Evolving the WhiteFox Eclipse

In our last blog post, we discussed the metal makeover of the WhiteFox Eclipse, charting how its machined aluminum cases not only upgrade the aesthetics but also enrich the tactility of the keyboard itself. But the journey to revolutionize the keyboard experience doesn't stop at its exterior. Welcome to the next step of our journey: future-proofing its firmware. 

The Heart of WhiteFox Eclipse’s Customization

In our journey to redefine the WhiteFox Eclipse, we began by outlining a set of essential features. These features weren’t just about enhancing functionality but also about bringing a level of customization to the experience that resonated with our diverse user base. Here are the essential features we chose:

• Advanced Bluetooth Connectivity: Use the WhiteFox Eclipse wirelessly with up to three devices.  
• Native Mac Functionality: Use the WhiteFox Eclipse with MacOS right out of the box, ensuring access to all functionalities without the need for additional configuration or software. 
• Inbuilt indicators: Find all the necessary information, like battery life indication and CAPS Lock, directly on the keyboard itself.
• Key Remapping: Customize each key to perform different functions or actions, allowing for a completely personalized keyboard layout.
• Multiple Layers: Create and switch between multiple layers of keymaps, enabling different layouts for various tasks or applications.
• Macro Programming: Set up macros to execute complex sequences of actions with a single keypress, enhancing efficiency in repetitive tasks.
• Custom Keycodes: Create custom keycodes for specific actions or commands that aren't typically found on standard keyboards.
• Backlight Control: Customize backlight settings, including brightness and effects, to enhance the aesthetics and visibility of your keyboard.
• Tap and Hold Functions: Assign dual roles to keys, such as a different action on a tap vs. a hold, adding another layer of functionality.
• Auto-Shift Feature: Automatically capitalize letters or access secondary functions of keys when held down for a longer period, without needing to press a separate shift key.
• Game Mode: Disable certain keys (like the Windows key) during gaming to prevent accidental interruptions.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Configure and use your custom keymaps across different operating systems without needing to redo settings.

After extensive research into available firmware solutions, we decided that there was only one option: the path to achieving this robust level of customization lay in VIA/QMK firmware. VIA/QMK is at the forefront of keyboard customization, celebrated for its ability to let users reprogram and remap every key to their liking. For creative professionals and enthusiasts alike, the ability to swap between layer maps tailored to different creative programs like Logic Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, Pro Tools, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro is a game-changer. This flexibility ensures that whether you're editing a video, tweaking a design, or mixing a track, your WhiteFox Eclipse adapts to your workflow, not the other way around.

Future-proofing the WhiteFox Eclipse

A less obvious but equally essential feature of VIA/QMK lies in its future-proof nature. As technology evolves and new operating systems emerge, the need for adaptable peripherals becomes more crucial. VIA/QMK allows for the creation of layer maps for any future operating system, making the WhiteFox Eclipse a keyboard that grows with the tech landscape. This ability to evolve is what makes the WhiteFox Eclipse a future-proof keyboard.

Beyond VIA/QMK: The WhiteFox Eclipse Gets a Proprietary Upgrade

VIA/QMK was only the beginning. While it laid a solid foundation with its open-source flexibility and extensive customization capabilities, we realized that it still didn't encompass all the features we envisioned for the WhiteFox Eclipse. Our ambition was to break new ground in keyboard technology, and to do this, we identified three critical areas where VIA/QMK needed our unique touch:

• Native Mac Functionality
• Advanced Bluetooth Connectivity 
• Inbuilt indicators

Bridging Bluetooth 5.0 BLE and VIA/QMK

When the WhiteFox Eclipse was just a concept, our vision was focused on a simple yet effective firmware design. But as we spoke with the keyboard community, we realized there was a need for something more: a firmware that could seamlessly integrate Bluetooth with VIA/QMK customization. 

Redefining the firmware meant stepping into uncharted territory. Until that point, no Bluetooth keyboard could be customized with VIA/QMK. And so our goal became creating a keyboard that didn't just connect wirelessly but also offered the full customization experience that VIA/QMK users loved.

Once we’d decided to create a customizable Bluetooth keyboard, our focus shifted towards a more ambitious goal: the incorporation of Bluetooth 5.0 BLE technology. This decision would allow us to further future-proof the WhiteFox Eclipse by incorporating these upgrades:

• Enhanced Energy Efficiency: The BLE technology drastically cuts down power consumption, allowing for longer periods of creativity and productivity.
• Improved Range and Speed: This upgrade means a broader wireless range and faster data transfer rates, offering flexibility and reliability in connectivity, even at a distance.
• Increased Bandwidth and Performance: BLE ensures stable, efficient connections, resulting in quicker response times and a smoother typing experience.

Bringing Mech Keys to Mac Users

Another crucial aspect was ensuring the WhiteFox Eclipse felt at home on both PC and Mac platforms. In the past, Mac users have faced compatibility challenges that have only been addressed with risky firmware hacks. That never seemed fair to us. With the WhiteFox Eclipse, we wanted to offer a seamless and intuitive experience regardless of the operating system. The result is a firmware that adapts to your platform of choice, with customized macros and indicator LEDs that make switching from PC to Mac as simple as a keystroke.

Inbuilt Indicators: A Self-Contained User Experience

In crafting the WhiteFox Eclipse's firmware, we focused on a seamless, self-contained user experience. Our goal was to keep all the necessary information directly on the keyboard. From a clearly-visible caps lock indicator to an integrated battery life display and the ability to show which of up to three Bluetooth devices is connected, each feature enhances your workflow without relying on external indicators. This functionality not only simplifies your interactions with the keyboard but also makes it a standalone hub of essential information.

Conclusion: More Than Just Keys and Codes

As you can see, developing the firmware for the WhiteFox Eclipse was a journey of forward thinking and, more importantly, community engagement. Our community is the driving force behind everything we do, and we'd love for you to join us on our Discord channel to be a part of the ongoing discussion, to contribute ideas, and to collaborate on future developments of the WhiteFox Eclipse keyboard. Your input and participation are vital in shaping what comes next. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to tell the story of the WhiteFox Eclipse.