The Raspberry Pi Foundation has just released Raspberry Pi Imager version 2.0.3. This results in a huge list of internal improvements, largely focused on the performance, reliability and security of the cross-platform utility. This update makes the process of creating images less tedious.
One of the most noticeable improvements concerns performance monitoring. Imager 2.0.3 now implements bottleneck detection and provides you with real-time updates. This is a great feature because it tells you exactly where the slowdown is happening, whether the delay is caused by your Internet connection, your computer's processor decompressing the files, or the speed of the SD card itself.
I think the biggest problem with the old thermal camera was the mystery of waiting, but now you get detailed written time breakdowns for analysis. In addition, the developers have improved support for asynchronous I/O on all platforms and implemented a way to skip periodic synchronization when direct I/O is enabled. This should significantly improve throughput, meaning your OS will be written faster.
The stability improvements are probably the most important part of this release, especially when it comes to drive control. The software can now detect fake SD cards, which usually freeze your system when you try to write data to them. This is a huge win for everyone who has struggled with cheap and unreliable microSD cards.
To prevent these endless freezes, the developers have added timeouts for high-risk tasks, especially when the tool completes the writing process at the end of the disk. If you have a problematic card that just won't work, there's even a new debugging option that allows users to skip these operations at the device end. For Windows users running advanced technologies, the update also adds support for the NVMe over Fabrics bus type.
If you're dealing with spotty Wi-Fi, new network improvements will make your life a lot easier. Imager 2.0.3 provides network monitoring on all platforms. Built-in logic for automatic return and retry in case the network connection is restored. Under the hood, the application has switched to a new networking library that handles connection errors much more gracefully.
If you're a Linux user using AppImage, you can expect better compatibility because Imager is better at finding the security certificates it needs, even on Linux distributions that store them in unusual places. For advanced users who manage their own builds of operating systems, the security and repository features are a great addition.
Imager now supports new rpi-imager:// URI scheme. This allows developers to connect directly to custom OS repositories, which is very convenient for distribution. However, convenience often comes with security risks, and the developers have handled this well. When you load a remote repository URL, Imager displays a confirmation dialog that includes a security delay.
In addition to the main functional changes, the developers have focused on numerous quality-of-life updates that make the utility much easier to use. The app now remembers your language choice across sessions, so you don't have to reset it every time you open the app. The title display is complemented by an offline status indication in the main window, which is useful when working on a computer with an intermittent connection. The user interface also benefits from improved text wrapping and improved selection pane scrolling.
This tool is also better at generating the configuration files used to configure your user account and network settings on first boot. It also improves Wi-Fi setup, particularly by addressing open networks using key_mgmt=NONE. If you use Windows, the uninstaller is now much more convenient. It successfully removes the remaining folders and registry keys of old versions that were previously left behind.
Source: Raspberry Pi
