Does your internet feel slow? Are you struggling to load specific websites or some apps timeout on your smartphone? There may be grounds to immediately assume it's an issue with the device, Internet Service Provider (ISP), or Wi-Fi signal. Routers may be rebooted, cables reinserted, but nothing will change a thing if your Domain Name System (DNS) isn't working. Try as you might, you'll be at square one if you don't check DNS.

Automation comes in many shapes and forms, and for the longest time, it's been considered something that only power users dabble in. Developers, sysadmins, or prosumer users who know how to work with scripts tend to be the ones who build out these scripts to assist everyday computer usage. It's also why I have stayed away from it. While I dabble in code, I just don't trust myself with writing scripts that will interact with irreplaceable files on my computer. But turns out, there's a better way.

Let's get this out of the way first: Pickle 1 is a wild name for a pair of smart glasses and using a term like "soul computer" isn't the best way to get people to take your very advanced AR glasses seriously.

As a newcomer to the Linux scene (I don't even have my "1 year of Linux" badge yet), I never had the delight of using one in the late 90s to early 2000s. I kind of wish that I, at least, dipped a toe into the Linux scene at the time, because it'd be cool to see how the open-source operating system scene evolved over time.

Marvel fans are going to have a crazy year with the release of Avengers: Doomsday happening towards the end of 2026. At the same time, while the Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to explode, new Marvel video games are on the way. One major group that is going to be featured in many of the upcoming releases across different mediums is the X-Men. After having been in exile for so long, due to a lot of things happening with Disney over the years, the mutants are primed to make a massive comeback for audiences who love Marvel Comics.

For something that's vital for my PC to boot properly, I don't give the GRUB menu much of my attention. I usually hit the power button and wander off to make a hot drink or perform a chore, then return to my OS all booted up and ready to go.

When we think about PC maintenance, the first things that come to mind are usually the obvious ones, like cleaning the fans, dust filters, and reapplying thermal paste. Those are the tasks that feel tangible and necessary because we see their impact almost immediately in the form of lower temperatures and quieter operation. However, one part of PC maintenance that rarely gets the same level of attention is storage, even though it plays a big role in how responsive your PC feels day to day.

Once a joke in the gaming scene, Linux distros have made leaps and bounds over the past few years. It has gotten to the point where we're seeing entire gaming-oriented distros appear, including, but not exclusive to, the Steam Deck's operating system, SteamOS.

Sometimes you need extra ports to get your work done. And that's especially true for products like laptops, tablets, PC gaming handhelds and even smartphones. And while you can go with something like a USB hub, we think a docking station is going to be a more powerful and robust solution.

Like most fans of self-hosted services, better photo hosting is something that excites me. So, obviously, I've spent enough time with Immich to know why it's the default recommendation in self-hosted photo circles. The app is fast, polished, and does a great job of organizing large photo libraries with minimal effort. Generally speaking, that's a good enough reason to consider switching to Immich from something like Google Photos or iCloud. But Immich isn't the only game in town. I've been keeping a close eye on Ente. The more I dig into it, the more appealing it gets because the app appears to approach the same problem from a very different angle, one that prioritizes configurability and control over convenience.

While we generally recommend buying a laptop with better specifications than you need, that's not always possible if you're working with a smaller budget. However, there are still options if you need a laptop for cheap, which is where this one from Lenovo comes in.

The Raspberry Pi has earned its reputation as the little board that can, and for years, it has served as the beating heart of many home servers. If you wanted to run a media server, a Minecraft world, or a low-key home lab on a budget, it felt almost irresponsible not to reach for a Pi first. That instinct made sense when these boards were cheap, widely available, and far more power-efficient than most alternatives. The Raspberry Pi is still an incredible tool, but I no longer think it should be your first choice for server duty.