YouTube’s Next Big Star Hits The Big Screen

Last week, I finally gave in and bought the tiny Xteink e-reader that’s been flooding my social feeds for months. The very first thing I did after unboxing it? Install the CrossPoint firmware, an open-source project that has exploded in popularity within the e-reading community. (It’s also at the center of some intriguing drama, which I’ll cover in a story soon.)

The developer behind CrossPoint is Justin Mitchell, someone I’ve known for years. We first connected over Newton Mail, one of my all-time favorite email apps. He also built a terrific voice notes app called Cleft Notes and several other cool projects.

After we chatted this week about CrossPoint’s current state and future, I asked Justin to share his homescreen with us. I half-expected a picture of his Xteink device, but what he sent was far more surprising and delightful. Here’s Justin’s homescreen, plus the apps he relies on and why:

The phone: Unihertz Titan 2. A full QWERTY keyboard with a massive screen and battery means I work from my phone most days, no laptop required. You didn’t ask, but I’m also using Nothing earbuds and headphones.

The wallpaper: I’ve fully embraced a minimal, dark-mode-only approach to homescreens over the past few years. No visual stimulation allowed.

The apps: Email, Slack, Messages, WhatsApp, Vivaldi, Discord, Reddit, X.

I’m running the always-amazing Niagara Launcher. I have a custom widget for an app I built called In Your Space, which is a shameless rip-off of the iOS app In Your Face. What’s incredible about the world we live in now is that I can just AI-code my perfect meeting reminder app, and I don’t have to share it with anyone else. This app exists solely on my phone and does exactly what I need, down to the most personal details of how my life works. Not yours, not any other user’s.

I’m using Audiobookshelf for audiobooks and Vivaldi for my browser. No YouTube, no TikTok. Just pure productivity and connectivity. Claude is also pinging me about some code it wrote in my notification banner.

I also asked Justin to share a few things he’s into right now. Here’s what he sent back:

As someone who spends roughly 16 hours a day working on a computer, I’m currently enjoying anything that gets me away from a backlight and puts something tactile in my hands. My Xteink is always in my pocket, and I now blow through chapters of books instead of doomscrolling on my phone. It’s legitimately the best gadget I’ve bought in over a decade.

Crowdsourced

Here’s what the Installer community is into this week. I want to know what you’re into too. Email installer@theverge.com or message me on Signal , @davidpierce.11 , with your recommendations for anything and everything, and we’ll feature some favorites here every week. For more great picks, check the replies to this post on Threads and this post on Bluesky.

“Been having fun with Roost. It’s a messaging app that delivers a message at the speed of whatever bird you are sending.” , Michiel

“I just started using LazyVim, and it may actually replace a niche use case for me. I use Jetbrains for most coding, but every once in a while I just need to edit a Python or JS script and not wait for PyCharm or VS Code to launch. LazyVim gives me the IDE experience without the bloat.” , Kevin

“Widow’s Bay continues to be the best thing on right now. Every week is a countdown until the next episode.” , Pip

“I’m constantly watching for updates on my Clicks Power Keyboard, which have now started shipping to folks. Can’t wait to get my clickity clackity typing on without having to use the full (large) case on my Pixel 10 Pro.” , Josh

“Using Tuna to configure my workflow on my newly acquired IBM M2 keyboard. There are tons of Mac launchers out there, but Tuna is quick. It’s also configurable enough to be powerful, but doesn’t feel like overkill like Raycast.” , Mike

“Hank Green has a new podcast, Humans.” , Stefan

“Marathon season two is spooky now, with a night map that’s actually dark, and gear was wiped, so everyone’s on (near) equal footing. It’s a great game that deserves more praise and attention.” , Train Man Emeritus

“Sesame. It’s a voice dialog with an AI bot to talk about pretty much anything. They don’t mention friendship or anything like that, although maybe it’s possible. I used it to explain details of a few topics I needed to learn about. Conversations are extremely realistic. Almost like what Alexa should be but isn’t.” , Jay

“Unlike traditional clipboard managers that rely on keyboard shortcuts, Layr is designed from the ground up to be activated via trackpad gestures. The app’s design and gesture-first approach actually convinced me to replace Maccy. Because I already use Swish for window management, adding another trackpad gesture to my workflow felt completely natural. Despite some early bugs, the core concept is solid.” , Travis

“I got the RingConn Gen 2 Air about a year ago for $200. There’s no subscription, it looks like any other smart ring, the battery lasts for a week, and it tracks workouts and sleep. For people (like me!) who don’t need all the bells and whistles of an Oura, a ring like this is an obvious choice.” , Bruce

Signing off

There are plenty of big movies coming out this summer, but in my house the only one that matters is Toy Story 5. The movie arrives in two weeks, but the media tour is already in full swing, and it looks like we’re in for a lot of fascinating discussions about screentime, technology, and what it means to be human. Director Andrew Stanton gave a terrific interview to Polygon with some great perspective on all this, explaining why screens aren’t just a villain. Tom Hanks has some thoughts too. I love that a “kids movie” might be our best chance in forever to have these conversations for real.

Also: We got a new Taylor Swift song to go with the movie. So it’s already a win.

See you next week!