This city in Wisconsin has limited fiber options, but residents can still get decent download speeds via wireless or cable internet.

Let's face it: Having little or nocell phonesignal can be cause for panic. If you can't call anyone, you have no lifeline. And if you have no lifeline, you can't take care of yourself in an emergency. When your signal completely disappears, it's understanding if your mind begins to wander: what will you do if anything dire happens to you? You don't need to stress, that's for sure. Because there are ways you can prevent this from ever happening to you at all.In fact, there are some easy ways to improve your signal on an iPhone or Android phone that you can employ whether you're doing phone maintenance or in an emergency. It may even come down to something as simple as toggling Airplane mode.To go from dropped calls to full bars, here's what you need to know.Read more:iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 13: What Apple Changed in 3 YearsNote: Although software across different iPhone models is relatively the same, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and other Android phones may have different software versions, so certain settings and where they are located might differ depending on device.For more, check out how you can use Google Maps when you're offline and how you can maybe fix your internet when it's down.To improve your cellphone service, try these steps firstThe settings on your phone can help you get better cell service, but there are other tricks for improving your reception without even touching your phone's software.Move yourself so that there are no obstructions between your phone and any cell towers outside. That might involve stepping away from metal objects or concrete walls, which both kill reception. Instead, get to a window or go outside if possible.Remove your phone case. It doesn't hurt to remove whatever case you have on your phone, especially if it's thick, so that the phone's antenna isn't blocked by anything and can get a better signal.Make sure your phone is charged. Searching for and connecting to a stronger signal drains power, so if your phone battery is already low on charge, you may have a difficult time getting good service. Some phone cases cause more signal disruption than others. David Carnoy/CNETAlways start by turning Airplane mode on and offTurning your phone's connection off and then back on is the quickest and easiest way to try and fix your signal woes. If you're moving around from one location to another, toggling Airplane mode restarts the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular network modems, which forces them to find the best signal in the area.Android: Swipe down from the top of your screen -- to access the Quick Settings panel -- and then tap the Airplane mode icon. Wait for your phone to completely disconnect from its Wi-Fi and cellular connections. It doesn't happen instantly, so give it a good 15 seconds before you tap on the Airplane mode icon again.iPhone:On the iPhone, you can access Airplane mode from the Control Center, but that varies depending on which iPhone model you have. On the iPhone X and later, swipe down from the top-right corner to access the Control Center. On older iPhone models, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Then tap the Airplane mode icon, which will turn orange when it's enabled. Again, wait up to 15 seconds before turning it off. Left: Airplane mode on your iPhone. Right: Airplane mode on an Android. Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNETIf Airplane mode doesn't work, restart your phoneOur phones are miniature computers, and just like computers, sometimes you can fix issues like network connection by simply restarting them. Android: Hold down the power button, or the power button and the volume down key (depending on your Android phone), until the on-screen menu shows up, and then tap Restart. If your phone doesn't offer a restart option, you can simply tap Power Off to shut down your device, and then boot it back up with the power button.iPhone: On the iPhone X and older models, hold down the sleep/wake button and either one of the volume buttons and then swipe right on the power slider to turn off the device. Wait until it fully turns off, then press down on the sleep/wake button to turn it back on.Alternatively, you can do a force reset on your iPhone: Press the volume up button, followed by the volume down button and then press and hold the side button. Keep holding it in, after your phone's screen goes black and until you see the Apple logo appear again.If your iPhone has a home button, hold down the sleep/wake button until the power slider is displayed and then drag the slider to the right. Once the device is turned off, press and hold the sleep/wake button until you see the Apple logo. Left: Restarting an Android phone. Right: Powering off an iPhone. Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNETTake your SIM card out of your phoneAnother troubleshooting step that might help is to remove your SIM card, if your phone has one, and then place it back in with the phone turned on. If the SIM card is dirty, clean it. If it has any physical defects, you may need to replace it.You'll need a SIM card tool -- usually included in your phone's box -- or an unfolded paper clip or sewing needle to get the SIM tray out of your phone.All phones: Remove the SIM card, check to see if it's damaged and positioned in the SIM tray correctly, then put it back in your phone. eSIM: For phones with an eSIM -- that is, an embedded electronic SIM in your phone -- there's nothing for you to remove. The best you can do is restart your phone. Removing and putting your SIM card back into your phone takes just a couple of seconds. Jason Cipriani/CNETCheck your carrier settings (and update your software)Mobile carriers frequently send out carrier settings updates to help improve connectivity for calls, data and messages on their network. Although this feature is available on all iPhone models, it's not universal on Android, so you might not find carrier settings if you don't have a supported phone.iPhone: Carrier updates should just appear, and you can update from the pop-up message that appears. To force your iPhone to check for a carrier settings update, go toSettings > General > About on your phone. If an update is available, you'll be prompted to install it.Android: As mentioned before, not all Android phones have carrier settings, so you'll have to open the Settings app and type in "carrier settings" to find any possible updates. On supported Pixels, go to Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap the gear next to your carrier name and then tap Carrier settings versions. Left: iOS carrier settings. Right: Android carrier settings. Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET Reset your phone's network settingsSometimes all you need is a clean slate to fix an annoying connectivity issue. Refreshing your phone's network settings is one way to do that. But be forewarned, resetting your network settings will also reset any saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN connections and custom APN settings for those on carriers that require additional setup.Android: In the Settings app, search for "reset" or more specifically "reset network settings" and tap on the setting. On the Pixel, the setting is called Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. After you reset your network settings, remember to reconnect your phone to your home and work Wi-Fi networks.iPhone: Go to Settings > Transfer or Reset iPhone> Reset > Reset Network settings. The next page will warn you that resetting your network settings will reset your settings for Wi-Fi, mobile data and Bluetooth. Tap Reset Network Settings and your phone will restart. Resetting network settings should be one of the last troubleshooting steps you try. Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNETContact your phone carrierSometimes unexpected signal issues can be traced back to problems with your wireless carrier. A cell tower could be down, or the tower's fiber optic cable could have been cut, causing an outage. For consistent problems connecting to or staying connected to a cellular or data network, it's possible your carrier's coverage doesn't extend well into your neighborhood.Other times, a newfound signal issue can be due to a defect with your phone or a SIM card that's gone bad. Contacting your carrier to begin troubleshooting after you've tried these fixes is the next best step to resolving your spotty signal. Sometimes contacting your carrier is the only way to get signal issues resolved. Angela Lang/CNET If all else fails, try a signal booster to improve cell receptionIf after going through all of our troubleshooting steps, including talking to your carrier to go over your options, you're still struggling to keep a good signal -- try a booster. A signal booster receives the same cellular signal your carrier uses, then amplifies it just enough to provide coverage in a room or your entire house. The big downside here is the cost. Wilson has three different boosters designed for home use, ranging in price from $349 for single room coverage to $999 to cover your entire home. To be clear, we haven't specifically tested these models. Wilson offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a two-year warranty should you have any trouble with its products. I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites See all photos If you're looking for iPhone-specific tips and tricks, check out our guide to hidden features on iOS 17. For Android fans, stay up to date on the new features coming to Android 15.

Apple's more affordable phone could make another big comeback in 2025. The $429 iPhone SE, Apple's entry-level model, is expected to get a major refresh next year, bringing it more in line with Apple's recent iPhones, according to reports fromBloombergand other analysts.Unlike Apple's flagship iPhone family, the iPhone SE's launch timing is somewhat irregular. The first generation SE launched in 2016, followed by the second version in 2020 and the third in 2022. Apple also hasn't mentioned whether it plans to release new iPhone SE models moving forward, as it rarely speaks about future products. With rumors suggesting the iPhone SE will inherit the iPhone 14's design, the next model could signal the end of the home button and a shift away from smaller screens.Read more: I've Been Using the iPhone 16 For a Month. Here's What Stands OutThere's plenty of room for Apple to further improve its cheaper iPhone. While my colleague Patrick Holland praised the 2022 iPhone SEfor its accessible price and familiar home button, he criticized it for its lack of night mode photos and dated design. Android competitors like Samsung and Google have also improved their similarly priced budget phones in recent years. The Google Pixel 8A and Samsung Galaxy A55 5G both offer features once reserved for premium devices, like high refresh rates and multiple cameras.It's impossible to know exactly what to expect from Apple until the company makes an announcement. Based on predictions and reports from Bloomberg, MacRumors and the plugged-in TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, along with other leaks and Apple's product launch history, here's what we'd expect from Apple's next budget iPhone.Apple didn't respond to a request for comment regarding a future iPhone SE when this story was originally published. Watch this: Apple Intelligence Impressions: Don't Expect Radical Change 09:05 iPhone SE 4 may launch in early 2025There has been a lot of back-and-forth about the iPhone SE 4's launch timing in recent years. But an August report from the often-accurate Mark Gurman of Bloomberg suggests that a new iPhone SE could debut in the beginning of 2025. That suggests it may arrive in the first quarter, which would line up with Apple's previous iPhone SE release dates. The first and third generation models, for example, both launched in March.The analyst Kuo also reported in October that mass production of the new iPhone SE would begin in December 2024, further indication that an early 2025 release may be in store for Apple's next tiny phone.The reports come after rumors and speculation about the iPhone SE's existence have been uncertain over the last several years. In 2019, Kuo said Apple was working on an iPhone SE with a full-screen design similar to the iPhone XR, as MacRumors reportedat the time. Apple has released two versions of the iPhone SE since then that retain the old iPhone 8-inspired design, which raised questions about whether the model Kuo was referring to has been canceled or postponed.Kuo's 2023 predictions regarding the iPhone SE 4 have also been mixed. He reported last January that an iPhone SE originally planned for 2024 was canceledbut followed up to say the project had been revived. He changed his prediction again in April2023 to say that the model he previously referred to might just be an engineering prototype for an Apple in-house 5G baseband chip. His previous comments also suggested the iPhone SE 4 would include this 5G chip.Read more: Inside the Apple Watch Series 10's New Sleep Apnea Detection FeatureBut newer reports, including one from MacRumors, indicate Apple is indeed developing a new iPhone SE that reportedly includes some dramatic upgrades.It will likely have a new processor and Apple Intelligence Apple/ Zooey Liao/ CNETThe iPhone SE typically has the same processor as Apple's most recent flagship iPhone. For example, the 2022 iPhone SE has the same chip as the iPhone 13, which launched in September 2021. Since Apple's newest mobile chip is usually the iPhone SE's standout feature, it's hard to imagine Apple straying from that pattern.But that's more important than ever now that Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of new AI features, is dependent on the company's latest chips. The iPhone 16 family and last year's Pro models are the only iPhones capable of running these features for now. But based on Apple's history andBloomberg's report, which says the iPhone SE 4 will support Apple Intelligence, it looks like that could change in the coming months.Apple Intelligence includes new AI-powered features such as the ability to rewrite, summarize and proofread text, a new version of Siri that's better at understanding words even when you fumble, the ability to erase objects in photos, and notification and message summaries, among other features. The first wave of Apple Intelligence arrived in Apple's iOS 18.1 update, while more features -- such as the ability to generate custom emoji -- will come later in iOS 18.2.Otherwise, the next iPhone SE could have an Apple-made 5G chip, according to Kuo. Still, it's hard to know if that prediction still applies since he later revised his estimate to say this device was likely an engineering prototype to test that 5G chip.MacRumorsalso reports that the iPhone SE 4 will have an Apple-made 5G modem.An iPhone 14-like design with an OLED screen The iPhone 14 James Martin/CNETIf the company is working on another iPhone SE, it will likely have a 6.1-inch screen similar to Apple's modern flagship phones. The current iPhone SE, by comparison, has a 4.7-inch screen with thick borders at the top and chin, much like the iPhone 8.In particular, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to look a lot like the iPhone 14, which Apple launched in 2022.A MacRumors articlereported in September 2023 that the iPhone SE 4 will have a modified version of the iPhone 14's chassis and reiterated that pointagain in November. Bloomberg's report also suggests the iPhone SE 4 will resemble Apple's two-year-old flagship.It's not just the design that's expected to get an upgrade; the display will see improvements too. Multiple reports, including those from Kuo, MacRumors, Bloomberg, The Elecand Nikkei Asia, suggest the next iPhone SE will have an OLED screen instead of LCD. That's a big deal because OLED typically displays richer contrast and deeper blacks, and these types of screens are consistent across the rest of Apple's iPhone lineup. Read more: Thinking About Buying a Foldable Phone? Here's How to DecideThe iPhone SE will likely have a larger batteryThe next iPhone SE could inherit the iPhone 14's battery as well, according to MacRumors. If the blog's previous reports about the iPhone SE 4 following in the iPhone 14's footsteps prove to be accurate, a larger battery would be necessary to power its larger screen. Apple doesn't disclose the battery capacities for its phones, but it says the iPhone 14 should get five extra hours of video playback compared to the third-generation iPhone SE. Between the new chip and bigger battery that we're expecting to find in the next iPhone SE, it sounds like Apple's next affordable iPhone could see some pretty significant gains in battery life.Goodbye Touch ID, hello Face IDFans of Apple's Touch ID fingerprint sensor may be out of luck. MacRumors reports that the next iPhone SE will have Face ID, like other modern iPhones, instead of Apple's fingerprint sensor. That conflicts with Kuo's report from 2019, which indicated that the next iPhone SE would have a smaller notch area without Face ID and Touch ID embedded in the power button. But since Kuo's report is about five years old, that information may be outdated.It may get a 48MP camera, USB-C and Action button Kevin Heinz/CNETApple's next wallet-friendly iPhone may have a few things in common with Apple's newer iPhones. Since Apple switched to USB-C starting with the iPhone 15 lineup to comply with new European rules, it seems likely that the iPhone SE 4 could ditch the Lightning connector as well. MacRumors also claims the iPhone SE 4 will have USB-C.The more surprising note in MacRumors' story is that the iPhone SE 4 could gain the Action button, which is a new key for programming shortcuts that's currently exclusive to the iPhone 16 family, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. If true, it would be another sign that Apple wants to make the Action button standard across the iPhone lineup, coming after it brought the Action button to the standard models this year.MacRumors also reports that a 48-megapixel single camera could be in store for the next iPhone SE. That would signal another similarity it could share with the iPhone 15 and 16, which also have 48-megapixel main cameras. If the report is accurate, the iPhone SE will only have one rear camera, unlike Apple's more expensive phones. The regular iPhone 15 has wide and ultra-wide cameras, while the Pro versions have wide, ultra-wide and telephoto cameras.But Apple introduced the "Fusion" camera on this year's regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, which it says enables a 2x optical quality zoom despite lacking a dedicated telephoto lens. While reports don't specify whether the iPhone SE 4 will have this camera, it wouldn't be surprising if Apple implemented it to compensate for the iPhone SE's single camera setup.If the rumors are true, the fourth-generation iPhone SE could bring Apple's tiny, budget iPhone up to date with the rest of Apple's lineup. Depending on the price, it could end up being a solid choice for people in need of a more modern iPhone that don't care about the iPhone 16's extra flourishes, like the Camera Control button. Apple's iPhone 16, 16 Plus Show Off Bolder Colors and Buttons See all photos

Indiana Jones, Hellblade 2 and Star Wars Outlaws compete for DF's 'best graphics of the year' awardBlack Myth: Wukong, Astro Bot, Silent Hill 2 and many others also recognised. Feature by Richard Leadbetter Technology Editor, Digital Foundry Additional contributions byAlex Battaglia, John Linneman, and Oliver MackenziePublished on Dec. 29, 2024 Every year, the Digital Foundry team share their notes about the most technologically impressive games of the year - and in a wide-ranging 108-minute discussion, John Linneman, Alex Battaglia and Oliver Mackenzie share their honorable mentions and a top ten list of titles that caught their attention. However, just like last year, it's the top three games that truly stand apart and once again, deciding which game takes champion standing was the subject of intense debate.Where there is unanimous agreement is in the placing of Star Wars Outlaws in the number three position. The game is lauded for bringing the 'lived in' Star Wars aesthetic to gaming in a simply brilliant manner, powered by Ubisoft Massive's state-of-the-art Snowdrop engine. From a technological standpoint, the use of RT reflections, diffuse global illumination and RT shadows is a remarkable achievement bearing in mind the relatively limited ray tracing hardware available on consoles. The fact that the PC version also has a path tracing alternative (RTXDI) for higher-end hardware is the cherry on top.It's a stunning achievement overall, let down only by its cutscenes where animation actually seems to look sub-par compared to in-game animation.Got a spare 108 minutes to watch/listen to Digital Foundry discuss graphics? Well, here you go.Watch on YouTube0:00:00 Introduction0:01:58 Honourable mentions: STALKER 2, Persona 3 Reload, Metaphor ReFantazio, Nightdive Studios, Tiny Glade, FF7 Rebirth, Power Rangers0:20:46 Dragon's Dogma 20:26:35 Riven0:30:32 Dragon Age: The Veilguard0:37:24 Silent Hill 20:48:50 Astro Bot0:54:32 Penny's Big Breakaway0:58:05 Black Myth: Wukong1:08:49 Star Wars Outlaws vs Hellblade 2 vs Indiana Jones and the Great CircleWhere opinion is divided is in the placing of the top two games: Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Obviously, from a gameplay perspective, MachinesGames' epic is a clear winner - but that's obviously not the focus of a Digital Foundry 'Best Graphics of 2024' discussion. Hellblade 2 was lauded for its astonishing character work and virtual camera, to the point where some environments look almost indistinguishable from real-life footage.The scope is far more limited than Indiana Jones but it also makes for a tight, commendable level of consistent quality across the experience. It's a heavy game, but also surprisingly scalable - Hellblade 2 can run on Steam Deck, while the 30fps limit on consoles is easily surpassed on more capable PCs.The team ultimately agreed that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle should take the coveted 'graphics of the year' accolade. The sheer quality and quantity of its objects, environments are remarkable, while the utilisation of good quality RT global illumination on all console versions - and at a high resolution on Xbox Series X - can't be ignored.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. The fact that the game is effectively locked at a perfect 60fps is another feather in the cap for MachineGames' epic, while the PC version running unlocked is a remarkably consistent experience with no stutter. We were also impressed by how far the PC version scales beyond the console versions thanks to the inclusion of path tracing - and that's ultimately why the panel gave the nod to Indy: while Hellblade 2 barely puts a pixel wrong in what Ninja Theory set out to achieve, there are hard limits there - no support for hardware-accelerated RT, for example. Indiana Jones provides that in spectacular style, while taking it to the next level with the 'full RT' upgrade... and while that is computationally expensive, it is still accessible even to hardware like an RTX 4070.Of course, as the chapter list above strongly suggests, there's a lot more to this discussion than just the top three alone, so if you have some spare time, do check out the full video (or podcast) where the team discuss a good many games!

An out-of-this-world jewelry designer, Alina Abegg has been known at times to live in her own world, which sits a little bit apart from ours. That being said, she was only too happy to open the door to her home to AD Germanythough perhaps spacecraft would be a more fitting label, in this case. This apartment in the Berlin neighborhood of Charlottenburg and is also her showroom, which you too can visit by appointment if you want to dive into the designers playful world. Abegg has lived in Berlin since 2017, and for the last four years, this 1,800-square-foot apartment has been where inspiration comes to life. AD Germany spoke to her about how moving frequently can shape ones individual style, about the memories that a sofa can hold, and whether you can capture feelings in a piece of jewelry.A Noguchi coffee table for Vitra sits in front of a sofa that Abegg has owned since she lived in London. I asked for the painting above the sofa for my 30th birthday. Its called New Beginnings and its by the artist Melike Kara. Looking back, the title applies perfectly to the new phase of life that I had embarked on back then.Art: Melike Kara and Arcadia Missa, LondonAD Germany: Alina, if your apartment were one of your jewelry designs, which one would it be?Alina Abegg: Definitely the Alien Ring. Like that ring, my home is a mixture of playful and surprising elements with a touch of nostalgia. Its unconventional, it tells a story, and its full of little details that only reveal themselves over time. Both my apartment and the ring have something quirky about them thats not necessarily to everyones taste. I think thats what makes them unique.How would you describe the personality of your apartment?The most important thing for me honestly was that the apartment be warm and cozy, a place I could always feel content especially during Berlins long, gray winters. I wanted to introduce some color into the apartment, so I began by giving all the walls a bright coat of fresh paint. For example, I chose an apple green for the kitchen that reminds me of chrysoprase, my favorite gemstone and one that I love to use in my jewelry designs. Green inspires me creatively and in a way it perfectly matches my personality, which I think is a bit spirited, gentle, and playful. I think the color also gives the room a certain energy that both inspires and puts you in a good mood, which is important to me in my home. The style itself is quite eclectic. A lot of pieces of furniture come with a history; some Ive collected over the years, others are family heirlooms. and some were custom designed for me.What brought you to Berlin in the first place?My mother is German, and my father is half-Swiss, half-Canadian. I grew up in both Switzerland and London, where I spent most of my life. I was drawn to Berlin for a long time, but it took me a while to take the plunge. In the end, I had a boyfriend who was living here and he was the ultimate impetus for the move. Ironically, that relationship ended shortly after I moved. But I still wanted to stay and discover the cityif only for a year, I thought. Its now been seven.For the renovation and interior work, you enlisted the help of an architecture firm and your sister who is a designer. How did the team work together?Amazingly well! Probably because my sister Marsha knows my taste and my vision so well. She always knew right away what I wanted. Even though she actually prefers a more classical style, she managed to create a symbiosis of my ideas and her approach. It was really fun to work with her on this project. Together with the interior architecture duo Irina Kromayer and Etienne Descloux, I further designed custom-made installations such as the kitchen, the showroom and office cabinets, and the dressing room.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + DesignAD100 2025: See the Full List of HonoreesBy The Editors of ADMagazineA Historic House in the Heart of Paris Gets a Dose of Practical MagicBy Alice CavanaghWhat made you decide to go with these bigger elements?I think its in collaboration that such larger creative concepts emerge. A perfect example of that is the banquette, which can also be turned into a guest bed. It mattered to me that the apartment not only be aesthetically pleasing, but also practical for everyday use since I often entertain and host friends and family."I started collecting art in my late 20s, a passion that has grown ever since. The chair is a work by the artist Pedro Reyes, known for his unique combinations of art, design, and social themes. For me, the chair is not just a piece of furniture, but a real art object that enlivens the room with its clear, sculptural form. I gave myself Cosima von Bonins glowing cigarette when I gave up smoking. It reminds me of the importance of making decisions that are good for us and keeping a sense of humor along the way.Installation: Courtesy of Cosima von Bonin and Petzel Gallery. SMOKE (Black), 2008/ Chair: Pedro Reyes/ VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2024Do you have a favorite room?If I had to choose, it would be the eat-in kitchen. The kitchen being open to the dining room makes the whole place feel lively and inviting. I spend most of my time here, working, cooking, or relaxing. When friends come to visit, we end up here too. The kitchen is simply the coziest place in the apartment.The apartment is both your showroom and your home. Have you ever regretted so closely integrating your personal and professional lives?Sometimes I do find it difficult to separate my private and professional lives completely. I think if my showroom or office were in a different place, it would be easier to set clear boundaries and separate my work hours from my free time. On the other hand, my job is also my passion.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + DesignAD100 2025: See the Full List of HonoreesBy The Editors of ADMagazineA Historic House in the Heart of Paris Gets a Dose of Practical MagicBy Alice CavanaghWhere does your enthusiasm for interior design come from?Ive been creative since I was a child. Just like my sister, my mother is also a trained interior designer. We moved a lot as a family. Our houses were always lovely, but they often started out as real wrecks that my parents would then completely renovate and furnish with a lot of love. Their interior design approach was always very eclectic, sometimes even a bit crazy, but that fascinated me. For example, my parents would always collect and store furniture that theyd eventually use somewhere. I learned that with the courage to rearrange things and a good eye for detail, you can always come up with your very own look. If you have the means to store things and bring them together later, you can create incredibly interesting spaces.What helped you quickly feel at home over the many moves?My parents always made sure right away to find a place in our new homes for certain pieces of furniture, photos, and decorative elements that were most important to us. No matter how chaotic things often were right after a move, these touches always helped make me quickly feel at home. And, of course, it helped that my mother has a real talent for turning a house into a place that feels special. Even before everything was finished, she would have created a cozy atmosphere. It is one of many things my parents taught me that makes me grateful for them.The picture by Tracey Emin is one of my favorite pieces, Abegg says, and adds about chest of drawers she found on 1stDibs: its colorful accents add a feeling of lightness.Art: Tracey Emin/ VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2024Most PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + DesignAD100 2025: See the Full List of HonoreesBy The Editors of ADMagazineA Historic House in the Heart of Paris Gets a Dose of Practical MagicBy Alice CavanaghYou have said that you process memories with your jewelry. What do you mean by that?Ever since I was little, Ive been collecting objects, books, and little treasures. My sister had the great idea of building shelves in the open-plan kitchen, my favorite room, where I can store and look at all these things. Its almost like a little cabinet of curiosities, from crystals and gemstones that I have received as gifts from dear friends or bought on my travels to a small illustrated book of Swiss landscapes that reminds me of my homeland. In this meshing of experiences with family, friends, and guests against the backdrop of my very personal collection, stories and memories emerge. And thats where I get ideas for my designs. Where the present meets the past, I find leisure and inspiration.Is it possible to capture a feeling in a piece of jewelry?For me, its about creating memories, dreams, and emotions in a tangible form. Capturing a feeling in a piece of jewelry means much more than just producing an aesthetically pleasing design. My Alina Abegg label lets us be inspired by the imaginations of children. Each piece of jewelry is meant to unlock the memory of ones own childhood, a light-hearted time when imaginations can run free. Each piece should be a kind of token that reminds the wearer to look at the world with the curiosity and joy of a child. My creations are symbolic of love and self-acceptance, of the freedom and also the courage to truly embrace all parts of oneselfthe playful, the sensitive, and the bold. In a way, the jewelry possesses a double meaning: Its an internal process that I go through again and again and that I want other people to be encouraged to do as well. Stay true to yourself. Go your own way. If it feels light and liberating, its good.Did you work that way when furnishing the apartment?Intuitively, exactly. I follow my gut and collect things that inspire me and let everything come together organically. That always happens quite by impulse with me. Its intuitively that a mood is created that speaks to me, similar with my jewelry designs. I love creating pieces that have a story and surprising details, but I never strictly plan things. Its instead more of a journey where everything somehow finds its place.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + DesignAD100 2025: See the Full List of HonoreesBy The Editors of ADMagazineA Historic House in the Heart of Paris Gets a Dose of Practical MagicBy Alice CavanaghWhich piece of furniture could you never part with?Even though its bulky, my sofa has been with me since London and it has a special significance for me. It carries so many memories of laughing with friends, meditating, dealing with break-upsits all happened on this sofa. It was my dog Nuggets favorite place and we spent many wonderful moments together there. Sadly, Nuggy passed away this summer, but the sofa always reminds me of our years together and the carefree times we spent on it. It was his absolute favorite place, and every time I sit there, I feel like a part of him is still with me.This interview with jewelry designer Alina Abegg was originally published by AD Germany. It was translated by John Oseid.A painting by Swedish artist Camilla Engstrm that Abegg discovered on Instagram hangs in the entrance. A luminous Murano glass cloud, designed by her friend Irene Cattaneo, hangs from the ceiling.Art: Camilla EngstrmCalming colors were carefully chosen for the bedroom. The photograph by Martin dOrgeval shows a wall in Marrakesh.Art: Courtesy Martin dOrgeval and Galerie Hussenot, ParisMost PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + DesignAD100 2025: See the Full List of HonoreesBy The Editors of ADMagazineA Historic House in the Heart of Paris Gets a Dose of Practical MagicBy Alice CavanaghJewelry designer Alina Abegg.Robert RiegerThe jewelry maker bought the Gio Ponti chairs at auction. The table is an Eero Saarinen Tulip for Knoll. The chandelier was brought back to Berlin as a memento from a trip to Murano.Art: Hermine BourdinMost PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + DesignAD100 2025: See the Full List of HonoreesBy The Editors of ADMagazineA Historic House in the Heart of Paris Gets a Dose of Practical MagicBy Alice CavanaghThe kitchen is a glossy apple green, the playful tiles are from Balineum.A view into the bathroom.Robert RiegerMost PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + DesignAD100 2025: See the Full List of HonoreesBy The Editors of ADMagazineA Historic House in the Heart of Paris Gets a Dose of Practical MagicBy Alice CavanaghA terrazzo floor was laid in the bathroom. A favorite Abegg leitmotif, green can be found all over the apartment.Robert RiegerAbegg came across an old Bavarian farmhouse chair in the classified ads. It reminds me of my school days in Bavaria and brings a piece of my past into my present home.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + DesignAD100 2025: See the Full List of HonoreesBy The Editors of ADMagazineA Historic House in the Heart of Paris Gets a Dose of Practical MagicBy Alice CavanaghAbegg calls the alcove her retreat. The wardrobe was custom-made by Irina Kromayer and Etienne Descloux, and my sister chose the matching fabric Le Manach by Pierre Frey. I love this alcove because its not only cozy, but also practical. My dressing room is hidden behind the wardrobe and the banquette also serves as a guest bed. I can tune out, read, or simply daydream here in my favorite place to relax.The designer sometimes work at her desk tooAbegg is currently planning pop-ups in various cities outside Germany.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + DesignAD100 2025: See the Full List of HonoreesBy The Editors of ADMagazineA Historic House in the Heart of Paris Gets a Dose of Practical MagicBy Alice CavanaghEye for detail: Cabinet handles by AD100 designer Beata Heuman.Alina Abeggs showroom was designed by Irina Kromayer and Etienne Descloux.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + DesignAD100 2025: See the Full List of HonoreesBy The Editors of ADMagazineA

Every so often these days, a study comes out proclaiming that AI is better at diagnosing health problems than a human doctor. These studies are enticing because the healthcare system in America is woefully broken and everyone is searching for solutions. AI presents a potential opportunity to make doctors more efficient by doing a lot of administrative busywork for them and by doing so, giving them time to see more patients and therefore drive down the ultimate cost of care. There is also the possibility that real-time translation would help non-English speakers gain improved access. For tech companies, the opportunity to serve the healthcare industry could be quite lucrative. In practice, however, it seems that we are not close to replacing doctors with artificial intelligence, or even really augmenting them. The Washington Post spoke with multiple experts including physicians to see how early tests of AI are going, and the results were not assuring.Here is one excerpt of a clinical professor, Christopher Sharp of Stanford Medical, using GPT-4o to draft a recommendation for a patient who contacted his office: Sharp picks a patient query at random. It reads: Ate a tomato and my lips are itchy. Any recommendations? The AI, which uses a version of OpenAIs GPT-4o, drafts a reply: Im sorry to hear about your itchy lips. Sounds like you might be having a mild allergic reaction to the tomato. The AI recommends avoiding tomatoes, using an oral antihistamine and using a steroid topical cream. Sharp stares at his screen for a moment. Clinically, I dont agree with all the aspects of that answer, he says. Avoiding tomatoes, I would wholly agree with. On the other hand, topical creams like a mild hydrocortisone on the lips would not be something I would recommend, Sharp says. Lips are very thin tissue, so we are very careful about using steroid creams. I would just take that part away. Here is another, from Stanford medical and data science professor Roxana Daneshjou: She opens her laptop to ChatGPT and types in a test patient question. Dear doctor, I have been breastfeeding and I think I developed mastitis. My breast has been red and painful. ChatGPT responds: Use hot packs, perform massages and do extra nursing. But thats wrong, says Daneshjou, who is also a dermatologist. In 2022, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine recommended the opposite: cold compresses, abstaining from massages and avoiding overstimulation. The problem with tech optimists pushing AI into fields like healthcare is that it is not the same as making consumer software. We already know that Microsofts Copilot 365 assistant has bugs, but a small mistake in your PowerPoint presentation is not a big deal. Making mistakes in healthcare can kill people. Daneshjou told the Post she red-teamed ChatGPT with 80 others, including both computer scientists and physicians posing medical questions to ChatGPT, and found it offered dangerous responses twenty percent of the time. Twenty percent problematic responses is not, to me, good enough for actual daily use in the health care system, she said. Of course, proponents will say that AI can augment a doctors work, not replace them, and they should always check the outputs. And it is true, the Post story interviewed a physician at Stanford who said two-thirds of doctors there with access to a platform record and transcribe patient meetings with AI so they can look them in the eyes during the visit and not be looking down, taking notes. But even there, OpenAIs Whisper technology seems to insert completely made-up information into some recordings. Sharp said Whisper erroneously inserted into a transcript that a patient attributed a cough to exposure to their child, which they never said. One incredible example of bias from training data Daneshjou found in testing was that an AI transcription tool assumed a Chinese patient was a computer programmer without the patient ever offering such information.AI could potentially help the healthcare field, but its outputs have to be thoroughly checked, and then how much time are doctors actually saving? Furthermore, patients have to trust their doctor is actually checking what the AI is producinghospital systems will have to put in checks to make sure this is happening, or else complacency might seep in. Fundamentally, generative AI is just a word prediction machine, searching large amounts of data without really understanding the underlying concepts it is returning. It is not intelligent in the same sense as a real human, and it is especially not able to understand the circumstances unique to each specific individual; it is returning information it has generalized and seen before.I do think this is one of those promising technologies, but its just not there yet, said Adam Rodman, an internal medicine doctor and AI researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Im worried that were just going to further degrade what we do by putting hallucinated AI slop into high-stakes patient care. Next time you visit your doctor, it might be worth asking if they are using AI in their workflow.

They have not been trained for this2024-12-27 18:19:54, kantorkelThe Chaos Computer Club (CCC) supports the three hackers who explained in detail at 37C3 how the Polish rail vehicle manufacturer Newag had manipulated its trains in such a way that they could only be repaired in the company's own workshops. The manufacturer reacted to the publications with an attitude not seen since the 90s and sued the hackers under both criminal and civil law. At 38C3, the hackers are now reporting on their legal odyssey, which cost so far around 30,000 euros. The CCC is calling for donations to cover the legal and other resulting costs incurred so far.In one of the most popular presentations at 37C3, the three hackers uncovered something monstrous: Newag trains went into hibernation using a sophisticated game of hide-and-seek if they were parked for too long within the geocoordinates of competitors or customers workshops or were left in conditions that indicated they underwent an unregistered repair. Only by calling in a Newag technician could such deactivated trains be rescued. All of this was uncovered without the potentially illegal replacement of train components which would require certifications.Nevertheless, Newag's reaction was thin-skinned. We assume that the current lawsuits are aimed at preventing these - and future - publications about such illegal instructions. But at Congress, it is not small-minded company lawyers or locomotive builders stuck in the past who decide who is allowed to speak on our stages. Only the content teams do. It is therefore a matter for us to support the three speakers that were presenting at the last congress and now - almost unfortunately - this one, too, so that they can continue researching fearlessly in the future!If you would like to contribute, please make a transfer to the regular bank account of the Chaos Computer Club e.V. (DE41 2001 0020 0599 0902 01 / PBNKDEFFXXX) with the reference Lokomotive.If more than the 30,000 required to date is donated, if the legal costs are lower or if court costs are repaid, all payments received in excess will be used for the statutory purposes of the Chaos Computer Club e.V.. Please note that the CCC e.V. is not formally recognised as a non-profit organisation.The sequel will be presented this Friday at 38C3 in Hamburg. The presentation can be followed in the live stream today (27th Dec 2024) from 11pm and will then be made available at media.ccc.de.

But... Why?"These are not terrible films" - Sony Pictures' CEO just doesn't get why nobody wanted to watch Spider-Man films that don't have Spider-Man in themIt's all the critics' fault the films did badly, no other reason!Image credit: Sony News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Dec. 29, 2024 We all know that Sony's live-action Spider-Verse is a hot mess, but Sony Pictures' CEO doesn't get why they haven't done well.If I were to offer you two cards, one that said "a film about Spider-Man" and another that said "a film about Spider-Man's villains, but he's not in it", what would you choose? Obviously the first one, because a majority of comic book villains are just not very interesting on their own. Venom is obviously one exception to that rule, but he also kind of looks like Spider-Man, and has become an anti-hero in recent years, so there's some strong appeal there. But Morbius? Madame Web? Kraven? Nah. Yet Sony made films about them anyway, and now, speaking with the LA Times, Sony Pictures CEO Tony Vinciquerra shared that he just simply doesn't get why these films didn't do well.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. The most recent release, Kraven, has been a massive bomb, with a current worldwide box office gross of almost $46, not even half of its estimated $110 million price tag. Vinciquerra shared that this is "probably the worst launch we had in the seven-and-a-half years" since he started, continuing on to say, quite bafflingly, "that didnt work out very well, which I still dont understand, because the film is not a bad film." There's a big misunderstanding here that any kind of quality might make up for a film nobody wants, but in Vinciquerra's opinion, it's actually the press' fault for films like Madame Web, and subsequently Kraven, underperforming."Madame Web underperformed in the theaters because the press just crucified it. It was not a bad film, and it did great on Netflix. For some reason, the press decided that they didnt want us making these films out of Kraven and Madame Web, and the critics just destroyed them. They also did it with Venom, but the audience loved Venom and made Venom a massive hit. These are not terrible films. They were just destroyed by the critics in the press, for some reason."The reason was that the films were bad, Tony! Venom was a hit because he's a prominent Spider-Man character, Tony! And also each of its sequels did worse than the previous one at the box office, because all the other Sony Spider-Man-less Spider-Man films were received so poorly! Come on!In any case, none of this matters anyway, because that universe is dead now, with the focus once again being on the character everyone actually likes: Spider-Man. Who'd have thunk that'd be a smart decision!

Image: Nathan Lockard / Nintendo LifeOver the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. This article was originally published in July. Enjoy!Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Nathan goes mapping the pixels...What is your greatest video game pet peeve? That one thing that, when present, ruins your experience, no matter how good the game is otherwise? For me, its a bad in-game map.Graphics: 7; Sound: 8; Gameplay: 9; Cartography: 0 Image: NintendoTake the original Metroid, for example. I do not like that game. Never have. And thats not a product of my playing it for the first time decades after its first release. No, I was there in 1986 and still have my original copy. I was blown away by its gameplay (four-direction scrolling!?) and theme, but I could not deal with its labyrinthine design for one simple reason: it had no map.Ive always had a thing for maps. And not just in the virtual world. In college I studied Geography. It was my goal to become a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) specialist - a map maker.Even now, maps real and video game play a prominent role in my day-to-day life. Map posters are plastered on my home office and game room walls and the background on my work computer cycles through images from VGMaps. Its fun to see a coworker's face light up when they recognize a map while I share my screen in a Teams meeting. Such is the power of a recognizable, useful map. It transports you to a place youve once visited.What is a Map? A Miserable Little Pile of Secrets?At the risk of being pedantic, what is a map, exactly?Its a representation of a world. A rendering. It might be pure text (as from a dungeon master), a 2D visual (a view from above), or a 3D model (like that globe at grandmas house). Regardless of its format, a map is only useful if it provides value to its readers. It has to convey information, and above all, it must be accurate. As they say, a map should match the terrain.Yoshis Horror StoryThere's my name in the credits Images: Nathan Lockard / Nintendo LifeI learned this lesson while working on the Nintendo Power magazine staff in the late '90s. One of my primary tasks was to make sure that the printed maps were accurate, with particular emphasis on the placement of callouts for power-ups and items.These melons were moved arounda lot Image: Nathan Lockard / Nintendo LifeThe most challenging assignment I had was the Yoshis Story player's guide. For those who havent played it, Yoshis Story is a 2.5D platformer where the objective in each stage isnt to find the exit, but rather to find and eat 30 fruits. The game has 24 stages and within each stage are 60 fruits, for a grand total of 1,440 fruits. Keep that number in mind.During the guides production, Nintendo's Japanese HQ would often send a new build of the still-under-development game. There was the occasional build with a drastic change, but more often than not, the only changes were a handful of fruits that had been moved within a stage. Naturally, I was never told what to look for. Instead, I had to play the entire game, and confirm or correct the location of every single one of those one-thousand four-hundred and forty melons, watermelons, apples, bananas, and grapes.Two solid months of fruit-finding cured me of wanting a career in map-making. However, Yoshis fruits taught me a deep appreciation for the value of a well-made map.Metroid: A Quick Case StudyGoing back to Metroid, navigating planet Zebes absolutely, positively requires a map.In fact, the entire Metroid series is a case study in the utility of in-game maps. The first Metroid (and to a lesser degree, its sequel) are lauded as pioneers in their genre, but the absence of a map is perhaps their most common criticism. The third entry in the franchise, Super Metroid, is quite the opposite. Its in-game map undoubtedly set the standard for the genre and perhaps the entire medium.Image: VGMapsBeyond simply existing (which is great), Super Metroids pause screen map provides layers of value:It communicates progression by filling in as you exploreIt encourages exploration by filling in only those grid squares that you have actually touched, rather than full rooms that youve visited (looking at you Hollow Knight)It rewards exploration and discovery by omitting hidden areas, even if you choose to visit the optional Map Rooms, andIt aids you, the player, in identifying areas for further explorationWith only a grid, two colours, and a handful of symbols, Super Metroids map provides one of the seminal games most important features.A Few More ExamplesIf we can venture outside of Samus orbit, here are a few other game maps that I find interesting.The Hub World MapBionic Commando screenshot Image: Moby GamesThe first game I recall featuring an interactive overworld was Bionic Commando for the NES. The overworld in Super Mario Bros. 3 is perhaps more well-known, but Super Joes game arrived in the West a full two years earlier.Bionic Commandos hub world allowed players to see and explore (by flying a friggin helicopter!) the branching paths between stages and optional areas. The map displayed the game worlds interconnectedness, while also providing interactivity that was previously unseen in game maps.The In-Game, In-Game MapIs there anything more definitively 'video game' than a pause button? They say that Time stops for no one, so you know youre in a virtual world when you can literally stop time with the press of a button.Yoshis fruits taught me a deep appreciation for the value of a well-made map.Most in-game maps are accessible only from a Pause screen, which means that you can either look at the map or explore the world. You cant do both. Final Fantasy VI (aka Final Fantasy 3 in the West) broke that paradigm by allowing you to display the world map as an overlay. This blew my mind at the time. I could explore both the world and the map - at the same time! In fact, I could navigate the world by looking exclusively at that little map. Please dont do that while driving your car, but I highly recommend it when flying an airship to Narshe.Image: Moby GamesAnd yes, Far Cry 2 and Minecraft took this concept further by showing your in-game avatar holding up the map. Thats full-on map immersion for you.The Perfect Use of a Dual ScreenChrono Trigger first appeared in 1995 on the SNES, but the DS port is, for me, the definitive version. And not just because of the added content and FMV scenes. No, its because your map is ever-present on the second screen. Its the in-game map, taken to its logical conclusion on the map lover's perfect console. Axiom Verge on the Wii U is another example of a game whose best version is trapped on an ageing, dual-screen platform.Image: Nathan Lockard / Nintendo LifeWaypoints and SymbolsLets take a look at one more. Like Super Metroid, the map in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is arguably the games greatest feature.Not only does it incorporate every element mentioned thus far (tracking progression, encouraging exploration, communicating the rules of the game world, and constant availability) but it also ups the ante with incredible interactivity. You can mark the map with waypoints, using symbols or colours to infuse personalized meaning. Furthermore, the line between map and game world is blurred by allowing Link to simply look at a spot on the ground and drop a pin. Hyrule isnt simply represented by the map; it is the map.From Metroid to Breath of the Wild and beyond, I continue to be fascinated by video game maps. They shape our exploration and communicate a thousand words in a single picture, especially when were allowed to draw on the canvas ourselves.For instance, this one's communicating, 'You should stop hunting Korok seeds and do something more productive with your time' Image: Gavin Lane / Nintendo LifeLucy Fellowes, a Smithsonian curator, once said, Every map is someones way of getting you to look at the world his or her way. Im no map maker Yoshis Story saw to that but I hope Ive painted a picture of how I see the world - as a pixelated little pile of secrets.What do you look for in an in-game map? Do you have a favourite? Let us know in the comments.

It has been a busy year in the private equity realm, with countless big-money acquisitions unfolding. The take-private space specifically has seen some sizable transactions, with private equity firms spearheading more than a dozen billion-dollar deals for public tech companies. London-headquartered Permira was a key protagonist, joining Blackstone to acquire European online classifieds group Adevinta for $13 billion, and in October, taking the popular website building platform Squarespace private in a deal eventually worth $7.2 billion.Its not just billion-dollar acquisitions that interest Permira, though. In addition to closing a fresh 16.7 billion buyout fund last year, the company has separate funds that take minority and majority stakes in earlier-stage, high-growth companies. Its first such investment was in Swedens Klarna back in 2017, a fintech giant thats only now preparing to IPO eight years later.Were still invested in Klarna, Permiras new co-managing partner and co-CEO Brian Ruder confirmed to TechCrunch. Generally speaking, with these minority growth strategies, you dont control the exit, and therefore we embrace being in these companies for a long time. But we also kind of have to be in these companies for a long time.As we approach the tail end of 2024, TechCrunch caught up with Ruder to discuss some of these more recent deals, as well as Permiras broader approach to the technology sector, AI, and having two people who equally share power at the top. Two by twoWhile many organizations are embracing new models of leadership, including co-leadership, the idea has long been popular inside Permira. Indeed, Kurt Bjrklund co-managed Permira alongside Tom Lister beginning in 2008. When Lister stepped aside in 2021, it left Permira with just one person at the helm an unusual position for a company that adopts a co-head strategy across most of its investment teams, including technology, services, consumer, and climate, with healthcare alone led by a solitary leader.We just really like the co-leadership model partly to address the challenge of the loneliness of being the leader. It really helps to have a co-ideator, Ruder said. The key thing about any leadership role is the speed to a good decision, and the faster you can make really good decisions, the better youre going to be. I would be slower to come to the same conclusion if I cant co-ideate.With both Ruder and Dipan Patel landing in the co-driving seat on September 1, and Bjrklund becoming executive chairman, normalcy resumed. But notably, in addition to co-managing partners, Ruder and Patel also attained co-CEO status a new title at Permira. Was this a sign that the role had changed, or perhaps a signal that industry leadership titles were infiltrating private equity? The truth is somewhat more mundane, albeit practical. Its really to clarify whosThe title of managing partner has been diluted at a lot of other firms, Ruder said. Theres basically this title inflation across the industry. There are firms that we would count in our peer group that have multiple pages of managing partners.Digital backboneWhen TechCrunch chatted with Ruder way back in 2017, a core focus of the conversation centered on private equitys growing attraction to the tech sector. This was off the back of a swath of high-profile take-private deals. In the intervening years, Permira itself has snapped up a number of public tech firms in multi-billion dollar transactions. This includes email security company Mimecast, which Permira bought for $5.8 billion in 2022, and customer communication platform Zendesk, which went private the same year in a $10.2 billion deal led by Permira and Hellman & Friedman.Fast forward to today, and Permira says its funds have invested some $28 billion in 80 technology companies through the years, spanning everything from SaaS and cybersecurity, to fintech and online marketplaces. The company is also now being led by Ruder who co-led the companys tech investment team from 2008 and Patel, who was also on Permiras technology team from 2009 to 2018 before moving to the consumer side.So is Permira really all about tech now?Weve always been a growth-centric, growth at scale, private equity firm, Ruder said. Its not exclusively tech, but tech and I mean digital across the board is the predominant share of all that market, so very naturally, during the firms 40-year history weve become very tech-centric. The way we phrase it is that we have this core digital backbone that goes through all of our strategies.So even though Permira separates out its investment strategies by verticals, the every company is a software company mantra, while clichd, rings truer than ever.Take luxury footwear brand Golden Goose, which Permira aquired for $1.3 billion in 2020. You wouldnt call it a tech company per se, but technology is central to how it operates. As part of its push to rely less on multi-brand retailers, its pursuit of direct-to-consumer (D2C) strategies is paying dividends for the company, which has attributed a sales surge to this new D2C approach.Much of what Golden Goose has pivoted to during our investment period with them is online, Ruder said. So even accessing the online avenues and channels for businesses that we wouldnt consider to be tech businesses, is a big part of what were doing across the board.Permiras largest take-private tech deal of 2024 is another example, and it involves a company most people probably havent heard of. Adevinta, which the Norwegian media group Schibstedspun outin 2019, controls dozens of online marketplaces across Europe and the Americas a figure boosted after itacquired eBays classifieds business for $9.2 billionin 2020. Theres little question Adevinta is an operator of digital brands, but how such consumer brands acquire new users requires a distinct level of expertise to that of, say, deep enterprise tech.Its a collection of some of the best classifieds assets, Ruder said. And the plan is to very much focus on running the individual classifieds businesses in the best possible way for their geography and vertical. I have built a management team thats able to do that, and been really happy with the caliber of team that weve been able to build with that in mind. These are long term, very high double-digit growth markets.AI with everythingNaturally, Permira is also very focused on AI, but its not likely to be investing in some pre-IPO juggernaut like OpenAI or Anthropic. Instead its focused on and learning from how AI is being applied across its portfolio.Zendesk, for example, was already embracing AI before Permira & Co. took it private two years ago, but the surge in generative AI has really spurred Zendesk into action. Earlier this year, Zendesk acquired Ultimate to bring AI agents into the mix. It also acquired AI-enabled quality assurance (QA) startup Klaus. The company has also replaced many senior executives, including co-founder and CEO Mikkel Svane, who made way for Permira partner Tom Eggemeier in 2022. Since then, Zendesk has appointed a new CIO and CFO, while a new head of engineering and AI, Shashi Upadhyay, joined from Google this month.With Zendesk, we have really lent into the generative AI world, Ryan Lanpher, Zendesk board member and Permiras new co-head of tech, told TechCrunch. Were seeing tremendous adoption from our customer base. Zendesks traditional customer base were already digital native and early adopters. We think Zendesk is one of the fastest growing AI businesses out there at this point.Its impossible to discuss AI without mentioning cloud computing, two domains that are highly synergistic and complementary. Just as cloud computing boosted software, enabling new business models with higher scale and margins, Ruder reckons AI will also create a similar tailwind.We think AI is going to be another step function like that, Ruder said, adding that this will require companies to more fully embrace the cloud.Across all industries, were seeing CEOs asking their CIOs what theyreSquare dealAs with Zendesk, website builder Squarespace was already starting to embrace AI before Permira came calling, recently launching a new suite generative AI tools dubbed design intelligence.Permira first revealed plans toacquire Squarespace in May at an enterprise valuation of $6.9 billion. Soon after, an advisory firm recommended that Squarespace shareholders reject the offer, particularly as Squarespaces financial performance was in the ascendency and its outlook was strong. Ultimately, Permira had to up its offer to around $7.2 billion.Some 18 months previous, however, Squarespaces market cap was roughly half that, suggesting that Permira might have missed out on a bargain. But thats just not how it works with big, publicly-traded businesses such as this.To make a transaction at the scale of Squarepace, its got to be the right time both for us and the company, Ruder said. Especially for public companies you cant buy those companies at the low-end, as its very hard to get boards to transact there. And justifiably so it doesnt make a lot of sense for those boards to want to sell unless the companys in distress. And the quality businesses that we invest in are very rarely at the point where theyre in distress.Squarespaces original founder and CEO, Anthony Casalena, is also staying firmly in place. For a company that has been around for some 20 years, making a return trip to the public market, it would seem unusual that a private equity firm wouldnt look to shake things up at the top. But this is where Ruder stresses that while some private equity firms are all about salvaging companies in trouble, its focus lies in procuring quality assets that are fundamentally healthy. As such, the majority of the investments it has made from its current buyout fund involve the founder in some way.Our strategy is to find best product in really good markets and back that, Ruder said. The vast majority of private equity on our scale is all about maximizing EBITDA margins in the near-term, but we are believers that we can generate better return to the power of compounding behind great unit economics. And that approach tends to be very appealing to people who care about where their businesses go. And for that reason, we kind of gravitate into situations where weve got founders.