I installed the free version but didn't like it all, simply because I overlooked an important feature: namely, that you can disable the handlebar entirely, so that only Flow shows. Makes a world of difference. 

I've reduced the size of the wheel to as small as possible, and it's pretty unobtrusive, instead of this giant and ugly handlebar. 

Will probably spring for the paid version at some point because of the extra features. 

The only thing I don't like is that if you call up the wheel, the settings page also appears on the top right of your screen. 

I watched a favorite streamer use it (Flow) last night and it looked pretty nice indeed.

You can't hide the wheel?

If not, how is that aspect of Flow better than the various No Handle Bar mods out there?

19 minutes ago, Mace said:

You can't hide the wheel?

If not, how is that aspect of Flow better than the various No Handle Bar mods out there?

The wheel disappears if you press the hotkey again, or you can click on the close button on the setting menu that appears in the top right corner when you press said hotkey. Press the hotkey again, and the wheel will show at the spot where your mouse pointer is.

So: tiny wheel versus giant handlebar. I'll take the tiny wheel. 

I dont get it...the handlebar disappears when not used anyway.

I used to think my Sim usage was pretty much how most people used it, I.E. set things up and go fly but apparently thats not how its done nowadays. Seems you must spend the session fiddling with menus and settings whilst in flight...bizarre

23 minutes ago, Kyuss said:

The handlebar appear every time you move the mouse, and the menu appears every time you move the mouse near the top of the screen to click something in the cockpit. The only bizarre thing is how you completely glossed over that.

I use a free mod such that the handlebar does not appear until I move the mouse near to the top, center of the screen, and the handlebar disappears as soon as I move the mouse away from there. So the handlebar is only visible for as long as it takes me to click on one of the icons. I admittedly am not familiar with Flow except what I've read in this thread. The only advantage I can see over the mod I'm using is a circle format, albeit a small one, is used in place of the handlebar's line format. Is there something else I'm not understanding wrt the advantage of Flow?

Thanks,

Al

Edited December 29, 20223 yr by ark

Just now, ark said:

I use a mod such that the handlebar does not appear until I move the mouse to the top, center of the screen, and the handlebar disappears as soon as I move the mouse away from there. I admittedly am not familiar with Flow except what I've read in this thread. The only advantage I can see over the mod I'm using is a circle format, albeit a small one, is used in place of the handlebar's line format. Is there something else I'm not understanding wrt the advantage of Flow?

Thanks,

Al

Even with the no handlebar mod the handlebar appears as soon as you bump the top of your screen. Plus, it just looks plain ugly. I've seen youtube videos where simmers have handlebars that take up almost the entire width of the screen, like a row of starlings sitting on 
a power line. Now you can stuff all your panels into a small circle that only appears when you press the hotkey. 

The basic version of Flow is free, so no harm in trying it out. Be sure to tick the setting that removes the handlebar entirely. 

Twotonemurphy has a good stream with one of the developers, explaining Flow and showing what you get (and can do) with the payware Essential and Pro versions. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RW9BfvZnws

As I mentioned, I was skeptical at first, but after using Flow a few times, I'm definitely not going back to the handlebar. 

I honestly never find the handlebar a problem, admittedly I dont fly stuff with overhead switch banks (tubeliners and such)

and have as much as possible mapped to keys and buttons...neither am I Interested in recording nice videos or changing stuff mid flight which is something I can see this flow thing might be handy for

 

1 hour ago, Ricardo41 said:

Even with the no handlebar mod the handlebar appears as soon as you bump the top of your screen.

Can you bring up Flow just with the mouse? Opening the handlebar with the mouse is not a problem for me because I'm going to have to use the mouse anyway on the window I open, such as to adjust the fuel or weather, which along with active pause are my main uses of the handlebar. I've got too many key bindings as it is, don't think I want another one just to open the Flow wheel. I guess what it comes down to is if you find the handlebar bothers you, then Flow is a nice alternative.

I looked briefly at the video linked above and can see how some of the features with the payware version of Flow would be handy for those who routinely make use of such things.

And I do like the name "Flow" -- clever.

To each their own.

Al

Edited December 29, 20223 yr by ark

3 hours ago, Ricardo41 said:

The wheel disappears if you press the hotkey again, or you can click on the close button on the setting menu that appears in the top right corner when you press said hotkey. Press the hotkey again, and the wheel will show at the spot where your mouse pointer is.

So: tiny wheel versus giant handlebar. I'll take the tiny wheel. 

I don't have any handlebar.

6 hours ago, Pathfinder633 said:

I honestly never find the handlebar a problem, admittedly I dont fly stuff with overhead switch banks (tubeliners and such)

Same here.  I don't even notice it any more. 

I do fly tubeliners, and even with the overhead panels I still never find the handlebar to be an issue. It's kind of small on my screen anyway.

Edited December 30, 20223 yr by MDFlier

The handlebar arrow is like a spot on the wall in your house: If you leave it there long enough, you will not notice it anymore. 🙂

Is it possible to have flow appear only on another monitor.  I have three and use the main one for my sim.  Then the other two monitors are for maps and other related programs.  Would be nice to keep flow off the main monitor if possible

The handlebar can be made invisible with a mod.

https://flightsim.to/file/9900/no-handle-bar