For most of us, income is the easiest-to-understand part of your budget. You know how much you make (usually $100 shy of enough) and how often it comes in (at least a day late). Its figuring out where all income goes each month thats the hard part.But just because income is somewhat easier to keep track of than other aspects of your financial life doesnt mean you can afford to ignore it. A thorough understanding of your monthly and annual income is the foundation of a strong budget. You cant build a solid financial life without this understanding.Heres everything you need to know about your income.What is income?While the definition of income may seem obvious, its helpful to spell out exactly what this important part of your financial life is. Specifically, your income is the entire amount of money that flows into your budget over a period of time. This includes money you earn through workyour salary, wages, bonusesor money you earn through investments, such as dividends or rental income.Your earned income can also be broken down further into your gross versus net income. Understanding the difference between these two amounts will help you make more accurate financial decisions.Gross versus net incomeGross income refers to the amount of money your employer pays you before taxes, benefits, and other payroll deductions are taken from your paycheck. Net income is the amount of money that you actually get to take home with you.Anyone who has been excited to get their first paycheckonly to be left wondering who FICA is and why hes taking all your moneywill recognize the big disparity between gross and net income. According to 2023 data from the Census Bureau, the median gross household income in 2022 was $74,580, while the median household income after taxes was $64,240, or nearly 14% lower than the gross income.But even though taxes are part of the reason for the size of your net pay, they are not the only deductions taken.Nothing but net (income)Taxes may take the biggest bite out of your gross pay, but there are several common deductions that can affect your net pay, including:Federal income tax withholding: Income taxes are calculated based on your income and increase progressively, so that higher-income earners ostensibly pay more than lower-income earners.State income tax withholding: If your state imposes income taxes, it will generally be withheld from your pay like federal income taxes.Social Security and Medicare taxes: The Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) charges employees a tax rate of 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare, while your employer is required to match that contribution amount.Health insurance premiums: Typically, if your employer provides health insurance, your contribution is deducted from your paycheck each pay period.Retirement savings: If you have access to a retirement investment account through work, you can make contributions to the account from your gross pay, which lowers your net payand your taxable income.Wage garnishment: If you have incurred debt, such as unpaid back taxes, alimony, child support, or student loans, a court can order your employer to withhold a percentage of your wage until the debt is repaid.Adjusting your withholdingTaxes may be one of only two certainties in life, but people working a traditional job have more control over the taxes coming out of their paychecks than they might realize. Thats because the W-4 form you filled out with your employers HR department at the start of this job determines your withholding, and you can adjust the withholding by submitting a new W-4 form.If you regularly receive a large tax refund, you can recalculate your withholding allowances on the IRS.gov website, and use your corrected withholding to fill out a new W-4 form. This will increase the amount of net pay you receive with each paycheck. (You can also adjust your withholding in the other direction, if you would like to send more money to Uncle Sam. There are many taxpayers who use this strategy as a form of enforced savings.)The withholding you claim on your W-4 only determines the amount deducted from your paycheck in taxes each pay period. It is not the same thing as your tax bill. Which means its perfectly legal to change withholding allowances on your W-4, as long as you claim the correct number of allowances on your actual tax return. Just note that adjustments to your withholding will affect your tax refund.Know thy incomeWithout understanding your monthly income, it is impossible to create an accurate budget. Thats why you must start any personal money management practice by calculating exactly how much money you bring home.This calculation is simple for those who have a traditional job with a regular paycheck. If you get paid weekly, simply multiply your pay by four to get your monthly income. For biweekly or semimonthly paychecks (i.e. getting paid on the first and 15th of each month), multiply your pay by two to get your monthly income.Freelancers, contract employees, and salespeople who work on commission have a tougher calculation to complete to determine their median monthly income. If you have an irregular income, you can calculate an approximate monthly take home by adding together a years worth of irregular income, then dividing the total by 12. (If you havent been earning an irregular income for a full year, use as many months worth of income as youve earned, and divide the total by that number of months).Once you have this dollar amount calculated, you can start planning how you use your money, rather than simply wondering where it all went when youre paying for gas with couch cushion change.The importance of incomeBecoming a master of your money does not require arcane knowledge or extreme self-restraint. You only need to understand the five pillars of financial literacy, starting with income.Income describes the amount of money that flows into your budget over a period of time. Your gross income is the amount of money you earn before anything is deducted from your paycheck, while your net income is the money you actually get to take home.While taxes are one of the common deductions taken from your gross pay, you may also have such things as health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, and wage garnishments deducted from your pay. Its not possible to opt out of paying taxes, but you can adjust the amount of money that is withheld from your paycheck by filing a new W-4 form with your employer. This is perfectly legal, but it will affect your tax refund amount.Knowing your monthly income is the basis of accurate budgeting. If you have a regular income, you can calculate an exact monthly income, but even workers with irregular income can set up a budget using an approximate median monthly income.

At the start of a new year, it can be tempting to commit to new habits or map out major changes you want to make in the months to come. For some people, particularly those who feel burned out or detached from their work, a new job might seem like the solution.But if youre not looking to make any drastic career movesor perhaps youre just being realistic about your ability to find a new job in a challenging job marketthen you might be looking for other ways to improve your professional life without quitting. Here are some things you can do to stay motivated at work, especially when youre not feeling excited about the year ahead:Focus on the positiveWhen you have misgivings about your job, it can be natural to fixate on those issues. But author and time management coach Elizabeth Grace Saunders says its also important to remember what you actually appreciate about your role or workplace. Try to think through any of the things that make you happy, she writes. Maybe its that you get to work from home two days a week or that you like your coworkers or that theres free coffee in the break room. It can be helpful to remind yourself of those things on a daily basisnot just when youre feeling frustrated.Strive for more work-life balanceIts possible you cant do much to alter the overall scope of your job, or maybe a promotion isnt on the table at the moment. Still, there are small changes you can make to improve your work-life balance or invest in activities that bring you joy outside of work. Too often, striving for greater productivity can turn toxic if the end goal is simply to work more or keep longer hours so you look busy. But it might be worth finding ways to be a bit more productive during working hours if that enables you to carve out more time for the things you care about outside of the workplace. Or you may need to request more flexible hours if youre struggling to manage your work schedule alongside your personal commitments.Find opportunities for growthEven if you cant get promoted or move into a new role at your company, you can still seek out opportunities to grow within your current jobor outside of the workplace if necessary. Saunders suggests looking for special projects where you can expand your skill set, or asking for a direct report to develop management skills.Either way, its important to ask for what you need to stay motivated on the job. That could mean discussing your future at the company or requesting more formal mentorshipwhich can be a crucial part of advancing your career. Ask if you can have some consistent one-on-one meetings with your boss or another leader that are primarily focused on your professional development instead of just covering task completion, Saunders says.Of course, sometimes the right decision may just be to leave your companyand if thats how youre feeling, you might want to brush up on how best to optimize your rsum as you prepare for the job hunt in 2025.

In 2025, technology tends to be complex and complicated, but this is where Nothing has made its mark, by adopting simplicity. It was founded in 2020 by Carl Pei, and it has embraced a design philosophy that wholeheartedly adopts minimalism, transparency, and a seamless user experience. Their flagship products combine unique aesthetics with innovative functionality, inspiring the design and tech community. Conceptual designs inspired by Nothings approach are flourishing online, and weve curated some of our favorites. We look forward to seeing these concepts become real, tangible Nothing products in the future!1. Nothing Fold(1)Say hello to the Nothing Fold (1) Concept, this is a complete game-changer in the folding phone market. It elevates portable computing with its innovative design and cutting-edge tech. It features a 6.5-inch screen on the front and an expansive 8.37-inch screen on the inside. It offers users a versatile and immersive experience. It is equipped with a Glyph Interface which spells out the number 1 when the phone is booted up and converts into a third screen for notifications.Equipped with five cameras, including a main shooter, ultrawide, and telephoto/macro lenses, the Fold (1) ensures that photography enthusiasts have all the tools they need to capture stunning images. Under the hood, the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 5G chip powers the device, featuring an 8-core CPU, 12-core GPU, and an NPU for AI tasks.2. Nothing VR HeadsetIn the realm of virtual reality, the Nothing VR Headset concept offers a fresh perspective by integrating the brands design DNA into a product category they havent yet explored. Designed by Pande, this VR headset is a testament to Nothings commitment to aesthetics and functionality. The transparent front panel reveals the intricate circuitry beneath, adding a touch of intrigue to the devices design.The Glyph Interface makes a striking appearance on the headset, enhancing its visual appeal while serving practical purposes. With two front-facing pass-through cameras and additional lenses for proximity awareness and obstacle detection, the Nothing VR Headset promises an immersive and intuitive experience.3. Nothing Hair DryerImagine a hair dryer that not only performs flawlessly but also looks stunning on your vanity. The Nothing Hair Dryer concept does just that, combining functionality with a transparent aesthetic that reveals its inner workings. Designed with monochrome colors and a signature red accent, this concept captures the essence of Nothings design language.The Glyph Interface is cleverly integrated around the power and speed buttons, providing users with a visual indicator of charge levels. The curvaceous motor housing, coupled with stainless steel inlets, adds an industrial design element that sets this hair dryer apart from the rest.4. Nothing Robot Vacuum (1)The Nothing Robot Vacuum (1) concept brings transparency to smart home technology, offering a fresh take on a familiar product. With its circular profile and transparent D-shaped outer shell, this vacuum exudes a preserved in glass aesthetic that is both intriguing and functional. Sensors are strategically placed on the front and top, ensuring efficient navigation and cleaning.The Glyph Interface serves as a progress bar, keeping users informed about the cleaning status. Additionally, the docking station features Glyph lights that indicate the charging process and fill status of the dustbin, making maintenance a breeze.5. Nothing x AIAIA HeadphonesMeet the Nothing x AIAIAI Headphones these are crafted for tech enthusiasts who value both functionality and style. These headphones seamlessly combine transparency and modularity to offer outstanding sound quality while showcasing a distinctive design. The transparent housing allows users to admire the intricate internal components, making these headphones not only a conversation starter but also a visual treat.Designed with modularity in mind, they come with customizable parts that can be easily swapped or replaced, ensuring longevity and adaptability. Ideal for tech-savvy individuals, these headphones perfectly balance form and function in their cherished tech accessories.The post Top 5 Nothing-Inspired Transparent Tech Concepts You Need To See first appeared on Yanko Design.

Begin 2025 with the Artisan Ocean Waves Desk Calendar to turn everyday planning into an inspiring experience! Handcrafted with care and attention to detail, this elegant calendar is designed to bring serenity to your workspace, all while keeping your goals on track.Set your sights on 2025 and start mapping out your goals with the calming presence of ocean waves. Each month, the wave design symbolizes the ebb and flow of time. This gently reminds you to embrace the rhythm of life while staying focused on what matters most.This calendar beautifully captures the essence of the seafrom sunlit shallows to deep blue depths. The durable materials ensure it maintains its charm all year long, and the calendars poplar wood base adds a warm, natural contrast to its aquatic design. This makes it as much a piece of decor as a functional tool.Each calendar is meticulously handcrafted for a premium look and feel. The thoughtful craftsmanship ensures youre getting more than just a planneryoure getting a piece of art that inspires and motivates daily.Whether youre setting new years resolutions, organizing tasks, or simply adding a stylish touch to your workspace, this calendar is a must-have for 2025. Its also a thoughtful gift for loved ones who value beauty and practicality in their daily lives.Buy yours now on Etsy.

There's plenty to celebrate this year (we promise).

Panasonic makes a fiery return with one of the best TVs right now.

A new report claiming to detail Apple's product plans for 2025 says that there will be revisions to the Apple Watch range that include satellite communications, plus new features for AirTags and AirPods.Apple Watch Ultra 2While there was no update to the Apple Watch Ultra in 2024, a new version is now expected in 2025, according to Bloomberg. It will remain the same as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 visually, but as previously rumored, bring with it satellite connectivity. The new report doesn't add any detail, but it's likely that the feature will be similar to the original Emergency SOS via Satellite that was introduced with the iPhone 14 and allowed brief text messages to be sent to first responders.It's also claimed that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will gain 5G RedCap (Reduced Capacity) network access. This is like a lite version of 5G which needs fewer components such as antennas, and has better power efficiency. Rumor Score: Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design has shared its packed slate of Spring 2025 lecture speakers as part of our Get Lectured roundup for the new academic term.Following the presentation of the Kanter Tritsch Medal in Architecture to SANAAco-founders Kazuyo Sejima andRyue Nishizawa on January 22, the month of Januarys lecturers include Dorothy Krotzer (January 23); STOSS founding director Chris Reed and photographer Mike Belleme (January 23); and Bjarke Ingels (January 29).Februarys headliners include Michael Lens (February 4); Boonserm Premthadas EwingCole Lecture (February 5); The Anne Whiston Spirn Lecture on Snhettas landscape designs from Michelle Delk (February 6); artist Leslie Thornton (January 6); Harvard Demonstration Forest Senior Ecologist and Research Director Jonathan Thompson (February 11); Lara Davis (February 13); Bob Inglis (February 13); Garnette Cadogan (February 13); Pier LaFarge (February 14); Clio Andris (February 18); and Je...

LOrals new skincare gadget told me I should try retinolLOrals new skincare gadget told me I should try retinol / According to LOral, the Cell BioPrint is designed to help you learn what products to not buy as well as crafting a routine that suits your skins needs. By Victoria Song, a senior reporter focusing on wearables, health tech, and more with 12 years of experience. Before coming to The Verge, she worked for Gizmodo and PC Magazine. Jan 12, 2025, 2:00 PM UTCShare this storyThe Cell BioPrint is designed to be used in retail spaces and dermatology offices. Photo by Victoria Song / The VergeLas Vegas is punishingly dry. The arid winter air means I woke up on Day 3 of CES 2025 with a nosebleed, chapped lips, and ashy legs. This in spite of the fact I slathered myself with two pumps of a fermented bean essence, eye cream, moisturizer, and a lip mask. Staring at my face in the hotel mirror, I wonder if any of those products were doing what theyre supposed to and if maybe, I should try something different.This is why I was so eager to try LOrals Cell BioPrint. For anyone whos struggled with their complexion, the Cell BioPrint feels like a holy grail gadget. The device is a mini-lab setup that analyzes a skin sample to generate a report about your skins current condition. Itll also grade your skin with regard to oiliness, wrinkles, skin barrier function, pore size, and uneven skin tone. Based on the proteins in your skin, youll also see whether youre more likely to be susceptible to those issues down the line even if they arent issues now. The test also determines whether youre responsive to retinol, a popular and well-studied skincare ingredient that nevertheless causes a ton of confusion online. My results. Im happy to say my skins biological and chronological age were aligned. Photo by Victoria Song / The VergeIn my demo, using the Cell BioPrint was simple. Mainly because I didnt have to do a thing. While LOral hopes to one day make Cell BioPrint an at-home device, itll first be aimed at retail, dermatology offices, and skincare clinics. As in, the actual test will be done by a professional to ensure accuracy. A LOral staffer collected a sample from both my cheeks using a special kind of sticker. I watched as he then dissolved it in a buffer liquid, placed the resulting solution into a cartridge, and fed that cartridge into a machine. I also had my cheeks and forehead scanned with an imaging wand before answering two questions about my age and demographic data. After a few minutes, I got to see my results. Apparently, Im doing something right because the report said that my chronological and biological age were aligned. But it also said that while my skin barrier function is currently good, Im biologically prone to have issues with that as I get older. My report also said that I dont have to be concerned with pore size either now or in the future, and that I am highly responsive to retinol, meaning my skin is likely to tolerate it well. There were several other insights I wont bore you with, but after going over my results, I have a better sense of what I need to focus on. For instance, I should continue using moisturizers with ceramides, button up my sun care habits outside of sunscreen, add a vitamin C to help with my skin tone, and add a retinol. I also know what I dont need or can remove from my routine. For example, I dont need to buy products targeted toward shrinking pores. Most of this wasnt surprising. My results aligned with the concerns Ive noticed and where I tend to concentrate my skincare routine. For example, the few times Ive tried retinol, Ive never had an hint of the sensitivities other people seem to experience.Of course, this kind of personalized recommendation is only as good as the science behind it. After all, lots of health and beauty tech companies promise the moon, but are intentionally coy when it comes to explaining why you should trust them. Barring regulatory certification (which isnt generally required for wellness and beauty tech), its left up to the individual to try to discern whether an explanation passes the smell test. RelatedWith that in mind, I asked LOral to dive deep into the science which Guive Balooch, global vice president of LOrals Technology Incubator, happily obliged.Balooch says the company had 800 biologists working (and publishing clinical studies) to discover whether there are specific proteins expressed in skin cells that could determine your risk factors for certain skin conditions. The challenge, he says, is that there are a lot of proteins produced by the body. Finding the few out of the thousands that can give actionable skincare insights is like finding a handful of needles in a giant haystack. It required LOrals researchers to sequence all of them and then find the relevant biomarkers.This particular branch of research, Balooch says, is called proteomics or the study of how proteins are expressed in the body. Its understanding that our cells every day are making proteins. Depending on our lifestyle, our geography, and our genes, they will make more or less of these proteins. It changes over time and habits can change it as well. Balooch says LOral tested 4,000 people over 10 years across the US, Europe, South America and Asia, and found five proteins related to skin health, including two that are related to how well a persons skin will respond to retinol. And while the Cell BioPrint can only currently analyze responsiveness to retinol, other ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid are also in the works. In some ways, its meant to tell people what not to buy.Cynically speaking, a device like this could also be viewed as a pseudoscientific way to sell more products to a group of people already prone to reach for their wallets. But Balooch argues the Cell BioPrint isnt meant to encourage people to buy more. In some ways, its meant to tell people what not to buy, he says. Of course, we would love to sell more products, but not by overconsumption. Thats not actually good for your skin. Its about helping people find the right products based on science. To that end, Balooch has a point. The skincare market right now is rife with misinformation and influencers pushing expensive 10-step routines that sometimes do more harm than good. I know better, and yet Im as guilty as the next skincare nerd. (Im still haunted by the full bottle of snail mucin influencers claimed would fix all my problems. It broke me out instead.) Even now, I know that Ill probably get influenced again. The difference is at least I can choose to be influenced towards a retinol cream or vitamin C serum things that have a higher chance of helping me rather than throwing my money to the wind. Most PopularMost Popular

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 66, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If youre new here, welcome, happy 2025, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)This week, Ive been reading about loneliness and Web3 scams and the future of procedural TV, watching Deadpool & WolverineSeveranceSquid GameKids Baking Championship, wondering if thats real Sara Dietschy or AI Sara Dietschy, and giving an Apple News Plus subscription a whirl as my go-to news source.I also have for you a big report from CES in Las Vegas. This edition of Installer is a little different than most, just because we saw so many new things, and so many new things launched, and in many cases, its hard to know whether any of it will ever hit shelves. So think of this as part Installer, part CES recap, part David hopes desperately these things actually ship list. But I tried hard to pick out the stuff Im confident will actually end up on sale at some point soon and might be worth your money. Im sure Ill be wrong about a few of them but heres hoping. And if you want all the best stuff from CES, check out our annual awards theres lots of great stuff in there.Also, and most importantly, my heart goes out to everyone in LA and elsewhere dealing with the fires this week. Im so sorry for everything youre dealing with, and I hope youre safe and doing okay.(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What are you into right now? What should everyone else be playing / reading / watching / downloading / building out of Legos right now? 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 Drop(A note on the links in here: I linked to product pages when they existed, as I always try to do. But since this is CES, sometimes there isnt one yet. In those cases, I link to Verge stories or other coverage.)The LG StanbyME 2. I cannot explain to you why I am so into this thing. Its just a big, portable screen (LG calls it a lifestyle screen, which is hysterical), with a strap and a stand, so you can hang it up or prop it on a table. Is that anything? I dont know! But I love this idea.The Circular Ring 2. The first model was kind of a dud, but the Ring 2 appears to get almost everything right: better battery, easier charging, nicer design, more features. My 2025 project is to ditch my smartwatch for a smart ring, and this has some potential.Nvidia Project Digits. This one kind of violates the spirit of the things a real person might actually buy rubric here, but I am increasingly convinced that the only good AI future is one where your AI systems are more local, more personal, and more yours. Nvidias Mac Mini-looking AI machine is a cool step in that direction.The Roam SodaTop. I had a SodaStream for years and loved everything about it except it was huge and only in my kitchen. The SodaTop screws right onto a water bottle and carbonates water in five seconds. $50! Spectacular, give me 14 of them.The Lenovo Thinkbook Plus Gen 6. I didnt get to see this one on the CES floor, but Lenovos rollable screen concept thing is real now and apparently works pretty well. $3,500 for a laptop is preposterous, but this is a technology that belongs in a lot of laptops. Soon.The Samsung Frame Pro. As far as I can tell, the actual display improvements here are not super impressive. But I like that the Frame setup is simpler and involves fewer wires now and Im hoping thisll make the last-gen Frame cheap enough that I can justify buying one.The Wonder Petal. All my gardening- and birding-obsessed friends are super into this thing, a flower-styled and solar-powered camera that uses AI to identify plants and creatures roaming around your yard. I keep hearing great things about the Bird Buddy feeder, too.The Flic Duo. A button! For doing button things! You stick this tiny thing on a wall and program what happens when you click, double-click, press and hold, swipe, and lots more. Its Matter-compatible and $49 and the sort of thing every smart home needs.The SwitchBot Multitasking Household Robot K20 Plus Pro. Yikes, that name. But the product is so smart: a modular robot vacuum that turns into a roving air purifier, pet monitor, and more. I love the trend were seeing here, as these turn into the first true home robots.The Amazfit Active 2. I noticed my colleague Victoria Song wearing this watch and told her how much I liked the red, kind of Tron-y face. She looked at me and goes, ITS ONLY A HUNDRED DOLLARS! Thats basically the deal a pretty, pretty good, pretty cheap smartwatch and fitness tracker. With my favorite watchface yet.The Razer Handheld Dock Chroma. One dock for all your handheld game consoles. It has fast power, seems to connect easily, and supports phones, Steam Decks, Switches, and more. I remain totally convinced that these consoles are the future of games, and this is a terrific accessory idea.Screen shareIts a strange time in the blogging / social media universe. Threads, Bluesky, X, Mastodon, and a million other platforms are growing and changing, and its hard to figure out where to spend your time and energy. Ive been talking to folks for years now about how all this is supposed to work and have consistently been convinced that Manton Reece is on the right track. Hes the creator of Micro.blog, which is simple like Twitter but personal like a blog and has a lot of big ideas about interoperability and the fediverse.This week, Manton launched Micro.one, a $1 / month platform that gives you a blog, on your own domain, that also lets you post to the fediverse. If I were looking for a new place to post, theres a good chance Id start there.I asked Manton to share his homescreen with us, wanting to see if I could snoop on any other new things he might be working on. Heres Mantons homescreen, plus some info on the apps he uses and why:The phone: iPhone 16 Pro Max. This is the first time Ive had the biggest iPhone. I thought it would be good to try as a sort of tiny iPad. It makes reading and writing just a little easier.The wallpaper: My wallpaper is solid black. Boring! But it makes everything feel crisp and readable. (For the lockscreen background, I have a photo of family.)The apps: Messages, Phone, Photos, Camera, Safari, Calm, NetNewsWire, Spotify, Google Maps, Slack, Fantastical, Libby, Overcast, Swarm, Reeder, Kindle, Hey, Epilogue, Strata, Micro.blog.I keep a blank row of icons at the top and bottom of my homescreen, so there are fewer icons to sort through when finding an app to open. It also makes reaching the top icons easier. I keep all notification badges hidden to avoid clutter, too.In the dock, I have Hey email and a few companion apps for my Micro.blog platform: Epilogue for keeping track of books, Strata for notes, and the official Micro.blog app. Also on the homescreen, I have some apps for reading, like Libby and the Kindle app, and, for some reason, two RSS readers: NetNewsWire and Reeder. I use Spotify instead of Apple Music and Fantastical instead of Apple Calendar.I also asked Manton to share a few things hes into right now. Heres what he sent back:Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson. Im currently halfway through this book and love the epic scope of a story that spans multiple standalone book series. I hope to read more this year. I track what books Im reading, and I post a short microblog post to my own site about each one.ChatGPT. As a developer, I thought I was fine writing code on my own, and I was initially skeptical of AI. But now, the ChatGPT app for Mac is always running. Throughout the day, Im feeding it random questions and asking for programming help. I believe strongly in human creativity, and there are many things I dont want a robot to do for me, but as a tool, it has been really useful.I use Swarm to check into places I visit like coffee shops or new places while traveling. Foursquare has recently shut down its city guide to refocus on Swarm, but its not clear what kind of future the app has. I occasionally import my check-ins into a separate blog so I have all the historical data.Heres what the Installer community is into this week. I want to know what youre into right now as well! Email installer@theverge.com or message me on Signal @davidpierce.11 with your recommendations for anything and everything, and well 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.I stumbled upon a four-part series on YouTube by Digging The Greats. He does a great deep dive into using an iPod for 30 days and how it changed his life. Really great interviews and insight about algorithms, getting some life back, and using technology without the addiction. Really interesting stuff. OwenLast week, I ordered a Laifen Wave electric toothbrush, and its taking way too long in the mail. I want to play with my new gadget now, damn it! EllieIve been listening to the entire discography of Essenger. I think that having an electronic groove during the busiest time of the year in tech makes the tech world even cooler! EliA new extension called Pre-AI Search. All it does is filter to pre-2023 Google results, but its been a bit of a lifesaver given how garbage Google image search is now. Been pretty handy for my research Google image search has been rough with all the AI stuff, but filtering to pre-2023 helps find actual design resources again. FrankieFlyleaf. A beautiful read-it-later app for macOS, iPadOS, and iOS. RyanI just started listening to the wonderful If Books Could Kill podcast. Youre Wrong About alum Michael Hobbes and lawyer Peter Shamshiri tackle the question, What if pop science books would have peer review? The answer is pretty damning for the books but great fun for us listeners. LaszloNot new, but the Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 charging station changed my whole desk setup. The retractable cable and StandBy mode-friendly phone mount (Qi2!) make it worth it. HawkeIve been bingeing AEW on Max. I was a childhood wrestling fan who got back into WWE casually at the pandemic Wrestlemania. Now that its on Max, Ive been bingeing the past two months of AEW shows to get acquainted with the product and better compare it to post-McMahon WWE. Overall, its pretty good. BrianGreg IlesSouthern Man, a massive but riveting novel set in modern Mississippi, has been eating up all my spare time. DarraghI recommend you check out ProjectionLab. Its a beautifully designed financial planning tool that Ive been using for the past few years. This solo dev-built app makes it simple to model finances and plan for the future. JakeWatching this horror series, From, on Prime Video. Very different than most shows on the internet. DaniyalSigning offOver the holiday break, I came across a really lovely set of app icons from a designer named Lokki, and of course jumped at an excuse to yet again completely overhaul my homescreen. I really like it now! But in buying the icon pack, I also got a set of Widgy widgets, which sent me down the rabbit hole of what I am now convinced is the coolest app on the planet for Apple devices. Widgy lets you make basically any widget you can imagine you can design it from scratch, add lots of features and interactivity, and share stuff youve made so other people can download or buy widgets as well. The next version of my homescreen is going to be all widgets, no apps. And its going to be all Widgy. Widgets all the way down, baby.See you next week!