High Rail, LLC App 2.0 Update Video

First off Sean very good video. Well done and very well explained. 

One thing I didn't see you cover was the temporary override do the momentum. Basically on the second gesture help screen, if let's say your momentum is set to high (or turtle). You are running an engine and want to stop it. Obviously it will take a long time to stop. But let's say it's not stopping fast enough because the momentum is so high. If you push up on the left side, the momentum will change temporarily faster the more you push up.   If you have it set for low (rabbit) the engine maybe slowing down or speeding up too quickly, if you pull down on the left side the momentum will temporarily change to a slower more gradual change.  This feature only works while the engine speed moving towards the target speed.  Great feature. Play with it. I think you get a better feel when momentum is high(turtle). 

Also the thing that I found a little odd is that the speed control with squealing brakes works very much the same as the velocity control on the Legacy remote. I was a little confused that you said this works better. I find it pretty much works the same. Squealing brakes and all. I guess if you are using the brake/boost rocker to brake all the time that's true but Brian did a great job at emulating the red know and how it functions. But with the temporary momentum override it takes it to the next level.  

Im not sure why but my screen show up better but I may not be under the same lighting conditions.  Some valid points about the buttons but I also like the gestures as I don't have to look at the screen on my phone to initiate them.  Maybe an option feature in a future release.

Below is what it looks like when you add a picture.  Another cool feature. 

Again very nice video with great explanations and insights. Thanks for the review. 

Also I just realized looking at the iPhone app there really isn't room for additional buttons. 

I'm going to have to look into getting this app soon. I just haven't had the time. Thanks for explaining it!

MartyE posted:

Also I just realized looking at the iPhone app there really isn't room for additional buttons. 

That's why you need to get an iPad Pro!  Haha.

Nice review Sean!  Thanks for putting that together!

Here's a post containing additional details about "personalizing engines" with colors and images. There's also a tip on how to reduce the vibrancy/ transparency effects (if needed). http://www.highrailcompany.com...onalizing-an-engine/

Speed graph notes

• the engine "list view" tracks each engine's target and current speed (even if that engine is being controlled from a CAB2 remote)

A few additional notes: 

• the engines will remain on the device between app launches (you don't need to refresh the engine list each time you use the app)
  • you will need to manually tap refresh if, for example, you change an engine's name
• you can temporarily adjust how fast/ slow an engine reaches the target speed using the "momentum gesture" (as MartyE mentioned above)
• the "halt system" gesture will also "halt" a TPC controller (i.e. turn off track power) + stop the engines
• the app will play the brake sound when the target speed is 0 and the current speed is not 0 (just like the CAB2 remote)

A little "inside baseball" tip:

• the app will automatically adjust the CAB2 momentum setting back to "low" at various times to ensure that the app and the CAB2 remote do not end up "fighting each other" 

Pro tip

• you can play around with the gestures while disconnected from your layout 
  • the speed graph, gesture "help views", etc. will still display as if you are controlling an engine 
  • this is a great way to practice the gestures while away from your layout

A major goal of High Rail's gesture interface is to reduce the number of "hunt and peck" buttons. Future releases will include additional "buttons / menus" and "gestures". 

SandJam posted:

MartyE posted:

Also I just realized looking at the iPhone app there really isn't room for additional buttons. 

That's why you need to get an iPad Pro!  Haha.

It doesn't fit in my pocket though.

MartyE posted:

First off Sean very good video. Well done and very well explained. 

One thing I didn't see you cover was the temporary override do the momentum. Basically on the second gesture help screen, if let's say your momentum is set to high (or turtle). You are running an engine and want to stop it. Obviously it will take a long time to stop. But let's say it's not stopping fast enough because the momentum is so high. If you push up on the left side, the momentum will change temporarily faster the more you push up.   If you have it set for low (rabbit) the engine maybe slowing down or speeding up too quickly, if you pull down on the left side the momentum will temporarily change to a slower more gradual change.  This feature only works while the engine speed moving towards the target speed.  Great feature. Play with it. I think you get a better feel when momentum is high(turtle). 

Also the thing that I found a little odd is that the speed control with squealing brakes works very much the same as the velocity control on the Legacy remote. I was a little confused that you said this works better. I find it pretty much works the same. Squealing brakes and all. I guess if you are using the brake/boost rocker to brake all the time that's true but Brian did a great job at emulating the red know and how it functions. But with the temporary momentum override it takes it to the next level.  

Im not sure why but my screen show up better but I may not be under the same lighting conditions.  Some valid points about the buttons but I also like the gestures as I don't have to look at the screen on my phone to initiate them.  Maybe an option feature in a future release.

Below is what it looks like when you add a picture.  Another cool feature. 

Again very nice video with great explanations and insights. Thanks for the review. 

Yeah see your pic you chose is basically black, so it darkens the buttons up nice.  But if you have a silver one then it's very light.  Also the general touch screen area on your looks much darker than on my iPad Pro.  Could be a device thing but on mine it's much more washed out.  It should be adjustable.  Maybe a high contrast option in the app.  Not all devices will be the same and people shouldn't have to adjust all their settings on their device for one app, when all other apps look good.

Yeah I missed the override part for the momentum.  That wasn't explained to me well or I did not understand it.  

As far as the velocity and how momentum affects it.  I was saying on the app you have finer control over momentum with the slider, so I can get it to work smoother up and down to the target speed better than the remote with just the 3 basic settings.  When I use the remote it not as precise in the way I want it to behave I think because I jump from low right to medium then right to high.  No in between.  At least it seems that way.  

Regardless a great upgrade.

MartyE posted:

SandJam posted:

MartyE posted:

Also I just realized looking at the iPhone app there really isn't room for additional buttons. 

That's why you need to get an iPad Pro!  Haha.

It doesn't fit in my pocket though.

Well I'm hoping the app will expand to routes and switches and everything so I'm planning for the future, haha

For 10 bucks it rocks thanks for making this app ...I just bought it and couldnt be happier..

Sean... you mentioned in the video that the engine control view is "hard to see". I believe I determined why the engine control view is "hard to see". I noticed in your video that you have the "Button Shapes" iOS Accessibility feature enabled. For some reason, when that option is enabled, the engine view goes wonky (i.e. lighter colors). I was able to reproduce what I believe you are seeing. 

Try the following:

• force kill High Rail (double-tap the Home button, swipe up on the app to kill it)
• open the Settings app and turn off the "Button Shapes" accessibility option
• open High Rail 
• navigate to the engine view... should no longer be "hard to see" (colors should be vibrant, not washed out)

Contact me offline. I'd like to get additional info. 

Brian

jojofry posted:

For 10 bucks it rocks thanks for making this app ...I just bought it and couldnt be happier..

$10 buck was worth it for just controlling the Sensor Tracks IMO.  This is just a very sweet icing on the cake.  One thing Brian was very adamant about when we demo'd this at the Legacy Users Group Meeting was receiving feedback from the users. I give him a ton of credit for asking because as we all know there are a lot of different opinions.  This app can only improve with more features over time.  The engine control was a nice upgrade.

Brian Coyner posted:

Sean... you mentioned in the video that the engine control view is "hard to see". I believe I determined why the engine control view is "hard to see". I noticed in your video that you have the "Button Shapes" iOS Accessibility feature enabled. For some reason, when that option is enabled, the engine view goes wonky (i.e. lighter colors). I was able to reproduce what I believe you are seeing. 

Try the following:

• force kill High Rail (double-tap the Home button, swipe up on the app to kill it)
• open the Settings app and turn off the "Button Shapes" accessibility option
• open High Rail 
• navigate to the engine view... should no longer be "hard to see" (colors should be vibrant, not washed out)

 

Contact me offline. I'd like to get additional info. 

Brian

 

Ok I will try that tonight and let you know.

jojofry posted:

For 10 bucks it rocks thanks for making this app ...I just bought it and couldnt be happier..

Yes there is no better deal for the functionality you get anywhere.  Can't wait to see what's in version 3.0

Its a no brainer, buy it if you have the WiFi module!

Sean,

Regarding the setting of Legacy momentum on the CAB-2 remote, if you press and hold the M button, you can then use the red knob to select a numeric momentum setting between 1 and 8. 

It seems like the L,M,H buttons were just a carryover from the CAB-1 days to ensure compatibility with TMCC-1 locos.

Mike

SandJam posted:

jojofry posted:

For 10 bucks it rocks thanks for making this app ...I just bought it and couldnt be happier..

Yes there is no better deal for the functionality you get anywhere.  Can't wait to see what's in version 3.0

Its a no brainer, buy it if you have the WiFi module!

I have a hard time complaining about a app that's 10bucks that I can control my engines and my sencor tracks with. I like the whistle slider  to be visible .. I figured it out though it's on the right side !

TMCC and TR (TRAIN) control is needed but I'm sure Brian already knows that.  I also requested some additional lighting controls and dialog features, particularly on the RR speed menu.  He's a pretty smart cookie.  One thing we all need to remember is this is a spare time labor of love but he is very responsive with thoughts and suggestions.  It also doesn't hurt to rate it on the app store.

Sandjam did a nice job with his review. 

graz posted:

Sean,

Regarding the setting of Legacy momentum on the CAB-2 remote, if you press and hold the M button, you can then use the red knob to select a numeric momentum setting between 1 and 8. 

It seems like the L,M,H buttons were just a carryover from the CAB-1 days to ensure compatibility with TMCC-1 locos.

Mike

Thank You!   You learn something new every day!  I never even tried that before.

SandJam posted:

Thank You!   You learn something new every day!  I never even tried that before.

That's why I didn't understand your statement about braking!  I'm always learning! 

Brian Coyner posted:

Sean... you mentioned in the video that the engine control view is "hard to see". I believe I determined why the engine control view is "hard to see". I noticed in your video that you have the "Button Shapes" iOS Accessibility feature enabled. For some reason, when that option is enabled, the engine view goes wonky (i.e. lighter colors). I was able to reproduce what I believe you are seeing. 

Try the following:

• force kill High Rail (double-tap the Home button, swipe up on the app to kill it)
• open the Settings app and turn off the "Button Shapes" accessibility option
• open High Rail 
• navigate to the engine view... should no longer be "hard to see" (colors should be vibrant, not washed out)

 

Contact me offline. I'd like to get additional info. 

Brian

 

Turning off the button shapes made everything much darker with more contrast and not washed out.

That seems to be the issue.

Jim,

Thanks for posting the review.  I will check this out tonight.