Cool Beans!

Is there somewhere we can go to find out all the additional features?

You will be happy,  Marty, you will see some fun things.

Finally!!!!!!!!! Thanks Mike!

 

Super TIU mode is all I'm after, if that's in the app then I will be ecstatic.

As long as it supports Super TIU Mode and Lashups, I'm never using a remote ever again.

Yes! I can't wait! 

 

...

The PREMIUM App also requires an update to the software powering the DCS Track Interface Unit (TIU). The new DCS software (Version 6.00) will be available on the M.T.H. Website beginning the week of April 16th

...

No WIU update ? 

Just a TIU update to Version 6.00 ? 

I assume that a DCS Remote update to Version 6.00 is implicit as well.  (it normally comes together with the TIU update, as far as I know.

Could anybody  confirm ?

Ask the poster.  

yippe-eye-oh-kai-yay! 

I believe we will all find out more in the coming days about the app and update. It is mentioned in the highlighted place below that new update will be available week of April 16th. Don't quote me on it but I would think at said mentioned time it will be explained. You could also keep tabs on the software update section of MTH website.

 

The PREMIUM App also requires an update to the software powering the DCS Track Interface Unit (TIU). The new DCS software (Version 6.00) will be available on the M.T.H. Website beginning the week of April 16th. The DCS software is a free download which uses the free DCS Windows Loader program to install the software into the TIU.

Thanks "poster" MND8814 :-).  I saw the DCS Version 6.00 mention, and that is exactly why I asked the question. 

It was more for anybody who would already know and could confirm.  Perhaps nobody knows. :-)

That was really just by curiosity and to get my club members ready for the update to come.  We are always running on the last available version, and we will plan this DCS update asap.

 

Guess I'll be busy next week upgrading mine and others TIU. 

It has Super TIU and lashups, and much more. DCS 6.0 is required for the TIU to use the Premium App. If you also use s remote it should be updated to 6.0, as well.

We'll be doing DCS 6.0 upgrades at the DCS User Group Meeting. Be sure to let us know by posting here if you'll be attending the meeting.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

It has Super TIU and lashups, and much more. DCS 6.0 is required for the TIU to use the Premium App. If you also use s remote it should be updated to 6.0, as well.

We'll be doing DCS 6.0 upgrades at the DCS User Group Meeting. Be sure to let us know by posting here if you'll be attending the meeting.

The app will be able to run Lionel TMCC and Legacy trains in legacy mode, correct? 

Barry if u r up call me

What does "full DCS control" mean?

This is a misleading article. I can't find the app in the iPhone AppStore.  It then says "next 7 to 10 days" for an upgrade. Is this an official news release? The link is not to the MTH website. I can't get protosound2.com to load, so I can't tell if DCS 6.0 is out there. The app is useless without it anyway.

George

George S posted:

This is a misleading article. I can't find the app in the iPhone AppStore.  It then says "next 7 to 10 days" for an upgrade. Is this an official news release? The link is not to the MTH website. I can't get protosound2.com to load, so I can't tell if DCS 6.0 is out there. The app is useless without it anyway.

George

As stated above the APP have been released to Apple and Samsung for their review/vetting.  7 to 10 days to hit their respected App stores. 

As stated above 6.0 will be on MTH website the 16th not before.

Yes, that's correct. Each will run in its respective mode of operation.

Is it possible to do the TIU upgrade with my MacBook Pro?

Mr Union Pacific posted:

Is it possible to do the TIU upgrade with my MacBook Pro?

Only if you have Windows running either with Bootcamp or software like VMware Fusion or Parallels.

Tony

Barry Broskowitz posted:

It has Super TIU and lashups, and much more. DCS 6.0 is required for the TIU to use the Premium App. If you also use s remote it should be updated to 6.0, as well.

We'll be doing DCS 6.0 upgrades at the DCS User Group Meeting. Be sure to let us know by posting here if you'll be attending the meeting.

Thanks so much Barry for chiming in I was wondering when you were going chime in. So so happy you have.

superwarp1 posted:

George S posted:

This is a misleading article. I can't find the app in the iPhone AppStore.  It then says "next 7 to 10 days" for an upgrade. Is this an official news release? The link is not to the MTH website. I can't get protosound2.com to load, so I can't tell if DCS 6.0 is out there. The app is useless without it anyway.

George

As stated above the APP have been released to Apple and Samsung for their review/vetting.  7 to 10 days to hit their respected App stores. 

As stated above 6.0 will be on MTH website the 16th not before.

That is not what it says. It says "M.T.H. Electric Trains has released the Premium version of its smartphone and tablet app for controlling a DCS layout wirelessly to the Apple App Store and Google Play store." It says nothing about reviewing and vetting, but thanks for the clarification. I still think it is misleading, and it is not posted on the MTH site as official news. Nothing new for MTH, because their approach to this stuff is so random.

George

MND8814 posted:

 

M.T.H. DCS Premium App Released To App Stores

April 12, 2017 – M.T.H. Electric Trains has released the Premium version of its smartphone and tablet app for controlling a DCS layout wirelessly to the Apple App Store and Google Play store. Current users of the FREE or STANDARD versions of the app should be on the lookout for the updated version over the next 7 to 10 days.

Now let's quote the entire first paragraph...

George S posted:

superwarp1 posted:

George S posted:

This is a misleading article. I can't find the app in the iPhone AppStore.  It then says "next 7 to 10 days" for an upgrade. Is this an official news release? The link is not to the MTH website. I can't get protosound2.com to load, so I can't tell if DCS 6.0 is out there. The app is useless without it anyway.

George

As stated above the APP have been released to Apple and Samsung for their review/vetting.  7 to 10 days to hit their respected App stores. 

As stated above 6.0 will be on MTH website the 16th not before.

That is not what it says. It says "M.T.H. Electric Trains has released the Premium version of its smartphone and tablet app for controlling a DCS layout wirelessly to the Apple App Store and Google Play store." It says nothing about reviewing and vetting, but thanks for the clarification. I still think it is misleading, and it is not posted on the MTH site as official news. Nothing new for MTH, because their approach to this stuff is so random.

George

The Link is to MTH's official, subscriber based, email newsletter.  Nothing nefarious.

The newsletter will often have the announcements before it hit the websites. At least that's been my expericne as a subscriber.

MartyE posted:

MND8814 posted:

 

M.T.H. DCS Premium App Released To App Stores

April 12, 2017 – M.T.H. Electric Trains has released the Premium version of its smartphone and tablet app for controlling a DCS layout wirelessly to the Apple App Store and Google Play store. Current users of the FREE or STANDARD versions of the app should be on the lookout for the updated version over the next 7 to 10 days.

Now let's quote the entire first paragraph...

It says nothing about reviewing and vetting

MartyE posted:

MND8814 posted:

 

M.T.H. DCS Premium App Released To App Stores

April 12, 2017 – M.T.H. Electric Trains has released the Premium version of its smartphone and tablet app for controlling a DCS layout wirelessly to the Apple App Store and Google Play store. Current users of the FREE or STANDARD versions of the app should be on the lookout for the updated version over the next 7 to 10 days.

Now let's quote the entire first paragraph...

Love the block quotes. We should all use our word processing skills more frequently.

I think I was clear in pointing out the inconsistency in the paragraph. What you highlighted in red, does nothing to clear that up without reading into the message that the app stores are reviewing and vetting. My point was that it says "released". I am sorry that I read English literally, but using the word "submitted" would have cleared it up for me. 

Well, they, being MTH, released it to Apple and Samsung stores, and as stated, 7 to 10 before it's up for purchase.  Now for those who remember when the free APP came out, this was how things went down. Apple will take longer to vet the APP, and it will be available to Samsung users first.

Legitimate app stores like Google Play and Apple iTunes require that apps go through a review process when they are submitted. After that review process is complete the app is approved and published for the public to download. IT people and MTH knows how this process works and almost all of the rest of the population does not.

It could be a little better explained but "Submitted" and "Available" are two different things. I think MTH assumed that we all already knew this process when apps are submitted. During this review, the app checked to ensure it is not harmful for the phones & tablets intended to use it. This is also known as vetting. 

Could you image how bad app stores would be if apps were allowed to be published and available to the public the second they were submitted? We wouldn't be able to trust anything on them, malware would be everywhere.

I guess you could also call it Apple & Google doing their due diligence to protect their end users.

If the words "Available" and "Download Now" didn't appear, I would not assumed you can go to the app store and get the new version now.

H1000

George S posted:

I think I was clear in pointing out the inconsistency in the paragraph. What you highlighted in red, does nothing to clear that up without reading into the message that the app stores are reviewing and vetting. My point was that it says "released". I am sorry that I read English literally, but using the word "submitted" would have cleared it up for me. 

I guess I just read the whole thing and understood that 7-10 days meant it wasn't out yet.

Forgive me if I don't get too excited about the 7-10 waiting period (although I can't resist thinking that apparently it takes longer to vett a model toy train app than to buy a firearm), but isn't the most important part of this new release (other than the improved product) the fact that an MTH product will now allow you to operate a Lionel engine with full Legacy features ?

1. Does this really mean you no longer need a TMCC, Cab-1, Cab-2 or Legacy base to operate a Legacy engine - just the legacy engine (and the MTH system) ?  

2. I thought Lionel's Legacy codes were proprietary. I don't know anything about how the system works, but does this mean someone um, er, ah, "hijacked" Lionel's codes ?

3. Will Lionel now re-write its Legacy codes to prevent the app from working  ?

4. Will lawsuits be far behind ?

5. How long before Lionel comes out with an app that operates MTH"s engines with full DCS features ?

Food for thought ?

Rich

As usual...OGR will argue about anything....now; semantics. 

Richie C. posted:

Forgive me if I don't get too excited about the 7-10 waiting period (although I can't resist thinking that apparently it takes longer to vett a model toy train app than to buy a firearm), but isn't the most important part of this new release (other than the improved product) the fact that an MTH product will now allow you to operate a Lionel engine with full Legacy features ?

1. Does this really mean you no longer need a TMCC, Cab-1, Cab-2 or Legacy base to operate a Legacy engine - just the legacy engine (and the MTH system) ?  

You will definitely still need a Legacy base.  It's the only way that the engine can get it's commands.

2. I thought Lionel's Legacy codes were proprietary. I don't know anything about how the system works, but does this mean someone um, er, ah, "hijacked" Lionel's codes ?

Lionel published the codes for folks to use.  The have an LCS partner program that goes hand in hand.  Not sure if MTH subscribed or if they just used the protocols on their own.  You can view the protocol pdf. Lionel Legacy Protocols

3. Will Lionel now re-write its Legacy codes to prevent the app from working  ?

I doubt it.  Too much trouble and not necessary.

4. Will lawsuits be far behind ?

I doubt it.  See answer # 2.

5. How long before Lionel comes out with an app that operates MTH"s engines with full DCS features ?

MTH has never publicly released it's protocol.  So I doubt that very much.  Unless there is something behind the scenes going on.

Food for thought ?

Rich

My thoughts without an insider knowledge other than the fact Lionel has published the Legacy protocol.  I'm sure there are folks here that know more details but being under a NDA they won't tell us and rightfully so.  We'll all find out soon enough like you said.

Thanks for the explanation, Marty. I would have guessed that Lionel might have required their partners to also keep the protocols confidential. Maybe going public was a way to stimulate outside development, but I'm not sure they can be too happy about how this turned out. 

Looks like the real benefit then, is not having to juggle two remotes. 

Richie C. posted:

Thanks for the explanation, Marty. I would have guessed that Lionel might have required their partners to also keep the protocols confidential. Maybe going public was a way to stimulate outside development, but I'm not sure they can be too happy about how this turned out. 

Looks like the real benefit then, is not having to juggle two remotes. 

They did the same with TMCC.  MTH also at that time used the protocols to control TMCC. 

Lionel didn't seem all that upset about it.  They probably sold more TMCC engines and now probably more Legacy engines than they would have keeping it locked out.  You still need to buy at minimal the Legacy Base 990 system before you can "make it so", so again they really don't have much to loose other than some App sales.  I'm probably missing something but it seems to me to be a win / win for both MTH and Lionel.

Could be. Maybe it's just the "perception" that a primary competitor's product is now controlling my engines. If I were Lionel, my competitive  juices couldn't take that - I'd be barking orders like Peter Parker's boss !

Have a great time at York !

There's no problem here. As Marty says, It's a win-win situation. 

Can someone please tell me if the $25 app fee at the Goggle store is for a single device or multiple devices? I'd like to have it on both my Android tablet and smart phone.

One fee for multiple devices, at least for the same operating system.