cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/49429587
URL for the crowdfunding: https://www.crowdsupply.com/oddly-specific-objects/open-book-touch
Specs:
- Display: 4.26" e-paper touchscreen, 480 × 800 px, warm + cool frontlight
- Processor: ESP32-S3 dual-core, Wi-Fi + Bluetooth LE
- Memory: 16 MB flash, 8 MB PSRAM
- Formats: EPUB and plain text, no DRM
- Storage: microSD card slot
- Interface: USB-C with integrated LiPo charging
- Dimension: 78 × 120 × 10 mm, about 85 g
- Open source: MIT-licensed firmware, open hardware (to be released at shipping)
It also has a replaceable 800 mAh battery, I found it cool :)
Why buttonless? I like buttons.
Heck, a scroll wheel would be a killer feature so I don’t smudge the screen with my disgusting oils
My Kobo only has a power button and it’s perfect for my needs.
My kobo has a power button, and two page turn buttons and its perfect for my needs.
Seriously, I have 4 (5 if you count the ancient kindle DX) ereaders, and the kobo is the only one I use. Will never again buy one without buttons
It’s not that hard to tap the screen to turn a page lmao
Hard, no. Uncomfortable, yes.
I’m really not looking to move my fingers much when I read. What am I supposed to do, rest my finger on the display so I can turn the page and skip 15 words per page?
I prefer physical media, but I appreciate the utility of ereaders. I, too, would prefer buttons if I used an ereader with any frequency; I still lament the disappearance of them from my phone!
However, in case this is a problem you really need fixed: my wife is an avid ereader user. She didn’t like the page turning for many of the reasons you listed, so she bought a ring that has Bluetooth and a singular button. The ring connects to your reader, then when you press the button, simulates a click or screen tap. You get the page turning experience it sounds like you want and, after setup, the only thing you need to physically exert at all is your thumb.
edit: Fixed an embarrassing number of typos.
You’ve never read a real book in your life?? You do that every time you turn a real page. Quit being a baby.
At that point, why not just read a real book??
My whole reason for using an ereader is to eliminate the parts of reading physical books that annoys me, why would I buy a subpar reader that makes me do or simulates doing the actions I want to avoid?
Quit being a baby.
Quit acting like a child that thinks everyone should think the way you do.
Don’t know what you gain by calling names.
Different people have different likes. Its really not a hard concept. Have a fine day 👋
You make it sound as if moving your finger a few millimeters to tap on the screen then back to the frame is as exhausting as running a marathon. My touchscreen reader is 13 years old and I never even thought about this process.
No, I didn’t say exhausting, I said uncomfortable. I bought my first ereader in 2009, and a lot of then in the meantime, I had devices with only buttons, only toucscreen, and both.
Using buttons for page turns is the most comfortable for me. I do appreciate a touchscreen to configure the device, select books, etc.
But I want buttons. Without buttons I always do the wrong gesture.
I read on a kindle on my bed before going to sleep, and everytime I stretch or turn over the font size changes or it advances a couple of pages. It’s slowly driving me insane.
Buttonless ? Fuck that 😅 I want at least a home button and page turning buttons…
Yeah I’ve got a buttonless reader that I got as a gift and I’m thankful to have it but it sucks. Give me buttons.
Especially as it gets older and slower now I’ll give it swipe or tap and wonder, did it register and it’s just taking a while…? should I try again? five more times?? oh you’ve really got to let your finger linger I guess? no? huh that worked last t–oh! It’s going! Oh shoot this is way too far… so now I just have to swipe… back…, -_-
brushes against the screen “What the hell did I just hit? Where is my screen?”
taps against the spot 50 times “Respond!!”
so… a used kobo??
That screen is absolutely tiny.
I guess there is a decent market for small readers, but man I’ve gotten so used to reading on my 10" boox tablet that reading on a standard 6" kindle makes my brain hurt, probably couldn’t manage on a 4".
I wouldn’t mind if my phone was 4,2" but I want a bigger screen for reading books. Like the size of A5 or even A4 paper.
In the great debate of buttons be no buttons, please keep in mind that it was likely a decision about components. Just a screen makes it far cheaper and easier to manufacture.
I do agree, buttons or GTFO, but understand why there might not be any.
There is this as well which is cheaper and uses RISC-V instead
https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4
Both look like great options though.
What’s wrong with Kobo?
One never knows. Better to have alternatives today than to hope nothing goes downhill in the future.
Nothing. I love my Kobo, I take it everywhere and it has a literal zero amount of enshittification. You can set it to sideloaded mode by connecting it to your PC which totally hides the store and Kobo’s online features. I manage my books in Calibre.
If you’re honestly asking, one thing I just read is that you need an account to use it. Not sure if that is a downside for many.
I wish people like you would have actual understanding of the things you talk about so confidently online. You’re just posting disinformation and you’re absolutely wrong.
Kobo does not need any account to use. Out of the popular mainstream eReaders, it is one of the most open. You can add non-drm ebooks to it without any issues unlike the Kindle.
I’ve been using send.djazz.se to wirelessly transfer books to my Kobo, as well as the open source Calibre program on my laptop.
No accounts required.
Woah hold on. You can wirelessly transfer books to your Kobo?
This man’s ignorance may have lead to my enlightenment.
Damn I need to look into this now. That’s like the worst part. I already stream everything else from my NaS
You’re welcome. Cunningham’s Law is proven to work flawlessly again.
Yep go to that url on your Kobo’s browser and then on your computer or phone and upload a file and click “kepubify” so that it converts to an epub and then send.
“I just read this” in a review of someone very upset about requiring an account, while the signup server was offline over Christmas. I’m very sorry I came off so “confidently”, I thought writing “I read this” is a reasonable indication that this is second hand knowledge not first hand. Hearsay in a court of public opinion you could say. I guess this confidence is just my natural charisma which is my undoing again lol
It might also be that this is only true for the regional distributor in my country. I suspect my country is the original inventor of enshittification.
No you don’t. I’ve used mine without for the better part of a year.
There are ways to skip logging-in, as I did it on my Kobo.
You do?
I reset one recently, I would have thought that the account would have been reset like the rest. Anyway it works fine with my calibre archive.
Lots of people complaining about buttons, but most people are fine without them.
This thing will fail because of the tiny screen, not because of the lack of buttons.
Sad choice.
I doubt the screen size is an issue for most. The Xteink X4 is about 4 inch and is flying off the shelves right now
Fair, it is selling very well now. But strong sales after a viral release doesn’t neccisarrily mean a market norm. Could be an interesting market trend if it starts a shift to smaller, though.
Hi, if you don’t mind sharing; What do you feel is the conversion feature from kindle? I am developing on a platform with novels and want to develop user centric features; I have feature where you get assisted highlighting of words with auto scroll so you can “follow the word” and read.
I have the architectural design in place to incorporate tts for example but would love feedback from the reading communities
Conversion feature being?
Anything that converts a guest to a user due to the offering / features
At least it still raises public awareness about the problems with this tech generally being closed-source, and paves the way for an eventually successful open-source product over the years to come!
I flashed my Kobo and have a pretty similar experience now. Except with a decent size screen.
I’ve had a Kobo Clara BW for about 2 years. I use it almost every day and I love it. I think it was about $140 when I bought it. They go for $160 now, but I think the bigger screen makes it a better buy than this e-reader. I love crowd-funded projects, but Kobo is a better option, imho.
What did you flash on your Kobo?
I’ve heard good things about the xtink stuff, and they have buttons.
I have the xteink X4, and I adore it. Open source firmware you flash onto it yourself (crosspoint), based on esp32, much cheaper than this thing. Tiny device fitting easily into your pocket and so it goes with me everywhere and I use it all the time. Big recommend.
If they are targeting the tiny ebook reader niche, they’re going to have to do better on features and pricing than the upcoming refresh of the XTEINK devices.
But XTEINK is actively working to combat the flashing of open source software. It seems they had a spike in sales and interest due to their affordable hardware, but if they continue to lock aftermaket software out tech savvy people will be looking for different options.
Update: I just saw that CrossPoint has has an affiliate link, and that if you buy the reader direct from the manufacture you can still get unlocked USB devices. It’s only on the international stores like AliExpress that you may get a crippled version. https://github.com/crosspoint-reader/crosspoint-reader
Do you have a link to an article or something about that?
I was interested in them but all the listings on AliExpress expressly said they didn’t support custom firmware. I started looking into it and it seems to be something theu did after they got popular.
Here’s some info, but a lot of it is scattered around online communities: https://pocketink.io/blog/xteink-locked-or-unlocked-buying-guide/
Thanks! I bought one months ago and flashed crosspoint at the time.
But nice that you can still flash them via SD card even if they are USB locked. I guess it would be difficult to fully lock them given they just run an ESP32
Update: I just saw that CrossPoint has has an affiliate link, and that if you buy the reader direct from the manufacture you can still get unlocked USB devices. It’s only on the international stores like AliExpress that you may get a crippled version. https://github.com/crosspoint-reader/crosspoint-reader
1 cm seems pretty thick for something you’ll spend a lot of time holding, too.
I am somehow keeping faith that the PineNote will emerge from early adoption to a fully usable e-reader and e-note device before I pass to the shadow realm. I’m sure my grandchildren will see the day.
Why did I read that as 150 buttholes?
