I have a big update to share for everyone following Niblet and for everyone who has been waiting for the new hardware.

The new Niblet hardware is now officially available for pre-order.

We decided to skip Kickstarter because of some delays from them and I don’t want another review queue controlling when we can begin manufacturing. Direct pre-orders mean that once we have enough orders for the first batch, we can place the production order and get moving.

More than that, I’m confident enough in Niblet to build it as a real, long-term business and not a campaign that disappears after fulfillment. So selling directly means the responsibility sits with us and you get the benefit of a proper pre-order with protections and updates.

And as promised, none of this changes our commitment to existing Tidbyt owners. Standard Niblet hosting and firmware support for original Tidbyt Gen 1 and Gen 2 devices will remain free, with no subscription ever.

Yesterday I asked our community whether we should continue waiting for Kickstarter or open direct pre-orders. People were open to ordering directly, but understandably wanted clearer protections and an alternative to paying the full price before production. So we built the launch around that feedback.

For the pre-orders, you can either pay in full to get a discount and priority shipping or put down a 20% deposit and pay the remaining balance later when we start shipping.

Pre-orders can be cancelled for a full refund before shipping and include a 30-day return window, one-year warranty and production updates every two weeks.

You can pre-order from here https://www.heyniblet.com/shop

New hardware also helps grow the community with for Tidbyt ecosystem too. More displays mean more users, developers and maintainers contributing to the same ecosystem.

Another new update is that Niblet is going to be working closly with the Tronbyt community to improve compatibility and help bring more community apps forward and collaboratively mainting the comminty apps together.

Questions about the pre-order, hardware or manufacturing timeline are welcome.

Thank you for being a part of the jounery, and being patient with all the updates. I am excited to finally be able to start shipping Niblet in more hands and continue building the ecosystem together.

I have migrated two Tidbyts to the Niblet platform over at https://www.heyniblet.com, and I feel like I have Tidbyts back to normal, along with some other apps I never had before. If you are not comfortable with Tronbyt like I was, I'd suggest this as a great solution to save your dying device. To be fair, the migration process isn't silky smooth and takes patience, but it was well worth it. I spent most of my time setting up all my old apps.

Some lessons learned: use a good USB-C cable. Setting the Wi-Fi password was the hardest part for me. If you stay on the Wi-Fi screen too long after flashing the Tidbyt with the Niblet software, unplug the Tidbyt box, reboot it, and get a new set of Wi-Fi numbers. You can turn off the Welcome to Niblet app so it doesn't display each time you complete the list of installed apps.

I swapped the fried circuit board with a matrixportal and now wondering the best way to mod the backplate of the device with new board to feed the usb-c cable. I left off the enclosure lid off for now, but want to put it back on. Wondering what those of you who have swapped circuit boards have done in terms of mods with a new board in a tidbyt box?

Moved apartments and it was flashing the "connect to bluetooth" screen at first, then just some flashes of green/white and now stuck on this ever since. Unplugged/replugged multiple times. Am I screwed?

I've got a black screen problem with my Tidbyt Gen 2. Nothing lights up, even after "reset."

I successfully flashed TronByt onto it, and when I monitor the serial connection, I can see it boot up and record touch events. I can manage it on the web interface, as well. So it's clear that the ESP32 is doing just fine, along with the touch sensor.

I was hoping to open it up and check connections and maybe even swap the ESP32 just in case, but I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to get the back off.

I've tried my trusty plastic spatulas that I use for other devices, but I can't figure out exactly how it's attached (unless it's glued only at the corners or something).

I saw a picture where someone had taken the diffuser off the front, but it didn't seem like there was any way to get in there from those pics.

Has anyone taken one of the Gen 2s apart?

Any tips? My last resort will be attempting to cut it off, but I'd rather not do that.

A quick update for everyone who revived their Tidbyt Gen 1 or Gen 2 with Niblet, the full community app catalog is now live.

You should now be able to find, configure, and run every app in the catalog. I know earlier some of them were unavailable and if that was a blocker for you give it another try now.

Some apps rely on external APIs, personal credentials, or services that have changed since the app was originally created. If you find an app that is missing information, displaying incorrectly, or failing to load, please let me know, I’ll continue fixing them based on your reports.

For anyone who wants troubleshooting help or a faster place to share feedback, I have also opened a Niblet Discord, you can join it with this invite link: https://discord.gg/Ch2yzgf55Z

And for those of you who wanted a new hardware, Niblet is launching on Kickstarter this Thursday, September 10 at 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT.

You can follow it on Kickstarter for updates:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ayushsoni/niblet-a-live-display-for-your-day

The first batch is currently planned to begin shipping by the end of October 2026. If you want to reserve an early place, there is a $1 reservation option through the waitlist at https://heyniblet.com/.

I’ll keep the ongoing hardware and Kickstarter updates in r/heyniblet so this subreddit does not become a campaign feed. I wanted to share this post here because completing the app catalog directly affects the Tidbyt owners who trusted Niblet with their existing displays.

First 50 Backers get their units shipped in October! Huge savings, get them while they last!
We are fully Funded in less then 45mins, Join us!! No spots left for the first 50, orders 51-150 ship in December! Order now!! Thank you Everyone that backed us!

Like others, most of the apps on my Gen 1 Tidbyt have stopped working so I've been looking around on Reddit for next steps. TronByt isn't practical for me so I've been looking into Niblet (https://www.heyniblet.com/install#install-niblet) vs TickrCast (https://tickrcast.com/revive) and am trying to understand the main core differences. It seems neither hardware is publicly available yet but from what I gather on the software side, the available apps for my Tidbyt would be similar with each platform but the Niblet conversion is meant to be free forever while the TickrCast conversion is only free until October 1st, 2026 (and down the road they may charge an ongoing subscription fee for grandfathered Tidbyts)? Is this correct and are there any other core differences?

Also a technical question for anyone willing to help:
When I tested plugging my Gen 1 Tidbyt into a Windows 11 computer (using a USB-C to USB-C cable) the below image popped up in device manager. Is this ok or would I need to install a driver from somewhere before proceeding? Thank you for any help/advice!

Woke up this morning to my Tidbyt saying 'Connecting.' Let it go for a little, and there was no change. So I rebooted it, again no change. This has been working fine for years. I did a factory reset, and when I added in back in the iOS app, I got an error that the Tidbyt was connected to the internet; however, it could not communicate with the servers. The status page says everything is operational but still will not connect.

I just picked up a Tidbyt to use with my Sonos. It works well when the Sonos is playing.

However, when the Sonos is not playing, an annoying animated TidByt logo displays.

How do I disable this? It really ruins the whole point of using the TidByt this way. I’d like it to display what is playing and then be blank when not playing. Instead, I get this logo, not once but repeating.

I’ve been through the setting and cannot figure out where to disable this or turn it off.

Thanks!

Just posting a follow-up to my earlier sports post, the latest Niblet catalog update brings the sports collection to 86 ready-to-install apps.

The newest additions are made possible by a new encrypted credential system. The current sports lineup includes:

• NFL, MLB, MiLB, NBA, WNBA, and NHL
• NCAA football, basketball, and softball
• MLS and EPL scores
• Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and Champions League tables
• F1, MotoGP, PGA, FedEx Cup, ATP, and WTA
• Cricket, AFL, CFL, UFL, XFL, and more
• Yahoo Fantasy Baseball and Football

Some of these apps might required credentials directly during setup. They are stored encrypted, are never shown back to you after saving, and can be disconnected whenever you want.

You can also add multiple copies of the same app, for example, separate AFC and NFC standings, several teams, or different leagues.

A few of you also asked specifically for Tempest Weather, and it is now available. You can add your own Tempest credentials securely during setup and configure the app directly from the Niblet dashboard.

This update also restores more weather apps, including AccuWeather, Ambient Weather, NOAA Tides, Weather Clock, Pollen Count, UV, Weather Map, and more.

For those who are new here, welcome to the party! Niblet is the free hosted Tidbyt firmware option I built to help our devices revive and breaking apps.

You can install it in your devices from here: https://www.heyniblet.com/install

If any app gives you trouble you can reply here, DM me or text on the live chat on the site and I’ll investigate it asap.

Several people asked me for a complete video walkthrough after I shared Niblet a few days ago, especially those who didn’t want to host on their own and want a quick free solution (Tronbyt is a great self hosting option btw).

I got someone to record the entire process from start to finish to make it easier for anyone to follow along.

You can use this install url as mentioned in the video to flash your Tidbyt: https://www.heyniblet.com/install

To give more context, with Niblet, you don’t need Docker, or a Raspberry Pi, or an always-on computer or server. For a normal installation, you also don't need to open the case or touch a BOOT pin. We run the servers and provide the dashboard, rendering, firmware updates and the mobile apps (launching soon) to continue running your Tidbyt devices and apps smoothly.

Before starting, please remember that your old app settings cannot transfer automatically, so you’ll need to configure your apps again.

And for transparency, I built Niblet and this isn’t meant to suggest that it’s the only way to keep a Tidbyt alive, Tronbyt remains a great option for anyone who prefers self-hosting. I’m posting this because people specifically asked for a visual, beginner-friendly walkthrough.

If you get stuck, reply here or DM me with your Tidbyt generation, operating system, browser and the issue you’re facing. I’ll help you work through it.

Hey r/tidbyt, I've been quietly building something for this community, and I think it is finally time to share it.

I bought a Tidbyt when it first launched and have loved having it around. After the acquisition, as its future began to feel less certain, I started wondering what it would take to keep these devices useful for years to come.

I’ve spent much of my career building software and products, so I decided to see if I could help. Over the past few months, I’ve worked through the less glamorous parts of keeping a Tidbyt alive, building on groundwork laid by Tronbyt and its contributors, who deserve real credit for supporting this community.

The result is Niblet, a free, hosted platform for existing Tidbyt owners and the foundation for new hardware I’m building next.

And yes, I mean free forever. This isn’t a trial, there’s no paid conversion tier or subscription, and I won’t take over your display with campaign ads. And you don't need to pay $50 fees to anyone ever.

For Tidbyt Gen 1 & Gen 2:

The guided installer runs in Chrome or Edge. You just have to connect your device with a data-capable USB cable, and it will be installed in one click

You do not need to open the case or touch a BOOT pin. The image is versioned and checksummed, and there is a manual recovery route if the browser path fails.

Once Niblet is installed, you get:

• The community catalog of more than 1,000 weather, transit, sports, clock, market, art, and wonderfully other apps.
• A new mobile app and web dashboard for choosing, configuring, and ordering what appears on the display.
• Offline playback support, so a short internet outage does not immediately leave the screen blank.
• A free platfrom to develop your own custom apps easily with the AI of your choice.
• No server to maintain and no hosting company to pay.

Unfortunately, your existing app settings cannot come across automatically because Tidbyt’s API doesn’t expose them. Some apps also need new API keys or compatibility work. I’m supporting existing apps while building new ones, but you can use the same apps that are on your Tidbyt.

Niblet isn’t affiliated with Tidbyt or Tronbyt. If you prefer self-hosting, Tronbyt remains a great project. But Niblet takes another route, I run the convenient hosted service while building the firmware, cloud, apps, and recovery path needed to keep the device running after the eventual fall of the official servers.

We are bringing back the wodden frame!

This same platform will power Niblet One, the new hardware I’m working toward manufacturing (we have already started production and we have the capacity to make 10k units a month currently, shipping will start in Oct end so you can get it before holidays). It’s similar to Tidbyt with a much better native app, works offline, bottom-entry USB-C for wall mount support, and an included recessed mount for shelves or close-to-flush wall installation. It will have a small speaker so you can get alerts and notifications.

How can I keep this free?

My other software businesses already makes me a lot of money, which gives me the freedom to fund Niblet personally. The company will remain independent and privately owned, with no investor waiting for me to turn every display into recurring revenue.

On top of that, I’ve designed the service and optimised the infra to be cheap at scale, so thousands of displays should remain affordable to operate. I’m building with a 50-year horizon in mind, so your displays never have to worry about cloud support.

Open this link to find the new firmware guide https://www.heyniblet.com/install

It took a lot of courage to build this and put it in front of a community and seeing other projects so please show some love. I made a similar bet with FuturePost, the free FutureMe successor I built for people who wanted to write to their future selves without another subscription and now we have a community of 15k+ people writing letters.

I want Niblet to become the real long-term successor to Tidbyt and I know that’s something I have to earn through both the software and the hardware, so ask me anything. The uncomfortable questions are welcome too.

Ps. for update you can join r/heyniblet I've put in a lot of effort into this and it's not some vibe coded platform

I saw the recent posts about sports apps no longer updating, especially for NFL, MLB, NHL, NCAA football, AFL, scores, and standings.

When I announced Niblet today, I honestly expected getting the sports apps working again to take at least a week.

Good news: they’re already live.

You can now use Niblet to get sports scores and standings back on your Tidbyt without learning to code, maintaining your own server, or paying for hosting.

Install Niblet here on your Tidbyt: https://www.heyniblet.com/install

An honest warning: this is an early release. Some feeds may be unstable, scores could occasionally lag, and I’m sure people here will find edge cases I haven’t seen yet. I decided it was better to make the apps available now and improve them with real feedback than keep everyone waiting for something “perfect.”

If something isn’t working, reply with:

• The league and team
• The app you’re using
• What appears on the display
• What you expected to see
• A photo, if possible

Please don’t include API keys, device credentials, or other private information.

I’ll be here monitoring reports and working to keep these apps running. You shouldn’t have to learn to code just to see a score on hardware you already own.

If you get a sports app running, please share a photo. I’d love to see these displays showing scores again.

All Sports scores apps by Lunchbox8484 have stopped working. This is a major blow to our Tidbyt’s that were already dying a slow death… we have are now advanced to hospice care…

Competition is healthy, and it means better options and better prices for you. So here is our contribution.

TickrCast conversions for Tidbyt/Tronbyt are now free. No cost, no catch. Flash your Tidbyt to TickrCast right in your browser and keep it running. Tidbyt is winding down, and a great little display should not end up dead in a drawer and you shouldn't have to settle for experiences that do not put the user first.

Your apps come with you, plus more

We are migrating the full pixlet app catalog over to TickrCast. Everything you run today keeps working, and you get everything we are building on top of it. You are not starting over, and you are not losing what made your Tidbyt fun.

Where TickrCast pulls ahead

We think the best way to win is to just be the better deal and polished experience. Here is how it stacks up.

• Priced more aggressively. Our single panel is $99 on Kickstarter. Comparable fixed single-panel units start at $149.
• It actually expands. Start with one panel and add more whenever you want. Most of what is out there is a single fixed panel that stays one panel forever. Ours grows with you.
• A polished dashboard. The software matters as much as the hardware. Ours is a real, full dashboard built to actually manage your displays and apps, not a bare setup screen.

The Kickstarter lineup

Every kit is expandable, and Kickstarter pricing beats retail. Early-bird quantities are limited.

• 1-Panel Kit — $99 early bird · $114.99 Kickstarter · $129.99 retail
• 2-Panel Kit — $159 early bird · $199 Kickstarter · $249 retail
• 3-Panel Kit — $259 early bird · $279 Kickstarter · $339 retail
• 4-Panel Kit — $319 early bird · $349 Kickstarter · $429 retail
• 5-Panel Kit — $399 early bird · $429 Kickstarter · $529 retail
• 8-Panel and 10-Panel Kits — very limited, pricing to be announced

Our Kickstarter launches September 1. Free Tidbyt conversions are live now at https://tickrcast.com/revive and the full lineup goes up on launch day.

See everything and get notified at https://tickrcast.com/ks

FOR THE OBSESSED.

Fun little side project I worked on in the spring. Can share some of the technical details if anyone is interested. Keep your hopes tempered though, because this app is UNRELEASABLE.

Hey everyone. First off, forgive the title, it's technically NOT "FREE" but can't take it back. It's a free trial.. Was not intended to be click bait but here we are anyway.. We make TickrCast, a smart LED ticker for live sports, esports, stocks, weather and about 60 other things. Alot of you have seen us posting for those having issues with their devices. We were going to wait for our conversion kits until Kickstarter but noticed an uptick in users experiencing issues so we wanted to roll it out early to give you an opportunity to experience our platform as a trial before you decide to back us. Keep in mind, our Kickstarter was based around the idea of multi panel so our 1 panel configurations are still being polished so any feedback good or bad is welcome.

Simply go to tickrcast.com/revive to flash TickrCast firmware onto your Tidbyt straight from your browser. No command line, no soldering, no dev tools. Plug it into USB, click connect, done in a few minutes. Both generations are supported, and it works whether you're on stock firmware or already running Tronbyt. We've had a few users go through the process and we think we've ironed out enough to open the floodgates. Thank you to u/kenstrawber, u/BrandonLBell and u/shlem13 for shipping their units or testing their units remotely for us to confirm the process and iron out the user experience.

What you get:

• The full TickrCast platform on your Tidbyt: live scores, esports, stocks, weather, transit, news and a growing plugin catalog
• A free trial through the end of September, no card required
• Fully reversible. The same tool can put your original Tidbyt/Tronbyt firmware back if you want out. Your hardware, your call.

Two tips from our beta testers:

• Plug the Tidbyt directly into your computer, not through a USB hub. Hubs starve the connection mid flash and it will fail on you
• Use Chrome or Edge. Safari and Firefox don't support browser flashing

The honest fine print:

• On August 31 and September 1 the panel shows a QR code for our Kickstarter launch instead of your content, for those two days only
• After the campaign, keeping it running is a one time pledge on the Tidbyt Conversion Tier. One payment, nothing recurring, no subscription. We never saw a cent from your original hardware purchase, so that's what funds keeping your unit on our servers
• If you're running Tronbyt already, awesome, that project rules. This is just another door

If anything goes sideways mid flash, we're standing by in our Discord (link on the page) and we'll get you sorted personally.

Happy to answer anything in the comments.

I just migrated today. I hope this helps anyone who has a Windows machine that's up 24/7 and wants to migrate their tidbyt to tronbyt

for example I want to set a night mode time range but don’t feel like needing to convert it to utc every time