Half-Life 2 is an excellent game, even by today's standards. Sure, the graphics may not still have the same impact as they had back in 2004, but they still look great and hold up 21 years later. Well, if you've been hankering for an excuse to replay this golden oldie, you're getting a free demo for the RTX revamp mod for Half-Life 2, and it's coming very soon.

Apple's 11th generation iPad refresh gets the new A16 chipset -- same as the one on the iPhone 16 -- while retaining the same design as last year's iPad. This makes it the most powerful entry-level iPad to date and puts it on the list of the best iPads you can buy. With an aluminum chassis available in multiple colors, a large 10.9-inch display, and a feature-rich UI thanks to iPadOS 18, the 2025 iPad is a strong contender for a solid tablet that students and working professionals can use for both work and entertainment needs. If you've made up your mind on buying one as well, ensure you protect it with a case.

Pre-owned PC hardware has always been the savior for both budget builders and those who want to maximize value for money even when buying high-end components. In today's GPU market, however, going pre-owned isn't just an optional way to build a PC; it has almost become a necessity. Saving money is just a side effect of buying a used GPU — most people don't even have the luxury of seeing GPUs in stock. And when they find one available, it's usually marked up by several times the MSRP.

A while ago, Microsoft rolled out an update that forced everyone's computers to upgrade to the new Outlook app. People weren't pleased, partially because it was done without their consent, but mainly because it was a pretty big step backward from the old app, with missing features and performance issues abound. Fortunately, there's a big "Go to classic Outlook" button in the client that lets you flee this nightmare and go back to more familiar pastures...that is, if the button actually worked.

When you see people comparing GPUs, things like FPS per watt aren't usually at the top. Users like to see how much performance they're getting for the price. Getting a more power-efficient GPU is always a bonus, but it's rarely a deal-breaker for gamers or enthusiasts. If you're a laptop user, however, things can look pretty different pretty fast. The same is the case with HTPC users or those running a workstation, where power bills might be a bigger concern.

One of the cornerstones of any home lab is a powerful firewall to learn the ins and outs of traffic control, packet inspection, and other important security tools. While there are a ton of options for use, pfSense and its fork OPNsense are often used, partly because they're free to use, but also because there is a wealth of information out there to help guide you through initial setup stages and any complex scenarios you might want to create.

You may have one of the best gaming CPUs, and you may have been lucky enough to score one of the best graphics cards, but hardware is only half the battle with your gaming PC. To take your gaming PC to the next level, you need to pair all of that powerful hardware with equally powerful software.

Password management is one of the most important things about spending time on the internet, no matter how much or how little. Our entire lives are essentially locked behind passwords, and the security of our data is dependent on not just their strength, but how you store them as well.

Moving to Linux from Windows can be a daunting prospect. Will all your favorite software work? Can you even play games on Linux? How difficult will the learning curve be? Thankfully, Linux and its distros have come a long way over recent years, and now it's a viable platform for Windows converts. I've always recommended Linux as a viable alternative to Microsoft's OS, but 2025 feels like the ideal time to make the switch, especially to Linux Mint with recent advancements in Valve's Proton for gaming.

iPhone and Android users will be able to exchange end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) RCS messages in the near future thanks to newly updated RCS specifications. The GSM Association announced that the latest RCS standard includes E2EE based on the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol, enabling interoperable encryption between different platform providers for the first time.The GSM Association said it had started working to enable E2EE on messages sent between Android and iPhone in September last year. E2EE is a privacy and security feature that prevents third parties, such as messaging providers or cell carriers, from viewing the content of your texts. The GSMA says the new RCS standard was developed in collaboration with “mobile operators, device manufacturers, and technology providers,” including Apple.“End-to-end encryption is a powerful privacy and security technology that iMessage has supported since the beginning, and now we are pleased to have helped lead a cross industry effort to bring end-to-end encryption to the RCS Universal Profile published by the GSMA,” said Apple spokesperson Shane Bauer. “We will add support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in future software updates.”Apple introduced RCS support to iPhones as part of an iOS 18 update in September. While Apple’s proprietary iMessage system already supported E2EE, this wasn’t extended to RCS messaging because the previous RCS standard didn’t provide cross-platform support. Google Messages also enabled E2EE by default for RCS texts, but only conversations between Google Messages users were E2EE, and not those exchanged with iMessage users or users of other RCS clients on Android.“We’ve always been committed to providing a secure messaging experience, and Google Messages users have had end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) RCS messaging for years,” Google spokesperson Ed Fernandez told The Verge. “We’re excited to have this updated specification from GSMA and work as quickly as possible with the mobile ecosystem to implement and extend this important user protection to cross-platform RCS messaging.”Update, March 14th: Added statement from Google.

Whether it's a festival or an occasion, gifting is a common practice to show gratitude towards the people around you. While it's definitely a wonderful gesture, there may be times when you forget to pick up a gift for a loved one. It could be because you were too caught up with work, or you just forgot it was someone's birthday. That's not the situation you want to be in, especially with close friends and family members. But, if you somehow end up there, don't worry. If you have a 3D printer, there are a ton of simple yet nice gifts you can 3D print -- some of which are quite functional too!

When someone rings my doorbell, it's always at an inopportune moment. Whether I'm in the middle of an important part in a game or in the shower, I have to drop everything to see who it is. Fortunately, it seems I'm not the only one with unfortunate doorbell timing, as someone has created their own digital doorbell greeter that grills anyone who's at the door so you don't have to.