Design The Passport Max 'special editions' feature the same overall form as the basic matte-black variant, save for flashier housings. The detector seems larger than other windshield-mount alternatives, however it is only slightly longer and thicker than the company's flagship RedLine. We were able to tuck the Max partly behind the rearview mirror on a new Mustang, but only the shorter SmartRadar fits in such a position on the nearly vertical rake of our Jeep windshield. The glossy faux-burl finish on our test unit appeared to be well applied, potentially befitting an Escalade or ironically placed in an old grocery-getter.
We loathe fake carbon-fiber, but Escort suggests this is the most popular option. Other choices include gloss black or metallic blue, but we'd recommend saving $50 and sticking with the original. A silver metallic band bisects the case and serves as a bezel for the recessed OLED display.
This eye-catching detail is fashionable and helps establish a high-end appearance, but we would prefer a 'stealth' edition that is all matte-black. This isn't for legal reasons, per se; radar detectors are only prohibited in Virginia and DC. On the other hand, flaunting such devices probably doesn't help inspire an undecided officer to give a warning rather than a ticket. We also habitually stashed the Max well before finding a parking spot in residential Los Angeles.
The OLED display is a welcome improvement over the dated red-LED screens on Escort's other radar detectors. Users can quickly glance at their current speed, the speed limit (when connected to Escort Live), and several different layouts for alert information. Many drivers will also appreciate selectable color themes to match their instruments or personal preferences. Performance Under the hood, the Max pairs an FPGA chip and an ARM processor to bring radar detection into the digital age. Unique in the market, the next-generation hardware enables true digital-signal processing (DSP). In theory, the approach promises to help filter false alerts while improving range and response time. We loved the Max that we tried out last year, though its pre-release firmware left room for improvement.
We noticed a drop in false alerts after installing the v1.8 firmware on the new special-edition Max and the basic model that was one of the first to ship last year. The company also added new display options, improved the voice quality for vocal alerts and made a few other tweaks.
The firmware now seems ready to go, out of the box, resolving some of our reservations about the early production run. All radar detectors face an increasing number of false signals from blindspot-monitoring systems and automated cruise-control technology that share parts of the same spectrum. The Max holds promise in this area, using digital analysis to distinguish between an automatic door and a radar gun, though we don't expect the technology to completely eliminate false alerts. Escort has demonstrated its commitment to ongoing development, and we expect the Max to continue improving. When approaching fixed Ka-band signals from different directions, the Max showed a significant range advantage over the strong-performing SmartRadar. The Max also demonstrated a slight range advantage over the 9500Ci in certain situations, though the 9500Ci receiver was mounted in a different position that may have had a negative effect on results. Law enforcement officers throughout our stomping grounds have continued to embrace instant-on strategy, essentially keeping their transmitters on standby until a potential speeder drives.
Once a target is visually spotted, the officer switches on their radar and immediately views the speed reading. The Max has blessed us with a few astonishingly early warnings for instant-on Ka action more than a mile down the road. In these instances, the Max caught a brief signal that disappeared for over a minute until we received the full Ka blast as the police car came into view. Radar detectors must constantly scan through frequencies to provide alerts across a broad spectrum. Escort boasts that its digital technology scans much faster than analog detectors, reducing the chances of missing a fleeting K-band signal while the hardware is listening to a Ka frequency. We likely saw this in action when the Max alerted to a few full blasts of instant-on radar a split-second earlier than the 9500Ci, and the speed advantage may have aided the weaker long-range instant-on warnings. There is an ongoing debate surrounding the Max's effective range compared to the RedLine, however we haven't directly tested both detectors against the same radar sources.
Range is arguably the most important metric for comparison, to an extent, and the RedLine can be trusted to deliver amazing performance, but we don't think the Max is intended to replace the RedLine. It serves more as an upgrade to the 9500ix, and we can't wait to see the digitally-enhanced RedLine successor hidden away at Escort's skunkworks (to be clear, this is pure speculation-we don't have any advanced knowledge of unannounced Escort products).
Integrated GPS is one of our favorite features, enabling a wide range of critical functions. AutoLearn automatically recognizes false alerts after passing by the same signal a few times, without requiring any input. Drivers also receive heads-up alerts when they approach a red-light camera or speed camera (this is part of the Defender Database subscription), and they can manually mark any enforcement hotspots. We took an in-depth look at Escort Live in our SmartRadar review, but it is worth mentioning again as part of the Escort ecosystem. When used with the optional Bluetooth-equipped Live cord and mobile apps for iOS or Android, the Max automatically uploads radar/laser alerts to the cloud.
The app shows any recent alerts from other Live users in the area, providing a higher layer of 'situational awareness.' We always use the app on long trips, and it has delivered more than a few early warnings for laser and instant-on threats that would have otherwise gone unnoticed until it was too late.
Installation The Max ships with a 'StickyCup' mount with a tacky material that physically adheres to the windshield, with a thumbscrew to adjust angle. The mount works much better than traditional suction cups when the tacky surface is kept clean. If the cup becomes dirty, however, the Max and mount will fall from the windshield.
This can be easily fixed by washing off the surface with soap and letting it dry before reattachment. We prefer the semi-permanent mount that ships with the SmartRadar, though the Max is likely too heavy for the tiny bracket. Hopefully Escort releases a beefed-up variant for the Max. In the meantime, BlendMount offers compatible (but pricey) custom mounts that clamp onto the rearview-mirror post. Circling back to our rant about flagrant display of electronic countermeasures, we recommend using Escort's SmartCord Live direct-wire installation kit rather than the coiled cords. Wiring direct to 12V isn't that difficult (don't forget to disconnect your battery first!), and it gets the coiled mess away from the driver's field of vision. The Live hardware is best purchased up front as a $40 bundle option, either coiled or direct, in contrast to a $100 retail price if bought separately.
Bottom line When we picked up a convertible Mustang last week at the Las Vegas airport for a run to Los Angeles, the Passport Max was securely mounted before the car left the parking garage. It helped keep us out of trouble in Sin City and during our midnight flight through Bat Country. Later, at the back of a four-car convoy led by a Porsche going 5mph below the speed limit, we heeded Ka chimes from the well-hidden officer at the end of the first passing zone in 20 miles. We also learned that nearly every old pickup truck in the Valley of Fire is driven by a radar-equipped park ranger eager to enforce an excruciating 45mph speed limit on the perfectly-paved twisties. Would a lesser detector have provided the same warnings? Yes, but probably a bit later and between a few more false alerts. The Passport Max allowed us to complete our journey without the extra bit of tension that accompanies a long drive on unfamiliar roads frequented by skilled enforcers of unknown ambition.
Escort Radar Detector Tools For Mac
We found the Max to be the best overall radar detector on the market. It has earned its place on our windshield. Escort sells the basic Passport Max for $550, while the special-edition colors fetch $600. The Escort Live cords can be added for an additional $40. Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which - regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall - can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users.
The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone 'Pocket' version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the 'Stores' tab of the app and swiping past the 'iPhone Upgrade Program' banner to the 'Procreate' banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera - which will arrive in the US in January - will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system.
The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. Apple employees testing wheelchair features New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the 'time to stand' notification to 'time to roll' and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps.
Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users Twitter has introduced 'stickers,' allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph.
Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser.
Escort radar detector tools mac escort radar detector tools mac 9500iX support via Mac Book Air OS X? - Escort Radar Forum. New beta Mac Detector Tools available! (6/29/12) Escort Radar Announcements. How important is Mac-compatible Detector Tools to you? At last, if you own a 9500ix or other Escort Radar Detector that uses the. Escort has a beta version of their Escort Detector Tools that works.
How important is Mac-compatible Detector Tools to you? How important is Mac-compatible Detector Tools to you? Escort Passport 9500 i, Passport 9500i radar detector specs and details from. You are now ready to use your 9500ix and Escort Detector Tools with your Mac. New beta Mac Detector Tools available!
(6/29/12) Escort Radar Announcements. A new version of Mac Detector Tools has been released on our website that supports the Passport iQ. Go to our Downloads page for the.
Archive Escort Live Direct Wire Firmware Update Escort Live! I updated the firmware on my 9500ix using detector tools on my Mac. If I click Check Device for Qualifying Firmware then Detector Tools acts as if.
We have just released a new beta version of the Mac Detector Tools application for both Escort and Beltronics that support firmware. New beta Mac Detector Tools available! - Page 2 - Radar Detector. New beta Mac Detector Tools available!
(6/29/12) Escort Radar Announcements. How important is Mac-compatible Detector Tools to you? At last, if you own a 9500ix or other Escort Radar Detector that uses the. Escort has a beta version of their Escort Detector Tools that works. Bug report for Beta Mac Detector Tools - Escort Radar Forum.
Just an FYI, the Mac installer places the Escort folder in: /Users/dmontalvo/. BTW, the Windows version of Detector Tools works the same way. How to connedtr a Passport 9500ci to Detector Tools using VMWare Fusion for the Mac. Escort - The Radar and Laser Experts. Car Dealer Sign Up. The following instructions are a workaround for Mac users with VMWare2: Make sure that.
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