The Video Store Revival: A New Take on an Old Idea
▼ Summary
– This is an edition of the newsletter “Installer,” which curates and recommends tech products, apps, and media for its readers.
– The author asks readers to share their favorite new discovery from the year, whether it’s a book, podcast, game, or product.
– Several specific recommendations are highlighted, including the Letterboxd Video Store for movies, the game “Skate Story,” and the iFixit app for repair guides.
– The newsletter features a “Screen Share” section showcasing a designer’s interactive personal website and his favorite apps like Retro and (Not Boring) Camera.
– It includes a “Crowdsourced” section with community recommendations, such as the game “Ghost of Yotei” and the Amazon Luna gaming platform.
Finding a truly great movie to watch can feel like a treasure hunt in the endless scroll of streaming services. A new initiative from Letterboxd, called The Letterboxd Video Store, offers a refreshingly curated solution. This digital rental service focuses on hard-to-find films that the platform’s community is passionate about. It’s a selective, high-quality collection designed for cinephiles tired of algorithm-driven suggestions. This concept revives the spirit of browsing a physical video store, offering a tight edit of compelling titles you likely won’t spot on your usual apps.
Beyond cinematic discoveries, this week brings a host of other intriguing tech and entertainment picks. A late-breaking video game contender, Skate Story, casts you as a demon on a skateboard, promising a visually spectacular and unique control scheme that rewards patience. For the practical-minded, the new iFixit app serves as a comprehensive library of repair manuals and guides for countless devices, complete with a clever built-in battery monitor for your phone.
Photography enthusiasts have two notable updates. Darkroom 7.0 revitalizes one of the best photo editors for Apple devices with a cleaner interface, retro-film effects, and advanced video tools, including the ability to zoom to the individual pixel. Meanwhile, Google Photos has integrated CapCut-style video editing features, making it easier than ever to create highlight reels and slideshows directly from your personal library.
In other entertainment, a special edit titled Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair merges the two films into a single 4.5-hour epic, presenting the story as originally intended and offering a perfect cinematic marathon. For audio, the new Wiim Sound Lite portable speaker emerges as a compelling, affordable alternative to more established home audio brands like Sonos.
On the experimental frontier, Google Disco is a fascinating browser prototype that explores turning collections of tabs into AI-generated, single-use web applications, hinting at a potentially futuristic way to interact with the web.
Shifting focus to personal setups, designer and developer Raffi Chilingaryan offers a glimpse into his digital world. His innovative personal website features an interactive version of his iPhone homescreen. His current setup includes apps like Retro for photo journaling, the skeuomorphic (Not Boring) Camera, and Claude for coding assistance. He highlights several promising TestFlight apps, including the community platform Arena and the AI-powered email client Net. Raffi’s personal recommendations range from tech podcasts like Stratechery to using Claude Code for app development and the resurgence of Pokémon.
The wider Installer community is exploring a diverse array of interests. Recommendations include diving into the visually stunning game Ghost of Yotei, reading John Green’s The Anthropocene Reviewed, and utilizing Amazon Luna for cloud gaming. Others are enjoying audiobooks, tinkering with Teenage Engineering’s portable drum machines, getting lost in Minecraft modpacks, and even marveling at a robotic barista machine for on-demand coffee.
As the year winds down, a deep dive into the Model Context Protocol (MCP) reveals its potential significance for the future of AI and technology integration. For a clear and concise explanation of this complex subject, a specific 20-minute video breaks down the protocol’s function and importance with exceptional clarity and helpful visuals, standing out in a sea of confusing technical content.
(Source: The Verge)
