M5Paper e-ink device for DIY

Adoby · 01-21-2021, 05:05 AM

https://m5stack.com/collections/m5-c...isplay-235-ppi

I think this is very interesting because this device combines the display and form factor of a small e-book reader with a very power efficient esp32 development kit with wifi, Bluetooth, SD card reader, battery and USB C charging.

The M5Paper doesn't come with any useful functionality, out of the box, except some demo software and examples with source code. You, as a programmer, have to program the device to do what you want it to do. Think Arduino, MicroPython and Platform.IO. And the possibilities are mind-boggling.

It may be seen as a prototyping device, but when it has been programmed it is already good-looking enough for an end-user use as it as it is. Just write the software! Not very cheap at $69. But a super cheap and fast way to create a nice looking finished custom device with these capabilities.

Sure, make an e-reader or news reading device. Or a bedside clock or stock market ticker. Mail notifier or super-pager. Advanced time management event input device. Or one-tap ordering device on the fridge. Or a custom dash/remote/controller for a smart networked home/office/farm/greenhouse/shop/factory. And possibly all of that at the same time, if you are clever enough. Or something completely different.

(No connection, except as a customer. I've bought two... )

rem736 · 01-22-2021, 06:06 PM

what language would you use to program this device?

DNSB · 01-22-2021, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rem736

what language would you use to programming this device?

If you are going to use the Arduino environment, think C/C++.

Elektron · 01-22-2021, 06:37 PM

E
p
i
c!!!

Adoby · 01-23-2021, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rem736

what language would you use to programming this device?

C/C++, as DNSB said. But there is also MicroPython and something called UIFlow.

Using UIFlow you can program by drag-and-drop of GUI elements to the display and drag-and-drop of code blocks to create functionality. Looks fun and easy, but I haven't tried it. It is based on Blockly and MicroPython and seem to have some nice functionality. Receive and send mqtt messages. Display and use an onscreen keyboard for input. Upload/download your "apps" over wifi. And more.

https://flow.m5stack.com/

murraypaul · 01-23-2021, 07:56 AM

Looks like a very cool toy to play with.

They have a UK distributor (https://www.digikey.co.uk/en/supplier-centers/m5stack), but they aren't listing this device yet.

Elektron · 01-23-2021, 11:24 AM

UIflow looks very easy for beginners, especially those with high expectations. I was wondering, can I listen to music on this with Bluetooth e arbuds?

Adoby · 01-24-2021, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elektron

UIflow looks very easy for beginners, especially those with high expectations. I was wondering, can I listen to music on this with Bluetooth e arbuds?

Sure. But you need to figure out how to do it yourself. Easiest might be to connect extra stuff to it and use that to play the music over bt. There are several connectors on it for connecting extra stuff. After all this is a dev kit. You are the limiting factor. Perhaps you even need to solder a little and code from scratch. And then the nice form factor is gone.

I think there is other kit that is better for use as a audio device with bt out.

Quoth · 01-24-2021, 08:22 AM

Raspberry Pi and one of the many add-on eink panels.

The M5panel kit is for seriously experienced developers used to working at a low level. The Raspberry Pi solutions merely require experience programming.

Neither is a good starting point if you are not an experienced programmer. Also I don't count experience building Web applications as real programming. Most of that is modifying scripts. I've done both.

hobnail · 01-25-2021, 02:00 AM

If you have your heart set on e-ink there's also this (looks like it's using python): https://github.com/aceisace/Inkycal

I was going to go that route and bought a Raspberry Pi 4 but I ended up buying a "SunFounder Raspberry Pi 7 Inch Monitor HDMI - 7 inch 1024×600 HD LCD Display Screen Built in Speaker for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B with RPi Case Holder" on Amazon for $60. (The link for it in my past orders page goes to something different.) That display is nice; the Pi mounts on the back of it. It's a full 24 bit HDMI display.

As for programming stuff, I've been dinking around with tkinter, a graphical programming library for Python based on top of the venerable tcl and tk. I've written a slide show program that randomly displays all of the images in a folder. I'm still working out the bugs for displaying animated gifs. My own homemade 7 inch picture frame.

murraypaul · 01-26-2021, 06:23 AM

Well mine is on its way. Although the UPS tracking says that it is currently in Louisville, Kentucky, and should be delivered to me in the UK before 2PM tomorrow, a pair of statements that don't appear compatible

Quoth · 01-26-2021, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Well mine is on its way. Although the UPS tracking says that it is currently in Louisville, Kentucky, and should be delivered to me in the UK before 2PM tomorrow, a pair of statements that don't appear compatible

Not impossible as it's not crossing the Channel, Kent or the Irish Sea. Direct air freight?

It does sound unlikely.

theducks · 01-26-2021, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Well mine is on its way. Although the UPS tracking says that it is currently in Louisville, Kentucky, and should be delivered to me in the UK before 2PM tomorrow, a pair of statements that don't appear compatible

Air Freight gets expedited Customs clearance. (The forms may already be at the UK customs broker). The actual time may be off (time zone differences)

Quoth · 01-26-2021, 02:25 PM

2 pm EST = 7 pm GMT?

Adoby · 01-26-2021, 03:38 PM

UIFlow (Blockly+MicroPython) is not yet supported on M5Paper. But it seems it will be. They are working on it.

01-21-2021, 05:05 AM	#1
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,737 Karma: 26785684 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra	M5Paper e-ink device for DIY https://m5stack.com/collections/m5-c...isplay-235-ppi I think this is very interesting because this device combines the display and form factor of a small e-book reader with a very power efficient esp32 development kit with wifi, Bluetooth, SD card reader, battery and USB C charging. The M5Paper doesn't come with any useful functionality, out of the box, except some demo software and examples with source code. You, as a programmer, have to program the device to do what you want it to do. Think Arduino, MicroPython and Platform.IO. And the possibilities are mind-boggling. It may be seen as a prototyping device, but when it has been programmed it is already good-looking enough for an end-user use as it as it is. Just write the software! Not very cheap at $69. But a super cheap and fast way to create a nice looking finished custom device with these capabilities. Sure, make an e-reader or news reading device. Or a bedside clock or stock market ticker. Mail notifier or super-pager. Advanced time management event input device. Or one-tap ordering device on the fridge. Or a custom dash/remote/controller for a smart networked home/office/farm/greenhouse/shop/factory. And possibly all of that at the same time, if you are clever enough. Or something completely different. (No connection, except as a customer. I've bought two... )

01-22-2021, 06:06 PM	#2
rem736 purpose priority passion Posts: 645 Karma: 9002000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: socal, usa Device: sony prs-350, b&n ngp, rM2, kindle scribe, boox poke5	what language would you use to program this device? Last edited by rem736; 01-25-2021 at 01:35 PM.

01-25-2021, 02:00 AM	#10
hobnail Running with scissors Posts: 1,586 Karma: 14328510 Join Date: Nov 2019 Device: none	If you have your heart set on e-ink there's also this (looks like it's using python): https://github.com/aceisace/Inkycal I was going to go that route and bought a Raspberry Pi 4 but I ended up buying a "SunFounder Raspberry Pi 7 Inch Monitor HDMI - 7 inch 1024×600 HD LCD Display Screen Built in Speaker for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B with RPi Case Holder" on Amazon for $60. (The link for it in my past orders page goes to something different.) That display is nice; the Pi mounts on the back of it. It's a full 24 bit HDMI display. As for programming stuff, I've been dinking around with tkinter, a graphical programming library for Python based on top of the venerable tcl and tk. I've written a slide show program that randomly displays all of the images in a folder. I'm still working out the bugs for displaying animated gifs. My own homemade 7 inch picture frame. Last edited by hobnail; 01-25-2021 at 02:04 AM.

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01-22-2021, 06:37 PM	#4
Elektron Banned Posts: 2,296 Karma: 5300240 Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Edmonton, AB Device: Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2 (mark 7), Kobo Mini	E p i c!!!

01-23-2021, 07:56 AM	#6
murraypaul Interested Bystander Posts: 3,726 Karma: 19728152 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Note 4, Kobo One	Looks like a very cool toy to play with. They have a UK distributor (https://www.digikey.co.uk/en/supplier-centers/m5stack), but they aren't listing this device yet.

01-23-2021, 11:24 AM	#7
Elektron Banned Posts: 2,296 Karma: 5300240 Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Edmonton, AB Device: Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2 (mark 7), Kobo Mini	UIflow looks very easy for beginners, especially those with high expectations. I was wondering, can I listen to music on this with Bluetooth e arbuds?

01-24-2021, 08:22 AM	#9
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,933 Karma: 103895653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Raspberry Pi and one of the many add-on eink panels. The M5panel kit is for seriously experienced developers used to working at a low level. The Raspberry Pi solutions merely require experience programming. Neither is a good starting point if you are not an experienced programmer. Also I don't count experience building Web applications as real programming. Most of that is modifying scripts. I've done both.

01-26-2021, 06:23 AM	#11
murraypaul Interested Bystander Posts: 3,726 Karma: 19728152 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Note 4, Kobo One	Well mine is on its way. Although the UPS tracking says that it is currently in Louisville, Kentucky, and should be delivered to me in the UK before 2PM tomorrow, a pair of statements that don't appear compatible

01-26-2021, 02:25 PM	#14
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,933 Karma: 103895653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	2 pm EST = 7 pm GMT?

01-26-2021, 03:38 PM	#15
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,737 Karma: 26785684 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra	UIFlow (Blockly+MicroPython) is not yet supported on M5Paper. But it seems it will be. They are working on it.

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