Vivaldi 8.0 is my new go-to browser | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.I have a new go-to browserNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsStreamingCloseStreamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All StreamingI have a new go-to browserPlus, in this week’s Installer: The latest big thing from Star Wars, a couple of tech reads, and some Apple Shortcuts.Plus, in this week’s Installer: The latest big thing from Star Wars, a couple of tech reads, and some Apple Shortcuts.by David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceMay 23, 2026, 12:00 PM UTCLinkShareGiftIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.Image: David Pierce / The VergeDavid PierceCloseDavid PiercePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David Pierce is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 129, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, come on you Gunners, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)This week, I’ve mostly been sick, which has meant nearly a full rewatch of Parks and Recreation while alternately napping and feeling bad for myself. But I’ve also been reading about Nick Fuentes and clowns, listening to old episodes of Short History Of, testing the NextSense Smartbuds while I sleep, writing in the Outerline Markdown app beta, and eagerly looking for things to do with the upcoming Flipper One.Today’s issue is a little short since I’ve been out, but I didn’t want to leave you completely hanging. Plus, it’s a good week, including my favorite new browser in years, a new Star Wars movie, two great new tech books, a surprisingly great set of earbuds, and more. Let’s do it.(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What are you reading / watching / listening to / playing / streaming over a hotspot from the beach this week? Tell me everything: installer@theverge.com. And if you know someone else who might enjoy Installer, forward it to them and tell them to subscribe here.)The DropVivaldi 8.0. For the first time in five years or so, I have a new default browser on all my devices. (RIP Arc.) I’ve liked Vivaldi for a long time — it is very fast, incredibly customizable, and full of clever organizational tools — but I’ve always just found it irredeemably ugly to look at. The new design is much cleaner out of the box, to the point I’m fully happy using it all the time. You should budget a long time to spend in settings getting Vivaldi tweaked to your liking, but this browser’s a winner.Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. The reviews for this are a bit all over the place, as they always seem to be for Star Wars stuff, but I am straight-up thrilled for these silly space adventures to be back on the big screen. Give me all things Grogu as big as possible, as long as possible, please and thank you.Steve Jobs in Exile. It is very hard to find new stories to tell about Steve Jobs, but from what I’ve read so far, Geoff Cain’s new book is full of them. This book is the story of NeXT, Pixar, Jobs’ deep personal changes, and how the guy who almost destroyed Apple came back to save it. Also just a very fun read.How to Rule the World. Two great tech books this week! This one is from a Stanford student, digging deep into his own world and its bizarre and problematic and outrageously successful connection to the tech industry. Stanford and Silicon Valley have always been tied together; this is an excellent look into what that really means.The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro. I cannot say I expected to be super excited about a pair of Anker earbuds that are roughly the same price as AirPods, but my colleague John Higgins says they are the best phone-call earbuds he’s ever used. How I am supposed to not buy them now!Age of Audio: The Inside Story of Podcasting. A terrific history lesson from the folks at Twenty Thousand Hertz, with some great stories from a bunch of legendary podcasters. Connected to a recent documentary of the same name that I am now very eager to find a way to see.Forza Horizon 6. Gorgeous, ultra-realistic cars, which you can tinker with and drive endlessly over gorgeous, ultra-realistic Japanese landscapes. Yeah, it can be a super-intense racing game, but I’ve also come to see Forza as almost… cozy. Sometimes you just need a Sunday drive, you know?The MacStories Shortcuts Playground. Federico Viticci and the gang at MacStories are true connoisseurs of Apple Shortcuts, and they’ve made something really cool: a way to use Claude Code or Codex to just describe the Shortcut you want, and have it magically appear. (They also released a huge set of Shortcuts they’ve made, many of which are extremely cool.) This is how Shortcuts is SUPPOSED to work!CrowdsourcedHere’s what the Installer community is into this week. I want to know what you’re into right now as well! Email installer@theverge.com or message me on Signal — @davidpierce.11 — with your recommendations for anything and everything, and we’ll feature some of our favorites here every week. For even more great recommendations, check out the replies to this post on Threads and this post on Bluesky.“Got an Oculus Go at a thrift store for $10. Most of the apps are nonexistent except for YouTube, and it’s surprisingly… fine? I wonder if the future AI wearables will be useful for a long time; Apple devices seem to be the only group that are still usable even after half a decade.” — Allen“My mom gave my son a Stickerbox for his 9th birthday. My kids and their friends have spent many hours collectively making stickers for everything and everyone. I love that it embraces simplicity while still making a toy with AI and a screen. Also great that there’s no subscription!” — Matt“A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin is one of the best nonfiction books I’ve listened to in a long time. I don’t often run to books anymore, but I maintained my race cadence listening to the Apollo 11 moon landing section.” — James“I’m going to be experimenting this weekend with a couple of Google Docs alternatives — Writer and Ellipsus — and working on the slog to transition away from Gmail (I’ve had my account since you needed an invite).” — Wintersong“I bought a new pair of headphones this month: the Sony WH-1000XM5. They’re amazing, and the sound quality feels incredibly professional.” — Seb“​​You recommended a cable last week, and it inspired me to tell you about the Allroundo Eco cable from Vonmahlen; a short, coiled USB-C to USB-C cable in a little case. But what makes it special is it also includes USB-A, microUSB and Lightning adaptors in the case. I don’t know what the rated speed of this cable is for power or data delivery, but it’s such a brilliant package that I’ve used for years now that it’s a moot point to me!” — Mitch“Almost done with Light Bringer (Red Rising book 6) on my Xteink X4!” — Tynan“Been messing about on Record Club, a European indie selling themselves as the Letterboxd of music. I wish they had a section for your vinyl / CD / cassette collections, but it’s a really nice site and the new social-sharing images are a lovely touch.” — comicallytinyhat“Rewatching Scavengers Reign because it’s coming off Netflix at the end of the month!” – Fry“After a few years of bouncing between multiplayer games we’d try for like six weeks and then drop, me and the homies have a standing Monday-evening Diablo IV date, which has been amped up by the new Lord of Hatred expansion.” — LuisSigning offThis was the last week of Stephen Colbert’s run on The Late Show (and also the end of The Late Show, politics politics, late night TV is dying, anyway, moving on), and for my money the brightest silver lining of the whole saga was that the Strike Force Five gang got back together. If you don’t remember: Strike Force Five was a podcast started by five late-night hosts during the writers strike in 2023, and produced at least one episode (Strike Force Wives!) that made me laugh so hard I had to stop listening for a while.Anyway, the guys got back together for one more episode to celebrate Colbert’s run (plus a long hang on Colbert’s show), and it is predictably delightful — and made me think I should start wearing a suit for every Vergecast episode. Might be weird to do in my basement studio, though. Lots to think about.See you next week!Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsInstallerCloseInstallerPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All InstallerStreamingCloseStreamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All StreamingTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularIf I could only have one laptop for work and gaming, I’d get this oneGitHub faces a fight for its survival at MicrosoftMicrosoft starts canceling Claude Code licensesThe Trump phone is not hereAnker’s new earbuds have the best call quality I’ve ever heardThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in TechGoogle’s AI search is so broken it can ‘disregard’ what you’re looking forTwelve South’s AirFly Pro 2 has hit one of its best prices ahead of summer travelMeta’s Forum is part Reddit, part Facebook, and part Google AI OverviewGovee’s colorful, JBL-tuned Lamp Pro 2 is matching its best price to dateGoogle appeals search monopoly ruling, says it won business ‘fair and square’The Trump phone is not hereGoogle’s AI search is so broken it can ‘disregard’ what you’re looking forJay PetersMay 22Twelve South’s AirFly Pro 2 has hit one of its best prices ahead of summer travelSheena VasaniMay 22Meta’s Forum is part Reddit, part Facebook, and part Google AI OverviewStevie BonifieldMay 22Govee’s colorful, JBL-tuned Lamp Pro 2 is matching its best price to dateBrandon WidderMay 22Google appeals search monopoly ruling, says it won business ‘fair and square’Lauren FeinerMay 22The Trump phone is not hereDominic PrestonMay 22Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop StoriesMay 22If I could only have one laptop for work and gaming, I’d get this oneMay 22Boots Riley turns class struggle into comedy with I Love BoostersMay 22Spotify says its AI remix tool is for superfans, but I’m not convincedMay 22The Trump phone is not hereMay 22The literary world isn’t prepared for AIAn hour agoGoogle’s new anything-to-anything AI model is wildThe VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2026 Vox Media, LLC. 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The content provides an overview of recent technology trends, personal recommendations, and community features presented through a weekly guide called Installer from The Verge. A significant focus is placed on the Vivaldi 8.0 browser, highlighted as a new default browser for the author, noting its improved design, speed, and extensive customizability, suggesting that users should invest time in settings to tailor it to their preferences.

The week’s featured content spans various domains, including entertainment, literature, audio technology, and software development. Recommendations include the Star Wars series The Mandalorian and Grogu, suggesting engaging cinematic experiences. Literary recommendations point to Geoff Cain’s book concerning Steve Jobs, detailing the history of NeXT, Pixar, and Jobs' personal evolution, alongside books exploring the complex relationship between Stanford, Silicon Valley, and the technology industry. Audio and gadget reviews highlight the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds, which are praised for superior phone call quality, and a historical perspective on podcasting with Age of Audio. Gaming features include Forza Horizon 6, which is described as offering a cozy, realistic driving experience.

In the realm of software and innovation, the document touches upon advanced topics such as Apple Shortcuts, where contributors like Federico Viticci have developed methods to use large language models like Claude Code or Codex to generate complex shortcuts automatically. Discussions also feature alternative tools for productivity, such as Writer and Ellipsus for moving away from platforms like Gmail, and community discussions regarding emerging hardware, such as the Oculus Go and the potential utility of future AI wearables. Further recommendations cover premium audio gear, such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, and versatile cable solutions like the Allroundo Eco cable.

The text also includes anecdotal reflections and community input, detailing user experiences with various products, such as the impact of a new cable package, entertainment media consumption, and discussions around the future of AI and personal technology. Additionally, the post references cultural events, noting the conclusion of Stephen Colbert's run on The Late Show and the subsequent reconnection of the Strike Force Five podcast hosts, which provides a commentary on media and collective experience. The overall message emphasizes a blend of practical tech reviews, intellectual reading, and community-driven discovery.