AllYouCanTech

Upcoming Apple Watch Variants Might Include Touch ID Unlock

few incremental updates, yet upcoming models in the coming years might unveil an exciting feature that the iPhone has recently surpassed. Recently, Macworld had the opportunity to examine unreleased code for the Apple Watch and discovered a mention of “AppleMesa,” which is the company’s code for Touch ID. None of the code for Apple’s 2025 Apple Watch collection includes this reference, indicating that an Apple Watch with Touch ID won’t be available until 2026 at the very earliest.

Nevertheless, it is encouraging to see that Apple is exploring ways to enhance the overall user experience of the Apple Watch. While unlocking the Apple Watch with a passcode is feasible, introducing Touch ID would render the unlocking process a bit more fluid. It remains uncertain where Apple might position the sensor. One possible approach would be to embed it into the side button, akin to what Apple implemented in its iPad series. This configuration would also be logical considering its current use for Apple Pay.

Interestingly, Apple has previously submitted patents outlining a concept to incorporate Touch ID into the Digital Crown. It’s notable that Apple frequently files patents for technologies that may never be realized. In other words, while the idea of Touch ID on the Digital Crown is fascinating, I believe it’s more viable to integrate Touch ID into the side button.

Researchers Propose the Presence of a Concealed Lake Under Greenland’s Ice

An article featured in Nature Geoscience on July 30th, 2025 investigates a phenomenon that transpired in 2014 but was only recently unveiled due to satellite image archives. The Greenland Ice Sheet houses several subglacial lakes. One such lake experienced flooding, and in 2014, it burst through the glacier’s surface, discharging vast quantities of water. Why does this matter? Because this subglacial lake was previously unknown, and its flooding significantly impacted the ice sheet.

Satellites disclosed the astonishing impact of this flooding event. It unleashed 23.8 billion gallons of meltwater over a span of 10 days. This averages to more than 25,000 gallons per second. It formed a crater that was 279 feet deep and spanned 0.77 square miles. Furthermore, it generated ice blocks reaching heights of 130 feet, fractured the ice sheet, and caused additional cracks in the vicinity.

Initially, this region was assumed to be completely frozen. This event challenges entrenched beliefs regarding the movement of meltwater within ice sheets. The research indicates that existing climate models may not accurately predict how Greenland’s ice will react to future global warming.

The implications of Greenland’s hidden lake on our geological knowledge

The study underscores that over the last 30 years, approximately 169 billion tons of Greenland’s ice have melted annually due to intensified surface melting. This surface melt contributes to rising sea levels. As Arctic temperatures rise, the prevalence of meltwater is expected to increase. While it is recognized that surface meltwater can penetrate the ice bed and affect glacier motion, there remains ambiguity about its travel patterns, how much it is retained, and its overall environmental impact.

One rising concern is Greenland’s concealed network of subglacial lakes. As evidenced in 2014, these lakes can drain abruptly and release large volumes of water from underneath the ice, influencing surface and flow dynamics. Such occurrences are not well understood, infrequently observed, and inadequately represented in climate models.

The abrupt flooding of the subglacial lake disrupted the hydrological framework beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet and influenced the adjacent Harder Glacier. By evaluating over 5,800 ice velocity maps from 1985 to 2020, researchers noted that while the glacier had been speeding up since 2014, a sharp slowdown occurred immediately after the 2014 flooding, three times greater than the usual seasonal deceleration. The study suggests that the floodwater momentarily enhanced the efficiency of the subglacial drainage system, leading to reduced movement.

Insights from the Greenland subglacial flood

Researchers have posited a new hypothesis to account for the flooding. Rather than the conventional surface fractures forming directly above a water source, the study proposes that intense shear stress accumulated along the ice sheet’s frozen base spread outward and forced a crack to rise through the ice. This mechanism, known as hydrofracture, may have been intensified by altered glacier flow patterns that weakened the ice. The study observes that a similar drainage incident in 1990 did not produce surface fractures; consequently, the upward fracturing observed may occur only under certain conditions.

To verify this hypothesis, further observation is required to understand how these fractures develop and their effects on ice sheets overall. With this knowledge, a refined model can be established to enhance present geological understanding and better predict future scenarios concerning melting ice sheets.

The principal author of the study, Jade Bowling from Lancaster University, commented to Space.com, “The existence of subglacial lakes beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet is still a relatively recent discovery, and — as our study illustrates — there is still much we do not comprehend about their evolution and impact on the ice sheet system.” She added, “Crucially, our research highlights the necessity to better understand how frequently they drain, and what the repercussions are for the adjacent ice sheet.”

Gemini Live’s Latest Functionality Seeks to Compete with Google Assistant

Forthcoming Gemini Live Functionality Might Position It As An Authentic Alternative To Google Assistant

According to fresh insights obtained from an APK dissection, it appears that Google is preparing to evolve Gemini into a full-fledged substitute for Google Assistant — a service the company intends to phase out by year-end. The tech behemoth has been consistently broadening its offerings with Gemini, having previously introduced Gemini Live, which can recognize what’s displayed on your screen and what lies ahead, providing information and responses derived from the visuals and videos it captures.

Currently, Gemini Live can be accessed on both Android and iPhone devices, but a recent analysis of the Google app enabled Android Authority to explore potential new functionalities that might be on the horizon for the service. It’s crucial to emphasize that these features are not yet operational and may undergo complete alterations before reaching the public. Nonetheless, Android Authority managed to manipulate some settings within the app to unveil the new interface, which appears to be a major enhancement.

Simplified Accessibility to Gemini

This new modification seems poised to afford Gemini users more straightforward access to the capabilities of Gemini Live by employing a floating interface that utilizes a smaller window for Gemini itself, alongside card-like windows that produce a sleek picture-in-picture view atop the background application.

In Android Authority’s demonstration, the site successfully viewed its page on X while simultaneously crafting a note in Google Keep and examining something on Google Maps, all without needing to close the X application. In addition to the updates to the floating interface, the report specifies that Gemini does not automatically redirect you to the primary chat window for Gemini when you return. Rather, Android Authority claims that with the new feature enabled, you would actually revert to the app you were engaged with. This could enhance interaction with Gemini Live during multitasking. Naturally, as previously mentioned, APK analyses like this do not assure that these features will ultimately be realized. And, should they become available, they might change significantly before their public introduction.

Nonetheless, given how refined this appears already and the initiative for Gemini to succeed Google Assistant, it wouldn’t be surprising to see this feature released soon — potentially coinciding with the company’s launch of the new Pixel 10 series on August 20. We are already aware that the Pixel will incorporate new Gemini camera functionalities, so unveiling another upgraded AI feature would logically serve to highlight Gemini on the new Pixel devices.

Thorough Clarification of the Distinctions Between USB4 and USB-C

USB cables featuring the Type-C connector. Anyone who has been on the hunt for new USB cables recently has certainly come across cables that appear identical, marked both as USB Type-C and USB4.

Although USB Type-C and USB4 may seem interchangeable on retail sites, they differ significantly. Type-C designates the connector pin utilized, while USB4 refers to the technical standard of the cable that employs the Type-C connector, specifically concerning the data transmission rates and charging capacity of the cable. Each USB cable adheres to various technical standards, with USB4 being the latest. USB4 employs the reversible Type-C connector, which is favored in modern smartphones, laptops, and other gadgets to provide enhanced power for faster charging and superior data transmission speeds compared to earlier versions of USB Type-C cables.

The Results and Progress of the CoinOut App from Shark Tank

CoinOut: a platform for merchants and retailers designed to assist customers in transferring their spare change into a digital wallet. Witten sought $250,000 for a 7.5% equity share in his venture, valuing the company at $3.3 million; he effectively defended his position against the Sharks, even rejecting Kevin O’Leary’s proposal due to his comments during the pitch.

Calm and collected, Witten did agree to Robert Herjavec’s proposal, although it never materialized. Regardless of this hurdle, CoinOut has achieved notable success and has significantly transformed since appearing on the program. Initially, the app allowed users to digitally accumulate their loose change, but it has since progressed to offering rewards for scanning retail receipts. The company has successfully secured $2 million in investments, and Witten is no longer leading the charge.

While it bears little resemblance to the initial concept presented on “Shark Tank,” its development has enabled it to grow into a favored app with positive feedback online. Even though the company undergoes changes more frequently than microplastics infiltrating your mind, sustaining a robust and successful online presence for nearly a decade is a formidable achievement.

Grasping the Importance of a Yellow-Hued USB Port

USB connector ports come in various colors, such as blue, black, or yellow. These hues are more than mere aesthetic selections made by your computer’s maker; they frequently denote particular features or functionalities of the USB port. This is applicable solely to USB Type-A ports, as USB Type-C does not utilize color coding for USB specifications.

For instance, a blue USB port signifies USB 3.0, capable of transferring data at rates of up to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps). Conversely, a standard black USB port generally indicates USB 2.0, with a peak speed of 480 megabits per second (Mbps).

So, what does a yellow USB port signify? This shade is customarily used to indicate that the USB port offers always-on charging. This implies that the USB port provides power even when your computer is in sleep mode or powered off, ideal for recharging your phone or other devices without requiring the laptop to be fully active.

While these color indicators are not enforced universally, they are commonly adopted among leading manufacturers following guidance from the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the organization responsible for upholding USB standards.