Since CM4 may be accepting input from other products in the future...

[Corsair8X]

Since Control Manager may be accepting input from other products in the future I was wondering if this could be taken even further. We know something's coming down the pipe soon by the smell of all the popcorn over at simhq (ghost, I'm looking in your general direction) and this looks to be a product not of CH-origins. So how about another product that could fit into the lineup - namely the Aimsworth MDFs and ICP that RougeSqdn has in his setup? Currently he is using X-keys to program it, but wouldn't it be great if it fit under the CH umbrella? That would be one heck of a coup. If it can be controlled by x-keys then surely it can be controlled by CM as well.

:joystick:

[ruggbutt]

I would think you'd be in the realm of copyright infringement if you did so with the Aimsworth and distributed it. Granted, you or I wouldn't be worth suing, but CH would. For that reason alone I'd say it's not a good idea.

[Corsair8X]

I would think you'd be in the realm of copyright infringement if you did so with the Aimsworth and distributed it. Granted, you or I wouldn't be worth suing, but CH would. For that reason alone I'd say it's not a good idea.
[/b]

I'd thought of that but I don't completely agree. As I mentioned, the Aimsworth setup can be controlled via X-keys - an interface management system not related to Aimsworth. How did that happen? Is Aimsworth so open-architecture that it simply lends itself to that (which would be great because you would be taking advantage of that same architecture). Or did X-keys have an agreement, an agreement that perhaps CH could also obtain given that there is a precedent. After all, sounds like a winning prospect for Aimworth if even more interface systems can "talk" to the Aimsworth setup.

[531_Ghost]

http://www.simhq.com/simhq3/sims/boards/bbs/graemlins/popcorn.gif

[Revvin]

Ghost> While Debby is away she's asked me to keep an eye on you and your popcorn :whip:

[ruggbutt]

The important question is can I get some of the un-mentionables to test? I'm fantastic at testing and can break it if it can be broken. I'm absolutely invaluable in that regard. :D

[Corsair8X]

:whip: (closest I can get to the 'beating a dead horse' icon):

I've actually sort of expanded my initial idea here. It would appear that an x-keys like interface can program a lot of things. Now I don't know the hardware aspects of how this works, but I'm thinking that CH should produce something very similar (patents issue?). I think this would open up an entire new world in cockpit creation. Bought some component that you need to program? Plug into hear and enjoy the benefits of CH Control Manager. Built your own cockpit panels out of military surplus and parts from Radio Shack? No problem, plug it into the same CH (insert fancy new hardware product name here) and program it as well.

One programmable interface for the masses - the CH APU (Accessory Programmable Unit). There, I even came up with a name for it. :joystick:

[531_Ghost]

Huh? Wha? (http://forum.ch-hangar.com/index.php?showtopic=3462&pid=22429&st=0&#entry22429)

:shrug:

[Corsair8X]

I guess my question about that link is, how is that connected to Control Manager? Will Control Manager only work with those items, or are there other things that I may find/make that I could somehow hook up to control manager. That's the big mystery. Those unconfirmed panels look awesome though. Wish my art skills were as good as that. I may have to comission Rugbutt to do some work for me. Of course, I work with a lot of designers where I work, but none of them are aircraft nuts like all of us so I'm not sure they'll be as detailed.

So, will control manager be altered to work with just the DX1's, or is this just the opening of more hardware that we can add?