I think the reason the EFB is not as feature rich as some hoped is because of the time they wasted doing the communication workaround to the outside world. That was made redundant with SP13. I am a developer and I can only imagine the complexity, planning, development and testing required because they were only able to send numbers to a https address and needed to have that translated into EFB actions and commands and then sent back. In the end that large piece of work was a waste of time.

Regarding the "to/from" option to transfer data between the tablet and aircraft - no, no tablet in reality does that, BUT most modern airlines operating 737s these days use a data link utility to auto populate route and performance information.  The pilots do not enter it manually, but verify it before activating and executing.  It reduces human interface errors.  In the sim, data transfer from the tablet could be seen as a way to emulate this data link utility.

And yes, it's an EFB.  Technically, legally, and practically.  Robert was simply wrong when he wrote otherwise.  I sincerely doubt he'll ever admit it... But it does happen.  ;)

1 hour ago, Stearmandriver said:

And yes, it's an EFB.  Technically, legally, and practically.  Robert was simply wrong when he wrote otherwise.  I sincerely doubt he'll ever admit it... But it does happen.  😉

You mean the guy who keeps comparing himself to Greek and Roman demigods has trouble admitting when he‘s wrong? 😂

4 hours ago, Stearmandriver said:

Regarding the "to/from" option to transfer data between the tablet and aircraft - no, no tablet in reality does that, BUT most modern airlines operating 737s these days use a data link utility to auto populate route and performance information.  The pilots do not enter it manually, but verify it before activating and executing.  It reduces human interface errors.  In the sim, data transfer from the tablet could be seen as a way to emulate this data link utility.

And yes, it's an EFB.  Technically, legally, and practically.  Robert was simply wrong when he wrote otherwise.  I sincerely doubt he'll ever admit it... But it does happen.  😉

 

 @StearmandriverI really do appreciate your contributions. As a real B737 driver, it surprises me that some armchair flightsimmers on this forum argue (which is different to simply having an opinion) over issues which they have no comparable knowledge or experience.  So I 100 percent agree with you that the PMDG Universal Flight Tablet (UFT) is an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB). You would know!

But, If I understand RSR's comms correctly, PMDG is not producing a faithful replication of the B737 EFB, but rather a in game tool, as he says, to "...enhance the simulation experience."  PMDG have seen what others competitors have done with in flight tablets and the flight sim industry has quite literally seen the writing on the flight deck wall. Users want more than just a narrow scoped real world EFB functionality.   

"it had become obvious that the industry was well on it's way to throwing off the yoke of the regulatory EFB and along with it the limitations."

It seems on this forum that users place two critical demands on PMDG; accuracy of model and innovation of ideas.  "Lesser" developers who aren't put upon by such high expectations have produced tablets that are very helpful to the flightsimming community even if not particularly real world accurate and with limited or no actual EFB capability. Now it seems PMDG must also follow the market and leave "faithful replications of regulatory EFBs" behind, and replace them with hopefully more innovative devices that do ,or will have the capacity to do, a lot of other things that are useful to the flightsimming community overall such as adding fltsim aeronautical apps. 

"....we have also begun to coordinate with some outside developers in order to bring direct access to their applications right from within the PMDG Universal Flight Tablet. This will allow for some really neat integrations with the applications and tools that you love- all right from within the tablet, without breaking realism, and without needing to have 20 pop-up screens managed all over your desktop".

I'm hoping this means we will be able to connect to Flight Radar and Little Nav Map (LNM) directly perhaps? 

And, this is across Xbox users too which is something other close competitors/developers have not been able to achieve as of yet. Added to this is the fact that this tablet will be incorporated 'universally' across the PMDG fleet although probably not the DC6.  I am also guessing (because I simply don't know) that these tablets will not be faithful renditions of the EFB's in those aircraft either.  So in some ways, this communication from RSR is sort of apologizing for the tablet not being entirely real world accurate while at the same time adding further innovation to what is fast becoming a flightsimmer''s tool or on screen/in flight utility.....as well as being an EFB with capability to link to the FMS. 

So as you say @stearmandriver it may be technically, legally, and practically an EFB for the purposes of simulating flight, but perhaps RSR is correct in calling this a UFT as a way of PMDG positively marketing a tool which primarily enhances the overall flightsimming experience for all their current and future products, (something you clearly wouldn't see in your run of the mill real life  737/777/747 and so therefore innovative but not accurate) but at the same time offering near real world EFB capability.

Just IMHO. 

Cheers

Terry   
 

On 10/24/2023 at 12:00 AM, Greazer said:

Very shocking indeed. And the main feature is made by another dev (Navigraph)

 

On 10/23/2023 at 12:30 PM, MarkW said:

Good to see it finally being released, however, totally shocking that the 737NG Options and Settings still remain in the FMC and not part of the Tablet.

Not gonna lie, I'm quite shocked at how easily shocked some people are these days. 😅

Ok, rather amused than shocked but that would've been less fun to write 😉

Edited October 25, 20232 yr by pstrub

33 minutes ago, pstrub said:

 

Not gonna lie, I'm quite shocked at how easily shocked some people are these days. 😅

Ok, rather amused than shocked but that would've been less fun to write 😉

Would a mega dose of Tranquilizers keep one from getting "shocked"? Just wondering. 😉

I'm curious IRL is there standard EFB that shipped with 737 and part of MEL? Or is that random company designed/preferred and therefore operated ?

1 hour ago, sd_flyer said:

I'm curious IRL is there standard EFB that shipped with 737 and part of MEL? Or is that random company designed/preferred and therefore operated ?

https://secure.boeingimages.com/archive/EFB--Electronic-Flight-Bag-in-a-737-800-Flight-Deck-2F3XC5QTWC2.html?fbclid=IwAR25mGzvY_dIbpwE4mDkfgfjDCsgDxE-X0p0W4qOG5jYNx_0kV_28EUEVYQ

1 hour ago, sd_flyer said:

I'm curious IRL is there standard EFB that shipped with 737 and part of MEL? Or is that random company designed/preferred and therefore operated ?

Nope there isn't a standard it's company preferred 😉 certainly for the PG/NG stuff and then you have for example an ipad as an EFB with a lot of stuff 😉 and before that plain paper 🤣

2 hours ago, sd_flyer said:

I'm curious IRL is there standard EFB that shipped with 737 and part of MEL? Or is that random company designed/preferred and therefore operated ?

There was a Boeing certified device once upon a time.  No operator uses it any more, because it's cheaper and more flexible to use an iPad or Surface tablet.  We use iPads... In addition to charting apps and electronic manuals, we have many "extra" apps of the type Robert references: a weather app, a holdover time calculator, and a route optimization app as just a few examples.

And that iPad, per the company, the FAA, and Boeing, is an EFB.  Robert mistakenly seemed to think that term only applies to the Boeing-installed device that no one has been using for at least 10 years.

1 hour ago, Bobsk8 said:

https://secure.boeingimages.com/archive/EFB--Electronic-Flight-Bag-in-a-737-800-Flight-Deck-2F3XC5QTWC2.html?fbclid=IwAR25mGzvY_dIbpwE4mDkfgfjDCsgDxE-X0p0W4qOG5jYNx_0kV_28EUEVYQ

Based on that link it doesn't actually look like standard pard. It's optional purchase. Like I for example if own GTN 650 you can also get IPad with Garmin Pilot which interfaces with  GTN, loads flight plans and so on. But it optional software. It's neither required nor part of MEL. I can use Foreflight for example as my preference instead of Garmin Pilot.

The reason I'm asking because I suspect that EFB vary from company to company and it;s company prerogative what kind of EFB to use and what kind of software to load.  

1 minute ago, Stearmandriver said:

There was a Boeing certified device once upon a time.  No operator uses it any more, because it's cheaper and more flexible to use an iPad or Surface tablet.  We use iPads... In addition to charting apps and electronic manuals, we have many "extra" apps of the type Robert references: a weather app, a holdover time calculator, and a route optimization app as just a few examples.

And that iPad, per the company, the FAA, and Boeing, is an EFB.  Robert mistakenly seemed to think that term only applies to the Boeing-installed device that no one has been using for at least 10 years.

Thanks now it make sense!

Wouldn’t it be great if the 777 dropped with the EFB on Monday…..

The UFT guide 

 

http://downloads.pmdg.com/supportfiles/Docs/PMDG_Tablet_Introduction.pdf

Edited October 27, 20232 yr by g-liner

On 10/25/2023 at 11:46 PM, garlicbread11 said:

Wouldn’t it be great if the 777 dropped with the EFB on Monday…..

no, because then we can't complain anymore about the soon^tm joke... 😜