Thunderful Gothenberg rebrands as Stormteller Games"Our approach now is we try to take the best parts of both studios as we move forward," says studio headImage credit: Stormteller Games News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Feb. 13, 2025 Thunderful Gothenberg has now rebranded as Stormteller Games.Thunderful Gothenburg was formed when Image & Form and Zoink! Games merged in 2017, but has now been renamed to "make sure it represents everyone in the studio."The first on the new brand's slate is Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, which is due to release later this year.One thing weve done that has been quite great over the past year - and its basically taken a year to get to this point - is that we involved everybody, to make sure it represents everyone in the studio," studio head Johan Petersson told GamesBeat."We started back last spring, just brainstorming with everybody who wanted to be part of this. And it was clear pretty early that they wanted to tie it back to Gothenburg.Our approach now is we try to take the best parts of both studios as we move forward. One of the things Ive always been really adamant about is making sure we have a sustainable approach to making games, so making sure we dont end up with crunch in the end We also approach games gameplay first, so kind of iterating until we find the fun in the games were making."The news comes on the heels of Jumpship co-founder Dino Patti reacquiring the studio following layoffs at Thunderful last November, in addition to obtaining shares in Viewfinder developer Sad Owl Studios.

Justin Carter, Contributing EditorFebruary 13, 20253 Min ReadImage via UbisoftAt a GlanceCost cutting is pacing "ahead of schedule" and have led to 4 studio closures in "high-cost" cities and 3 restructuringsUbisoft's program has cut 200 million in costs, with a plan to surpass that "initial target by a significant margin" in FY26Q3 net bookings fell 52% yoy, though Ubisoft expects its March 20 Assassin's Creed Shadows launch to drive yoy growth in Q4Ubisoft's financial report for the nine month period ending December 31, 2024 is out, with the French developer and publisher shining a spotlight on its upcoming Assassin's Creed title as well as the state of the ongoing cost reduction drive that's seen several studio closures and restructurings already, with more changes seemingly still on the way.These cost reductions build on plans and processes detailed earlier into 2025 to "reshape the group" with the goal of improving Ubisoft's operational efficiency, value creation, and player experiences. According to today's press release detailing the Q3 results, those efforts are pacing "ahead of schedule" due in part to Ubisoft shuttering of its San Francisco, Osaka teams, and "targeted restructurings" across its European offshoots in Leavington, Stockholm, and Newcastle.Those layoffs and closures, in addition to other measures taken by the company, have put the company well on its way to hitting the 200 million fixed cost base reduction goal set forth , so much CEO Yves Guillemot now says the company plans to significantly surpass its original target and further reduce costs into the 2025-2026 financial year kicking off this April."As a result of disciplined execution, we have announced further targeted restructurings, making difficult but necessary choices, and now expect to exceed our cost reduction objective by the end of FY25, ahead of schedule," reads a statement from Guillemot. "We plan to pursue our efforts in FY26, going beyond the initial target by a significant margin."Ubisoft prepares for Assassin's Creed and an uncertain futureFinancially, Ubisoft's bookings for the third quarter of the 2024-2025 financial year are in line with its previously revised expectations. Quarterly bookings were 301.8 million, down 52 percent year-over-year and just 1.8 million over that revised target. Meanwhile, bookings for the full nine-month period were 944 million, down nearly 35 percent year-over-year.Looking forward to the final quarter of the 2024-2025 year, Ubisoft expects those last few months to bring the full year's net bookings up to around 1.9 billion. Guillemot added that the developer is "fully focused" on Assassin's Creed: Shadows ahead of its March 20 release. The action-stealth game has been delayed twice and stands as Ubisoft's next core title following after 2024's launch of Star Wars Outlaws."I want to commend the incredible talent and dedication of the entire Assassins Creeds team, who is working tirelessly to ensure that Shadows delivers on the promise of what is the franchises most ambitious entry yet," he said.In January, Ubisoft told investors it would take "decisive steps" to change the company and put a focus on "delivering best-in-class player experiences, enhance operational efficiency and maximize value creation." The cost reduction programs are part of said efficiency, as is improving the quality of releases like Outlaws via post-launch updates.Guillemot also touched on the review process of its "strategic options" discussed in January. The process, which came after reports of the Guillemot family exploring a potential buyout with Tencent, remains "ongoing.""Ultimately, the objective is to unlock the best value from our assets for our stakeholders and to foster the best conditions to create great games in a fast-evolving market," he explained. "We are convinced there are different potential paths to achieve this ambition."Read more about:UbisoftFinancialsAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Justin Carter, Contributing EditorFebruary 13, 20252 Min ReadImage via Blizzard Entertainment.At a GlanceBlizzard is bringing back the controversial loot boxes for Overwatch 2, and reintroducing parts of its once-planned PvE mode.On February 18, Overwatch 2's Season 15 will bring loot boxes back so players can "earn a variety of cosmetics" for weekly and event in-game rewards.As Blizzard Entertainment explains it, the loot boxes will be transparent and players their chances of obtaining cosmetics. The developer said each box will feature an in-game item with a value of Rare or higher, an Epic item within five consecutive boxes, and a Legendary within 20 consecutive boxes.The original Overwatch featured random-chance loot boxes as part of its monetization model, wherein players could spend real money on the digital items. While profitable for Activision Blizzard, some like the Belgian government considered this a potential form of gambling. Blizzard later removed paid loot boxes from versions of the hero shooter sold in both Belgium and China.In 2022, the developer eliminated paid loot boxes from all versions of the game, and made it so players could solely earn them through leveling up via gameplay rather than spending money. Since launch, Overwatch 2 has featured an in-game shop that explicitly shows players what they're buying, and has a rotating selection of items to purchase.Blizzard's blog does not mention how much players can spend on loot boxes, or how this will affect the game's seasonal rewards going forward.New year, new Overwatch 2What else is changing in Overwatch 2? In a 30-minute video, Blizzard outlined a series of changes and updates to come, with the most significant being Perks.These Hero-specific bonuses come after a Hero has leveled up mid-match. The first level up will feature "lighter upgrades" like cooldowns or passives, and the second will include major "gameplay-shifting perks." As an example, Torbjorn players will have the option to choose between setting turrets on walls and ceilings or calling in a single, Level 3 turret.Pre-release, Overwatch 2's much-touted PvE mode would have let players level up their Heroes and upgrade them with in-game perks, which this new system appears to be a rework of. Blizzard has since begun incorporating elements from that scrapped mode, such as seasonal story missions, into the hero shooter.This will also sound familiar to those who play Apex Legends, which featured a similar mid-match leveling system with its 20th Season in early 2024.More information on Overwatch 2's upcoming changes, including the next two Heroes, can be read here.Read more about:[Company] Activision BlizzardAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Valentines Day and Presidents Day are happening on the same weekend this year, meaning there are plenty of sales to take advantage of between the two of them. Thankfully, if youre looking to get ahead, Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers are already discounting plenty of tech, including some of the items we fawn over at The Verge.RelatedRight now, for instance, Apple devices like the second-gen AirPods Pro and Apple Watch Series 10 are seeing some of their best prices to date. You can also find discounts on terrific noise-canceling headphones like Sonys WH-1000XM5, smart home devices like the Blink Mini 2 security camera, Amazon devices like the newest Kindle Paperwhite, and more. Were updating this post as new offers appear throughout the week, so keep checking back for the latest deals and discounts.In this articleFeatured dealsApple AirPods Pro (second-gen) with USB-C charging case$169$24932% off$169The second-gen AirPods Pro improve upon Apples original pair with much better noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and onboard volume controls. The latest refresh also ships with a USB-C charging case, as opposed to Lightning.AirPods 4$100$12922% off$100Apples new AirPods 4 are the latest update to its base-model wireless earbuds. The hard plastic buds should have improved audio quality and spatial audio with head tracking for the first time.Kindle Paperwhite (2024)$135$16016% off$135Amazons latest Paperwhite features a larger seven-inch display and noticeably faster performance. It also boasts longer battery life than the previous model, retains IPX8 waterproofing, and includes a USB-C port. Read our review.Amazon Blink Mini 2$20$4050% off$20The 1080p Blink Mini now features weather resistance so you can use it both indoors and outside, while continuing to offer a ball-and-socket mount so you can mount it to the wall. However, youll need to pay $3 a month for the optional Blink subscription plan if you want to use cloud storage and features like person detection. Read our review.Beats Solo 4$100$20050% off$100With lossless USB-C audio, 50 hours of battery life, Find My support, spatial audio, and comfy ear cups, the Beats Solo 4 gained significant quality-of-life improvements over their eight-year-old predecessors. They still deliver that bass-rich Beats sound, too. Read our review.Hisense U8N (2024)$878$150041% off$878Hisenses 2024 U8N Mini LED TV runs on Googles excellent TV software, boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, and offers up to 3,000 nits of brightness. And now through February 17th, the 65-inch version is down to $878.39 ($622 off) at eBay with promo code PREZ20, which is a new low.$878 at eBay (with code PREZ20)$950 at Amazon (65-inch)The best Apple dealsApple Watch Series 10$329$39918% off$329The Apple Watch Series 10 has a larger, wide-angle OLED display with up to 30 percent more screen area. Its thinner and lighter than its predecessors, yet it charges faster and features the same fitness and wellness features. Read our review.You can get a 10th-gen iPad for $279 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which is $30 more than its lowest price to date. Apples entry-level tablet uses an A14 Bionic chipset and offers a 10.9-inch display thats roomy enough for almost any task you can carry out on it. Although you might want a higher-end model for 4K editing and heavier workloads, the entry-level iPad is great for almost any other moderate need, including browsing, streaming, and doodling (its compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil and the newer USB-C model). It can even handle some light gaming. Read our review.Apple AirPods Max$449$54918% off$449Apples AirPods Max feature exemplary build quality, sound phenomenal, and keep up with the best at noise cancellation. Read our review.You can grab a four-pack of AirTags for $69.99 ($30 off) at Amazon and Best Buy right now, which matches the bundles best price to date. Apples ultra wideband trackers are our No. 1 pick for iPhone users, as they allow you to track your keys, bag, and other belongings within inches of their location using Apples extensive Find My network. They also feature replaceable batteries, carry an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and offer tracking alerts to help prevent stalking. Hell, you can even now share their location with a handful of airlines, courtesy of a recent iOS 18 update. Read our original review.13-inch MacBook Air with M3 (2024)$899$109918% off$899The MacBook Air M3 is a jack-of-all-trades, with a balanced combination of performance and power efficiency. It also now supports dual displays with the lid closed, and the storage speed is noticeably faster. You dont need to think about whether this laptop will meet your needs it just will. Read our review.$899 at Best Buy (16GB / 256GB)The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD is down to $749 ($250 off) at Amazon and is $50 more at Best Buy. The last-gen Air is still a great laptop for most people, especially now that it starts with 16GB of RAM. That gives it enough memory to handle macOS Sequoias AI-based Apple Intelligence features, along with enough power for light video, photo, and audio work. Its also noticeably lighter than the MacBook Pro, yet it still lasts all day thanks to the efficiency of Apples M2 chip.Sony WH-1000XM5$262$40035% off$262With improved comfort, refined sound, and even better active noise cancellation compared to the previous-gen model, Sonys WH-1000XM5 offer a compelling mix of features for the price. Now through February 17th, you can buy the headphones for $262.40 with promo code PREZ20 from BuyDigs eBay storefront. Read our review.Sonys WH-1000XM4 are available for $199.99 from BuyDigs eBay storefront with offer code PREZ20. BuyDig is a reputable outlet, but if you prefer to buy the headphones from a well-known retailer, you can also buy them for $249.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. The last-gen pair of headphones remain a solid alternative to the XM5 thanks to their fantastic noise cancellation and overall call quality. They last up to 30 hours per charge, support Google Fast Pair and Find My on Android devices, and feature multipoint Bluetooth connectivity. They also support 360-degree spatial audio and, unlike the latest model, tout a foldable design thats far more portable. Read our review.Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$349$42919% off$349Boses latest flagship headphones are a replacement for the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 that offer a more travel-friendly design, spatial audio, better call quality, excellent comfort, and some of the best noise cancellation around. Read our review.Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$249$29917% off$249With dynamic, rich sound and the best noise cancellation available in true wireless earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are a terrific pick if you want to listen to your music in peace. Read our review.The Bose QuietComfort Headphones are down to $249 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Boses online storefront. The midrange headphones are the spiritual successor to the Bose QuietComfort 45, offering similar audio quality but more granular control over ANC and ambient passthrough levels. They don a similar design and form factor to the QC45, too, which as its namesake teases prioritizes comfort.The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are matching their all-time low of $229 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Bose. Theyre a solid pair of wireless earbuds if you want to enjoy music without completely plugging your ear canals. Unlike bone-conduction headphones, which send vibrations through your skull for similar open-ear benefits, the Open Earbuds clip onto your ear lobe. Boses so-called OpenAudio technology then directs audio toward your eardrums. Theyre an interesting alternative that might be more ideal for workouts than other products, but by nature, they dont perform as well as traditional earbuds. Read our review.Beats Studio Pro$180$35049% off$180The new Beats Studio Pro feature improved noise cancellation, sound quality, and comfort. They also support lossless audio over USB-C, making them the first Apple headphones to do so. Read our review.Sonos Ace$349$44922% off$349The Sonos Ace are the companys first set of wireless headphones. They feature a premium, comfortable build and active noise cancellation, along with compatibility with Sonos Arc and other Sonos soundbars. Read our review.Now through February 17th, Ankers Soundcore Sport X10 are on sale for $55.99 ($14 off) just $5 shy of their all-time low when you buy them from Ankers eBay storefront and use offer code PREZ20 at checkout. Despite being an older model, the Sport X10 remain a great pair of budget-friendly workout earbuds with flexible ear hooks, a robust IPX7 rating for water and sweat resistance, and powerful bass. Theyre certainly not on par with something like the Powerbeats Pro 2, but theyre a solid gym pick for the price.Anker Soundcore Sleep A20$120$15020% off$120Ankers Soundcore Sleep A20 are sleep buds that block external sounds, allow you to play Bluetooth audio and white noise, and tracks your sleep. Now through February 17th, you can buy the buds for their all-time low of $119.99 ($30 off) from Ankers eBay storefront with code PREZ20.Read our review.Best speaker dealsBose SoundLink Max$329$39918% off$329Boses SoundLink Max improves on the smaller flex with true stereo sound and very powerful sound at that. Its got a removable handle for easy transport, and theres an aux input for playing audio when you want to listen at a higher quality than what Bluetooth can deliver. Read our review.You can get the Bose SoundLink Flex (second-gen) for $129 ($20 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Bose, which is about $12 more than its lowest price to date. The portable Bluetooth speaker is water and dust-resistant, said to be rugged enough to withstand drops, lasts up to 12 hours per charge, and allows you to pair it with another for stereo playback. Its flat profile makes it easy to slip into a bag, but you can also use the integrated strap to attach it using a carabiner or other means.You can buy a standalone Echo Pop for $29.99 ($10 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, or pick it up with a heart-themed faceplate and sleeve for $40.98 ($23 off) at Amazon. Thats nowhere near the lowest price weve seen on either configuration weve seen it drop to $18 in the past but it is the first time Amazons entry-level smart speaker has gone on sale since the holidays. It delivers good sound for its size, doubles as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender, and offers a lot of Alexa-based smarts, allowing you to control various smart devices with your voice, check sports scores, set alarms, and more. Read our review.The best smart home dealsRing Battery Doorbell (2024)$60$10040% off$60The 1080p camera on the 2024 Ring Battery Doorbell has improved color night vision and a taller head-to-toe field-of-view for package detection than the previous model. The video doorbell also has better battery life and new push-pin dismounting.You can grab a Blink Outdoor 4 with a Sync Module 2 for $69.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and The Home Depot. Thats not as good as the bundles previous price tag of $40, but its still decent for a wireless security camera that can work in the elements. The 1080p camera offers all the essentials needed to monitor areas inside or outside your home, including night vision, two-way video, and motion detection support with person detection (if you pay the $3 monthly fee). It builds on its predecessor with a broader field of view, too, so you can see more of its coverage area.Amazons latest Echo Show 5 is on sale for $69.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which is its third-best price to date. The smart display offers better sound and mics than its predecessor while retaining its small, 5.5-inch footprint, which makes it a great bedside alarm clock. As an Alexa-enabled smart display, you can also use it to control other smart home devices with your voice, like your lights.The Mill Food Recycler is on sale for $874 ($125 off) directly from Mill, which is one of its best prices to date. The smart trash can is designed to grind food scraps and convert them into chicken food, which you can then either ship to Washington state or use yourself. The latest model can process 40 pounds of leftovers and is slightly faster than the first-gen iteration we tested, too, allowing you to create a coffee ground-like substance in two and a half hours as opposed to 10. Best streaming device and TV dealsAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023)$35$6042% off$35Amazons latest streaming stick is faster than its predecessor with Wi-Fi 6E and double the storage. It also now displays widgets and artwork when idle while continuing to offer Alexa integration.Amazons Fire TV Stick 4K is down to $29.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Kohls, which is its second-best price to date. The streaming device is similar to the aforementioned 4K Max, only it has half the storage at 8GB, a slightly slower Wi-Fi 6E radio, and comes with Amazons older Alexa Voice Remote. Otherwise, it offers the same user experience, complete with support for HDR10 Plus, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos formats.You can get LGs 48-inch B4 for $599.99 ($200 off) at Best Buy, which is an all-time low. Although its not the ideal size for the living room that would probably be 65 inches, in our opinion its likely the cheapest youll be able to find a newer OLED panel. Its especially rare to find one so cheap with gaming features like a native 120Hz refresh rate and variable refresh rate with auto low-latency mode. It runs LGs maturing webOS user experience, too, which lets you use the motion-activated Magic Remote to find content or control your smart home via Alexa or Google Assistant.The best gaming dealsPersona 3 Reload$25$7064% off$25Persona 3 Reload is an excellent remake of the PS2 classic that helped spring the series into popularity. It modernizes the RPG with new visuals and mechanics that make it look more like Persona 5, while retaining an excellent story that invites you to question your lifes meaning. Read our review.NBA 2K25 is down to $24.99 ($45 off) an all-time low at Amazon for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X / S (you can also get it for $19.99 for the Nintendo Switch). The current promo on the basketball simulator comes just in time for the NBA all-star weekend. Its updated within days of the league-wide roster changes, with realistic lineups reflected across Play Now and GM modes. You can also build a fantasy squad through MyTeams collectible card experience, or create a MyPlayer character to act out your own rags to riches story in the NBA.The 49-inch Odyssey G95SD OLED is available for $1,499.99 ($400 off) from Samsungs online store. Thats a record-low price on Samsungs newest G9 monitor, though you can get the similarly impressive G95SC from 2023 for $1,099 ($700 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The QHD-equivalent, ultra-wide curved OLED monitors sport a 240Hz refresh rate and a .03-millisecond response time. The glare-free panel should make it a blast for playing games in most lighting conditions, while adaptive brightness tech detects static on-screen elements and lowers the local brightness to protect the display from burn-in. Both models also feature an RGB ring on the rear that can change dynamically based on whats happening in your game.You can get the 55-inch Samsung Odyssey Ark (second-gen) for $1,799.99 ($900 off) at Best Buy, B&H Photo, and direct from Samsung. Its an absolutely unhinged 4K Mini-LED curved display that supports up to 165Hz refresh rate, and you can flip it vertically into cockpit mode for a new perspective while gaming or for whatever hardcore productivity needs you might have. Also aiding your productivity is an improved Multi View feature that lets you view up to four independent HDMI or DisplayPort sources simultaneously. It includes a built-in KVM switch and a dedicated control dial for managing its various settings.Good deals on other gadgets and goodsKindle Colorsoft Signature Edition$230$28018% off$230The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is Amazons first e-reader with a color display. It also boasts 32GB of storage, waterproofing, and support for wireless charging. Read our review.$230 at Amazon $230 at Best BuyThe Fitbit Charge 6 is on sale at Amazon in white for $115.95 ($44 off), which is one of the better prices weve seen in recent months. (Other colors are also on sale for $129.95 at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store). The Charge 6 is one of our favorite fitness trackers, especially of the many Fitbit options, and offers the unique ability to pair with certain gym equipment via Bluetooth. It also offers turn-by-turn navigation via Google Maps, NFC payments, and a vibrant OLED panel, though be forewarned that the always-on display is a major drain on battery life. Read our review.Amazon is currently discounting many of its Fire HD tablets, including the latest Fire HD 8, which is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy with ads and 32GB of storage starting at $64.99 ($35 off). It cant compare to higher-end models from Apple and Google, but the 8-inch tablet is a decent Alexa-enabled device if you just need something basic for playing games, streaming, reading, and consuming other forms of entertainment.Google Pixel 8$399$69943% off$399The last-gen Pixel 8 comes with just a couple of key upgrades over 2022s Pixel 7, and it misses out on several higher-end features on the 8 Pro, like a telephoto lens. But its combination of price, features, and the promise of seven years of OS updates makes it one of the best mainstream Android phones. Read our review.A number of Pixel devices are currently matching their lowest price to date. Right now, for instance, you can grab the 6.3-inch Pixel 9 at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store starting at $649 ($150 off). The Pixel 9 features the same 120Hz OLED display and excellent software policy as the aforementioned Pixel 8, only it runs on Googles newer Tensor G4 processor. It also offers a better camera system, a larger battery, and 12GB of RAM as opposed to 8GB, which are some of the reasons we consider it to be the best Android phone for most people. Read our review.Update, February 13th: Updated pricing and added several new deals, including those for the Beats Solo 4, Hisenses U8N TV, the Kindle Colorsoft, and more.See More:

If youre on the market for an excellent Android phone, multiple retailers are offering some of the best prices weve seen on some of Googles devices.The last-gen Pixel 8 (8GB RAM/128GB storage) starts at $399 ($300 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, for example, but the real highlight is the Pixel 9 lineup. Right now, the Pixel 9 (12GB RAM/128GB storage) starts at $649 ($150 off) at Google, Amazon, and Best Buy, while the Pixel 9 Pro (Best Buy, Google) and Pixel 9 Pro XL (Amazon, Best Buy, and Google) with 16GB of RAM and 128GB of storage are both $200 off at $799 and $899, respectively.RelatedIf youre on a tight budget, Googles 6.2-inch Pixel 8 could be worth a look. Like the Pixel 9 devices, it offers seven years of software support and 120Hz display. It also boasts wireless charging and an IP68 rating for protection against water immersion. The camera system isnt quite as great as the Pixel 9s, but its still very good for $399.Google Pixel 8$399$69943% off$399The last-gen Pixel 8 comes with just a couple of key upgrades over 2022s Pixel 7, and it misses out on several higher-end features on the 8 Pro, like a telephoto lens. But its combination of price, features, and the promise of seven years of OS updates makes it one of the best mainstream Android phones. Read our review.If you can afford to spend a bit more, though, the Google Pixel 9 is the Android phone wed recommend most people buy. The 6.3-inch phone offers a 120Hz OLED display too, but it also comes with 12GB of RAM and runs on the faster Tensor G4 processor. Its dual rear camera system is more advanced than the Pixel 8As, with an improved 48-megapixel ultrawide sensor and better low-light performance. Like the Pixel 9 Pro devices, the phone also offers a slightly more robust IP68 dust and water resistance rating.Google Pixel 9$649$79919% off$649Googles Pixel 9 has a slightly larger 6.3-inch OLED display than its predecessor, along with a Tensor G4 processor, a bigger battery, 12GB of RAM, and a dual rear camera setup with a new 48-megapixel sensor for its ultrawide.Finally, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are the most capable phones in the Pixel 9 lineup. They offer 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, along with a third rear camera (a 48-megapixel telephoto). Both offer sharper and brighter screens and 8K video recording as well. The main difference, though, is that the Pixel Pro XL offers a larger 6.8-inch OLED display, faster wired charging, and a bigger, 5,060mAh battery.Google Pixel 9 Pro (128GB)$799$99920% off$799The Pixel 9 Pro is available in a smaller size than Googles previous pro-grade phones. It has the latest Tensor processor, a 6.3-inch OLED screen, a triple-camera setup like previous models, and a new 42-megapixel front camera.Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (128GB)$899$109918% off$899The Pixel 9 Pro XL, the largest slab version of the new Pixel, features a larger 6.8-inch OLED display than the Pixel 8 Pro its replacing. Otherwise, its similar to the smaller Pixel 9 Pro, only with the addition of faster 45W wired charging.See More:

The dominant approach to pretraining large language models (LLMs) relies on next-token prediction, which has proven effective in capturing linguistic patterns. However, this method comes with notable limitations. Language tokens often convey surface-level information, requiring models to process vast amounts of data to develop deeper reasoning capabilities. Additionally, token-based learning struggles with capturing long-term dependencies, making tasks that require planning and abstraction more difficult. Researchers have explored alternative strategies, such as knowledge distillation and structured input augmentation, but these approaches have not fully addressed the limitations of token-based learning. This raises an important question: Can LLMs be trained in a way that combines token-level processing with conceptual understanding? Meta AI introduces Continuous Concept Mixing (CoCoMix) as a potential solution.CoCoMix: A Different Approach to PretrainingCoCoMix integrates token prediction with the modeling of continuous concepts derived from hidden states of a pretrained model. The method employs a Sparse Autoencoder (SAE) to extract high-level semantic representations, which are then incorporated into the training process by interleaving them with token embeddings. This design allows the model to maintain the benefits of token-based learning while enhancing its ability to recognize and process broader conceptual structures. By enriching the token-based paradigm with concept-level information, CoCoMix aims to improve reasoning efficiency and model interpretability.Technical Details and BenefitsCoCoMix operates through three main components:Concept Extraction via Sparse Autoencoders (SAEs): A pretrained SAE identifies latent semantic features from a models hidden states, capturing information that extends beyond individual tokens.Concept Selection with Attribution Scoring: Not all extracted concepts contribute equally to predictions. CoCoMix employs attribution methods to determine which concepts are most influential and should be retained.Interleaving Continuous Concepts with Token Representations: The selected concepts are compressed into a continuous vector and integrated into the hidden states alongside token embeddings, allowing the model to utilize both token-level and conceptual information.This approach improves sample efficiency, enabling models to achieve comparable performance with fewer training tokens. Additionally, CoCoMix enhances interpretability by making it possible to inspect and adjust the extracted concepts, offering a clearer view of how the model processes information.Performance and EvaluationMeta AI evaluated CoCoMix across multiple benchmarks, including OpenWebText, LAMBADA, WikiText-103, HellaSwag, PIQA, SIQA, Arc-Easy, and WinoGrande. The findings indicate:Improved Sample Efficiency: CoCoMix matches the performance of next-token prediction while requiring 21.5% fewer training tokens.Enhanced Generalization: Across various model sizes (69M, 386M, and 1.38B parameters), CoCoMix demonstrated consistent improvements in downstream task performance.Effective Knowledge Transfer: CoCoMix supports knowledge transfer from smaller models to larger ones, outperforming traditional knowledge distillation techniques.Greater Interpretability: The integration of continuous concepts allows for greater control and transparency in model decision-making, providing a clearer understanding of its internal processes.ConclusionCoCoMix presents an alternative approach to LLM pretraining by combining token prediction with concept-based reasoning. By incorporating structured representations extracted via SAEs, CoCoMix enhances efficiency and interpretability without disrupting the underlying next-token prediction framework. Experimental results suggest that this method provides a balanced way to improve language model training, particularly in areas requiring structured reasoning and transparent decision-making. Future research may focus on refining concept extraction methods and further integrating continuous representations into pretraining workflows.Check outthePaper and GitHub Page.All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,feel free to follow us onTwitterand dont forget to join our75k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqWebsite| + postsBioAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.Asif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Convergence Labs Introduces the Large Memory Model (LM2): A Memory-Augmented Transformer Architecture Designed to Address Long Context Reasoning ChallengesAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/OpenAI Introduces Competitive Programming with Large Reasoning ModelsAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/A Step-by-Step Tutorial on Robustly Validating and Structuring User, Product, and Order Data with Pydantic in PythonAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Shanghai AI Lab Releases OREAL-7B and OREAL-32B: Advancing Mathematical Reasoning with Outcome Reward-Based Reinforcement Learning [Recommended] Join Our Telegram Channel

Beginner GPT-4 Prompting For Surprisingly Easy Maps and Reports 0 like February 13, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): John Loewen, PhD Originally published on Towards AI. No-code prompts for rapid data visualization reportingThis member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.As a computer science professor of 20+ years, I have heaps of experience in writing Python code for data visualizations.Until recently, the art of creating beautiful data visualizations was reserved for full-on computer programmers and data analysts.This has changed with the new data analysis tools that are built in to the GPT-4 chat interface. You can now create maps and charts and integrate them into a PDF report all from the main interface without having to write a single line of code.It all starts with the upload of a data file (for example, a CSV or XLS) and you prompt GPT-4 to do the rest.How, you ask? Lets do it together, starting with a simple dataset.Lets get off the ground running by downloading an interesting and relevant data set.Our World in Data has oodles of datasets on global development statistics. This includes a dataset on civil liberties that is called the Human Rights Index.Now GPT-4 cannot download data files for us, at least not as of today. I am hoping this is an update in future versions of this LLM.You can initiate the download (in XSLX or Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

This Black Friday deal is back for 2025. Amazon has just dropped the price of the current generation Apple iPad Pro tablets: the 11" model starts at $849 after $150 in discounts and the 13" model starts at $1099 after $200 in discounts. These prices match the best deals we saw during Black Friday. The new iPad Pro was released on May 15, 2024, and boasts significant upgrades over its predecessor including a powerful M4 chip and a gorgeous tandem OLED display.Up to $200 Off 2024 Apple iPad M4Newest ModelApple iPad Pro 11-Inch (M4) 256GBNewest ModelApple iPad Pro 13-Inch (M4) 256GBIn our 2024 iPad Pro M4 review, Jacqueline Thomas wrote, "For creative professionals, the 2024 iPad Pro is the most powerful tablet on the market and is going to shine if your work revolves around a touchscreen. For the rest of us, though, the iPad Pro is simply the most beautiful display you'll find in a tablet, with hardware that's powerful enough to be a top-end device for years to come."The 2024 iPad Pro is the best tablet on the market, iOS or otherwise, thanks to the new M4 processor which is both powerful and power efficient. Compared to the previous generation iPad M2, it performs about 20% better. However, the biggest update of the iPad Pro is not the M4 chip, but instead the tandem OLED panel which hadn't previously been seen on an Apple product. Tandem OLED is better than traditional OLED in two ways: 1) it's far brighter, and 2) it's less prone to burn-in. If you're wondering why this technology hasn't found its way into TVs, the answer is simply because it's not cost-effective at larger sizes. The iPad can get away with it because the 11" screen is much smaller, but that's also a major reason why the iPad Pro is priced considerably higher than the other iPads in Apple's 2024 lineup.Looking for more iPad resources?If you're not sure which iPad is best for you, we have an iPad guide which details which iPad is ideal for which use case. If you intend want to get an iPad for schoolwork, we have an iPad guide for students as well. If you're looking for options outside of iOS, check out the best Android tablets of 2025.Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

While OLED gaming monitors have dominated the headlines over the last year, another technology has quietly been gaining steam and appears ready to hit the mainstream. The BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX goes with a mini-LED display that sidesteps the burn-in risks of OLED and offers incredibly bright and vibrant 4K image quality and promising HDR. Retailing for $1,100, however, I wish it came better dialed-in out of the box.BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX Design and FeaturesBenQ compares the Mobiuz EX321UX design to a spaceship with its large 31.5-inch display housed in a white frame that contours along its back edge like a hull. The stand equally embraces those design sensibilities, connecting in the center of a vented hexagonal cut-out that also houses the I/O. Its not gaudy or overdone, though, just stylized.Its size is imposing, but is just about perfect for the experience BenQ promised to deliver. It uses a 4K (3840x2160) IPS panel backed with a dense array of mini-LEDs for impressive brightness and 1,152 local dimming zones. Theres also a quantum dot layer for richer colors and enhanced brightness.In my experience, 32 inches is the sweet spot for 4K resolution in a monitor. When you are working with a 16:9 aspect ratio, it comes close to feeling like a big screen gaming experience without forcing you to rework your desktop setup or invest in a monitor mount to scrape an extra few inches of viewing distance. Anyone who has used a 40-inch or greater monitor or TV with their PC will know what I mean. The EX321UX, on the other hand, is big without being too big. It might feel that way at first but give it a couple of days and you may just come to love it.This mini-LED IPS display has a lot to offer without the drawbacks of OLED.On paper, the Mobiuz has a lot going for it. It's rated for 700-nits SDR brightness on average, but is also DisplayHDR 1000 certified to express bright highlights at a full 1,000 nits. Its 1,152 local dimming zones create a dense web of dynamic contrast that allows it to display much deeper blacks than normal IPS monitors can achieve. Considered with its crisp 4K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 support, and built-in KVM, you have a recipe for a pretty killer display that doesnt run the risk of burn-in or looking dim in bright lighting.While OLED monitors have been all the rage for more than a year now, they have some pretty significant drawbacks that the EX321UX doesn't suffer from. Because every pixel is self-emitting, OLED monitors can decay at different rates leading to image retention (or burn-in). These displays also limit maximum brightness to prevent excess energy draw and limit heat which can also diminish the lifespan of the panels. While manufacturers have come a very long way in preventing burn-in and minimizing potential risks, its not impossible that your very expensive gaming monitor could wind up damaged and returned on a warranty claim if youre not careful.Such isnt the case with something like the Mobiuz EX321UX. While BenQ rates it for 700 nits in SDR, it can actually go significantly higher with custom settings. It's the first monitor I've tested where I run it at 40% brightness for day-to-day use. Turning it up much above halfway is downright eye-searing on any website or program that doesn't use a dark theme. It is able to run brighter at all times, regardless of picture preset or dynamic range setting, and can look stunning even in a brightly lit room. And burn-in is a non-issue that can be completely forgotten.Looking for the right GPU for 4K gaming?Our Top PickZotac Gaming Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 SuperThis RTX 4070 Super from Zotac is the best graphics card for most people, packed with an awesome dual-fan cooler and all the performance you'll need.See it at AmazonCheck out our roundup of the best graphics cards to buy right now!With the proper tuning, its local dimming feature also dramatically improves the dynamic range in both SDR and HDR. This comes with some trade-offs, however. I found that I had to manually adjust picture settings to make it as contrast-y as I prefer: not quite OLED level but better than IPS, VA, or anything but OLED (the next best thing, essentially). However, using some of its game-based picture presets can completely destroy any color, contrast, or brightness tuning you may have done because of this, it's important to create custom presets for different purposes within its OSD.One of the more unique tricks the Mobiuz EX321UX brings to the table is its so-called AI-based picture enhancements. These come into play with different presets for example, you can choose a Fantasy preset that amps up colors and is supposedly tuned for fantasy titles, like Avowed or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (my examples, not BenQs). Or, if youre more of a Starfield or Mass Effect fan, you can turn on the Sci-Fi picture preset, which dials back saturation and adjusts contrast. The included modes are intended to emphasize the vividness and saturation of certain colors as well as tailor contrast levels intelligently based on what it's perceiving in the scene. The aim is to leverage BenQs deep study of color profiles for hundreds of games and allow the Mobiuz EX321UX to deliver a tailored experience to what youre actually playing.The issue is that it doesnt always work well and color accuracy completely goes out the window. And though these presets may sound appealing for everyday use if youre a fan of really vibrant colors, I can only recommend that they be entirely avoided outside of gaming. On some of my animated desktop wallpapers, Fantasy in particular became way over saturated and needed to be dialed back (see the picture above). This isnt the intended use-case, so Ive tried not to hold this against it unfairly, but it didnt make the best first impression.For better, but still not perfect accuracy, sRGB or P3 modes should be used. Both modes trade local dimming for accuracy, however, so if you plan to use it outside of gaming, youll need to create a custom profile. Its easy enough to do, and because of how these presets and the AI contrast enhancement works, I would recommend doing that regardless. I have one for gaming and one for normal computer use sincetrying to use a single setting for both just winds up making everything look worse than it should.Around the back, it features a rich set of connectivity options. There are three HDMI 2.1 ports that are capable of running both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X at full 4K 120Hz. One of these even supports eARC for easy soundbar support, too. Theres also a DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR10, 40 Gbps) connection, but since the HDMI 2.1 ports offer higher bandwidth (48 Gbps), I would recommend sticking with them. Finally, it offers USB Type-C input with 65 watts of power delivery and a USB hub with three USB Type-A 3.2 ports and an extra USB Type-C.With such extensive connectivity options, the EX321UX is a great choice for consoles. Youll be able to play your games without limits, even connecting a soundbar with eARC which most monitors lack. The USB hub also comes with KVM functionality, allowing you to quickly swap inputs and bring your mouse and keyboard with you.Finally, we come to its stand and adjustability. It uses a tripod base with two long feet in the front and a smaller third one on the back for stability. Its adjustments are fairly basic with four inches of height adjustment, -5 to +15 degrees of tilt, and 15 degrees of swivel. Theres no pivot for use in portrait mode, and I was disappointed to see that there was no integrated cable management to keep things clean.BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX OSD and SoftwareThe Mobiuz EX321UX uses an on-screen display for all of its configuration options. Theres also a companion app called Color Shuttle that can be used to select color profiles for individual games, but its completely optional. With so many monitors offering downloadable software as an alternative to the OSD, I was surprised to find that the Mobiuz lacked it.Still, the built-in OSD is simple enough to navigate using the joystick on the bottom edge of the screen. All of the expected options are there, including an array of picture presets for HDR and SDR modes. You can adjust brightness and contrast, saturation, sharpness, and a handful of other settings to calibrate the monitor to your taste.BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX Monitor - OSDWhat's interesting is that, within these menus, you can save many different presets depending on what you would like to play BenQ calls these Scenarios. While you have your usual presets that can be saved in up to three slots, Scenarios allow you to switch basic settings like your preset and color mode for up to five different situations, labeled Alpha through Echo. For example, you might want a collection of settings that can be swapped quickly for each of your consoles and your PC. These can be tied to hotkeys and switched on the fly. This would allow you to use a single press to toggle maximum brightness for gaming and another to reduce it for browsing or writing.There really aren't too many surprises here. I was a bit dismayed to find that the gaming features are really limited to the brightness and contrast tuners, and that color calibration is limited to a simple set of RGB sliders. Given how dramatically the color presets can throw off its accuracy, I would have hoped for more options, like a six-axis mixer, for the user to dial in settings with better control.BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX PerformanceBenQ has a great reputation for delivering high-quality monitors, and the Mobiuz EX321UX has a lot to offer. At its best, it can deliver an enrapturing gaming experience that is incredibly bright and satisfying. At its worst, it can leave you digging through its OSD searching for a fix.Starting with its presets, I don't understand why it comes with fantasy mode enabled by default. This mode, while it is designed to make that genre of video game look vibrant and compelling, is very oversaturated and far from color-accurate. It also comes with the brightness set to 10%, probably to protect your eyes, but its awash in color and dim at the same time. It was such a strange out-of-box configuration that it left me wondering if another reviewer had tested my sample and not bothered to reset its settings.Although picture quality doesn't quite reach the level of OLED, it's about as close as you can get without an actual OLED display.That didnt seem to be the case. Instead, what I came to find is that these genre-based color settings simply do not care all that much about color accuracy. The Fantasy preset, for example, had a Delta E average of greater than 5. That is off to the point that anyone will notice it doesn't look natural. Now, when used in a colorful game thats about eye-candy without regard to accuracy, it can look great. Dragon Age: The Veilguard looked downright beautiful at times. The problem is that it's not consistent, and though it might look fitting in one situation, in another, it looks overdone.As I mentioned previously, for more accurate colors, you'll want to use the sRGB or P3 modes. Using these, both become very accurate. Using my DataColor SpyderPro colorimeter, I measured each with an average of Delta E < 1, which is impressive and a good fit for professional creative work. If you go this route, youll be stuck with reduced brightness and contrast, so youre forced to choose what you prefer at a given time.To be clear, sRGB and P3 modes being the most accurate is nothing new. This is the case for most monitors. The difference here feels much more stark, however, at least if you're going for one of the presets, which is why I recommend dialing in your own custom settings.Opting for the Custom mode allows you to fully adjust its brightness, contrast, RGB values, and every other parameter without clamping. It's a middle ground between customizability, picture quality, and accuracy, but one where you'll be able to find your own comfort level.It also allows you to use local dimming with any of the other settings simultaneously. This is important if you want to elevate picture quality above what you would typically find with an IPS panel. Without local dimming enabled, even in SDR, blacks look expectedly washed out and gray. Turning on local dimming, however, bumps the contrast ratio to 6,000:1. Shadows and blacks are deep and highlights sparkle with this enabled. After using it for a while, I found that I enjoyed the picture most with it turned on, even outside of gaming.As impressive as it is, it still doesn't give results at the same level as a competing OLED panel. With 1,152 zones, it's able to get quite close to objects that need bright backlighting, like highlights or even the mouse cursor, but blooming can still be an issue. This was especially noticeable in Photoshop with its grey background: the mouse cursor perpetually had a purple cast around it. Its not terrible, and I did get used to it over time, but its more noticeable than on the Xiaomi G Pro 27i, which offers the same amount of dimming zones in a smaller form factor. Blooming (or haloing, as it is sometimes called) is still the biggest trade-off when opting for mini-LED over OLED.On the plus side, the monitor gets ridiculously bright. It might be rated for 1,000 nits, but in HDR mode, I recorded a peak of 1,312. Even SDR shines like a tiny sun. In P3 mode, which you might use for its color accuracy, I was able to maintain 647 nits of sustained brightness. In Custom mode, peak brightness opens up further and I was able to measure a peak of 1,186 nits.Although picture quality doesn't quite reach the level of OLED, it's about as close as you can get without an actual OLED display. Once it's configured for your taste, it can be an absolute treat for the eyes. Its wide color gamut and dynamic range, and yes, even its oversaturated colors, can be downright beautiful. I wasn't a big fan of its reactive contrast, but taken as a whole, its a great alternative to OLED.The big question here is value at $1,100, it's just as expensive as some of the best OLED monitors you can buy. It's clear that BenQ is positioning this as an equal-caliber alternative for gamers shopping in this halo and halo-adjacent tier of the market. The Mobiuz offers sustained brightness that current OLED monitors cant compete with, however, and delivers its picture without any of the risks those displays force you to take on.If you can live with 1440p and a 27-inch screen, however, the Xiaomi G Pro 27i gives the Mobiuz EX321UX a run for its money. It doesnt have all of the color modes and doesnt get quite as bright, but it has the same amount of local dimming zones, excellent colors, doesnt require nearly as much tweaking out of the box, and comes in a whole lot cheaper, which would save you more than $700. The Mobiuz EX321UX has a different segment of the audience in mind, however, and still stands tall as a very good choice in gaming monitors, once you make all of the adjustments it may need.Purchasing GuideThe BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX goes for $1,099.99 at regular price and is available at retailers such as Amazon or directly from BenQ.

This article originally appeared in the December 2014 issue of ELLE DECOR. For more stories from our archive, subscribe to ELLE DECOR All Access.pattern and colorthe wilder and more evocative, the better. As the creative mind behind the fashion label Clover Canyon, known for its architectural silhouettes fashioned from bold, kaleidoscopic prints of her creationtop sellers at Neiman Marcus and on Net-a-PorterNichols clearly never got the memo that the little black dress reigns.Which is what makes the Laurel Canyon home she shares with her husband, Ian Murrough, who co-owns a boutique ad agency, all the more extraordinary. A mere 1,000 square feet, with two bedrooms and a single bath, the house is a study in virtually monochromatic, pared-down cool. Built in 1948 and dominated inside by the deep tones of redwood and brick, it is, Nichols says, "a visual reprieve" from a life spent collecting textiles to use as inspiration for her own riotous vision. "When so much of your work is spent delving into color and texture, you need a neutral palette to be able to think, to move on, to move up." From time to time, she brings out the vivid fabrics she has amassed over the years and drapes them over the furniture to see if she can live with their energy. But in the end, she folds them and puts them away: "My mind just wants the rest."Miguel Flores-ViannaThe couple has lived in the house for more than 20 years. The area in which it is nestled was ground zero for the 1970s West Coast rock scene, the enclave where Joni Mitchell, David Crosby, and Jim Morrison rode wailing guitars into the night. "You look out and you still feel it," she says. "Up here, things really haven't changed much."Nichols has spend her entire life in Los Angeles, and her home reflects the interwoven strands of the city's artistic legacy. It is both organic and minimal, modern and timeless, with a Zen discipline. The feeling is part Richard Neutra, part Frank Lloyd Wright. The structure itself has fine proportions, and the view is spectacular, but with "none of the vulgarity and grandeur" of the usual Hollywood vistas, she notes. The couple own an array of beautiful furniture and objects, each carefully chosen and given space to breathe. "I am the kind of person who gives things away, who relinquishes them," she says. "I like things to become simpler."Miguel Flores-ViannaThe former owners had painted the redwood interior beige, "like a Yostemite camping retreat," Nichols recalls, so after she and her husband bought the house, they sandblasted and wire-brushed it back to its original state. Because the reddish patina has grown darker each year through oxidation, they are conscious of lightening the place with pale grays and off-whites, though plenty of sunshine pours in through the massive windows to do the job naturally. A vintage lounge chair by George Mulhauser is covered in sheepskin, for contrast, and one wall is dominated by a Jason Meadows sculpture made of painted folded aluminum. In what is arguably the house's perfect set piece, the dining area's graceful Biedermeier chairs offset the strongly geometric Charlotte Perriand table. "I love the Biedermeier moment," Nichols says. "It's feminine, minimal, and rococo at the same time.""The idea of a mindful oasis of beautythat's something you internalize."A vegan who is passionate about animal rights and has the books of ethicist Pete Singer on her bedside table, Nichols keeps embellishments to a minimum, preferring ikebana, sculptural Japanese flower arrangements that straddle the line between art and gardening. It is perhaps not surprising that the couple's great inspirations include Donald Judd's Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas, with its select minimalist art in a barren landscape, and Walter De Maria's Lightning Field, the monolithic 1977 land-art project consisting of 400 stainless steel poles in the high desert of New Mexico. The couple first visited both sites on road trips nearly 15 years ago, but the imagery and the intention have stayed with them, continuing to inform the way they see their homeand live in it. "The modernity, the simplicity, the idea of a mindful oasis of beautythat is something you internalize," she says. "It changes you forever."Step Inside This Dreamy Midcentury HouseNichols doesn't have to go far for her own small slice of uninterrupted serenity: An entire wall of sliding wood-framed doors opens to a deck that is nearly the size of the house, and a tranquil pool amid the aloes and succulents. "It's sometimes hard to leave here to take the long ride downtown, where my studio is," she says. "You look out, and what you see is perfect. Not perfect in the way some people think of the word, but perfect to me."