a few weeks ago i received this live chat message.
I took a quick look at the TRMNL firmware... There are a lot of inefficiencies in the code (memory usage, bit/pixel algorithms, SPI data transmission, etc)... the current code is adding unnecessary CPU time and memory pressure. This adds up to lower battery life and more delays that the user perceives as well as limits on what can fit in memory.
after licking my wounds i knew we had to get Larry Bank involved. our first meeting was July 7, and less than a month later we're releasing a whole bunch of improvements.
fast refresh
no more epileptic blinking when your device wakes up for new content. whether TRMNL is booting up, transitioning organically, or you click the skip button... it Just Works.
RIP Waveshare
we present the OG model as 1-bit per our supplier's data sheets. but this is only true until you rewrite the LUTs (lookup tables) and unlock 4 levels between white and black.
here's a quick look at our calendar, before/after.
1-bit calendar
2-bit calendar
and here's an action shot. we're still tinkering with temperature differences between displays and their external environments.
grayscale calendars on different displays
note: grayscale is live for custom images (Alias, Redirect) and will automatically kick in for native plugins + Recipes soon.
power consumption
TRMNL's battery drain is mostly due to the WiFi module. by reducing how often this is turned on we increased a single charge's lifespan by 22%.
refresh cycle - before
wake up - fetch content - draw - sleep
refresh cycle - after
wake up - fetch content - draw - sleep
aesthetics
our boot screen, error messages, and other device UI elements were deployed quickly in the fall of 2024. now they're more approachable for Real People.
better guided interfaces
button handling
the double-click button press has been replaced by a 1-2s "medium hold" to achieve the same effect. learn more in our Special Functions guide.
what's next?
TRMNL firmware is in motion. the impetus for these improvements was a presale event for better hardware. when we determined that optimizations were possible with an OTA update, we refunded everyone.
if you're running 1.6.2+ and have specific feedback or bug reports, please fill out this form. this is a major release and structured data is our friend.
if you want to get involved in an upcoming iteration, check out the source code.
