Alpha Firmware Update - 1.14.2

Happy Friday, Freewriters!

Today, we’re releasing Alpha’s second Over-The-Air (OTA) firmware update, which contains multiple new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes.

Alpha firmware rolls out automatically and will be available on your device when powered down and connected to Wi-Fi. (You can also manually check for an update using these instructions.)

For a full list of Alpha firmware improvements and fixes, please read over our Release Notes page. Here are a few of the highlights:

International Diacritical Marks

Alpha now has support for international English diacritical marks through the use of [alt gr] key. See the keyboard layout below to see what letters and symbols are now available with [alt gr].

English International keyboard layout (EN_INTL_ALTGR)

Added Lockscreen Support

You can now protect against unauthorized access to your account with a lockscreen on Alpha. You can enable the lockscreen directly on your device by holding the power button to access the main menu, or in "Device Settings" in your Postbox account.

Improved Typing Performance & Sync Pattern

Some users have reported experiencing input lag, which is due to extended syncing times on Alpha. Our primary focus has always been to ensure a seamless typing performance to avoid disrupting your writing flow. To address this, we’ve introduced improvements to how drafts sync on Alpha. This new firmware reallocates processing power to enhance writing performance and changes the syncing pattern to avoid disruption to the user.

What does this mean?
You can type all you want, for as long as you want, without experiencing lag, and as long as you’re connected to Wi-Fi, syncing will occur at strategic points in your writing session, including when the device enters sleep mode, or when manually triggered by a defined event.

Syncing is still automatic when connected to Wi-Fi and you do not need to manually trigger a sync. Alpha will automatically sync at various defined points, including when:

You hit the power button at the end of your writing session.
You create a new doc.
You switch drafts[New]+[PgUp/PgDn]
You connect to a new Wi-Fi network.
You press the [send] key.
Your device checks for firmware updates.
You connect the USB cable to PC.

Ongoing Development

Our journey toward creating the most seamless writing experience is ongoing. We are constantly working on further enhancements and appreciate your support, patience, and valuable feedback. We’re not done optimizing Alpha, so stay tuned for more soon!

Find 24/7 help with questions in our expansive Alpha Freewrite Knowledge Base. Or, contact our Support Team here.

Thank you for being part of our community. Your insights help us grow and improve, ensuring that our devices continue to evolve in ways that support your writing journey.

Write on!

The Freewrite Team

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Alpha Firmware Update - 1.14.2

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