In short: nothing really changes. Just like in the past, whenever Flex releases a new firmware version, I make sure my apps work seamlessly with it. That’s already the case for v4, and as usual, I add new features shortly afterward (which has also already happened for v4). This has been true for firmware 1, 2, 3, and now 4.
And the best part: all of this is still free.
And it will stay this way as long as there are enough new users supporting the continued development of the apps.
So whether Flex uses a one-time license model like before or their new subscription model, nothing changes for SmartSDR for macOS and iOS. Once your radio is licensed for a feature, you can generally use it in the app — and usually, soon after a new firmware release, you’ll be able to use most (if not all) of the new features as well.
I may not implement every single Windows-specific feature, but as you know, the apps already include plenty of additional features of their own.
For example, the USB pass-through feature won’t be available in my apps for several reasons, but there’s a better alternative anyway: Waveshare Remote CAT support.
Or take the Voice Keyer — it has been available in the macOS version long before Flex firmware 4, so I don’t plan to add a second solution.
Some of the features that Flex introduces under their Early Access subscription may not appear in the apps right away because they’re often still too dynamic and preliminary. Once these features stabilize, they might make it into the apps, but not while they’re still changing. I’d rather spend my time on new app functions or modes that benefit everyone.
One of the main advantages of my apps is that they work with any FlexRadio firmware — 1, 2, 3, and now 4. This means you can connect to other radios, such as those at your HAM club or a friend’s station, even if they’re already running a newer firmware.
If you’re curious about trying new firmware features, you can simply connect remotely to another radio (maybe a Flex demo station) that already has those features enabled. No need to install any additional software. That’s quite different from the Windows version of SmartSDR or the Maestro, which always need to match the exact firmware version of the radio.
As always — no matter if you’re on firmware 1, 2, 3, or 4 — I recommend updating to the latest release within that major version, because Flex continues to roll out bug fixes for older versions as well.
The same goes for the apps: keeping them up to date is really important. So please check every now and then if you’re using the latest version. At the moment, most of the support cases I receive are simply because people haven’t updated yet. A quick update usually solves the issue immediately.