once a year I email my favorite flashlight manufacturer to ask if they’ve finally made a flashlight that just turns on and off when you push the button, and every year they’re like, “no, but thanks so much for your feedback!”

be honest, have any of you ever used the flashing feature on your flashlight? did it actually come in handy? handy enough that I have to scroll past it every single time I want to turn my flashlight on or off

  • Badabinski@kbin.earth
    111·
    1 month ago

    Flashlights that use the open source Anduril v2 interface are… tolerable, I’d say. It’s not good, it’s not intuitive, but it does at least make it easy to just turn the damn flashlight on and off.

    1. Click once to turn it on, once to turn it off
      • While it’s on, hold the button down to change the brightness
    2. Click twice quickly to put it in turbo mode, click twice quickly to take it out of turbo mode. One click turns the light off
    3. Click twice and hold your second click to turn the light on in turbo mode. Once you let go of the button, the light turns off. I actually really like this mode
    4. Strobe is three clicks, but it’s not the discotheque-ass crazy strobe, it’s usually an SOS pattern. One click turns it off
    5. Click four times to lock the flashlight. This stops it from turning on in your pocket. This is a big deal for some flashlights because they’re bright/hot enough to burn you if left on in an enclosed space. Four clicks takes it out of lock mode

    The interface gets way more complicated after that, but I don’t bother with any of that shit. Luckily, it’s hard to accidentally activate the crazy bullshit.

    There are also lights that mimic this pattern, but differ in a few key ways. The Wurkkos FC11 is a great option that’s relatively cheap. The 4000 K version is $35 and is bright with a nice neutral color temperature (I find it much easier on the eyes.) It follows the interface rules I outlined above except that it’s missing number 3 and the strobe is of the flashy hold-a-rave variety. Still, you have to specifically press the button 3 times in a row pretty quickly to trigger it. I never have accidental raves with mine.

      • Badabinski@kbin.earth
        3·
        1 month ago

        lmao, kinda. There are a fair number of flashlights that are sold with Anduril though. I’ve personally never installed it/flashed it.

        EDIT: if what I’ve described sounds like an acceptable solution, you should check out the Wurkkos I mentioned. I absolutely hate lights that put a strobe between me and the the mode I want, and I’ve been very happy with mine.

      • solrize@lemmy.world
        3·
        1 month ago

        I’ve thought of configuring an Anduril light for just on/off. It is somewhat doable without reflashing.

      • Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        2·
        1 month ago

        Emisar lights come with it already installed. I’ve never flashed mine. Just pop an 18650 in and you’re good to go.

    • Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      4·
      1 month ago

      Can confirm point 5, melted through a pocket with my Emisar D4, i just twist the cap off slightly when not in use rather than shutdown mode.

      • Badabinski@kbin.earth
        4·
        1 month ago

        I like the shutdown mode because the moonlight mode thing it does is great at night. Like, I use it if I need to find something in my nightstand and want to avoid waking up my partner.

        EDIT: also, hello fellow flashlight nerd. I’m writing this with an Emisar D4K in my pocket.

        • lud@lemm.ee
          3·
          1 month ago

          Hank lights are the best.

          I should probably bother to learn Anduril V2 someday. V1 is just so good already.

        • Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          3·
          1 month ago

          Yeeeeee I’ve been shouting the praise of Emisar in this thread. D4V2 and the ridiculous DT8 here. Love them so much.

    • electromage@lemm.ee
      1·
      1 month ago

      It’s not intuitive in that someone with zero knowledge can pick it up and understand all of the features, but it is simple enough that someone can at least turn it on and off. If you know how to use it you can immediately access the lowest level or the highest level, without having to scroll through a bunch of modes you don’t want. You have to ramp the output up or down, but you can always turn it off with one click.