One of our favorite hacking tools, Flipper Zero, received its first major firmware update today. It includes a series of features that the developers have been working on stabilizing for the past three years, including a significant increase in battery life that was technically achieved through previous updates. While many of the features aren’t technically new, the entire suite should make this gadget feel like an enhanced version of before.
One of the most notable updates since launch addresses one of developers’ biggest problems: the device’s internal flash memory initially limited the number of features they could add. In the past, new features were built into the firmware itself, but eventually exceeded the processing capabilities of the memory. Last year, the device added an app store, allowing you to run new apps from a microSD card.
JavaScript is now supported, so writing your own applications will be easier. The NFC subsystem was rewritten from the ground up to support more card types and read cards faster. Developers say data transfer via Bluetooth to Android devices is also faster, and firmware update speeds have been increased by 40%.
The new firmware also includes more infrared protocols, so if you’re already using the Flipper Zero as a universal remote, you can now use it with more TVs, air conditioners, audio systems and projectors. If you need longer transmission range, Flipper Zero also supports external infrared modules. Here is an explanation video:
You can also use the Flipper Zero to listen to analog walkie-talkies, and the developers say its sub-GHz radio now supports a total of 89 different radio protocols. If the built-in antenna isn’t sensitive enough, you can now connect it to an external sub-GHz module for a better antenna.
