I'm like John C., I like hard knobs and tectile feedback. I use NCE and very much enjoy the "wheel" for steam operation; with a lot of momentum, it allows me to "open the throtle" wide, and then ease off and use the coasting and brake features to emulate steam behavior.
BUT, having said that, I was recently introduced to a friend's large model railroad that uses android smart phones with Digitrax and the Engine Driver app, and must say I was impressed. There are myriad potential applications beyond traditional throttles we haven't even thought of. Program or select engines and consists, control turnouts, pull up timetables and switch lists, and communicate with others; those are just some of the things possible with a smart phone.
He does use the volume buttons on the back for speed control which helps a bit. He's also experimenting with a small, inexpensive wireless video game controller for those of us who like buttons... you stick your phone in your pocket and the devices communicate via Bluetooth. Slick....
Otto K.
