Version information
The software installed on your BEASTX System is what we call "firmware". This firmware can be updated (e.g. for improvements, fixes, new features, ...) by downloading a file from the internet and flashing it onto the device. To distinguish between firmware files, each firmware has a unique version number "X.Y.Z", where "X" is the major version, "Y" is the minor version and "Z" is the patch version. You can say that when the major version ("X") changes, a lot will be different between the two versions. When the minor version "Y" increases, there will be a few new features or parameters. A change in "Z" is only a patch or fix that shouldn't be greatly noticeable, apart from some very minor improvements. From our Changelog you can find out the differences between versions. In general it is always recommended to stay on the latest version, as this should give you the most features and benefits.
Reading the current firmware version
When connecting your BEASTX System with the StudioX Flow app, the firmware version is the first thing you will see when the overview screen opens. If a firmware update is available, an information message should usually pop up as well. You can then update your device right away, or read here what has changed to decide whether it's useful for you to update.
LED display of the device (Microbeast Plus and Ultra only)
Reading the firmware version via StudioX Flow is the most convenient way, but it is also possible to read it without any external device - on MICROBEAST PLUS and MICROBEAST ULTRA. After powering up, the device performs a brief initialization phase. A quick self-test turns all Menu-LEDs on simultaneously, and the Status-LED cycles through all colors. Then, for about 3 seconds, the Status-LED turns red and the first two digits (X and Y) of the internal firmware version are shown. During the remaining time, a running light on LEDs A - G signals that the sensors are being calibrated, and LEDs H - N indicate the initialization of the receiver signals. During the initialization phase (i.e. while viewing the firmware version, or later), briefly push the button to display the third digit (Z) of the firmware version - the Status-LED then flashes purple. Briefly press the button again and the Status-LED changes to flashing blue; now you can read the firmware's data version "X.Y" from the display. If you press the button a third time, the Status-LED turns off and the hardware version "X.Y" of this device is displayed. Press the button one last time to leave the version display and return to the running light for status information.
NANOBEAST does not have individual Menu-LEDs and therefore does not support this LED-based version readout. On NANOBEAST, please read the firmware, data and hardware version via the StudioX Flow app instead.
Representation of values
All values are represented in binary using the Menu-LEDs. When a Menu-LED is lit, this stands for "1"; when the LED is off, this means "0". The least significant bits are A and H. The type of value currently displayed is indicated by the color of the Status-LED, as described above.
Firmware version
As mentioned above, the firmware version consists of three values "X.Y.Z". "X" and "Y" are displayed automatically before the initialization sequence. "X" is represented by Menu-LEDs A - G, "Y" is represented by LEDs H - N. The "Z" value is shown if the button is pressed once while initialization is taking place. To display "Z", all LEDs A - N are used.
Data version
The data version consists of two values "X.Y", which are displayed at the same time through Menu-LEDs A - G for "X" and H - N for "Y".
Hardware version
The hardware version consists of two values "X.Y", which are displayed at the same time through Menu-LEDs A - G for "X" and H - N for "Y".