David Pierce, the editor of The Verge's popular Installer newsletter, has highlighted Vivaldi 8 as his new favorite browser in the latest edition published this week. The recommendation comes amid a roundup of tech products, books, and media that Pierce has been testing while recovering from illness at home.
The newsletter, titled Installer No. 129, features Pierce's endorsement of the browser alongside mentions of a new Star Wars film, tech books, and earbuds. According to the publication, Pierce described the browser as standing out after years of trying alternatives, though specific performance details were not expanded upon in the main text.
Community contributions play a central role in the weekly feature. One reader, Allen, shared his experience with an Oculus Go purchased for $10 at a thrift store, noting that despite many apps no longer functioning, the YouTube app remained usable. "Most of the apps are nonexistent except for YouTube, and it’s surprisingly… fine?" Allen wrote.
Another submission came from Matt, whose son received a Stickerbox for his ninth birthday. The family has enjoyed creating stickers without any subscription requirements. "My kids and their friends have spent many hours collectively making stickers for everything and everyone," Matt said. "I love that it embraces simplicity while still making a toy with AI and a screen."
James recommended the audiobook "A Man on the Moon" by Andrew Chaikin, praising its narration of the Apollo 11 mission. He maintained his running pace while listening to the moon landing section. Wintersong mentioned experimenting with Google Docs alternatives like Writer and Ellipsus while attempting to move away from a long-held Gmail account.
Seb reported purchasing Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones this month, calling the sound quality professional. Mitch highlighted the Allroundo Eco cable from Vonmahlen, a coiled USB-C cable that includes multiple adapters in one compact case, which he has used for years.
Additional reader notes included Tynan finishing "Light Bringer," the sixth Red Rising book, on an Xteink X4 device. Comicallytinyhat discussed Record Club, a European indie music site compared to Letterboxd, and Fry mentioned rewatching "Scavengers Reign" before it leaves Netflix at the end of the month.
Luis described a regular Monday evening Diablo IV gaming session with friends, boosted by the new Lord of Hatred expansion. Pierce also reflected on the end of Stephen Colbert's run on The Late Show, noting the reunion of the Strike Force Five podcast hosts for a special episode.
The newsletter referenced other upcoming items such as the Mandalorian and Grogu film, Forza Horizon 6, and the book "Steve Jobs in Exile." Pierce encouraged readers to submit their own recommendations via email to installer@theverge.com or Signal.
According to the Verge summary, the edition also covers NextSense Smartbuds for sleep tracking and the Outerline Markdown app beta. Pierce noted the issue was shorter than usual due to his recent illness but still aimed to share timely suggestions.
Readers have responded positively to the mix of personal tech stories and product tips in past editions, with the newsletter serving as a weekly digest for Verge subscribers. The publication maintains an archive of all previous Installer editions on its homepage.
While the browser recommendation stands as the lead item, the broader context shows Pierce balancing work with recovery activities including rewatching Parks and Recreation. The newsletter format continues to blend professional reviews with audience input from platforms like Threads and Bluesky.