During Barry's dinner there was a great effort to promote the APP. Also, the DCS is now available in the 2019 catalog with the TIU packaged with the Wi-Fi. Remote will no longer be promoted and will be phased out as inventory is depleted. The remote will be replaced with our phones and iPad. Great business model to eliminate the cost of procuring the remote from an outside vendor for MTH. App will eliminate the need to update the hardware on a remote to take advantage of newly developed features. Also, eliminate supply disruption in these uncertain international supply disruptions and quality.
Having said that, the current remote is ergonomically friendly and allows you to run without taking the eyes off the action. The tactile buttons make it easy. An iPad or phone lacks this sensory interaction and does not sit in the hand as well. I was a little surprise at how smoothly that was announced creating very little feedback from users.
One thing to note that both Lionel and MTH booth personnel were dealing with their issues trying to get their apps to work in there booths. Not disparaging Wi-Fi control, just saying how important is was to both companies to market. That seemed to be their big Harrah push.
Mr. Kunkel also told me that Lionel has no plans to phase out remote. An easy to use remote (a plus for MTH) going away, and Lionel keeping theirs (now an exclusive plus for Lionel) should be looked at closer. It will be a feature Lionel has that will no longer offered by MTH. Pretty bold move.
I think I got this right. Feel free to correct me. By the way, remember the importance of the "playable horn" which will not be accessible with the current remote.
