No, a video game spin-off of The Batman is not in the works, James Gunn says

If this week’s rumor about a video game set in the universe of 2022’s The Batman got your hopes up, I have some bad news: no such thing is in development at the moment. Responding to a question on Threads about whether Warner Bros. has a game in the works based on the Robert Pattinson-led film, DC Studios’ co-head James Gunn said, “Sadly there is no truth to this whatsoever.” The rumor stems from a Puck report that was published on Friday.

The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves, popped back up in theaters on Wednesday as part of AMC’s celebration of the 85th anniversary of Batman. Work on a sequel is currently underway, and an HBO limited series focusing on The Penguin is slated to come out this fall. We aren’t getting a video game spin-off any time soon, though. And, in case you were wondering, “There is also no truth to Tubthumping by Chumbawamba being played on the set of Superman (this is a real rumor on Reddit someone just sent me!),” Gunn posted.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/DiSkPLT
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Brazil plans to fine anyone who tries to use X via VPN

Brazil is serious about this ban of Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter).

After banning the social network within its borders, one nugget in the New York Times' report about the story stands out: Anyone who tries to access X in Brazil using technical workarounds like VPNs will be fined substantially. To be more specific, those people could be fined as much as nearly $9,000 per day for using X in Brazil.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's X is now banned in Brazil

While a large country's supreme court banning a social network may sound excessive (as if such a thing could happen here), the story of how it happened doesn't exactly paint X and Musk in a positive light. Brazil's government ordered the site to stop hosting disinformation, Musk called it "censorship," and eventually things escalated from there. On Wednesday of this week, X (which shut down its Brazil operations earlier this year) was ordered by Brazil to appoint a legal representative in the country within 24 hours; X did not do this. As such, X is now banned in Brazil.

And if you try to get around that ban, you'll have to pay up. Be careful.

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What to read this weekend: Rural horror infused with Chinese mythology, and the lush alien world of Convert

New releases in fiction, nonfiction and comics that caught our attention.

Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen

There’s something about the idea of coming home and reawakening dormant familial trauma that just makes for great horror stories, and Sacrificial Animals is no exception. In the novel, brothers Nick and Joshua Morrow return to their family’s farm in Nebraska after many years estranged from their abusive father, reopening old wounds and allowing supernatural forces to take root. Sacrificial Animals bounces between “Then” and “Now” perspectives, painting a picture of the boys’ childhoods under the violent and racist man, and the gravity of returning once they learn he is dying.

The slow burn horror story weaves in Chinese mythology, using flowery language and a Cormac McCarthy-like lack of quotation marks (and McCarthy-like brutality) to really give it a folkloric feel. But do yourself a favor and skip the blurb if you plan on reading this one, as it betrays a bit too much about the direction the story will go.

Trash Talk: An Eye-Opening Exploration of Our Planet's Dirtiest Problem by Iris Gottlieb

Humanity’s trash problem is one so massive and complex it can be difficult to even comprehend, especially for those of us who are more or less removed from the reality of it. I mean, it feels like every other week I learn that an item I’ve long been told is recyclable is, in fact, not recyclable, and garbage is even piling up in space. Iris Gottlieb’s Trash Talk: An Eye-Opening Exploration of Our Planet's Dirtiest Problem breaks the whole issue down, diving into the many facets of global trash production and management, and exploring how we got to where we are.

It’s filled with illustrations and insight to help contextualize a problem that, unfortunately, isn’t going away any time soon, and is a great read for anyone who wants to know more about what really happens to your garbage when you throw it “away.”

Convert by John Arcudi, Savannah Finley

The first thing that popped into my mind when I saw the cover for issue #1 of Convert was Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy. A man in a space suit — with the helmet removed — stands in a field holding a huge gun, surrounded by strange flora that almost seems like it’s trying to consume him. The mental comparisons to the Area X of VanderMeer’s series only continued as I read through it, but a development its final few panels affirms that Convert has its own unique story to tell.

The first issue of the new science fiction/fantasy series from Image Comics was released this week, and visually, it’s stunning. In the opening pages, “Science Officer Orrin Kutela finds himself stranded on a distant planet, starving and haunted by the ghosts of his dead crew,” per the description. “On the verge of death, he makes an astonishing discovery.” Convert was written by John Arcudi, with art by Savannah Finley, colors by Miguel Co and lettering by Michael Heisler. The second issue drops September 25.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/X7cd0vn
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How to watch F1 live streams online for free

TL;DR: Watch 2024 F1 live streams for free on ORF, ServusTV, RTBF, or RTL ZWEE. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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Do you love watching incredibly talented drivers in unbelievably fast cars? Of course you do.

F1 brings together the best of the best to battle it out on the track. Sure, Max Verstappen has dominated the field in recent years, but the tide is turning. McLaren and Mercedes have finally found some pace, which means more entertaining racing.

If you are interested in watching F1 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

2024 F1 calendar

The 2024 F1 season features 24 races held all over the world between March and December:

1. Bahrain GP (Sakhir) — March 2

2. Saudi Arabian GP (Jeddah) — March 9

3. Australian GP (Melbourne) — March 24

4. Japan GP (Suzuka) — April 7

5. China GP (Shanghai) — April 21

6. Miami GP (Miami) — May 5

7. Emilia Romagna GP (Imola) — May 19

8. Monaco GP (Monaco) — May 26

9. Canada GP (Montreal) — June 9

10. Spain GP (Barcelona) — June 23

11. Austria GP (Spielberg) — June 30

12. United Kingdom GP (Silverstone) — July 7

13. Hungary GP (Budapest) — July 21

14. Belgium GP (Spa) — July 28

15. Netherlands GP (Zandvoort) — Aug. 25

16. Italy GP (Monza) — Sept. 1

17. Azerbaijan GP (Baku) — Sept. 15

18. Singapore GP (Singapore) — Sept. 22

19. USA GP (Austin) — Oct. 20

20. Mexico GP (Mexico City) — Oct. 27

21. Brazil GP (Sao Paulo) — Nov. 3

22. Las Vegas GP (Las Vegas) — Nov. 23

23. Qatar GP (Lusail) — Dec. 1

24. Abu Dhabi GP (Yas Marina) — Dec. 8

It's important to note that these dates are only for race days. China, Miami, Austria, USA, Brazil, and Qatar will each host a sprint weekend this season.

How to watch F1 for free

The good news is that it is possible to stream F1 for free in 2024. The following platforms are offering free coverage of this season:

• Austria — ORF or ServusTV (12 races each)

• Belgium — RTBF (every race)

• Luxembourg — RTL ZWEE (every race)

These free streaming platforms are geo-restricted, meaning you'll be blocked if you attempt to connect from outside the country of origin. Fortunately, you can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can access these streaming services to watch F1 for free from anywhere in the world.

Unblock these free streaming services by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Austria, Belgium, or Luxembourg

4. Connect to ORF, ServusTV, RTBF, or RTL ZWEE

5. Watch F1 races from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch F1 live streams without fully committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select races for free.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for F1?

There are a number of streaming-friendly VPNs out there, but ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming F1 for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. By using the guarantee, you can watch F1 races for free. This is sneaky, but it works because ExpressVPN returns your investment without hassle.

Watch the 2024 F1 season for free with ExpressVPN.

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X is labeling an unflattering NPR story about Donald Trump as ‘unsafe’

X is discouraging users from viewing a link to an NPR story about Donald Trump's recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery, raising questions about whether the Elon Musk-owned platform is putting its thumb on the scale for the former president.

On Thursday, NPR reporter Stephen Fowler posted a link to a story in which he quoted an Army official who said that an employee at Arlington National Cemetery was “abruptly pushed aside” during an event attended by Trump and members of his campaign earlier this week. The outlet had previously reported that there was a “physical altercation” at the event with campaign staff over federal laws barring campaign activities at the cemetery.

Some users on X who attempt to click a link to the story are greeted with a warning message saying that X has deemed that “this link may be unsafe.” It states that it could be malicious, violent, spammy or otherwise violate the platform’s rules, but doesn’t explain why the link was flagged. Fowler posted a thread on X, each tweet of which contained a link to his story — the warning appears to affect the first two instances of the link but not others, for reasons unknown. It’s highly unusual for such a warning to appear before a link to a mainstream website. Other links to NPR, as well as other coverage of Trump’s visit to Arlington, don’t appear to have such a label.

Notably, Musk has been a vocal supporter of Trump this election, and recently held a lengthy live streamed conversation with him on X. Musk has also publicly feuded with NPR in the past, adding a “state affiliated media” label to its account for several months last year. NPR hasn’t posted from its main account on X since the label was added last April.

X didn’t immediately respond to questions about its use of the label.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/pmeGMgF
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Gemini will soon generate AI images of people again with the upgraded Imagen 3

Google’s generative AI tools are getting some of the boosts the company previewed at Google I/O. Starting this week, the company is rolling out the next-gen version of its Imagen image generator, which reintroduces the ability to generate AI people (after an embarrassing controversy earlier this year). Google’s Gemini chatbot also adds Gems, the company’s take on bots with custom instructions, similar to ChatGPT’s custom GPTs.

Google’s Imagen 3 is the upgraded version of its image generator, coming to Gemini. The company says the next-gen AI model “sets a new standard for image quality” and is built with guardrails to avoid overcorrecting for diversity, like the bizarre historical AI images that went viral early this year.

“Across a wide range of benchmarks, Imagen 3 performs favorably compared to other image generation models available,” Gemini Product Manager Dave Citron wrote in a press release. The tool allows you to guide the image generation with additional prompts if you don’t like what it spits out the first time.

Citron says Imagen 3 performs “favorably” compared to the competition. It also includes Google’s SynthID tool to watermark images, making it clear that they’re AI-made and not the genuine article.

Google

Citron says the ability to generate people will return in the coming days for paid users, months after Google yanked the feature. He says new guardrails will prevent the generation of “photorealistic, identifiable individuals” — a far cry from the problematic deepfakes generated by Elon Musk’s Grok. Also off-limits are children and (as with other image generators) any gory, violent or sexual scenes. The product manager grounds expectations by saying Gemini’s images won’t be perfect, but he promises the company will continue to listen to user feedback and refine accordingly.

Starting this week, the Imagen 3 model will be available for all users, but reintroducing images featuring people will begin with paid users. English-speaking Gemini Advanced, Business and Enterprise users can expect human image generation to return “over the coming days.”

Google

Initially previewed at Google I/O 2024, Gems are Google’s custom chatbots with user-created instructions. It’s essentially Gemini’s answer to OpenAI’s GPTs, which Google’s competitor rolled out late last year. Gems begin rolling out in the next few days.

“With Gems, you can create a team of experts to help you think through a challenging project, brainstorm ideas for an upcoming event, or write the perfect caption for a social media post,” Citron wrote. “Your Gem can also remember a detailed set of instructions to help you save time on tedious, repetitive or difficult tasks.”

In addition to the blank slate of custom Gems, Gemini will include premade ones “to help you get started” and inspire new ideas. Prebuilt Gems include:

• Learning coach - to help you understand complex topics

• Brainstormer - to inspire new ideas

• Career guide - walk you through skill upgrades, decisions and goals

• Writing editor - provide constructive feedback on grammar, tone and structure

• Coding partner - upgrade coding skills for developers and inspire new projects

Gems begin rolling out today on desktop and mobile. However, they’re only available for Gemini Advanced, Business and Enterprise subscribers, so you’ll need a paid plan to check them out.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/QWELIeK
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Sony hikes the PlayStation 5 price in Japan by 19 percent

Due to a “challenging external environment,” Sony will increase the PS5’s price in Japan by 19 percent. The new price of the standard PS5 model will be ¥79,980 (about $554) and will come into effect by September 2, 2024. Prices for the console in other countries are not affected.

It’s important to note that Sony raised PS5 prices around the world two years ago, with the exception of the US. Similar to the Japanese price hike, Sony also remarked that “challenging economic decisions” led to this difficult decision. Without getting into specifics, the console isn’t the only product about to cost more, as accessories like the DualSense controller and PlayStation VR2 are also experiencing price hikes.

A price hike this late into the console’s life and by this much is rather unusual, and Sony is expecting fewer PS5 sales for the fiscal 2025 year. But despite that slowdown, the PS5 reached 50 million sales last year and is outselling the Xbox Series X/S by a wide margin.

There are also rumors that a PS5 Pro will come out this fall. While it’s not likely why the PS5’s price in Japan is increasing, it’s still a potential factor in how Sony considers pricing the current model. Nevertheless, the PS5 Pro is still unconfirmed.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/ejMlRnz
via engadget.com

Instagram lets you add texts on photos and layer images for grid posts

Instagram has introduced new text tools meant to help you design a grid that's more reflective of your personality. To start with, you can now layer your photos and add text to them, as stickers, to achieve the look you want. You can start the whole process by selecting an image and then tapping the text button to write a text overlay for it in the font that you prefer. If you'd rather layer several images for one post, tap on the gallery button in the top right corner of the screen instead. You can then change the shape of the sticker, which again can contain either a text or another image, into a square, a circle, a heart or a star by tapping on it. 

Speaking of text you can add to your photos, Instagram is adding new fonts you can use in the app. You can combine those fonts with the new animations and effects the app is adding, as well, to jazz up your Reels and Stories. Earlier this month, Instagram doubled the number of photos and videos you can share in a carousel post. From 10 files, the app now allows you to upload up to 20, giving you an easy way to add photo dumps to your account. These new features will let you personalize your photo dumps and to potentially use them as an outlet for your creativity... sort of like how Myspace users could customize their profiles back in the day. In fact, Instagram also recently announced a feature that lets you attach a song to your profile, which Myspace was known for in the early days of social media. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/pz74djt
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Pizza Tower has surprise dropped for Nintendo Switch

The beloved platformer Pizza Tower is finally playable on Nintendo Switch, as revealed at the company’s Indie World event. As a matter of fact, it’s one of those surprise drops, so the game’s available right now.

It’s about time the title is on a Nintendo console as, well, it feels like a Nintendo game. Pizza Tower is a frantic 2D sidescroller that cribs a whole lot from the Wario Land franchise and, to a lesser extent, Mario and Sonic games.

You play as a balding chef named, and this is real, Peppino Spaghetti. The game tasks you with scaling the titular tower to fight a sentient pizza that is kind of like the Bowser of Italian food. The game was largely designed by someone named McPig and the soundtrack was created by a high school student. It’s an indie game miracle!

However, forget all of that. Gameplay is where Pizza Tower shines. The movement feels perfect so the platforming is, simply put, S-tier. It’s been polished to a Nintendo-like sheen, which is quite a feat for a high schooler and someone who goes by the moniker McPig. There are tons of fully-realized abilities and a dedication to speed pulled straight from Sonic. Also, Peppino can’t die, allowing for insane platforming experiments.

In other words, this is one heck of a game and now it’s on a Nintendo console. That’s gotta be quite a thrill for the development team.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/Rkx7XEW
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You can now customize PlayStation DualSense Edge controllers on PC

PC gamers who use Sony’s PlayStation DualSense Edge controllers can now customize them using an updated PlayStation Accessories app. This app used to be called “Firmware updater for DualSense wireless controller” (a really long name).

Users can still use the app to update the controller’s firmware, which is necessary to ensure flawless operation. But the app also now lets DualSense Edge users adjust trigger deadzones, change layouts, modify stick sensitivity and alter controller vibration intensity. Naturally, you can swap between custom profiles for specific games on your PC for convenience.

While you can customize Sony’s more flexible and expensive DualSense Edge wireless controller, it’s currently not possible to do so for the standard DualSense controller. However, you can still use the app to update the firmware of both models. You can update both controllers using a USB or Bluetooth connection.

On a related note, Sony has been increasingly focused on the PC market, as it has brought major titles to PC (including God of War, The Last of Us Part I, Marvel’s Spider-Man and Horizon Zero Dawn) in recent years. PS VR2 support has also been live since early August, provided you shell out for an adapter.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/f6I5elQ
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iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: How are they different?

This in-depth iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro comparison will help you figure out the exact differences between both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. In addition to price, design, display, and battery life, we'll explore how the cameras differ, too — a popular request among prospective buyers.

The iPhone 15 costs $799, but the iPhone 15 Pro is more expensive at $999. As such, you're likely thinking, "Is the iPhone 15 Pro really worth the extra $200?"

I won't stand on a soapbox and tell you which iPhone to get. Instead, I'm going to tell you all the differences between the two. Then, I'll let you decide which phone is best for you. Let's dive into this iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro comparative analysis, shall we?

Note: While we're focusing on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro in this story, keep in mind that the next-gen iPhone is right around a corner. Check out our iPhone 16 series rumor hub for all the credible leaks about the iPhone 15 series' successor.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 rumors: Release date, price, specs, features, and more

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: price

The iPhone 15 has a starting price of $799 via Apple's official website (you can also grab one via Best Buy)— and it comes with the following specs:

• 128GB of storage

• 6GB of RAM

• A16 Bionic chipset

• 6.1-inch display

Keep in mind that you can get more storage, but it'll cost you. If you want 256GB of storage, the iPhone 15 will set you back $900. Speaking from experience, I'd recommend getting the 256GB variant, particularly if you love hoarding photos and videos. Otherwise, the 128GB model will eventually haunt you with a "storage full" error, typically a year and some change in, forcing you to delete your treasured media content.

The base iPhone 15 model comes with 128GB of storage. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

If you're a big spender, you can get the iPhone 15 with 512GB of storage, which costs $1,099. But if you have enough money to spend on that, you'd be better off upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro with 256GB of storage, which is exactly the same price (i.e., $1,099).

Speaking of the iPhone 15 Pro, it has a starting price of $999 via Apple's official website and comes with the following specs:

• 128GB of storage

• 8GB of RAM

• A17 Pro

• 6.1-inch display

The most expensive iPhone 15 Pro, packed with 1TB of storage, will set you back $1,499. But again, if you have that kind of money to blow, you might as well upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro Max with 512GB of storage, which costs $100 less at $1,400.

Again, I'd recommend upgrading to at least 256GB of storage if you have a treasure trove of media you'd like to store. However, if you don't mind deleting a few stuff along the way, or you have cloud storage, the 128GB variant should be fine.

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Credit: Apple

iPhone 15

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Credit: Apple

iPhone 15 Pro

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A brief history of the iPhone

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iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: design

Cue Sia singing "Titanium" at the top of her lungs. The iPhone 15 Pro's biggest selling point is that it consists of a titanium frame, making it lighter and more durable than its predecessor's stainless-steel finish.

The iPhone 15, wrapped in an aluminum enclosure, doesn't have a hint of titanium. Womp, womp! It is, however, a little lighter than its Pro sibling (6.03 ounces vs. 6.6 ounces).

As far as colors are concerned, I'd argue that the iPhone 15's colors are more fun and lively.

The iPhone 15 comes in five fun colors. Credit: Apple

It comes in five colors:

• Pink

• Yellow

• Green

• Blue

• Black

The iPhone 15 Pro is a little bit more low-key and subtle — more mature and sophisticated.

The iPhone 15 Pro's colors are a lot more neutral. Credit: Apple

Its colors are more urbane anc minimalist:

• Natural Titanium

• Blue Titanium

• White Titanium

• Black Titanium

One minor difference between the two phones is the iPhone 15 Pro's Action Button feature located on the left side of the chassis. The iPhone 15, on the other hand, still has a boring mute switch instead. What's so great about the Action Button? You can customize it to launch any app or task you want.

For example, with my iPhone 15 Pro Max, I've set the Action Button to launch the Notes app since I use it so frequently, but the possibilities are endless. You can set up the Action Button to launch whatever app you want.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: display

The iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro actually share the same display size: 6.1 inches. If you want something bigger (e.g., 6.7 inches), consider getting the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Dynamic Island is here to stay. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

They also have the same resolution: 2,256 x 1,179 pixels

Although the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max share the same screen size, they do not have the same display tech. For example, the iPhone 15 does not have ProMotion technology nor does it have an Always-On display — but the Pro model has both of these perks.

What's ProMotion? It's just a fancy term for, "This phone has a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz." In other words, the iPhone 15 Pro has a zippier display that adapts to your workflow. If you're simply scrolling through an article, the refresh rate will slowdown. However, if you fire up a fast-paced mobile game, the refresh rate will pick up.

Conversely, the iPhone 15 has a refresh rate of 60Hz, which will feel slower only if you've ever owned a phone with a refresh rate of 90Hz or higher. And for the uninitiated, an Aways-On display lets you get information like time, widgets, and more at a glance because — well — the screen is always on. I can't say the same for the iPhone 15.

Both have the snazzy Dynamic Island featured at the top of the display, and plus, the duo can climb to a peak brightness of 2,000, according to Apple.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: cameras

Cameras are one of the biggest selling points smartphones, and as you might have guessed, the iPhone 15 Pro has an edge over the iPhone 15. Here's a break down of the camera specs:

iPhone 15

• Wide camera - 48MP

• Ultrawide camera - 12MP

• Selfie camera - 12MP

• No telephoto

iPhone 15 Pro

• Wide camera - 48MP

• Ultrawide camera - 12MP

• Selfie camera - 12MP

• Telephoto - 3X optical zoom

Unlike the iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 15 does not have a telephoto lens, which means that zoomed-in shots will have a dip in quality. It's also worth nothing that the iPhone 15 Pro's ultrawide lens has a slightly wider aperture, which means low-light shots in dim environments should have a better outcome.

If you're a telephoto lens stan, you're going to want to go Pro. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The iPhone 15, unlike the iPhone 15 Pro, does not support macro photography, Apple ProRAW, nor Night Mode portraits. (This isn't to be confused with Night Mode, which the iPhone 15 does have. It's just not available for portrait mode.)

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: performance

The iPhone 15 Pro, without a doubt, is zippier and beastlier than the iPhone 15, thanks to its new A17 Pro Bionic chip. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 sports the chipset featured inside the iPhone 14 Pro models: the A16 Bionic.

The iPhone 15 Pro is more of a powerhouse. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Truth be told, the A16 Bionic is still a stellar, breakneck chip that is actually overpowered for what's needed for mobile tasks, so imagine the herculean power behind the A17 Pro.

Without getting into the weeds of things, just know that the A17 Pro is capable of cutting-edge AI computations and graphics. So much so that high-fidelity games like Resident Evil Village and Death Stranding are available on the iPhone 15 Pro. Assassin's Creed Mirage will also be available on the iPhone 15 Pro, but the release is June 6.

It's also worth noting that the iPhone 15 has 6GB of RAM while the iPhone 15 Pro has 8GB of RAM. This means that latter will do a better job at juggling multiple tasks simultaneously (e.g., switching between a bunch of apps should be faster).

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: battery life

Apple ran a video playback test on the iPhone 15 and it lasted 20 hours on a single charge.

Compare that to the iPhone 15 Pro, which lasted 23 hours on the same test.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Apple Intelligence

At WWDC 2024, Apple announced that it is jumping into AI head first with a suite of perks called "Apple Intelligence." These features will rollout alongside the launch of iOS 18, but keep in mind that not every iPhone will get Apple Intelligence.

Genmoji is a new Apple Intelligence feature that will only be available on the iPhone 15 Pro Credit: Apple

The iPhone 15 will not support Apple Intelligence, but the iPhone 15 Pro models (e.g., iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max) will.

Some Apple Intelligence features that iPhone 15 Pro users will enjoy include Genmoji (generate your own emoji), ChatGPT integration, a new-and-improved Siri, new AI-powered summarization features, and more.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Which should you buy?

To sum it all up, the iPhone 15 Pro has an Action Button that I believe is totally underrated — the iPhone 15 doesn't have one. Plus, the iPhone 15 Pro has a better camera system. If taking better zoomed-in shots are important to you, it'd be worth it to shell out an extra $200.

If you enjoy mobile gaming, with the iPhone 15 Pro getting a GPU boost from its A17 Pro chipset, the upper-tier model is a better choice for you.

Finally, if the aforementioned AI-powered features tickle your fancy, you'll have to get the iPhone 15 Pro. The iPhone 15 does not support Apple Intelligence.

However, if neither of those bells and whistles tickle your fancy, you'll be fine with the entry-level iPhone 15.

Apple iPhone 15

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$829.99 Save $829.98

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

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$999.99 Save $999.98

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M4 MacBook Pro: All the rumors and leaks about the next-gen Apple laptop

The next MacBook Pro drop, packed with the M4 chip, is coming very soon, according to Apple leaker Mark Gurman.

We got a sneak peek of the M4 chip's capabilities when Apple unveiled it alongside the iPad Pro. This was the first time Apple has injected an M-series chip into an iPad before a MacBook.

The M4 chip was officially introduced to us when the iPad Pro dropped earlier this year. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

We can't quite wrap our minds around why Apple would do this. Perhaps Apple wanted to give us a sneak peek of the M4's powerful capabilities before introducing it to the MacBook family. Based on the in-house performance numbers we got for the M4-based iPad Pro, the next M4 MacBook Pro will likely be equally as impressive.

That being said, let's take a look at all the rumors we've been hearing about the M4 MacBook Pro.

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M4 MacBook Pro quick summary

• 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro expected in 2024

• 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips expected in late 2024 or early 2025

• M4 MacBook Pro will likely start with 16GB of RAM as opposed to 8GB

• No significant redesign expected

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M4 MacBook Pro

Similar to the M3 MacBooks that dropped last year during the October "Scary Fast" event event, we're expecting the following M4 MacBook models this year.

• 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 (cheapest)

• 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro

• 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max

• 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro

• 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max (priciest)

According to Apple, compared to the M2 CPU, the M4 processor is 50% faster. The Cupertino-based tech giant also claims that rendering performance has a four-fold performance jump.

It's also worth noting that, according to Bloomberg, the M4 MacBook Pro will likely start with 16GB of RAM as opposed to 8GB.

M4 MacBook Pro release date

According to an April report from Gurman, the next MacBook Pro will launch sometime later this year. While he didn’t provide an exact date, it’s expected to arrive before the M4 MacBook Air, which is slated for a spring 2025 release.

The current-gen entry-level MacBook Pro Credit: Apple

This matches a rumor from Ross Young, another respected analyst. According to Young, who posted a leak on his subscriber-only feed on X (formerly Twitter), Apple fans can expect an M4 MacBook Pro release "later this year," he said.

Based on what Apple has done historically, this means that Apple will likely hold a Mac event on October or November to unveil the new M4 MacBook Pro. However, as BGR noted, the best guesstimate is October.

According to Gurman, the entry-level M4 14-inch MacBook Pro will be released first, followed by the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring the more powerful M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, likely at the end of 2024 or early 2025.

M4 MacBook Pro design

We haven't seen any design rumors regarding the M4 MacBook Pro, but it likely won't get a significant overhaul. As MacRumors said, behind the scenes, Apple is planning a MacBook launch with a new OLED display. However, this isn't expected until 2026.

If you're curious about other next-gen laptops, including the M4 MacBook Air, M4 Mac mini, and more, check out our M4 Macs rumor hub.

via IFmashable.com

'10 Drunk Cigarettes': TikTok's trending AI hit is coke-binged bubblegum pop

TikTok's new hit song sounds like the Powerpuff Girls dipped into Scarface's powder, puffed a joint, then ripped a night out in the East Village....then wrote a hyperpop, bubblegum song about it.

The song is called "10 Drunk Cigarettes" by Girly Girl Productions and it's a seemingly AI-assisted ditty about all the things a girl needs more than a man. You'd be forgiven that — barring the song title — it sounds like a godawful Katy Perry track. Instead, it's a pretty hilarious and raunchy song that folks have loved.

It doesn't hurt that the song seemingly plays off the old TikTok formula that made viral songs like "abcdefu" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Bitch." It's easy to count along, almost like "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

Here's the bulk of the song, written out for your reading pleasure:

"10 things us girls need before we ever need a man:

1 new vape

2 lines of coke

3 drinks from the bar

4 more lines of coke

5 guys fries

6 hits of my blunt

7 more lines of coke

8 pairs of shoes

9 B.B. belts

And 10 drunk cigarettes"

The song also goes into all the things a girl seriously doesn't need from a man before ultimately deciding some money would be nice. It's honestly a funny song and does the classic trick of mixing an innocent-sounding beat with raunchy lyrics.

People have been sharing it on TikTok and posting lip-syncs and covers. Some of the videos have logged hundreds of thousands, or up to a million, views.

Girly Girl Productions seems to make a lot of similar songs designed to go viral. A recent track, for instance, features a play on the "demure" trend. Most songs seem to follow a similar hyperpop, bubblegum aesthetic, and ridiculous lyrics formula.

So if you suddenly hear tons of tracks on TikTok combining girl power, vapes, and drugs, well, you'll know where it originated.

via IFmashable.com

SpaceX will soon send the Polaris Dawn crew off to attempt the first commercial spacewalk

Polaris Dawn, a private space mission that aims to complete the first-ever civilian spacewalk, is expected to launch this week. On X, SpaceX said it’s targeting Tuesday August 27 at 3:38AM ET for liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket that will carry the Polaris Dawn crew to orbit. Led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, Polaris Dawn plans to send its crew of four private citizens as far as 870 miles from Earth — farther than any human has traveled since the Apollo program. The spacewalk, in which two of the crew members will step outside the SpaceX Dragon capsule, will take place at an altitude of 435 miles above Earth.

The Polaris Dawn crew includes Isaacman, CEO of Shift4, as commander, retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Scott “Kidd” Poteet as its pilot, and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon as mission specialists. Menon will also serve as the medical officer. The mission is expected to last about five days. 

Polaris Dawn and SpaceX completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of liftoff on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/qz2RD5bnVM

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 25, 2024

While only two crew members will actually leave the spacecraft during the flight, all will be exposed to the vacuum of space when the hatch opens — the Dragon capsule doesn’t have an airlock. It’ll be a critical test for SpaceX’s new Extravehicular Activity space suits, which the entire Polaris Dawn crew will have to wear to keep them safe. In an interview with Florida Today ahead of the mission, Menon said the suits have gone through extensive testing on the ground and expressed confidence in their performance. “We absolutely know the suits can pressurize there,” Menon said, adding that the team has “spent a lot of time pressurizing the suits at this point.”

Polaris Dawn will also put Starlink laser-based communications to the test in space for the first time, and gather data to support research into the effects of spaceflight on human health. The mission comes several years in the making and is the first of three planned Polaris spaceflights.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/TVx0adY
via engadget.com

NASA's new plan keeps Starliner astronauts in space until 2025

Have you ever had an eight-day road trip turn into an eight-month excursion? Nope? Well, consider yourself fortunate that you're not one of the astronauts currently stranded in space.

The two astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who blasted to the International Space Station (ISS) in a Boeing Starliner are now set to remain there until 2025 due to issues with Boeing's spacecraft. NASA made the long-awaited decision on Saturday, citing safety concerns.

As Mashable's science and space reporter Elisha Sauers covered in detail, the space agency needed to decide about this time in August because port space — effectively parking for space crafts — is limited and NASA also needs to ensure the health of the astronauts. The concerns with the Starliner centered on issues with its propulsion system. Thrusters malfunctioned when the Starliner docked and engineers apparently haven't devised a sufficient fix or explanation. Those thrusters are important when landing the capsule, considering they keep it pointed in the correct direction.

SEE ALSO: Why time is running short to decide Starliner astronauts' ride home

The new plan dictates that Williams and Wilmore will return to Earth in February aboard a SpaceX capsule. The planned eight-day test run of the Starliner will, in turn, become an eight-month stay on the ISS. The Starliner will be sent back without any crew.

People's lives are involved and, it seems, NASA decided it was best to play it safe.

"We have had mistakes in the past," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "We have lost two space shuttles as a result of there not being a culture in which information can come forward."

The decision is yet another blow to Boeing's reputation, which has had too many bad headlines to count of late. The safety concerns have only mounted since the tragic Boeing 737 Max crashes in 2018-19 that killed 346 people. Its space program also experiencing problems certainly isn't ideal — not for the company and certainly not for the astronauts stranded in space.

via IFmashable.com