whether you’re using Windows 11 Home or Pro. These functionalities can streamline activities, boost efficiency, and improve your overall experience.
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If you find yourself needing to remove an object or the background from a picture, your initial thought might be to use Photoshop. However, you don’t have to buy third-party software to make these adjustments. Windows 11 has a free alternative to Photoshop that you may not be aware of — the Photos app.
Photos is not just an image viewer. It includes a simple editor, equipped with features for removing objects and backgrounds. Both tools are driven by AI, making them fast and user-friendly, with minimal manual effort needed. To delete specific items and the background from your photos on Windows 11, follow these steps:
In anticipation of the December 10 launch, The Pokémon Company has released two additional trailers for the upcoming Mega Dimension DLC for “Pokémon Legends: Z-A” on both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. One of the trailers introduces Mega Lucario Z, a brand-new Mega-Evolved form of the well-loved Mega Lucario. An intriguing aspect of this reveal is that Mega Evolutions first appeared 12 years ago with the release of “Pokémon X” and “Pokémon Y”—an innovative feature that allowed certain Pokémon to transform into extraordinarily powerful versions of themselves for a limited time.
At that time, some Pokémon possessed Mega Evolution X or Y variants, including Charizard and Mewtwo. Moreover, in promoting “Pokémon Legends: Z-A” earlier this year, the company revealed that Raichu would also receive X and Y forms in this latest installment. Now, it appears that the narrative unfolding in “Pokémon Legends: Z-A” introduces a new form of Mega Evolution alongside new species.
Essential details about Mega Lucario Z
Per the Pokémon Company, Mega Lucario Z is classified as a Fighting/Steel type. Its Pokédex entry states that “while Mega Lucario can harness its vast aura into a destructive force, Mega Lucario Z envelops its whole body in its aura, empowering itself to enhance its defense, agility, and flexibility. Mega Lucario Z has the ability to manipulate its aura in various manners, like extending the aura to form a shield or directing it into powerful strikes by focusing the aura into particular areas of its body, such as its legs or fists.”
Additionally, the company clarifies that, in contrast to previously established Mega Evolutions, Z Mega Evolutions require less time to execute moves after receiving commands. The trade-off is that employing numerous moves in rapid succession depletes Mega Power faster, reducing their effectiveness in extended encounters.
Furthermore, purchasers of the DLC can take part in an additional side quest where they will encounter the Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo. After obtaining Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y through Mystery Gift, players can embark on this new adventure. “Pokémon Legends: Z-A” is available on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, having been launched on October 16, 2025.
Read MoreRaspberry Pi initiatives to enhance your smart home experience. For others, taking a simpler path might be a wiser choice.
We’ve identified 10 various gadgets that can enhance your bathroom with useful improvements. These devices either augment items you may already possess or frequently utilize. They range from boosting your dental care routine to simplifying your post-shower preparation. Even if your bathroom time is minimal, discovering methods to streamline your routine while you are there is beneficial.
If you’re seeking an easy-to-use device to monitor your health, a smart scale is a dependable choice. The Renpho Smart Scale is a popular option highly endorsed by numerous users. It pairs with your smartphone via an app, offering detailed insights beyond just your weight. It also integrates with several other wearables and apps that you might already have, like Samsung Health, Fitbit, or Apple Health. The Renpho Smart Scale is currently priced at $21.99 on Amazon and boasts a 4.6-star rating based
Read Morea large-display option from TCL — frequently found alongside premium brands like Samsung and LG, yet priced as if it were entry-level — you might naturally question: How can the TCL TV be so affordable? It’s the same inquiry many have posed regarding Hisense, and the answer primarily hinges on intentional business tactics, production scale, and cost-versus-prestige compromises.
A key factor in why TCL is capable of offering TVs at a relatively low price point revolves around strategy. TCL heavily relies on high-volume production, vertical integration, and stringent cost management, which allows it to manufacture panels and components on a large scale while sidestepping many of the costs that inflate prices for high-end brands. By possessing substantial portions of its supply chain, the company lowers dependence on external vendors and can swiftly adapt to new technologies without the conventional markups linked to third-party sourcing.
Furthermore, pricing is affected by how TCL decides to distribute its resources. Rather than emphasizing ultra-luxurious design elements or state-of-the-art flagship features, TCL focuses on providing robust baseline performance, bright displays, reasonable contrast, and vibrant colors, all coupled with Roku TV or Google TV software that keeps overall product costs manageable.
Someone investigating could observe the addresses you access, and possibly your activities, by leveraging contextual hints related to your searches. Private DNS guarantees that all data is encrypted. This effectively safeguards the information behind an encryption key. It would then be shielded from unwanted scrutiny, whether at work or home.
The positive aspect is that Google claims private DNS is activated by default in Android for “all networks capable of utilizing private DNS.” However, if you wish to verify its activation or review its status, here’s how: Go to Settings, then Network & Internet, then Private DNS and choose either Off, Automatic, or Private DNS provider hostname — the latter allows you to input a private DNS server. On Samsung devices, this option can be found under Settings, then Connections, then More Connection Settings, then Private DNS.
There’s a quiet transformation occurring below the surface of numerous lakes across the United States. Newer generations of fish are emerging smaller and frailer than those that came before. Scientists indicate that this is a signal we must heed. Over the last few decades, fishermen and biologists have observed that fish are diminishing not just in population, but also in their physical dimensions. A recently published study has illustrated just how profound this shift is.
Researchers at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability conducted a comprehensive long-term study involving over a thousand lakes nationwide. The research stretched over 75 years, presenting a grim portrayal of an ecosystem under substantial stress from changing freshwater levels as temperatures climb. However, it’s not solely the fish that are worrisome. The fundamental equilibrium of life in inland waters is at stake. The reduction in fish size may seem like a minor detail, yet it has significant repercussions for ecosystems, local populations, and the future state of America’s lakes.
America’s diminishing fish
The study, which examined 1,497 inland lakes in Michigan, uncovers a remarkable trend. Numerous freshwater fish species are shrinking compared to their earlier generations. This research was published in Global Change Biology and examined the lengths of 13 different fish species from 1945 to 2020. The researchers discovered that 37% of age classes demonstrated a notable reduction in length. The size decline was especially evident among the youngest and oldest individuals of the species.
The Michigan study employed sophisticated statistical models to distinguish the impacts of climatic factors, such as warmer water temperatures and extended growing seasons, from other environmental variables. The findings indicated that for species suited to colder waters, size occasionally increased with prolonged growing seasons, whereas it diminished with elevated surface water temperatures. For species acclimated to warmer waters, there was an overall decline in size. These conclusions underline how increasing water temperatures are modifying the biological characteristics of fish. In a similar vein, warming oceans are influencing dolphin populations. Rising water temperature represents a global trend that impacts our entire ecosystem.
In simpler terms, fish are not just less numerous; they are also smaller than in the past. Warmer waters hinder fish growth. They attain a certain age at a smaller size than previous generations of the same species. This is significant because size directly affects a fish’s survival prospects, foraging abilities, reproductive success, and interactions with predators. According to this new research, long-term climatic and environmental changes appear to be reshaping the ecosystem in U.S. inland waters.
Why diminishing fish is a serious issue
This research is part of a larger initiative by the University of Michigan to digitize decades’ worth of fish data through a crowdsourced endeavor. This ongoing project aids scientists in revealing long-term patterns cloaked in historical records. Old field notebooks and archives illustrate the severity of climate change and its impact on freshwater ecosystems.
The reduction in fish size and population signifies an altering balance within these ecosystems. Smaller fish could affect entire food webs. Younger fish that are smaller are more vulnerable to predation, and smaller adults yield fewer eggs. Over time, the fish population will weaken, struggling to endure sudden changes such as droughts, heat waves, and pollution.
Larger and older fish are essential for maintaining a stable fish population. While they may not be the most reproductive individuals, they tend to have better survival rates in the face of predators and environmental changes. As fish shrink, their capacity to foster new generations is considerably diminished. Additionally, this issue is beginning to impact individuals who rely on fish as a food source. The catch is becoming smaller, which will have significant economic ramifications.
This presents a new challenge for fisheries management. Regulations on catch sizes are predicated on the idea that fish grow at a consistent rate, but the shifting growth patterns indicate that such regulations need to be revised. Experts assert that preserving healthy habitats, restoring cooler waters, and monitoring fish growth development are vital for the survival of numerous freshwater species. The takeaway is evident: the decline of fish in the U.S. transcends local concerns. It serves as a warning of how climate change is reshaping life and how every single organism is adjusting to these changes.
Read MoreReuters has reported that the Indian government is requiring smartphone manufacturers to preinstall a state-run cybersecurity application that cannot be removed on devices sold within the country. The publication states that Apple intends to refuse compliance with this governmental directive. According to Reuters, the Department of Communications in India has mandated that smartphone manufacturers begin pre-installing the government app by default within 90 days. This application is said to aim at reducing fraud and cybercrime, as it would authenticate IMEIs to prevent the use of stolen devices. Nonetheless, this app is reportedly non-removable and cannot be turned off.
Due to this, sources aware of Apple’s objections have indicated that the company does not intend to comply with the directive, planning to inform the government that it does not adhere to such requirements anywhere globally, citing numerous privacy and security complications for the iOS ecosystem. “It’s not just like using a sledgehammer; it’s akin to a double-barreled gun,” remarked one of the sources cited by Reuters.
was altered to enable Boeing and NASA “to concentrate on safely certifying the system in 2026,” and executing crew rotations “when prepared.” The mutually accepted alteration modifies upcoming missions, decreasing them to four in total instead of the initial six, with “two remaining as options.” The following flight will be a cargo-only test, named Starliner-1, slated for no sooner than April 2026. The Starliner-1 mission will take place after essential system enhancements, enabling both teams to adequately evaluate in-flight validations, testing abilities, certifications, and mission preparedness. NASA mentions in its blog conveying the news that, subsequent to certification and following a successful mission, Starliner will “conduct up to three crew rotations” to the ISS.
The inaugural crewed test flight by Starliner in 2024 effectively transported NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to the ISS as intended. Nevertheless, during the docking procedures, it encountered propulsion and thruster issues. Boeing’s Starliner capsule returned home empty, with the astronauts instead brought back on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. This meant that some of the crew, including Williams, were left in space significantly longer than initially planned. Fortunately, the ISS is designed to accommodate up to seven individuals simultaneously. This also coincides with a period where renewed space exploration appears to be in the works, as NASA has announced an official date for the first crewed mission to the moon in over half a century.
My Drivers is precise. The report indicates alleged iPhone 17e designs showcasing a Dynamic Island at the upper portion of the display and a single-lens camera on the back. It is uncertain where these designs originated, and there is no method to authenticate the leak. Apple will not validate any modifications in design until it is prepared to reveal the iPhone 17e model, which will not occur before next spring. Nevertheless, My Drivers’ assertions are akin to an iPhone 17e report from August.
That being said, the iPhone 17e’s transition to a Dynamic Island display aligns perfectly with Apple’s strategy, making it an appealing feature for consumers seeking a more budget-friendly new iPhone. The iPhone 16e’s notch serves as a visual cue indicating that the device is not one of the most recent iPhones in Apple’s array. However, substituting the notch with a Dynamic Island cutout would render the iPhone 17e nearly indistinguishable from the iPhone 17 models. Still, it is anticipated that the iPhone 17e will not be equipped with the same 6.3-inch display found in the standard iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro. Rather, the iPhone 17e will come with a 6.1-inch screen akin to that of the base iPhone 16 model.
SpaceX’s Starlink operates at a much lower altitude, usually offering speeds in the tens, rather than hundreds, of megabits-per-second (Mbps) – with Starlink satellites reaching just beyond 200 Mbps. Achieving a full gigabit from 36,000 kilometers (over 22,000 miles) above Earth could signify a significant advancement in the physics and engineering concerning space-to-ground connections. Historically, the Earth’s atmosphere posed the greatest challenge to laser-based communications. Atmospheric turbulence alters, scatters, and distorts light, rendering high-speed laser downlinks exceptionally challenging. To address this, scientists devised a novel strategy termed AO-MDR synergy. This technique combines two cutting-edge approaches: Adaptive Optics, which rectifies signal distortion, and Mode Diversity Reception, which aids in re-capturing usable light when the signal is partially scattered.
The initiative is attributed to Professor Wu Jian from Peking University of Posts and Telecommunications and Liu Chao from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Although the laser technology remains in its testing phase, it suggests a potential future where satellites transmit fiber-like speeds to Earth without the limitations of conventional radio frequency systems.
