Techcrunch blog!: iPhone 15 Pro Max review: We tested Apple's best camera at Disneyland

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Today's top story has Matthew Panzarino taking Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max to Disneyland to check out how all of the features do in, dare we say, a frenzied environment? Here’s how it fared.

Meanwhile, Google today released what we describe as "a more capable version" of its Bard chatbot. It can tap into your Google apps, double-check answers and more, oh my! Check it out.

And if you’re looking for what else the iPhone 15 Pro Max can do, we’ve got that covered.

Image Credits: Darrell Etherington

More top reads

Because there's no "plan B": European carbon accounting startup Plan A raises $27 million from VC and corporate heavyweights. Measure your carbon footprint.

Confirmed!: CrowdStrike acquisition of Bionic.ai for $350 million is no longer a rumor. Go inside the deal.

No entry: Y Combinator says visa challenges hamper participation of international founders. Get the scoop.

It's all in what you know: Pryon raises $100 million to index and analyze enterprise data. Read more.

Legal eagle: Darrow gets served $35 million for an AI that parses public documents for class action lawsuit potential. Gavel drop.

AI or isn't it?: TikTok debuts new tools and technology so that creators can label AI content. Get the scoop on this new feature.

Material wealth: Scrap metal trading marketplace Metaloop raises $17 million. Search on.

IP-Oh network: Cato Networks, valued at $3 billion, lands $238 million ahead of its anticipated IPO. Read more.

That's a big chip: New SambaNova chip is designed to handle a 5 trillion parameter model. Let's dance.

Skip the line: Amazon's new Just Walk Out cashierless checkout system uses RFID tags to track apparel purchases. Start shopping.

More for your Tuesday:

Image Credits: Plan A

At TechCrunch Disrupt

If you're wondering why your favorite reporter isn't responding, it's because the TechCrunch team is at Disrupt this week. During this time, we will be bringing you a sampling of the Startup Battlefield 200 companies as we make our way to the top 20 companies. Only one will win the Disrupt Cup and a $100,000 equity-free grand prize. And check out all of our content from the week here.

In Diagnostics launches a $30 test that aims to tell you if your liver is working. Read more.
Monoclonal antibody treatments have many challenges — Narval is fixing them. Read more.
Flint wants to disrupt the battery industry with paper. Read more.
BioticsAI wants to improve prenatal ultrasound scans with AI. Read more.
Electrified Thermal Solutions' e-bricks could be key to decarbonizing heavy industry. Read more.
AI startup speeds up the creation of climate-resilient crops. Read more.
Nolej’s AI-generated classroom tools are a force multiplier for educators. Read more.
Phalanx protects company data by automatically securing and tracking sensitive documents. Read more.
Magnestar wants to solve the satellite signal interference problem for the entire space industry. Read more.

Image Credits: Kimberly White/Getty Images for TechCrunch

How deep tech founders can secure early-stage fundraising in a downturn

Software as a service is wide open, but deep tech founders hoping to connect with investors have a unique set of problems.

New technology often takes a long time to monetize, which means there’s a small community of VCs who have relevant interest and experience. During a downturn, that cohort can get even smaller.

Bucking the odds, French photonics company Cailabs acquired seed funding during a down market in 2013. “Here we share the lessons we learned, which can help other deep tech founders looking for funding during a downturn,” writes founder/CEO Jean-François Morizur in TC+.

TechCrunch+ is our membership program that helps founders and startup teams get ahead of the pack. You can sign up here. Use code "DC" for a 15% discount on an annual subscription.