Key facts
- Flipper Devices has launched the Busy Bar, a productivity-focused gadget.
- The device features a 72x16 LED matrix display for timers, custom messages, and app blocking.
- It offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity, with a 3250 mAh battery.
- Companion apps for iOS, Android, and macOS are available, with Windows support planned.
- The Busy Bar is Matter-certified for smart home integration.
- Early adopters can purchase the device for $199, with the regular price set at $249.
London-based Flipper Devices, known for its Flipper Zero hacking tool, has launched a new productivity-focused gadget called Busy Bar. The device aims to help users manage tasks with features like timers, app blocking, and customizable displays.
The Busy Bar features a 72x16 LED matrix display with up to 400 nits of brightness and 16 million colors, along with a sensor for automatic brightness adjustment. A monochrome screen on the back provides status indicators. The device is equipped with a mode selector switch, start/stop button, indicator, and a scroll wheel for navigation. It supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB connections.
With a 3250 mAh battery, the Busy Bar offers up to eight hours of active use and two weeks of standby time. It can be fully charged in one hour using a 15W adapter. The core idea is to visually communicate when a user is occupied, particularly useful in work-from-home environments, and to support productivity techniques like the Pomodoro timer.
Flipper Devices is releasing companion apps for iOS, Android, and macOS, with Windows support planned. These apps allow users to block specific applications and set timers. The device integrates with macOS to display an 'on call' status and mute notifications during meetings or recordings. Additionally, the Busy Bar is Matter-certified, allowing it to integrate with smart home ecosystems from Amazon, Apple, and Google, enabling custom automations based on its status.
The device is designed for developers, offering open firmware, an HTTP API, MQTT, and official Python and TypeScript libraries for customization. Users can also control the Busy Bar remotely via its cloud API. The company is offering an early bird price of $199 for the first 3,000 waitlist users, with the standard price set at $249. Shipping is scheduled to begin on July 14 to the US, EU, UK, and Canada. Accessories such as wall mounts and screen protectors are also planned.