At the October York TCA meet we will be running DCS engines from our iPhones in MTH's booth! They are demoing it tomorrow. I am sure you will be getting more details shortly.
and, PS, do you know the cost for running a single engine at a time on your DCS system?
FREE.
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Well to be precise we will be manipulating a web page. Still cool. The free app is several months away and will control one engine. a paid app which will simulate a complete DCS controller is about a year out. It a third party item produced by Dave Hikel
Awesome!!
You know that car commercial where the woman is on the plane starting her car with her iPhone while her husband stands in the driveway and watches it start? MTH could make one where a guy is on a plane and fires up his trains while his wife walks past the layout and probably rolls her eyes or something.
I don't think I would use this much on my main layout, however it would be great to use under the Christmas tree. I wonder if it will work with the DCS remote commander?
Barry?
This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion Third Edition" available for purchase in 2013!
Yikes!!! The York TCA cell phone police are gonna go CRAZY around the MTH booth!!! I can't wait to see the look on their faces. 
Another reason why the silly rule(s) should be transported out of the dark ages.
David
This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion Third Edition" available for purchase in 2013!
Oh no! I haven't figured out the second edition yet! 
Other than the "gee whiz" factor...what makes it better to run your DCS from your iPhone than from the DCS controller???
How about Android phones?
That's good news for Apple's service department, because now folks will be throwing their iPhones through the wall when they get the engine not on track message.
I agree with gregj410. That "engine not found" message will come thru no matter what fancy controller you are using!
Lionel Legacy rules!
Will they have this on the iPad and iPod touch? This sounds very cool it might be a reason to buy an IPhone 5
I thought the new item was going to be Ben's aluminum foil hat that lets you control engines by brain waves (oh wait...that only works if there is activity in OUR brains)?
Hey Ben, in case you read this, I wasn't throwing off on you, so sorry (I just re-read it and it did kinda sound like I was) so I added a bit to cover us all.
So help me to understand why you would want to do this. Is it just because you can?
excellent news! Andy's talk last night was interesting. He understands the importance of this for reaching younger people.
So help me to understand why you would want to do this. Is it just because you can?
just a guess here but I could see it being ported to a full size computer screen and being able to have multiple engines in the screen as well as accessory and switch control without having to scroll through multiple menus. Track control was mentioned at the presentation.
Pete
Another solution to a non-existent problem. Just because something can be done doesn't mean it should be done. As to reaching young people, they may be interested for maybe as long as five minutes, then it'll be on to the next bit of technological folly.
Pete
Even if I could run it with my iPad or iPhone I need to know the advantage. Hey, if they offer it and the app is free ill give it a try.
I view this as further proof that the end of days is near . . .
>>>Tomorrow we will be running DCS engines from our iPhones in MTH's booth! They are demoing it tomorrow. I am sure you will be getting more details shortly.<<
Sounds really dumb and impractical I see no use for it.
What they should take from a smartphone or Ipod is the ability to use earphones.
Find a way (should be easy) so folks could run trains and hear all the great sounds without disturbing others. Especailly during those critical late night runs.
Joe
I view this as further proof that the end of days is near . . .
That gets an "AMEN!!" from this GPS position!
KD
Tomorrow we will be running DCS engines from our iPhones in MTH's booth! They are demoing it tomorrow. I am sure you will be getting more details shortly.
and, PS, do you know the cost for running a single engine at a time on your DCS system?
FREE.
Dramatic indeed... Thanks for the update. I am holding off for the Spring York. (just spent a LOT of money on trains)
At the risk of stereotyping...
If you are over 65 - Not a chance you even try it.
If you are between 50 and 64 you may experiment with it but only use half the features.
If you are less than 49 the chances go up as the younger you are that you will actually embrace it.
I am in the group that will experiment with it.
Also, the larger your layout the better use you could make use of it. All you need to add is block / train detection.
dan
p.s. I don't use my cell phone for texting, except to text my grand kids to tell them to call me. They won't answer an actuall phone call.
As for practicality and why, that seems to be a question for MTH at York. Ask and find out what they are thinking this will bring to the hobby. FYI, apps for iOS are typically cross device with Apple. If its out for the iPhone it should run on the iPad as well. I can see this working better on an iPad as opposed to the iphone.
Gandy
Hey I'm 66 and I will use it if the app is free. I love the technology in our trains but I need to see the advantage in doing it.
Hey I'm 66 and I will use it if the app is free. I love the technology in our trains but I need to see the advantage in doing it.
Aye, there's the rub!
Pete
Initally it won't do anything more than the DCS remote. So most will not see any advantage to it. It will take time to build the apps to make use of the wifi feature. As I said before only the bigger layouts will see any advantage. Only the young will see the possibilities and experiment with it. Us older guys just want to run our trains and what's wrong with using the handles on the transformer!
Dan
As we are building a public display layout, I really like the idea of guests being able to use their own phone to run a train on one of our loops.
As pointed out above, Dave's intention is to have the ability to see your whole layout on an iPad or similar device and use your finger to control trains.
Seems to me that this is an inevitable development of following the technology to where it leads you.
To those that will use it, great. I have little to zero interest.
I'm from Missouri, show me something better than using my DCS remote. 
I don't see wanting to run trains from another state, it would be pretty hard to know what they're doing!
I view this as further proof that the end of days is near . . .
So true Lee!
As we are building a public display layout, I really like the idea of guests being able to use their own phone to run a train on one of our loops.
As pointed out above, Dave's intention is to have the ability to see your whole layout on an iPad or similar device and use your finger to control trains.
Until some hacker in Upper Elbonia takes control of your train and runs it off your display...
Rusty
I don't have much info other than what was presented at last night's meeting (thanks to all who attended and especially to those who laughed at my opening anecdote), however:
I would like to incorporate the apps in a future edition of The DCS O Gauge Companion, and Dave and I have had preliminary discussions in this regard.
See you all at the show!
I use my phone to make calls , I still have to be at the layout to power it up and the DCS controller is right there so what's the point?
OK it's another toy for toy trains. One question though, if your not home who powers up the layout..
Here is what it could be used for:
1. Lets say we have a traverler with a layout who rarely gets to run his trains becuase he is on the road so much. It is not beyond technology to set up a few webcams so he can see what is going on and use the app to control the action from the other side of the world-I know latency may be an issue, but it really depends on what kind of running he does-roundy round would be easy, switching would be difficult!
2. You don't have as many remotes as people who want to run trains, but they have an iphone.
I personally run convential, so there may be other advantages I don't see.
I think MTH came up with this feature because Marklin has it for their command system.
Stuart
This is great news;
soon will be able to talk in our phones and tell the trains what to do. No more pushing buttons or remembering arcane code names.
Say "number 265, start up and run at 5 mph, blow whistle a warble rate 2" Then say "Switch 22 set turnout" etc.
You could invite someone across the country to join in an operating session-given you have webcams set up.
Also with a webcam-remote diagnosis of problems.
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