Alpha Initial Release Notes

January 25, 2024 | 2 min read

Initial Alpha Firmware Release 0.11.2 > Now 1.14.2 

[ADDED in firmware 1.14.2] International English diacritical marks are supported on Alpha devices through the [alt gr] layer.


Issues We're Working On

- [FIXED in firmware 1.12.3] When you switch between drafts on Alpha, a special screen with a carousel appears. The carousel bars at the bottom of this screen may display incorrectly with drafts longer than 32 characters. However, switching between drafts will still work correctly.

[FIXED in firmware 1.12.3] An automatic file name is generated from the first 32 characters of a draft. Any invalid characters in those 32 spots will cause them to not show up on Mass Storage Devices (MSD, which is the backup/retrieval system over USB). Invalid characters include:

/ and \

:

|

?

*

"

< and >

&

- [FIXED in firmware 1.12.3] Changing the font on the device can sometimes get overwritten by your settings on Postbox. There are two current workarounds:

1) Change the font size using Postbox.
2) Open the Font screen on Alpha, wait a couple seconds, and then select a font and press Return.


- [FIXED in firmware 1.12.3] The draft session timer, seen on the heads-up display, resets to zero when the main menu is opened.


- [FIXED in firmware 1.12.3] Immediately following a connection to Wi-Fi and/or powering up, the device may lag and miss keypresses.


- [FIXED in firmware 1.14.2] The lockscreen button in the main menu is not yet implemented.


- [FIXED] With caps lock enabled, the main menu will not respond to pressing 1, 2, 3, or 4.


- Alpha will sometimes report that it's connected over USB Mass Storage Device when you plug it into a simple wall charger when charging. This dialog on the screen can be ignored and closed using the Return key.


- The heads-up display might show 0% battery for some users. This is a false indication since the device is still running and there is still battery remaining.


Read about our recent Alpha 1.12.3 firmware update here.
Read about our recent Alpha 1.14.2 firmware update here.
 

We'll continue to add to these as issues come up.  Need help? Reach our support team here

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We're just 10 weeks away from a major milestone: the 10th anniversary of Freewrite's launch on Kickstarter.  On December 10, 2014, we introduced the Smart Typewriter, then known as  "Hemingwrite," to the world.
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In September of 2014, co-founders Adam Leeb and Patrick Paul entered Hemingwrite into the “Insert Coin” hardware competition sponsored by Engadget. Described as a new digital consumer product for distraction-free writing composition, Hemingwrite aimed to deliver a singular focus on a productive writing experience. A decade later, that core mission remains unchanged.
Hemingwrite was one of 20 inventions competing that week, highlighting early-stage hardware startups from around the world that had not yet received funding or shipped to consumers.
"What the Kindle did for reading, we want to do for writing," said co-founder Patrick Paul at the time."We set out to deliver the same distraction-free writing experience of a typewriter with all of the added benefits of modern technology."
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Since that initial launch, we have developed Freewrite into a family of distraction-free writing tools with three distinct models, Smart Typewriter, Traveler, and Alpha. Each has their distinct personality, but the core value of maximizing writer productivity runs throughout. 
In 2020, The original Freewrite Smart Typewriter became part of the Science Museum, London’s permanent Printing & Writing Collection.
The name Hemingwrite was dropped in 2015 and then revived in 2021 with the Ernest Hemingway Special Edition Smart Typewriter in partnership with the Ernest Hemingway Estate. 
We’ve created Sprinter for distraction-free writing in any browser and WTF where thousands of people every week receive a writing prompt and participate in Writing Time Friday. 
The community's achievements over the past decade have been  astounding:
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  • Collectively,users have written more than 605 million words (equivalent to over 6,000 novels!)
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been 10 years but it also feels like we are just getting started.
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One Year Warranty: Now Standard
We are extending our warranty that covers manufacturer’s defects to a full year on all Freewrite devices. This means you can enjoy your Freewrite with even greater peace of mind, knowing that we've got you covered for an entire year. 

For more information, please visit our dedicated article on our new warranty policy here: Introducing Freewrite's New 1-Year Warranty: Our Commitment to You
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As of October 1, 2024, we are extending our standard warranty that covers manufacturer’s defects to a full year on all Freewrite devices. This means you can enjoy your Freewrite with even greater peace of mind, knowing that we've got you covered for a full 12 months from the date of shipment. We’re even retroactively applying the warranty extension to purchases made this year.

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Your trust in our products is paramount to us, and this warranty extension reflects our dedication to your satisfaction and our confidence in the quality and reliability of our devices.

Thank you for choosing Freewrite; we look forward to serving you for many years to come. Write on!

 

- The Freewrite Team



Important Notes:

  • For devices purchased in 2023 or earlier, the original 90-day warranty applies, in addition to any paid Extended Warranty coverage.
  • If you purchased your device in 2023 or earlier, without an Extended Warranty, unfortunately, your warranty has now expired.
  • We are unable to offer refunds for prior out-of-warranty repairs.

 

Useful Links:

Official Freewrite Warranty Policy

Warranty Support Doc