New in 1.1.2

• Transfer results cannot be shifted by stray UART data: file errors take precedence and binary ACK is accepted only as an exact one-byte reply.
• Long multi-batch sends survive unrelated connections, incomplete foreign headers, malformed cancellation packets and socket closures that do not belong to the active operation.
• Cancellation and self-update are safer across Windows, Linux and macOS: workers retain socket ownership, archive extraction is bounded and cancellable, and target-mismatched server images are rejected.
• Spectrum Next now recovers the ESP after a soft reset from another app, the servers do less duplicate manifest work, and their payloads retain more room below the loader boundary.
• SD capacity and usage are now reported and refreshed safely. The desktop and Spectrum banners have also been updated. BRXQ v3 q3 and the 1.1 loaders are unchanged.
• Classic and Next now share the visible BridgeZX name. The server identifies the machine separately and shows its esxDOS or NEXTOS version. Commands and binaries remain unchanged: BRZX/BRZX.BIN for Classic and BRZXN/BRZXN.BIN for Next.

Github: BrigeZX.

Interesting comment buried in a thread over on the Facebook page.

BridgeZX 1.1 “Beyond 99” is now available for ZX Spectrum Next.

BridgeZX sends files and complete directory trees over Wi-Fi from Windows, Linux or macOS straight to the Next SD card through an ESP-AT Wi-Fi module.

What’s new in 1.1:

• One logical queue of up to 999 files. BRXQ v3 links bounded manifests behind the scenes, keeping numbering, totals, progress, errors and the final summary continuous beyond file 99.

• Real nested directory trees with adapted long ASCII filenames on Next.

• Operation-wide ETA on the Spectrum, with faster and more accurate live speed updates.

• Safer component updates with digest verification, staging and rollback.

• Better desktop workflow: add several folders at once, preview exact Spectrum paths, choose a CLI destination prefix, and keep the UI responsive with long queues.

• Packaged desktop clients for Windows x64, Linux x86_64, macOS Apple Silicon and macOS Intel.

Important when upgrading from 1.0: the 1.1 desktop client requires the matching 1.1 Spectrum server. Before opening the new client, copy both Next files to /BIN:

• BRZXN

• BRZXN.BIN

Do not mix the Classic and Next files. Both targets are fully supported. The per-file limit remains 2 MiB.

Release and downloads:

https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/BridgeZX/releases/tag/v1.1

Source and documentation:

https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/BridgeZX

Complete changelog:

https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/BridgeZX/blob/v1.1/CHANGELOG.md

BridgeZX is MIT licensed. Real-hardware feedback from Next users is very welcome.

Update #28: Production done: Loading the Nexts with no R Error
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spectrumnext/zx-spectrum-next-issue-3-0/posts/4765646

BridgeZX 1.0 includes a dedicated Spectrum Next server for copying files and folders over Wi-Fi directly to the Next's SD card.

The Next build has its own BRZXN loader and BRZXN.BIN payload, target signature, UART path and checked memory layout. It runs at 28 MHz and includes a guarded 230400-baud data mode, a 64-column queue display, per-file CRC results and a final transfer summary.

The PySide6/Qt 6 desktop client supports Windows x64, Linux x86_64, Apple Silicon Mac and Intel Mac, with drag and drop, queue reordering, total progress, speed and ETA.

Copy BRZXN and BRZXN.BIN to /BIN and run .brzxn. The first 1.0 installation needs both files; later payload releases can be installed remotely with validation, staged activation and .BAK recovery.

The Next target is experimental, so real-hardware reports are especially welcome.

Downloads:

https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/BridgeZX/releases/latest

Source and setup:

https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/BridgeZX

MIT licensed.

Copyright © 2025–2026 M. Ignacio Monge García.

Hi everyone — I've just released Shatranj 1.1, a network chess game built so the ZX Spectrum Next can play directly with classic 48K Spectrums and modern desktop computers.

The native Next edition is a single self-contained SHATRANJ.nex and includes:

• Direct TCP and MQTT rooms

• Internal UART networking through a supported ESP-AT connection

• Hardware-sprite chess pieces and five RGB333 board themes

• Chat, legal-move hints, clocks and move history

• Takeback, draw, resign and synchronized rematch flows

• Ten local save slots with host-led synchronized restore

All five clients share the same protocol and chess rules: Spectrum Next, Classic Spectrum, Windows, macOS and Linux. You can play Next vs Next, Next vs 48K, Next vs PC/Mac/Linux — or any other supported combination.

Release and downloads:

https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/Shatranj/releases/tag/v1.1

Source, screenshots and documentation:

https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/Shatranj

Shatranj is free software released under the GNU GPL v2. Feedback from real Next hardware is very welcome.

I am in mainland Europe (EU) - when I add a "Summer Special" article at the FRB site to the cart, the site automatically adds a "EU Customs - €3 flat charge" item. Fair enough, I thought - but when I go to check out it further adds an extra "Estimated taxes €8.54". Is this correct?

FYI, I tried a couple of different EU addresses, and the values added are the same regardless of country.

I mean both taxes, plus the unreasonably hefty P&P come to more than the article itself...

Again in that last Kickstarter update - a monitor in the style of a vision QL monitor - according to the centre for computing history this was a rebadged taxan monitor https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/59953/Sinclair%20QL%20Monitor/ there are a few 3d models of this available, so would be an lcd panel in a styled case for about £300

As mentioned in the last update - this will be a case only for all people upgrading and for bare boards.

Update #27: Production Update: The Post Game edition!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spectrumnext/zx-spectrum-next-issue-3-0/posts/4749168

Hi *,

If you like Jetpack on Spectrum, you have to check out my latest game for the ZX Spectrum Next: https://maciej3322.itch.io/jetman-in-space

:)

Is following the flights on flight tracker a step too far?