Hello fellow sim pilots. I'd like to announce that my brand new company, Touch Pilot, is looking for beta testers for our new tablet app. The app allows you to adjust your throttle, mixture, prop, landing gear, flaps, and more with just a tap. Now you don't have to remember all those keyboard commands. It works with any simulator or game running on a Windows PC. It especially works with FSX. It works by emulating a joystick on your PC, and transmits your inputs over WiFi. You map the controls just like you would on a regular joystick. There's a server component that you run on your PC, and of course the tablet app that runs on an iPad or Android tablet. You can sign up for the beta by visiting the link below. Looking forward to hearing your feedback!

http://gettouchpilot.com

Cheers,
Ben @ TP

Signed up, looking forward to trying this.


Seems like a great app, and the joystick emulation idea is great.

As far as feedback: looking at your screenshot, Throttle/Mixture/Pitch controls will probably be redundant to most simmers who would have throttles.

Still, things I'd find most useful for pad control: Radios, Autopilot, engine start-up, lighting, fuel valving

you're right about the throttle thing. most people already have that on their joysticks, if not a hotas setup. however, instead of throttle you could use that slider for radiator (in RoF, for instance) or cowl. you don't have to map any of the controls according to their labels. you could even map a slider to flaps, or spoilers. it's up to you.

we would like to do stuff like radio controls in the future. however, we feel that the app needs to show your radio frequency to be useful, and that means two way communication with specific sims, like FSX. this is possible, but more complicated than one way communication. it's definitely the way we're headed though. we have plans to do moving map stuff, and perhaps different apps tailored to specific planes, like the cessna 172, P-51 mustang, and so on.

not only that, but soon you'll be able to fly the plane itself by tilting your tablet or phone! we have prototypes for this, and i can tell you it's really fun flying helicopters by tilting

here's a new background we're trying out. what do you think?

Looks very nice indeed. Have you looked at Sim Touch? I own it, but I think it's died on the vine, as they have dropped support and expansion. It's a great app, but would love to see all the features used in yours on an iPad. Thoughts?

http://www.simtouch.eu/

The second board i prefer as your eyes dont get distracted by the white back ground.White gets your attention before the buttons ,but the button beeing in a dark back ground gets your attention.

Looks interesting and worth a try.

may be you also could make different panels on different screens for more complex aircraft like airliners? One panel- screen for radios, second panel - screen for the FMC and autopilot, third panel - screen for fuel controls etc.

wow, i hadn't seen that before, actually. looks pretty cool, and similar to what we're doing. of course, if you already own a tablet, our solution will be much cheaper

we do indeed have plans to make many more panels like this. the possibilities are endless. we could do panels for WWI, WWII, jets, helis, you name it. we might also make panels for specific aircraft. what we make next will be largely based on feedback from users like you guys. tell me, what would you like to see next?

The Beta

But as a real answer, more Autopilot buttons (Yaw Dampner, Heading/Alt hold, etc.) Also, For sims like DCS, an entire panel of just Simulation software controls (ie, cameras, Time rate, display overlay) Would make this an excellent knee board app for home cockpit builders.

It is indeed pretty nice, but I think they are on final to exit the business. Their initial support was great but in the last year, has really tapered dramatically, including closing of their forums. I love this product but am on short final to buy an iPad and your product will breath new life into my floundering lack of interest in FSX of late.

Looking forward to trying this out. Also, please consider offering a demo of your product too. Simtouch initially did not have a demo and I think their sales took a nose dive because the word had not gotten out, as evidenced by your comment of not knowing it's available. However, don't feel too bad, as you are not in the minority of not knowing of it's existence.

Matt