Flipper's Busy Bar: Hack Your Workday, Not the World

The Flipper Busy Bar is a new smart display designed to boost workday productivity through a playful, yet functional, interface. Measuring just 6.64 x 2.17 x 1.61 inches, it features a pixelated dot-matrix display and tactile physical controls, including a satisfying mechanical Start/Pause bar reminiscent of mechanical keyboards.

This device is geared towards improving focus, with a built-in Pomodoro timer that defaults to 20-minute work intervals followed by 5-minute breaks. Users can set it to 'Busy' mode, making their status visible to colleagues, or 'Custom' with a 'Keep Out' message. A unique feature is its secondary monochrome OLED display on the back, mirroring the front to show others what is being displayed.

When connected to a Mac via Flipper's companion app, the Busy Bar automatically switches to an 'On Call' status during virtual meetings, seamlessly reverting afterward. While the Windows app is still pending, the macOS integration is reportedly reliable. The device can run on battery for up to eight hours or be powered via USB-C.

Priced at $249, though often discounted, the Busy Bar offers a curated set of features focused on productivity. It is also highly customizable and developer-friendly, with a growing ecosystem of custom apps and the ability to integrate with smart home devices. Flipper has also released a 3D printable model for custom mounts, underscoring its hackable nature.