Geekbench 6 results of CPU and GPU tests done on the 11-in iPad Air (M1) and the 11-in iPad Pro (M5) show significant improvements for the new device.
Collected my new 11-in M5 iPad pro from Apple, so isues with setting it up. Allegedly the existing SIM data from the old iPad has been transferred to the new one’s eSIM and is allegely ready to be used, but of course, it doesn’t bloody well work.
Ready for some new toys? Apple announced that the M5 14' MacBook Pro; 11" and 13" iPad Pros and Vision Pro devices with M5 processors are now available for pre-order.
Experimented with some of the driving settings with the Mazda CX-30. One is the Speed Limit function. Set a speed and you can only exceed that with a vigourous press of the accelerator pefal to initiate kickdown to a lower gear ratio. You have to use the accelerator to maintain speed, unlike the adaptive cruise control which will hold a speed reliably for you. Another setting is Sport mode for the six-speed auto transmission. This allows higher engine revs before upshifts are made, handy for hills and turns. Sport mode will not work in cruise control but will do so in Speed Limit mode.
The centrally-mounted sensors at the top of the windscreen include a camera for recognising street signs and traffic lights, these are shown on the dashboard and heads-up display. In Speed Limit mode as soon as a new limit sign is passed, it registers with the abbreviation "Res" superimposed over it. This means one presses the Resume button on the steering wheel (also used with cruise control).
Sport mode does more than just allowing gears to hold at higher revs: it also stiffens the already firm suspension and sets a more direct steering response for the electric power steering.
Eight hours ago I tried Speed Limit mode and Sport mode together on a hilly road with numerous turns, both sharp and sweeping. I set the speed to the road's posted limit of 80 km/hr and let the beast have its head. Very enjoyable, the steering response and the roadholding were both enhanced with the use of Sport mode. On the trip back home over the same road I used cruise control (which shut off Sport and Speed Limit modes) observing the steering and roadholding to be less enhanced than previously.
There are five trim/equipment levels in Australia for the CX-30: Pure, Evolve, Touring, Astina and Astina X2. Mine with all the features mentioned above and lots of other goodies is the one step above basic level, the Evolve level. The Pure models have a softer ride because they have 16-inch wheels with a higher tyre profile ratio. The others have lower-profile tyres and an 18-inch wheel.
Just back from a shopping trip, 23 km round trip. I tried driving as economically as possible: at the start the expected range remaining was 550 km. At the end, this figure had increased to 560 km. I found at low throttle openings, upshifts happened at around 2100 rpm (redline is 7000). When coasting the instantaneous fuel consumption readout showed 0.0 l/100 km, indicating that all cylinders were shut down, receiving no fuel and with the intake and exhaust valves closed. Interestingly I was still travelling faster than some other vehicles.
Chatting with cousins, etc over a beer and nibbles in a pub over the road from the church where our Aunt’s funeral has just finished.
I wondered why the advanced Keyless Entry feature mentioned in the CX-30's owner manual wasn't working. The front door handles appear to have the lock and unlock touch sensors required for such operation.
I now know why the feature doesn't work. Because the I didn't buy a high-enough specification model. All CX-30s have the same handles but the two lower-spec models sold here don't have the sensors fitted.