• 8 Posts
  • 49 Comments
Joined 1 year ago
Cake day: August 16th, 2023
  • cyrano@lemmy.dbzer0.comtoApple@lemmy.world•iPhone 16 and 16 Pro review: A worthy upgrade after three years
    151·
    1 month ago

    The good

    • These phones still have some of the best screens you can buy—even the non-Pro iPhone hits it out of the park
    • They have by far the best smartphone performance, too
    • Solid gains in GPU performance
    • Camera Control brings the long-awaited physical shutter button
    • The customizable Action button makes its way to the base iPhone
    • New photographic styles allow you to move away from the pitfalls of Apple’s computational photography decisions in any direction you choose
    • High-end camera features previously reserved for more expensive models have trickled down
    • Ultra-wide photos in low light got quite a bit better
    • Battery life improvements are always welcome

    The bad

    • 60 Hz on the non-Pro phones is looking a bit long in the tooth
    • Likewise, always-on displays are now standard in some of the iPhone 16’s direct competitors
    • The Pro phones don’t offer enough to justify an upgrade over the base models for the majority of consumers
    • Possibly the most subtle year-over-year upgrades in iPhone history—if that’s really a bad thing

    The ugly

    • Not much, other than the steep prices
  • cyrano@lemmy.dbzer0.comtoTechnology@lemmy.world•Musk’s X blocks links to JD Vance dossier and suspends journalist who posted itEnglish
    301·
    1 month ago

    Some ai tdlr The document appears to be a comprehensive research dossier on J.D. Vance, dated February 23, 2024, and labeled as “Privileged & Confidential.” It includes detailed background on Vance’s political career, financial records, personal history, and potential vulnerabilities. Below is a summary of key sections:

    1. Executive Synopsis and Vulnerabilities:

      • Anti-Trump Record and Establishment Ties: During the 2016 election, Vance was opposed to Donald Trump, referring to Trump as dangerous and criticizing his policies. He was described as a “never Trumper” and expressed doubts about Trump’s effectiveness.
      • Questionable Conservatism: Vance’s political positions often cross party lines. He has praised certain Democratic policies, opposed some core Republican policies like the 2017 tax cuts, and supported higher taxes for businesses and individuals without children. His stance on labor unions and criticism of corporate interests also mark him as diverging from traditional Republican economic priorities.

    2. Top Hits:

      • Political and Voting History: Vance failed to vote in several elections between 2018 and 2020 and was not a registered Republican in Hamilton County until 2022.
      • Lobbying Ties: While at Sidley Austin, Vance worked for clients such as Purdue Pharma and companies tied to the Chinese Communist Party.
      • Liberal Tendencies: Vance has previously expressed admiration for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Bernie Sanders.

    3. Campaign Finance:

      • 2022 Senate Campaign: Vance raised nearly $16 million, with contributions from Republican committees, corporations, and notable PACs. He also received donations from individuals with anti-Trump views.
      • 2028 Re-election Campaign: Since 2023, Vance raised over $1.5 million, with funds coming from PACs and corporations like SpaceX, Honeywell, and Comcast.

    4. Policy and Controversial Views:

      • Vance has supported raising taxes, especially for those without children, and has advocated for stronger labor union reforms.
      • He has been critical of both Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare and Trump’s domestic policies.
      • On social issues, Vance opposes abortion, supports traditional family structures, and advocates for stricter immigration controls.
      • He has also been critical of foreign interventions, particularly in Ukraine, and supports non-interventionism.

    5. Personal Information:

      • Vance is married to Usha Bala Vance and has three children. He has served as a U.S. Senator from Ohio since 2023. Prior to that, he worked in venture capital and at a law firm.

    This summary highlights Vance’s evolving political positions, campaign finance details, and areas of potential vulnerability that could be used by opponents in future political contests.

  • cyrano@lemmy.dbzer0.comtoApple@lemmy.zip•macOS 15 Sequoia: The Ars Technica review
    5·
    2 months ago

    The good

    • Window tiling is good!
    • Small but useful changes to most apps that don’t break anything that was already working.
    • Compatible with most of the same systems as macOS Sonoma was last year.

    The bad

    • Apple Intelligence is the tentpole feature, and none of it is ready yet.
    • Somewhat significant disk usage increase.
    • Window tiling isn’t as flexible as it is in Windows 11.

    The ugly

    • Drops 2018/2019 MacBook Air for no great reason. Sure, the processor is slow, but it was also slow last year, and it did have an Apple T2.
  • cyrano@lemmy.dbzer0.comtoComic Strips@lemmy.world•Friday the 13th [War and Peas]
    5·
    2 months ago

    Agreed with you. In Europe, there’s a superstition that gifting a knife can “cut” or sever a relationship. To avoid this, the person receiving the knife must give a coin—usually just a small one—back to the giver. This act symbolically “pays” for the knife, turning it into a purchase rather than a gift, and preventing any bad luck or harm to the friendship or relationship.

    It’s blend of practicality, tradition, and superstition.