AllYouCanTech

NASA and ESA Partner on an Essential Earth Initiative

In an initiative to observe our climate with greater precision, the Sentinel-6B Earth-monitoring satellite was launched recently. This project is backed by a global alliance of space agencies, spearheaded by NASA. The coalition also includes the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organization for the Exploration of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The mission was set to launch on November 17, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, and the launch proceeded as intended.

Sentinel-6B has taken over the duties of its predecessor, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, which was deployed in 2020. Thanks to these initiatives, scientists are able to persist in documenting global sea-level shifts continuously. The heating oceans and melting ice are causing global sea levels to rise at a concerning pace. Monitoring these variations is vital because even slight changes can affect and amplify storm surges. Coastal flooding events are also worsening, putting communities in these areas at ongoing risk. The goal of Sentinel-6 and its successor, Sentinel-6B, is to serve as an essential instrument in protecting our shorelines and combating climate change.

Track sea levels from space

The mission of Sentinel-6B (also referred to as Jason-CS B) aims to continue and improve upon the over 30-year record of global sea-level data. It is founded on international collaboration that has become crucial for observing our evolving planet. This partnership has combined scientific knowledge, technical resources, and decades of experience in ocean observation. The collaborating agencies have devised a mission that no single country could accomplish alone. With the launch finalized, Sentinel-6B now pairs with its predecessor, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich. The two satellites will operate together in tandem for an estimated year.

During this transition period, both satellites will function concurrently on nearly identical ground tracks. This will enable scientists and engineers on the ground to calibrate and validate their measurement systems. Thus, the data stream’s continuity will be assured. The new satellite’s data must integrate smoothly with the existing baseline.

“Grasping tidal variations down to the inch is vital in safeguarding our usage of the oceans daily on Earth,” stated Nicky Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, in a NASA press release. She highlighted that Sentinel-6B will build on the work of Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich by supplying measurements that enhance the forecasts relied on by coastal communities. The information collected by this mission will also play a role in ensuring the safe return of astronauts, including crews from NASA’s forthcoming Artemis lunar missions.

Once the transition is complete, Sentinel-6B will become the premier satellite globally for sea level measurements. It will uphold the lengthy record of observations that researchers depend on for climate studies, predictions, and planning. EUMETSAT is currently managing the satellite’s operations and will conduct the mission alongside its European and U.S. collaborators.

Additional information about Sentinel-6B

Sentinel-6B is a direct continuation of the work established by its predecessor, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich. Nevertheless, the updated model is enhanced, enabling it to provide greater reliability in global sea level measurements. Among the key upgrades is the prolonged transition phase, though that is not the only improvement.

Sentinel-6B utilizes the same high-precision Poseidon-4 radar altimeter technology as its predecessor. It can measure sea-surface height with centimeter-level accuracy. Additionally, it features an advanced atmospheric microwave radiometer for climate (AMR-C) to compensate for atmospheric water vapor. Furthermore, it incorporates improved orbit-determination technology, which includes Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, Doppler Orbitography Radio-positioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS), and a laser retroreflector. This allows it to achieve superior positioning and enhance sea-level measurements. It will cover approximately 90% of Earth’s ice-free oceans every 10 days.

Sentinel-6B is not merely a continuation of the mission. It represents a significant upgrade that secures nearly three decades of data and bolsters informed decision-making regarding our planet’s changing oceans, rising sea levels, and melting ice shelves.

Anticipated iOS 26.3 Features Coming in Early 2026

Apple launched the final version of iOS 26.2 earlier this December, and the initial beta tests for iOS 26.3 are currently in progress, though you might consider delaying the installation of the first beta version of iOS 26.3 at this time. A majority of Apple’s development team is on holiday leave; the diminished workforce at the end of the year suggests that beta bug submissions may go unanswered and essential fixes could take longer to address.

iOS 26.4 is set to bring significant updates (including a completely new Siri voice assistant) when it arrives in Spring 2026, yet iOS 26.3 has more limited aspirations. Nonetheless, iOS 26.3 will serve as a crucial precursor to the major update; continue reading to discover what features it will offer and the timing of its release. While Apple previously restricted beta testing to members of the paid Apple Developer program, anyone with an Apple ID can now obtain beta iOS builds following the instructions available on Apple’s website. First, you’ll need to activate developer mode on your device through settings; this prepares your iPhone or iPad to utilize Xcode.

Disproving Three Widespread Misconceptions Regarding HDMI Ports

Google Might Permit Users to Revise Outdated Gmail Addresses

a fresh year promotion on Google One cloud storage subscriptions and the new Google CC AI assistant, Google has further good news that some long-time Gmail users might have been anticipating. The company is reportedly going to allow Gmail users to modify their older email IDs to more professional ones than the ones they initially selected. As per 9to5Google, the feature for changing email addresses will be introduced gradually. An official Google page in Hindi outlines some specifics about the procedure.

If you’ve been using an outdated Gmail ID as your main one for years, it can be challenging to move on from the quirky email address you chose in your youth. You may have a wealth of information linked to the current ID, so opening a new Google account wouldn’t resolve the issue of embarrassment. Moreover, you might be relying on the same Gmail ID for logging in to various other platforms and services, such as Facebook, Netflix, Amazon, etc. Fortunately, that situation could soon improve.

Breathe New Life into Your Vintage Laptops with This DIY Fix

ingenious ways to utilize your outdated laptops. A fantastic method to give your device a new purpose is by converting it into a DIY Chromebook, using ChromeOS Flex for this transformation.

ChromeOS Flex is an operating system (OS) provided for free by Google. You can set it up on older Windows and Mac machines, often resulting in significantly improved performance compared to their original factory OS. Similar to ChromeOS, ChromeOS Flex focuses on cloud computing, meaning you’ll primarily be engaging with web applications and services, which is ideal if your activities are largely online. If you wish to revitalize your old laptop, we will guide you through the detailed procedure of creating a DIY Chromebook from it.

The Endpoint of Returned Technology Items at Costco

Amazon is currently revising their holiday return policies to be more user-friendly, while dedicated Costco patrons might chuckle, as the retailer already provides ample return options for its members. Under the company’s 100% satisfaction promise, for instance, you can return electronics within 90 days. 

This is a contributing factor to the long return lines at your nearest Costco. However, similar to the inquiry about Amazon’s handling of returned products, you may be curious about what Costco does with returned items, especially technology. Are they recycled, returned to the shelves, or discarded? The response is, it varies. 

Most Costco returns are either resold or donated, rather than disposed of. The sole exception is perishable goods or food items, which cannot be resold. Items that are unopened and returned in their original packaging will probably be restocked. Conversely, opened products, including returned tech, are sent to a different warehouse for evaluation. Depending on their condition, these items will either be sent back to the manufacturer, sold to liquidators, or donated.

NASA Satellites Take Picture of Enormous Tsunami

five biggest earthquakes ever documented, which remains remarkably potent. That quake initiated a tsunami that traversed the Pacific Ocean, and NASA’s latest SWOT satellite documented the massive wave in detail.

The SWOT satellite, which stands for Surface Water and Ocean Topography, was launched just recently in 2022. This earthquake marks the largest event the satellite has observed so far. By utilizing data from it and deep-ocean tsunami buoys, scientists were able to delineate the earthquake’s rupture area, extending approximately 250 miles and raising sections of the ocean floor by as much as 13 feet. The satellite documented how the tsunami waves transformed as they progressed, providing researchers with a comprehensive model to analyze.

The findings regarding this incident were released in The Seismic Record in November 2025. The publication emphasizes the peril of megaquakes and illustrates how satellites such as SWOT are revolutionizing scientists’ capacity to understand, monitor, and forecast tsunamis.

Apple’s Management Resilience Illustrated by Managing Executive Changes in the Post-iPhone Period

Numerous other exits from that period are notable, such as Greg Christie, who served as the VP of Human Interface Design at Apple. Christie and his team were directly accountable for some of the most recognizable iPhone UI features, including slide-to-unlock and the various multitouch gestures that rapidly became standard within the industry. Christie retired from Apple in 2014.

Upon Christie’s retirement, Apple released a statement highlighting that “Greg… has made essential contributions to Apple products throughout, and established a top-tier Human Interface team that has collaborated closely with Jony for many years.”

One year prior, Apple also faced the exit of Henri Lamiraux, the company’s VP of iOS engineering. Lamiraux was a 30-year veteran at Apple at the time of his retirement and was a key player in the development of the iPhone. In simple terms, much of the engineering foundation that enabled iOS is credited to Lamiraux and his team. Before that, Lamiraux was significant in guiding Apple into the OS X era.

In just three years, Apple lost three pivotal members of the original iPhone design group. Nevertheless, iPhone and iOS advancement continued. This is not to downplay the significance of these individuals, but to stress that Apple is a colossal organization with tens of thousands of staff members. It possesses the capability to endure significant employee losses in a manner that perhaps other firms cannot.

Several other instances of high-profile executive exits from Apple during the post-iPhone period include Tony Fadell, who would later establish Nest Labs alongside another former Apple engineer, Matt Rogers. Additionally, the exit of Bob Mansfield is notable, as he departed Apple in 2012 but was persuaded by Tim Cook to remain for a few additional years. Mansfield ultimately departed the company permanently in 2015. More recently, Apple executive Phil Schiller resigned as the company’s VP of marketing in 2020.

Apart from product design and development, Apple in the post-iPhone period also lost Ron Johnson, the executive who played a vital role in building Apple’s retail presence from the ground up. While there are currently hundreds of Apple retail locations worldwide, Apple’s venture into retail was a daring gamble early on. However, Johnson’s expertise facilitated Apple’s successful outcome. Johnson left Apple in 2011 to take on the role of CEO at J.C. Penney. Meanwhile, Apple’s retail ventures continued to thrive without losing momentum.

Ranking the Best 5 Sci-Fi Films of 2025

In a year where artificial intelligence surged into the spotlight and demonstrated its ability to transform the world, numerous film directors explored the consequences of pioneering technologies and the forces behind them through science fiction. Traditionally, this genre has served as an ideal platform for such social commentary. While science fiction has forecasted various innovations, the most impactful narratives resonate with the period during which they were created, as seen in “Frankenstein’s” critique of the First Industrial Revolution and “Star Trek’s” examination of the Cold War.

As we approach 2025, a year where political, economic, and social frameworks struggle to keep up with technology reshaping them, science fiction serves as a potent medium for dissecting the implications of this so-called advancement. Given the contrasting optimistic and pessimistic perspectives showcased in this year’s films, it is vital to recall how the esteemed sci-fi screenwriter Ray Bradbury characterized the genre’s function in a 2010 interview with The Paris Review: “Science fiction is any idea that occurs in the head and doesn’t exist yet, but soon will, and will change everything for everybody, and nothing will ever be the same again.”

However, this genre did not achieve the same success it had in prior years, when blockbusters like “Dune” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” reigned in both box office and awards. The sole notable sci-fi financial success of 2025 is the widely criticized “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” the third installment in the series. Despite the absence of financial triumphs, 2025 nonetheless birthed several exceptional sci-fi films.

5. Frankenstein

Guillermo del Toro’s eagerly awaited adaptation of Mary Shelley’s celebrated novel “Frankenstein” is a visual feast, and likely a contender for Best Picture at the 2026 Oscars. Featuring stark polar landscapes, gothic lairs, and an outstanding cast in their Victorian finery, “Frankenstein” revives one of literature’s most iconic narratives with the director’s unmistakable aesthetic elegance.

Starring Oscar Isaac as the twisted Victor Frankenstein, the Netflix film has garnered acclaim since its November premiere, receiving high praise and being nominated in at least six categories at the 2026 Oscars. Such recognition is typical for the cherished del Toro, whose works like “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Cronos,” and “The Shape of Water” are classics within the monster genre. Jacob Elordi’s haunting depiction of the not-so-dreaded creature has also won critical acclaim, providing a fresh interpretation of one of literature’s most fascinating figures.

Regrettably, “Frankenstein” does not quite achieve the brilliance of either its original material or its director’s past creations. Like its titular character, “Frankenstein” suffers from its own aspirations, losing narrative coherence while wrestling with a fundamental question of the era: How do we address the negative repercussions of technological advancement? Yet, despite its failure to capture the sharp subtleties of Shelley’s novel, it stands as a beautifully crafted critique that premiered amidst a news cycle focused on the triumphs, failures, and repercussions of revolutionary technologies. In doing so, del Toro engages with some of sci-fi’s most timeless themes, urging viewers to contemplate the same query posed in the ancient Greek story referenced in the subtitle, “A Modern Prometheus.” Specifically, the key scientific inquiry is not whether one can achieve something, but whether one ought to. If only the tech moguls of the world were as clear-cut in their responses as the beloved director, who refuses to incorporate generative AI in his films.

4. Predator: Badlands

Like the finest sci-fi reboots, “Predator: Badlands” takes a familiar franchise and turns it upside down. An exhilarating adventure through a world of man-eating plants and creatures, Dan Trachtenberg’s third “Predator” offering features the iconic galactic hunter as the lead. While some audience members may hesitate at joining yet another backstory in the series, “Badlands” emerges as a refreshing coming-of-age narrative that wraps itself in an intergalactic buddy-cop format reminiscent of Disney’s popular series, “The Mandalorian.” This time around, however, the villain-turned-hero is accompanied by a crew of furry companions and a talkative android zoologist, portrayed by Elle Fanning. This injects a lighter tone often lacking in the franchise, as Fanning and the ensemble cultivate a cheerful, dare I say family-friendly ambiance that aligns with the franchise’s new Mickey Mouse-wearing proprietors.

That isn’t to suggest that “Badlands” lacks intensity, as Trachtenberg meets all the criteria for an excellent “Predator” film, delivering dreadlocked assassins, advanced weaponry, gravity-defying finishing maneuvers, and even an improvisation sequence with weaponry that would earn Arnold Schwarzenegger’s approval. The outcome is a thrilling adventure filled with