Fixer Upper: Larry McMurtry’s Library By Colin Ainsworth February 29, 2024

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its primarily the longer-range shots with the 5x telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.more iPhone users would have benefited from Apple choosing to use the extra capacity created by the A17 Pro chip to give the iPhone 15 Pro series longer battery life instead.

Zippy data transfers -- With the switch to USB-C in iPhone 15.especially when it comes to video and gaming.Longer battery life for up to two hours additional usage time (compared to iPhone 12 Pro models)Always-on display for getting the time and basic info when youre not using the phoneBrighter display for better use outdoors (2000 nits peak brightness on iPhone 15 Pro versus 1200 nits peak brightness on iPhone 12 Pro)ProMotion display with 120Hz refresh rate offers smoother graphics and animationsDynamic Island brings a useful new notification systemStandby Mode to see useful widgets when your phone is dockedUSB-C charging with a more universal cable that connects to many other types of devicesAction button to get fast access to the camera or another one of your regular featuresEmergency SOS via satellite to contact emergency services when you dont have a cellular signalCrash Detection for alerting emergency services and your contacts if youre in an accident48-megapixel photos for more detailed shots and the ability to crop in farther LiDAR Scanner for better low-light and portrait-mode photosMacro photography mode to get better images of things up closeCinematic Mode video to shift focus from different subjects after recording videosProRes video recording to capture more professional-level video footageAction mode for shooting smooth videos that look like drone shots5x tetraprism telephoto (iPhone 15 Pro Max only) to get crisp photos and videos of things farther away The Standby Mode feature in iOS 17 looks great with the iPhone 15 Pros bright.

Samsungs 10x periscope zoom lens and Apples 5x tetraprism zoom lens arent directly comparable because the Samsung phone still has extra reach that lets you get shots that arent possible with the iPhone (like this one).Halide has since released an app update and the problem appears to be resolved.

Jason Hiner/ZDNETIs the iPhone 15 Pro Maxs 5x zoom worth the upgrade?As Ive written before.

Maybe you could even take some of that savings and spend it on a better case and some cool new USB-C and wireless accessories.Several sources have speculated that China could convert its old jets from the Cold War into unmanned drones.

the J-7 could readily be transformed into an uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) for that “new role.According to an annual military assets and defense economics report from the International Institute of Strategic Studies.

it is yet to be seen if they can pull off high-speed maneuvers when the “pilot” is not in the cockpit and has limited situational awarenessDawn Aerospace plans to make the Mk-III a two-stage orbital vehicle with a disposable second stage that can carry more than 1 tonne on a suborbital flight or send a 551 lbs (250 kg) satellite to low-Earth orbit.