The first time GLaDOS boots up in Portal 2, she doesnt just wake upshe remembers. Every betrayal, every broken test chamber, every time you incinerated a weighted companion cube. And, of course, she remembers you. Thats the kind of energy this LEGO build radiates. Its not just a static display; it feels like a moment frozen in time, one where Chell and Wheatley are teetering on the edge of victory (or, more realistically, an unexpected and humiliating defeat). Every element of the scene is dripping with Portal 2s signature mix of tension and absurdity, right down to the strategically placed portals and the ever-present red button that promises chaos.GLaDOS looms above it all, her unsettlingly elegant form recreated with LEGOs curved slopes and Technic reinforcements. Theres something uncanny about how accurate she looks, like she could flicker to life and start delivering razor-sharp insults at any moment. Made by LEGO builder hachiroku24, the designers choice to scale her slightly larger than minifigure proportions actually works in her favorshe feels grander, more imposing, a true mechanical goddess of test chambers and bad intentions. Using curved slopes and Technic reinforcements, hachiroku24 has recreated her distinctive, asymmetric structure, making her look just as imposing as she did in the games decayed testing facility. Even in brick form, you can almost hear her voice dripping with sarcasm as she congratulates you on making it this far.Designer: hachiroku24Obviously, the build features the iconic blue and orange portals, the defining mechanic of Portal 2, and arguably the trickiest part to translate into a physical LEGO build. But here, they work beautifully. The orange portal shows Chell stepping through, while the blue portal displays only her legs emerging on the other side. Its a simple yet ingenious trick using 11 tiles and plates, capturing the impossible physics of the game without any need for digital wizardry. Its the kind of clever design that makes you pause and appreciate just how well thought out this build really islike a perfectly executed momentum-flinging puzzle solution.Down below, Wheatley waits in his docking station, wide-eyed and brimming with misplaced confidence. The LEGO recreation of everyones favorite bumbling core is spot-on, right down to the slightly panicked energy he exudes. And in front of him? A big, red button, perfectly positioned to set off some kind of spectacular disaster. Even if you dont remember the exact moment this diorama references, it captures the essence of Wheatleys role in Portal 2well-intentioned, a little clueless, and inevitably making things worse.As if that wasnt enough, the build throws in some extra treats for longtime Portal fans. Off to the side, a separate base holds a sentry turret, a companion cube, and a slice of cake. The turret, as expected, looks harmless until it isnt, the companion cube stirs up fond (and possibly traumatic) memories, and the cake well, we all know the story. Its a delightful little nod to the first game, one that fits seamlessly into the overall scene or stands alone as a mini tribute to Aperture Sciences questionable testing ethics.Between its dynamic composition, smart use of LEGO elements, and deep appreciation for Portal 2s world, this build is an absolute win for fans of the franchise. Its equal parts nostalgia trip and impressive engineering, capturing the spirit of the game while functioning as an intricate display piece. If LEGO is paying attention, this is the kind of set that could bring Aperture Science to shelves in the best way possiblejust, you know, without the deadly neurotoxin. Cast your vote for this build on the LEGO Ideas website to help bring it to lifeand just hope that GLaDOS doesnt hold a grudge.The post LEGO Portal 2 Set Captures the Games Dark Humor and Genius Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

There was a time in the not so recent past when most office workers that you see in movies and TV shows and sometimes even in real life are carrying a briefcase as a symbol of the working man. It was the perfect bag to carry documents and other office essentials and was also the symbol of the middle class. But when people started carrying around laptops in their laptop bags, the briefcase somehow lost significance even though it probably would have been the perfect vessels for our devices. After all, they were roughly the same size and shape. A Japanese brand is now trying to make briefcases cool again in this age of laptops, tablets, and other devices.Designer: Toyo SteelToyo Steel is known more for its steel toolboxes has created the Konstella Briefcase, a minimalist but beautiful bag that is a testament to the simplicity and enduring quality of Japanese craftsmanship. In a world saturated with over-designed bags and fleeting trends, this stands out with its understated elegance and unwavering functionality. It has a sleek and aesthetically pleasing case with clean lines and an unadorned surface. It is actually crafted from a single sheet of steel, specifically premium alloy aluminum. Even though its not the steel from their tool boxes, its still material that can more than adequately protect your laptop and the other important things that youll put inside. Since there are no unnecessary embellishments on the briefcase, it remains lightweight and easy to carry, with its sturdy handle, secure latch, and spacious interior. Inside theres space for your laptop, documents, and other essentials. You can choose to place it in the internal cushions and leather bundles for extra protection. The aluminum material ensures that the contents are protected from bumps, scratches, and the rigors of daily use. The flat base lets your briefcase stand upright in case you need easy access to your belongings. It comes in several colors like black, brown, champagne gold, and silver.And that, perhaps, is the true genius of the Konstella Briefcase. It doesnt try to reinvent the wheel, but rather refines it to near perfection. It acknowledges the changing needs of the modern professional, seamlessly adapting the classic briefcase for the digital age. In a world of fleeting trends, the Konstella offers a timeless solution, a piece that transcends mere functionality to become a statement of discerning taste and enduring quality. Toyo Steel has successfully breathed new life into a forgotten icon, demonstrating that simplicity, durability, and thoughtful design can still resonate in a complex world.The post Konstella Briefcase is a modern, minimalist bag for your essentials first appeared on Yanko Design.

70s-inspired design doesnt have to be so brown.

2D art of the week: Maria Spieker.

Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, has long held anti-surveillance views. Now she oversees a key surveillance program she once tried to dismantle.

Plans to redevelop a Northern Virginia warehouse site have long been complicated by the areas worst-kept secretthe presence of a CIA facility. The GSA put the site up for sale anyway.

Google on Thursday unveiled new security controls for Chrome Enterprise, allowing IT departments to help employees better distinguish between work and personal browsing profiles.Employees using Google Workspace or Google Identity will see a new sign-in experience that shows whats managed and shared with their organization when they create a separate work profile for bookmarks, history, and other data.Chrome Enterprise Core businesses also have new policies and customizations, while Chrome Enterprise Premium provides advanced data protection and secure access, the company said.The browser suite includes new secure sign-ins, user authentication, and identity management across Google services. Google Identity integrates with Google Workspace and other third-party applications, allowing businesses to streamline access management, bolster security, and make sure users have the correct permissions and access. srcset="https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-2.png?quality=50&strip=all 1133w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-2.png?resize=283%2C300&quality=50&strip=all 283w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-2.png?resize=768%2C813&quality=50&strip=all 768w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-2.png?resize=967%2C1024&quality=50&strip=all 967w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-2.png?resize=658%2C697&quality=50&strip=all 658w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-2.png?resize=159%2C168&quality=50&strip=all 159w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-2.png?resize=79%2C84&quality=50&strip=all 79w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-2.png?resize=453%2C480&quality=50&strip=all 453w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-2.png?resize=340%2C360&quality=50&strip=all 340w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-2.png?resize=236%2C250&quality=50&strip=all 236w" width="967" height="1024" sizes="(max-width: 967px) 100vw, 967px">GoogleIT teams also benefit from better profile reporting and data protection for unmanaged devices in BYOD environments, the company said, and can enable reporting for managed users across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. In one view, they can access key info such as browser version, OS, policies, extensions, and device management status, making it easier to monitor BYOD or contractor setups.With Chrome Enterprise Premium, companies can apply data controls and access restrictions, such as blocking copy/paste or screenshots, when employees or contractors sign into a work profile. Those company policies can be enforced on all devices through Chrome. srcset="https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-1.png?quality=50&strip=all 1799w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-1.png?resize=300%2C200&quality=50&strip=all 300w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-1.png?resize=768%2C512&quality=50&strip=all 768w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-1.png?resize=1024%2C683&quality=50&strip=all 1024w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-1.png?resize=1536%2C1025&quality=50&strip=all 1536w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-1.png?resize=1240%2C826&quality=50&strip=all 1240w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-1.png?resize=150%2C100&quality=50&strip=all 150w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-1.png?resize=1045%2C697&quality=50&strip=all 1045w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-1.png?resize=252%2C168&quality=50&strip=all 252w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-1.png?resize=126%2C84&quality=50&strip=all 126w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-1.png?resize=720%2C480&quality=50&strip=all 720w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-1.png?resize=540%2C360&quality=50&strip=all 540w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Chrome-screenshot-1.png?resize=375%2C250&quality=50&strip=all 375w" width="1024" height="683" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px">GoogleThe browser suite upgrades are designed to enhance transparency for employees, allowing them to clearly recognize separate work and personal browsing, especially on personal devices, according to Julia Lomakina, product manager for Chrome Enterprise.With the browser playing a more critical role in daily work, its more important than ever for IT teams to make it clear to employees that they are logged into a corporate browsing experience that is managed and monitored by their company, Lomakina wrote in a blog post.In addition, Chrome Enterprise will now allow organizations to customize browser profiles with a company logo to help workers immediately see when they are using a managed browser profile. Upcoming Chrome releases will also show employees theyre in a managed Work profile, even without custom logos, whenever policies are applied.

Interest inLibreOffice, the open-source alternative to Microsoft Office, is on the rise, with weekly downloads of its software package close to 1 million a week. Thats thehighest download number since 2023.LibreOffice, which runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, is a standalone desktop office productivity software that is free to use. Downloads have picked up since The Document Foundation, which manages its development,released version 25.2 last week.It has emerged as the most popular open-source suite, with alternative versions such as Apaches OpenOffice losing steam. The last version of OpenOffice was released in 2023.We estimate around 200 million [LibreOffice] users, but its important to note that we respect users privacy and dont track them, so we cant say for sure, said Mike Saunders, an open-source advocate and a deputy to the board of directors at The Document Foundation.There is still noteworthy interest in LibreOffice as a standalone desktop alternative to paid office productivity suites, said Jason Wong, distinguished vice president and analyst at Gartner. Usually these are clients seeking to keep their on-premises implementation, given that both Microsoft and Google have focused on their cloud offerings, Wong said.Cost is a factor for evaluating software suites like LibreOffice, Wong said. The downside is the additional specialized resources and new skills needed to maintain the [software], hesaid.Downloads of LibreOffice have been steadily climbing with each new version, Saunders said.Though LibreOffice has traditionally been a favorite of home users, theres growing interest in businesses and government, Saunders said.The northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein last year said it would move 30,000 PCs fromMicrosoft Officeto LibreOffice.The majority of our users 85% are on Windows, followed by macOS and then Linux, Saunders said.Many desktop Linux distributions pre-install LibreOffice, but its unclear how many users that represents.LibreOffice users typically want a straightforward interface, Saunders said. They dont want subscriptions, and they dont want AI being helpful by poking its nose into their work it reminds them of Clippy from the bad old days, he said.There are genuine use cases for generative AI tools, but many users prefer to opt-in to it and choose when and where to enable it. We have zero plans to put AI into LibreOffice. But we understand the value of some AI tools and are encouraging developers to create extensions that use AI in a responsible way, Saunders said.Although there are cloud-based versions of OpenOffice, The Document Foundation has focused on the desktop version, Saunders said.

Our latest weeklycurated jobs roundupfrom theArchinect Job board includes 12 architecture and design firms in theLos Angelesareain search of early-career professionals.If you're a recent graduate or still fairly new to the workforce, be sure to readArchinect's Tips for Recent Graduates Navigating Architectural Employmentfeature. 64North seeks aJunior Architect / DesignerQualifications include three to ten years of relevant experience, proficiency with Rhino, V-Ray, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, motivation to quickly learn and improve as a professional, strong organizational skills, and excellent communication skills.The firm is also hiring for a Senior Architect and a Design/Technical Director in Los Angeles.Casa Torre by 64North.VENN STUDIOseeks an Architectural Junior Designer"Our growing team is looking to add an outstanding Junior Designer to our studio. The Junior Designer position is responsible for a variety of professional tasks and will have the oppor...

Assassins Creed Shadows is a tale of two protagonists the stealthy Naoe, who prefers the darkness, and the brutal Yasuke, fighting enemies up close. Each character will handle infiltration of the games 30 unique castles in their own ways, but what does an aggressive Naoe or stealthy Yasuke look like?In an extensive gameplay walkthrough, associate director Simon Lemay-Comtois outlines all these approaches as each protagonist assails Nijo Castle. Naoes shinobi tools, Eagle Vision, and parkour make for a more nimble stealth approach, but she can also equip the kusarigama and start swinging.For Yasuke, an archery set with silent arrows proves effective, though you still need to take care he only knows one method of assassination, and its loud. Attacking enemies head-on can feel more natural, especially when equipping gear that lets you parry otherwise unblockable hits.Ascending to the top of the castle grants access to a synchronization point, but taking out all the Samurai Daisho grants access to a loot chest with Legendaries. These are all hand-crafted and represent some of the best equipment in the game.Assassins Creed Shadows launches on March 20th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Check out its global release timings here and learn more about The Hideout, where players will train their league of shinobis. The main story is 30 to 40 hours long, though creative director Jonathan Dumont says it can last 80 hours or longer with side content.