Welcome to Installer No. 87, your essential guide to the latest and most interesting stuff around. This week, the author shares what they've been up to, including studying celebrities Sabrina Carpenter and Khaby Lame, watching Ben Schwartz content, managing their schedule with the new Finalist beta, and exploring Apple developer betas post-WWDC. They're also enjoying Dakota Johnson's press tour and working through their inbox before parental leave. The issue features news about a new browser release, an unexpected update to a popular photo editor, a trailer preview for an upcoming movie, a classic Steve Jobs speech, and more. This edition is a bit shorter due to the busy schedule. The author notes a break next week for Juneteenth, vacation, and summer chaos, promising to return fully refreshed. Dive in to get the latest updates and insights from The Verge.
Ryan Norbauer, working in his garage workshop, embarked on a quest to create the ultimate endgame keyboard — the Seneca by Norbauer & Co. Often, keyboard enthusiasts chase the perfect combination of layout, case, switches, and keycaps, but compromises in time or money usually prevent perfection. Norbauer aimed to eliminate compromises by designing every element from scratch, including the cable, switches, and stabilizers. The Seneca features a plasma-oxide-finished milled aluminum chassis, a solid brass switchplate, custom capacitive switches, top-tier stabilizers, spherical-profile keycaps with retro legends, no backlighting, and a flat typing angle. Weighing seven pounds and costing $3,600, the Seneca represents a pinnacle of keyboard craftsmanship and customization.
The Norbauer Seneca is a fully custom capacitive keyboard priced at $3,600, designed for keyboard enthusiasts who crave the best typing experience. Unlike average users who may not notice the difference, keyboard obsessed individuals find the Seneca to be exceptional, akin to luxury brands like Leica or Porsche in their fields. The author has personally tested and observed reactions from others, highlighting that while casual users remain indifferent, the Seneca offers an unparalleled, high-end typing experience for aficionados. This keyboard represents Norbauer & Co's debut into the luxury keyboard market with a focus on quality and design.
Anne Wojcicki, co-founder and former CEO of 23andMe, is set to buy back the company's assets through TTAM Research Institute, a nonprofit she runs, for $305 million. This move follows 23andMe's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing earlier this year. Initially, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals was slated to purchase 23andMe for $256 million, but Wojcicki's higher unsolicited bid prevailed in a final bidding round. Known for at-home genome testing kits, 23andMe once had a valuation of about $6 billion but faced profitability challenges and a significant data breach in 2023, which led to a $30 million lawsuit settlement and Wojcicki’s resignation as CEO. TTAM commits to upholding privacy policies, adopting additional consumer protections, and establishing a consumer privacy advisory board within 90 days post-deal. The transaction awaits court approval and is expected to conclude soon.
Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has been personally reaching out to top AI researchers to join a new "superintelligence" AI lab focused on rebooting Llama. His approach starts with a direct message citing the recruit's achievements and a brief chat invitation. The pitch emphasizes the freedom to take risks, Meta's product scale, and substantial funding for infrastructure. Selected researchers will work closely with Zuckerberg at Meta's headquarters, where preparations are underway for the new team. Attention has also been drawn to the generous compensation packages, sometimes reaching eight figures, reflecting the high value placed on elite AI talent.
The Nintendo Switch 2 builds on the success of its predecessor by offering a refined experience without drastic changes. It maintains the core concept of a hybrid tablet console with detachable controllers and a TV dock but features a larger 7.9-inch LCD screen compared to the original 6.2-inch display. The console is bigger and heavier, weighing 1.18 pounds with controllers. The Switch 2 focuses on incremental improvements, making it "good enough" rather than revolutionary, catering to fans who appreciated the original design and gameplay experience.
The Nintendo Switch 2 has surprised many with its focus on accessibility, marking a shift from Nintendo's usual indirect approach. A dedicated hardware accessibility webpage hinted at these improvements, though detailed information was scarce before launch. After spending a week with the device, it is evident that the Switch 2 offers a commendable range of system-level accessibility features, addressing concerns raised by disabled players. While the setup process is generally intuitive, certain users, such as those with blindness, might require assistance. Despite a few shortcomings, the accessibility advancements are a positive step forward, though this crucial information ideally should have been disclosed earlier.
Sony's WH-1000XM6 noise-canceling headphones are now on sale at Amazon in black, blue, and platinum, bundled with a $30 gift card for $448. Despite a $50 price increase compared to the WH-1000XM5, these headphones offer substantial enhancements, including Sony's latest noise-cancellation chip for better ambient noise reduction, improved clarity through new drivers, and a natural-sounding transparency mode. The design features a wider headband for increased comfort, a redesigned power button, and a foldable structure for easier storage. Additionally, deals on other tech products like the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless Controller, Jackery power stations, and Motorola’s MA1 wireless car adapter are available this weekend.
The $80 Travel tier of Dbrand's Killswitch case for Switch 2 includes a transparent front cover and a cartridge tray that holds 10 games. Many new Switch 2 accessories are flawed due to being designed without access to real devices, leading to fit issues. However, Dbrand's Killswitch stands out with an excellent fit and top-notch protection right from the start. The case retains the proven design from the Steam Deck model and includes a custom USB-C dock adapter since the Killswitch case doesn't fit the standard Nintendo dock. This adapter works without sacrificing display quality in docked mode, although it adds a bit of bulk. The basic Essentials kit costs $59.95 and features a grippy, form-fitting shell for the Switch 2 secured with adhesive strips.
Despite challenges faced by Sonos recently, the company under interim CEO Tom Conrad is regaining its position as a leader in whole-home audio. Improvements in the app and a focus on core products have strengthened Sonos' lineup. The Sonos system offers unmatched convenience for multi-room audio streaming from popular services like Apple Music and Spotify. Extensive testing of various Sonos speakers and soundbars reveals standout products for different needs: the Era 100 is a compact and well-rounded speaker ideal for most rooms; the Sonos Five delivers superb audio quality for audiophiles; the Move 2 is the top portable speaker with excellent sound and durability; and the Arc Ultra offers a premium home theater soundbar experience. Other notable recommendations include the Beam (Gen 2) for smaller rooms, Sub Mini subwoofer for added bass, and the affordable Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf Speaker. Even the Sonos Ace headphones, despite their debut during company difficulties, are praised for comfort and sound quality. Overall, Sonos continues to provide excellent hardware, adaptable software support, and a rich ecosystem for diverse audio needs in 2025.