Hi Tim

Yesterday i spent a few hours playing with PocketFMS and Skydemon on a 7" tablet PC running Windoes Embedded R3

I like both apps, but the maps on SkyDemon are superior as if you zoom in on PocketFMS to anything less than 6nm, the font and graphics appear blocky (like its an enlarged bitmap instead of vertor based)

However, there are features on PocketFMS i would love to see on SkyDemon (i'm still undecided which one to purchase so if these bits get added the choice will be clear)

1) Bigger buttons - on the 7" screen, the menu is barly 5mm tall and makes it difficult to select accurately using my finger in flight. I'm also prone to loosing the stylus. If all buttons were slightly larger, perhaps transparent and hidable it would be SO much easier to use in turbulent air. Example, when pocket FMS loads up, the buttons to accept or not accept the disclaimer cover one third of the screen. On Sky demon its barely 5mm by 20mm.

2) Checklists - PocketFMS give you rudamentary checklist options. But they have to be customised and integrated by the user. I'd love to see checklists in Skydemon, that can me easily modified (maybe from preset templates by aircraft) and sync's with the tablet PC. The checklist should then be easily accesible from the main menu when in flight (and again transparent so the map is always in site if needed)

What are the chances?

Many Thanks

Neil

The checklists are an interesting idea, definitely worth our consideration for the future.

The button problem is almost certainly because your device DPI settings are wrong. We measure all SkyDemon user interface elements in inches, so they'll be about the same size whether you're running a big screen or a small screen, a high-res screen or a low-res screen. And all buttons and menus in SkyDemon have been carefully designed so that they're bigger than a fingertip. But this does depend on the device accurately reporting its screen DPI. Some of them don't.

I'm attaching a file that, if you drop it into the same folder as skydemon.exe on your device, will force a high-DPI mode which you should find will make everything larger. If it does, you can tailor the file yourself so that things are sized just as you want them.

Hi Tim, I have the same problem - buttons, etc are too small. However, the link in your message to device.xml file seems to be broken and I am unable to download it. Would you be so kind and re-post the link or email me the file directly? I also have a suggestion - perhaps it would be a good idea to place links to such customization and other useful files on your 'Download' page, so that users have an easy access to them...



Thank you.



Ivan

Hi Tim

I realise this is an old post but I'd like to add my voice to the request for user defined aircraft checklists. I fly gyros and paper is not welcome in an open cockpit. although you memorise checklists, having an electronic checklist that can be edited, as i have on my AV80R GoFly software would be a valuable addition for a VFR pilot, IMHO.

Richard

I second the checklist request. It's the only bit of pocket fms I miss, and I currently manage with a rather rubbish free one from fore flight, which is designed for the iphone and can't be rotated.