How serious is the threat of the next update iOS 11 on Apple tablets to the "Main Station" app for continued use with CS2 - any observation would be welcome, many thanks in advance.

There currently no updates available for the Main Station app, so at least for now it remains 32 bit and will not run on iOS 11 devices. Märklin has not updated Main Station for a long time and I suspect that it will not get a 64 bit update. I think that is unfortunate because I like that app and use it frequently.

So for now I just run Main Station on an old iPad 4 which will remain 32 bit since that is all it's hardware will support anyway.

Thanks for passing that info along. I had not seen that in the newsletter and I really hope that they do release a 64 bit version. Your post also reminds me that I don't seem to be getting my digital newsletters anymore and I need to figure out why - maybe I just need to sign up again.

I guess I am sceptical because Märklin is so slow to address software issues in their apps, like the bugs in the CS2 code that have been there for years and which have never been fixed. Now the list of known and unaddressed bugs in the CS3 software is growing as well, which is one reason that I have yet to upgrade.

As I said in my last post I use Main Station regularly and I do hope that they update it because it has a much better UI than the CS2 does and is much more responsive.

Yeah - as a developer those kind of Apple restrictions are irritating to me also but not really unusual anymore, especially with locked hardware/software systems like iOS. One of the reasons Apple products work so well for so many is that there not a lot of ways to change the basics of their machines. But because of that there are not nearly as many ways to break them either. (sorry for the brief thread jack)

Cool.

So to translate the key points Märklin indicated about their apps:
Sicherstellung der weiteren Verfügbarkeit im Shop
Erweiterung 32 Funktionen
Abschaltung der Schüttelgeste


The key update will happen by end of September 2017 (as this is a maintenance update it seems feasible that this can be relatively accurate other than the unknown of Apple's review of code.

1) Conversion to 64 bit app to ensure continued availability in the app store
2) Addition of 32 function support
3) Disabling of the 'shake gesture' (the typical undo on iOS)

Glad to hear that the Main Station app still is working for you.

I have an older iPad that won't be getting iOS 11 so it is not a problem for me. But I have seen no indication that there is a 64 bit version of Main Station available yet and it should not run on iOS 11.

Edited by user 02 October 2017 03:47:55(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Lasse - as of October 2nd Apple Inc. is inviting me to download iOS11.1 when I next place my Air2 on charge - now it could be that this sounds like the real deal. So if there are a number of options for me to consider - selecting "not now" might be the best way forward until we establish when the Main Station app. will upgrade to 64 bit architecture.

Good to read this info - thanks very much. Do we know who the developers of this app. are?

Thanks Jim - does the update cost?

Hi Jim - iOS11.0.3 downloaded by default during Sunday night with a few additional details on my part. I felt less than impressed that I had not approved of the move by Apple - however 8 hours later an open request to download the Main Station app. appeared on screen which I duly agreed to. Hey presto Main Station is up and running again with the assumption that it is running on 64 bit support.

I once bought an iPod to be able to use the Mobile Station app. Unfortunately the new version of the Mobile Station requires a more resent version of IOS. The iPod has the latest version available (6.1.6). I don’t know much about Apple iDevices. Any ideas other than buying a new one?

Someone who caught up with what's happening with Android update

The updates to the Märklin apps for Apple devices are free, which it what I was referring to. The Mobile Station and Main Station apps themselves definitely are not free.

I don't remember what I paid for them, but they were the most expensive apps that I have ever bought. It was worth it to me though, since I run my layout more from my old iPad than I do from the CS2 itself. The graphics are better, you can control turnouts and locos from the same screen and the iPad responds to commands way, way faster than the CS2 does. I also like being able to wander around my train room with my controller in my hand as I do things.

I had main station iOS app since it’s launch with cs2 and I can say that it is has great value - comparing with alternatives from marklin.

You can control your locos and layout in multi view display, large and crisp iPad display and do it wirelessly around your layout. It is also very fast to respond and to change locos (scroll down). You can control up to 8 simultaneous locos with speed and functions - this works even better than the new cs3 interface (on which you can control multiple locos on the touch display but doesn’t give direct access to all the functions).

I also tried some other software but I didn’t like the interface. The marklin app has the same look and feel as cs2 and now cs3 menus.

Be sure to check some reviews at YouTube of main station.

I connected the cs2 to WiFi with a tplink nano, which powers up from the cs2 USB port. You can choose any WiFi with Ap client mode or connect with Ethernet cable to your switch/ router. From my experience it is best if you have the cs2 with a fixed IP address, so that the app can find it quicker.

It’s been updated to work with ios11 and with the 32 functions. Note: today I cannot find it on App Store it says only available in US App Store.. I believe they will put it back on European app stores..

This is by far the cheapeast solution for getting more controllers for marklin layouts (as opposed to add another physical central station or mobile station) and also one of the most complete regarding control of multiple digital items (locos, switches, signals, memory, layout).

Regards
John

This is the problem I had, I tried to download and it gave a similar message.

And it's not like Windoze where you can just copy the exe from someone who already has it, even if you still had to 'call home' to validate it.

Blimmen' CrApple, no wonder they got rich so fast on the back of everything ixxxx!!

But having said that, the cost does not bother me, it's only equal to a couple of pieces of track after all.

Oh well if anyone learns that it's back on line, do please be sharing the knowledge.

To patch bugs perhaps?, we would not know unless someone here had already downloaded and used it and found issues?

Hm.. now the Marklin apps are back. Very odd. Well Mobile Station and the AR augmented reality app. No Main Station.

Not sure why they did the disappearing act from the app store - nice that they have returned.

I have three mainlines running now and the Main Station app is working perfectly. Controlling up to 32 functions and still looking very pretty on my old iPad. I hardly ever use the interface on the CS2, even though it is really doing all of the digital work to keep my layout running. The interface on the Main Station app is so much better and the portability is a huge plus for me.

Cheers