time) cutting-edge Core i7 processor and … Read more
In a somewhat controversial Vergecast episode, I stated that AirTags are a better product than iPads. iPad lovers have been roasting me on social media. I have heard and respect their opinions. But I’m sorry—the second-generation AirTag only reinforced my belief that the humble $29 item tracker is one of Apple’s most useful gadgets. New … Read more
Announced in January, the latest 45-watt Anker Nano charger, which remains one of the smallest 45-watt chargers on the market, adds a full-color screen that displays an animated character and tiny details about the device you’re charging. $30 Anker Nano 45W charger with built-in screen Read more The display is occasionally useful if you want … Read more
Hello friends! Welcome to Install #115, your guide to the best a Rod– the best thing in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, go to Seahawks I guess, and you can also read all the old issues at Install homepage.) This week I read about The Washington Post and The Murdochs and Polymarket and … Read more
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and if you haven’t started shopping yet, there are plenty of great gifts on sale that should still arrive in time if you order early. Several Rod-approved gadgets are seeing some of their best discounts since the holidays, with options we think will appeal to a wide range of interests, … Read more
CarPlay users could soon be able to use their chatbot instead of Siri. Ace Bloomberg Apple is working to add support for CarPlay voice control apps from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and others. Previously, users who wanted to access third-party chatbots in the car had to go through their iPhone, but soon they will be able … Read more
Where is Trump’s phone? We will talk about it every week. We’ve reached out as usual to ask where Trump’s phone is. This time, surprisingly, we got an answer — and an interview. Trump’s phone is real – maybe, sort of, soon? — and I saw it. Not directly, but during an hour-long video call … Read more