Looks like it's a good time for a quick update then!
As
@Adran_Marit mentioned, V14 tester units are ready to go. However, I've finally found a solution to the things that bothered me about V14 and earlier. New V16 has:
1) CR1612 instead of CR1216 means 33-60% more battery life, and I can use a 0.8mm thick board, which is what the Type C connector is designed for. This is made possible by...
2) WLCSP35 package ATSAMD21. The size of this package, and a reduction to the size of other components, means all components can now fit on the top. Which means...
3) Turnkey China assembly is now a possibility. With this design, building DIs should take half the time it would have with V14, but if I can't keep up, I can now outsource.
4) Fully enclosed battery. Now, there is no possibility for a leaky battery to damage anything. Replacement requires removal of 4 Philips screws. Philips screwdrivers will be provided with each DI.
5) Hall effect switch for reset button means payload switching is still possible, and is the only button you will see. Firmware updates can be done by plugging the DI into a computer and waving a small magnet in the top right corner twice. This also means a bigger button than before, and no plastic bits for them, which means...
6) With no button plastic and 4 screws holding the PCB, the case has now been tweaked to suit injection molding, and the cost of molding has been reduced by 40%. This increases the chance the DI will one day be injection molded.
7) USB VCC power is back, preventing battery drain while updating firmware.
8) Maybe this is subjective, but I think the DI is starting to look less like a hobby project and more like a consumer device with V16.
I know it's unfortunate to change things so close to release, since V14 was tested and working great, but this is a passion project partly designed to see just what I can accomplish. I can't be happy with V14 if a better design can work, and I don't want to disappoint anyone who buys a V14 with a new model so soon after release. The delays should be minimal, as the V16 boards are already being made, and the components are already in the mail. If the V16 doesn't work out, V14 is already working and will ship to testers. I have enough components and boards on my kitchen table to do a few hundred V14 DIs. I would not be turning away from them if I didn't think the V16 was worth it.
You can get a look at the V16 board here:
https://a360.co/2DSVQnH
As always, the Discord server is the best place to keep up with updates.
Thanks everyone for all the support! V14 or V16, it won't be long now!