Technology, eh?

[toprob]

It really is amazing what we can do these days, I've just been dwelling on this today, as I set off to catch the ferry... I had to quickly put the rubbish out, as I'd forgotten it last night, but I was able to use my new 'digital assistant -- Cortana' to set a permanent reminder, just by talking to my phone while I was walking. And on the way, I was able to say goodnight to my daughter in Greece via WhatsApp!

I was off to the defib clinic, where they gave me a home monitor, which sits by my bed and checks my implanted defib each night, and uploads the data to the web. Even my implant in on the Net! It'll have it's own Twitter account one day -- 'feeling a bit antsy, gave Rob a quick zap just to let off steam.'

Anyway, back to flightsim.

I've been thinking about how to use my tablet with the simulator, the goal being to be able to get a good grasp of SimConnect and build some controls which I can work from the touch tablet -- from panel displays, to buttons/switches etc. This may take a while, but I'm getting there slowly.

I did look for available tools, but there isn't much out there for Windows, most of these are for ipads, I guess those are the people with money, and my Windows tablet only cost $229...

I did find EFBFSX, from FSWidgets, which comes in a Windows version, as well as ipad and android. The other versions are 'apps', which means they suit the tablet format better, but they don't do a Windows 8.1 app, just a desktop version. There is a demo, (30 minutes per session) but I will pay for it one day, just not this month. There are also some NZ charts you can buy separately, which I also plan to get once I have some money.

As this is not resizable on Windows (it's designed to work onscreen with FSX, so it can't take up too much of the screen) it is a bit small on the tablet, but I use the Windows Magnifier to enlarge it.

This is one brilliant little tool, you can view a moving map, charts, checklists, weather, all sorts of websites, on the tablet while you fly. It really adds to the immersion to be able to see exactly where you are on the map, so you know what the towns are, and where the roads go. All without losing any main display real estate.

Here's some pics of it in action:

This is with the Magnifier:


This shows how it appears on the tablet screen, since this is a 8inch tablet, it would be a lot better if it filled the screen.


You can load any charts you have access to:

[Ian Warren]

I really only need an android to cook me dinner .. as for the maps , I just simply pull the good ole stuff from the shelf .... 'cough' I need an android to do the dusting as well

[toprob]

Forgot to include the URL for FSWidgets...

[Ian Warren]

Forgot the Chicken FSWidgets... .. I can cook those no problems at all !

[toprob]

The other interesting tool they have is SlewAssist, which lets me slew around using the tablet as a controller...

[Ian Warren]

Maybe a tablet at a later stage , I'm yet to even get a communicator ...

[scaber]

I've been using Flightmap and Flightguage

https://vineripesoftware.wordpress.com/flightmap/

https://vineripesoftware.wordpress.com/flightgauge/

However, ss far as I know they are only available for Android.

There's also map navigator
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... 2014&hl=en

It's always worthwhile hearing what others are using as this helps to make us more aware of the different options. What is good this year could be surpassed by something better and more versatile by next year.

[toprob]

I may be too connected... my phone and tablet both played a notification sound a while ago, and since I was sitting at the computer, I thought I'd check it there -- but I couldn't figure out where it came from! Turns out it was Facebook, (see you got sorted, Andrew) but it could have been any one of a dozen apps. I have to get into the habit of turning everything off for an hour a day, just for a break.

[Ian Warren]

I have to get into the habit of turning everything off for an hour a day, just for a break.

I would not worry about that .... its when you get visitors and find you unplugged they start worrying .... all I was doing was drawing or .... taken a break! ....... go walky bouts with paper and pencil .... that really is a girl picker-upper'er .... no techno involved

[cowpatz]

I hope no one hacks your defib unit Rob! You might end up running around like the Energiser battery in the TV ad!

[Ian Warren]

I hope no one hacks your defib unit Rob! You might end up running around like the Energiser battery in the add!

[toprob]

I hope no one hacks your defib unit Rob! You might end up running around like the Energiser battery in the add!

I remember that was in 'Homeland'? from memory -- the bad guys blew up his heart by hacking his defib... freaked me out a bit.

[Ian Warren]

I hope no one hacks your defib unit Rob! You might end up running around like the Energiser battery in the add!

I remember that was in 'Homeland'? from memory -- the bad guys blew up his heart by hacking his defib... freaked me out a bit.

Least you don't have to worry about the 'Repo Men'

[emfrat]

I know what a defib unit really is, and we shouldn't make jokes about them, but wouldn't it be nice if there was a de-Fib unit, which could be clamped on the ankle of every politician, to sound an alert when they were lying?
Then again, the things would be sounding 24 hrs a day
Needs more thought, Michael.

[Ian Warren]

I know what a defib unit really is, and we shouldn't make jokes about them, but wouldn't it be nice if there was a de-Fib unit, which could be clamped on the ankle of every politician, to sound an alert when they were lying?
Then again, the things would be sounding 24 hrs a day

Not a half ass bad idea .. give a special to the Green Party and you get your vegetables well

[emfrat]

There's probly enough vegies in the Beehive as it is....

[Ian Warren]

That is too true and criminals, now for the weed killer.

[toprob]

Greg, I've been looking something like Flightmap and Flightgauge for Windows, but haven't found anything yet.
But a post on the FTX forum showing a panel made with jar lids led me to Simplugins Panelbuilder, and [url-http://airrietveld.nl/index.php]Air Rietveld's Air Manager.[/url]

These are cheap options, I will try them both one day, when I have a job, but in the meantime here's the Panelbuilder 10 minute demo:



It's amazing how effective it is to take the instruments off the screen, and you can take this to any level you want -- I use the Windows tablet, but you could use any size screen, it just depends on what you have access to, and what you want to achieve.

I have been working on my own version of Panelbuilder, but I'm not the quickest programmer in the world, that's for sure, it is more of a long-term hobby -- I imagine I'll be finished by 2018... late 2018...

Since receiving the gifted yoke/throttle, I've been thinking about building something, I just don't have the space/time/money at the moment, but I have been collecting ideas so I'll be ready!

[Ian Warren]

Now all you need gifted now is the rudder pedals , that really transforms your experience.

[toprob]

Now all you need gifted now is the rudder pedals , that really transforms your experience.

The trouble is, I have a few ideas which will affect how I go ahead. For some reason the one I get the most excited about at the moment is a copter setup. After all, I only really fly to see the scenery:)

Way back when I was working at the copy centre, and there was talk of shutting it down, I was looking at starting my own copy centre. A friend of mine had a huge shed across town, where he restored old military vehicles etc. We'd talked about putting a commercial print shop in there, but at the time I was seriously into the simulator, so I have sketches etc of a combined copy shop/flightsim shop, called 'Copy That!'

At one stage we were looking at some sort of 'head to head' setup, starting with a couple of WW2 fighter cockpits, so you could go head to head with your mates.