Flashing from Chrome, Caps WORD, and new Live Training

JUNE 2022

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Hi *|FNAME|*,

June was a big month for us. You can now flash your ZSA keyboard directly from within Chrome, Edge, or any other Chromium-based browser. We also introduced a new way to start Live Training, which means we didn't need the Oryx key anymore and could use its spot for something else. So we added support for Caps WORD, a smarter take on the Caps Lock key. I wrote a little blog post about each of these, all linked below.

There's lots more happening in the background — this is shaping up to be quite the summer for ZSA. Stay tuned, and thank you for reading!

All the best,
Erez

Introducing Browser-Based Flashing

Flashing with Wally is now optional

Browser-based flashing is a big deal: It allows you to update your layout faster, making it easier to iterate on ideas and try things out.

Goodbye, Oryx Key

A new way to connect to Live Training

One of the first things most new users do is try out Live Training. We just made it that much easier to start.

Hello, Caps WORD

A smarter Caps Lock

We've never had Caps Lock on our default layout — but Caps WORD won my heart. Great for coders and anyone who types acronyms. It's a story of transformation.

Featured User Interview

Janet Chen

HCI & UX Researcher

A Cornell University PhD student who’s researching human-computer interaction, Janet showed us the setup and software she uses to conduct her research at a tranquil desk—and on a student budget.

"Most of my days are spent at home click-clacking away at my ErgoDox EZ in beautiful Ithaca, New York. On the days I trek up to campus (often through the Cascadilla Gorge trail), I attend seminars, grab a coffee with my advisor, and catch up on research tasks. This includes panic-writing, browsing academic Twitter, and making unrealistic to-do lists."

Layout of the month: Mac - French/Code

I'm French, I love microtypography, and I'm a developper too (mainly Javascript, and a bit of HTML and CSS). That's why I needed layers on my Moonlander that allow me to type correct French punctuation alongside standard code syntax and snippets.

Things we liked

Felt →

Make some maps

A simple browser-based tool for annotating maps. Has lots of layers to choose from, and many annotation tools. Great for school projects or for planning a road trip. Also, it’s just plain fun. Free.

Book notes →

From Derek Sivers

I like Sivers. He’s interesting, and he also reads a whole bunch and then writes notes on what he reads and rates the books. I’ve read some of the recommendations on this list and liked each one of them. Lots of wisdom here.

OutHorse Your Email →

Let the horses of Iceland reply to your emails

Yes, it a marketing gimmick trying to get us to visit Iceland, but done quite well. A lovely site and a fun idea, and the video is worth watching, too. If it were me, I'd feature cows and make them a "Moolander".

Dinosaur Pictures and Facts →

What’s a Huayangosaurus?

Does what it says on the tin. Lots of illustrations and facts covering many, many dinosaurs. Has a map that lets you go back in time. When in doubt, click “Random dinosaur”.

Every Time Zone →

When’s a good time for you?

Working with teammates from all over the world, time zones matter. This is a quick and simple way to visualize times in different places. Browser-based, free.

Tip: We have a subscriber-only link archive with all of the links we shared over the years. Just for you. ❤️

Wallpaper of the month

I just love the warm colors in this beautiful scene from Steve. Part old-school switchboard, part analog synth, all cyberpunk.

Thank you for reading!