Version History
Release 6812 -- 2016.06.15
Firmware and application improvements, and new user-requested features.
IMPORTANT: Requires TextBlade App release 1.1.1 (108) or later.
Foundations
New infrastructure to support context-aware chords. Faster, fluid traverse of layers.
New system-wide commands. Skip complex compound shifts, with easy shortcut keys.
MetaKeys -
OS-adaptive, consistent commands, while jumping across diverse hosts & apps.
Mnemonic T-layout reflected in all Nav layers for simple, familiar visual map. (See library pix).
New App Layer
Navigate all your apps, tabs, windows and desktop with fast, home-row access.
App Nav - Task switch back and forth to any active app, right on home row cursor.
Tab Nav - Switch back and forth between open tabs on your browser or app.
Windows Nav - Glide back and forth between windows on your Win or Mac host.
System Nav - Go up or down the hierarchy to the desktop (Exposé) or drill down in app.
Find Content - Search your system to find apps, resources, and connected content.
Tab New + Close commands for fast management of browser and app panes.
New Window command to create a new window in any Win or Mac host app.
Quit and terminate any app right from home row.
Fast Access - Hold left home wells + space to access, release to exit. All from home row.
Edit Green Layer
Navigate paragraphs, pages and full document extents with fast, home-row access.
Doc Nav - Smart, cross-platform nav to beginning or end, right on home row cursor.
Page Nav - Page Up + Page Down right where you want it.
Para Nav - Go to Next or Previous paragraph, cross-platform. Super helpful for fast Nav.
Easy access with space-press while in Edit (locked or chorded). Way less acrobatics.
Num Pad Features
Standard Edit cursors now dynamically accessible in Num mode via D + F chord.
Full access to green layer symbols while in Num mode, whether locked or chorded.
Symbols enhanced for spreadsheet work while in Green Num layer.
Jumps now immediately accessible while inside Num and Edit lock modes.
Flip directly between Num and Edit lock modes without any need to exit first.
Fully one-handed operation now fast and easy with cross-mode flip lock chords.
Interface
Audible triple beeps now signal each type of TextBlade monitor alert.
Prevents case where iOS could briefly display 0% battery on wake-up from sleep.
Prevents brief flash of LED's at end of jump location display sequence.
Consolidates audible signal on start from kinetic wake to single beep.
Prevents 100ms latency increase on space press with Hot Corners enabled.
Improved layer change handshaking for faster keyboard extension display latency.
Coming Soon
Shift key entry concurrent with chords for ballistic strike of special commands.
Macro universal storage inside TextBlade internal flash memory.
Help content in settings panels discussing new layers and functions.
Release 6718 -- 2016.05.27
Firmware and application improvements, and new user-requested features.
IMPORTANT: Requires TextBlade App release 1.1.1 (78) or higher.
Key Maps
Expanded Flash memory keymap infrastructure to support remapping more layers.
Function Key layers now remappable for user-defined functions.
F1-F10 Layer - New active areas support 20 more user-defined shortcuts.
F1-F20 Layer - New active areas support mapping 20 more user-defined shortcuts.
More expansion coming on next release to exploit zones on other layers.
Commands
New system-control functions now accessible on map editor ribbon menu.
Power Off command to shut down system on demand.
Battery command to report current charge level on demand.
Screen capture command to copy / paste host screen image. (Win + Mac).
Window capture command to copy / paste a section of host screen. (Win + Mac).
Media layer now comes pre-mapped with system commands, standard.
Refinements on next release to separate media indicator from battery graph.
Improvements
Other Improvements in Recent Revisions
Bluetooth
Active monitoring to detect lag from a connection latency change by host.
Automated recovery logic to prompt host to restore fast connection latency.
Improved BLE startup negotiation sequence to enhance pairing reliability.
Battery
New charging state machine logic to improve reliability on edge cases.
Improved LED animation sequence to clarify low-battery warning display.
Added triple-beep audio indication on low-battery warning sequence.
Prevents rare case where charge doesn't start on first connection.
Prevents rare case where charge could stop at 60%.
New filters to suppress transient low-battery indication at startup.
Improved reliability and accuracy of power-on battery bar graph report.
Jumps
New flash memory structure stores 6 KeyMaps entirely inside TextBlade hardware.
Maps can now be individually specified for each Jump slot.
OS of host can now be individually specified for each Jump slot.
Native KeyMaps in host can now be individually specified for each Jump slot.
Automatic keycode translation for each host Profile (Map /
OS / Native KeyMap).
Translations now all performed entirely inside TextBlade hardware.
App now displays all Jump Profile settings on Jump config screen.
Extension now displays Jump Profile settings briefly on entry.
Settings
New control to adjust AutoSleep time. Select 30 or 60 minutes.
New control to enable / disable SpaceBlade Tap-Wake sensor.
SuperCruise power mode control (mode to be available after TREG).
Flight Recorder
Log formatting improvements to correct character echoes in Flight Recorder logs.
Display and formatting improvements for Colemak / Dvorak logs.
New analog level detail data logs added to key-events in Flight Recorder.
Locks
New NUM 10-Key pad. Dedicated chord to toggle, independent of SpaceBlade.
New EDIT Cursor Lock. Dedicated chord to toggle, independent of Edit chord.
Now supports ModKeys and shifts on numbers and cursor keys.
Supports one-handed numeric entry and cursor navigation.
Further convenience features and access will be added on this foundation.
Additional keys (page up/dn …) will be added in a subsequent OTA.
Filters
System
Additional handshaking logic that strengthens Jumps resiliency.
Reboot on Macro + Home moved for safety. Will return later on protected layer.
Start-up sequence improvements for high immunity on power-up events.
Unified HID key stream for improved keyboard extension stability.
Typing
Prevents rare instability of caps lock state on certain jumps.
Prevents rare case where single key could vary if pressed repeatedly for long periods.
New temporal filter on Macro and Fn chords. Prevents falsing in Colemak / Dvorak.
Faster SpaceBlade tracking time on rapid environmental thermal shock event.
Smarter tracking when striking a key repeatedly for very long time intervals.
Symbol / Edit mode LED improvements to prevent stuck indicators.
Extension
Power
New filter on power monitor to prevent spurious Low-Battery transient on undocking.
Smarter LED display at startup for Low-Battery indication.
Improved qualify logic for entry into deep sleep battery-protect mode.
Improved BLE power-save management for greater efficiency with extension enabled.
Smoother power ramp transitions on startup and shutdown.
Release 6239 -- 2016.03.26
KeyBlade / SpaceBlade / BLE
This is the current firmware release for all 4 TextBlade CPUs. It includes bug fixes, performance improvements, and expanded integration with the TextBlade app.
Recent updates include:
Expanded Diagnostic Support
Profiles for Enhanced Shield Systems
Improved BLE Link Synchronization
Enhanced Regulator Locking Precision
SmartCharging Animation Updates
Integrated Links to TextBlade App
LiveLegend Display Integration
This firmware version comes pre-installed on TREG units.