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 :)
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!!”
Buttonless ? Fuck that 😅 I want at least a home button and page turning buttons…
so… a used kobo??
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.
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 paved the way for an eventually successful open-source product over the years to come!
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.
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.
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.
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.
I have an German Tolino nice system
I use a Kobo app on my phone. E-Ink would be nicer, but I am going to have the phone with me anyway.
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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
Buttons and scroll wheels cost more than touchscreens at this point… 90s me wanted touchscreens on everything, and me since maybe 2015? has been firmly “bring back buttons”
…whenever they started replacing useful things that SHOILD be buttons always (car) with touch things. Absolutely not bueno.
The cheapest Pockeboot model always had buttons (and touch screen). The more expensive ones are always touch screen only. I never got it. Buttons are a nice feature, why remove them in higher end models?
Buttons and scroll wheels cost more than touchscreens at this point…
It’s not that they cost MORE, they can be sub-cent per unit if you buy enough of them:
Of course they cost MORE than putting all their functions on a tiny touch screen that’s already gonna be on the device!
Beyond manufacturing the device to be able to use separate physical moving pieces, you’ve also got costs supporting pieces that break in warranty, units damaged in shipping due to moving parts being tossed around, etc.
For just the part yes. Board design, programming, and manufacture costs increase with more components.
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 👋
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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.
Why is “buttonless” being said like a good thing?
It’s a fact? It has no buttons. God or bad
Yes, but my point was that it was stated in a way like a feature being touted as opposed just a statement of fact, Maybe my impression was wrong, but “buttonless” immediately put me off from the device.
Might be listed as a warning for those of us that prefer button interfaces
Because buttons take space, reducing space available for the screen that has, well, the book.
The good sensor is the answer, IMO. I only wonder how should it turn on and off, then.
Having a space with no display where I can actually hold the reader makes it so much better, for me
Buttons can go on the side or back…
Sure. But would that be convenient?
I hold nothing against buttons if people really want them, but many others would just prefer a larger touchscreen, and this seems to be the target audience here.
Yes. Buttons on the sides are awesome. The Kobo libre ergonomics are fantastic even for troll-handed people like myself.
Then yeah, by all means
Hall sensor/ reed switch and it turns off when it’s idle or the case closes?
Maybe
I think it is definitely a matter of preference. I dislike touchscreens in general for user interfaces. I previous ereader used a touchscreen and swiping to turn pages and I absolutely hated it. I was glad to get back to having buttons to control pages as well as settings.
yeah I like buttons and connectors. You can put plenty without making a chunky device.
