Xiaomi launches the InkPalm 5 mini e-reader for 599 yuan (~$91)

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by treo

8.40.0.100

It looks fine for me, you can take a look at the video in the attachment.

That’s fun! (Though it might not be so great at higher words per minute)

The current version is 8.42.0.100, BTW.

Wonder why Kindle app is not indicating Audible enabled books. Maybe it is taking some time to synch your library fully. You might try the Sync option in MORE menu.

Also wondering what it takes for Amazon Appstore to know this device is ‘compatible’.

[philips]

Has anyone found a reasonable case for this device that can be purchased easily in the US? I realize CECT Shop added a TPU case but doing $12 delivery on a $12 case seems silly.

My main concern is how slippery it is- I don’t want it spilling out of my pocket.

[LucyOne]

Originally Posted by philips

Has anyone found a reasonable case for this device that can be purchased easily in the US? I realize CECT Shop added a TPU case but doing $12 delivery on a $12 case seems silly.

My main concern is how slippery it is- I don’t want it spilling out of my pocket.

I'd use a strap like this with an adjustable metal buckle:
AliExpress

To protect the screen you could always use a cloth pouch or something like that. Those should be available for mobile phones.

[qwerty12]

I switched from F-Droid Classic to Foxy Droid. The former is great but its scrolling performance when listing lots of applications wasn't good.
Foxy Droid is smoother to use, even with the IzzyOnDroid repo added. It seems to load apps' icons on demand, which happens to benefit RAM-starved devices. FD's ActionBar was dark themed and not showing up properly on the inkPalm.
I changed the colours to look more normal on the inkPalm; you can find the built APK here if interested. As the changes are trivial, you may consider applying them yourself to the original FD APK with Apktool.

I used Foxy Droid to install Aurora Store, from which I then installed the latest Moon+ Reader Pro after signing into my Google account. I don't know if it's too early to tell, but Moon+ Reader Pro doesn't seem to need Google Play Services installed. (If only root was a possibility so microG could be installed )
Aurora Store works great on the inkPalm, you just need to grant it the ability to install applications from the Android Settings application (Apps & notifications -> Special app access -> Install unknown apps).

MoreLocale 2 works to set the inkPalm's device language into English (United Kingdom) (and maybe others too) with the following caveats:

• the only noticeable difference to me between en_GB and en_US is that the am/pm is in lower case on the former...
• the dark theme of the application makes it impossible to see the language list. I used scrcpy(-mirrored) to press the Custom Locale button and fill in en for Language and GB for Country myself
• when the locale is changed, you must go back into the Android language settings (use my launcher or the guides for the adb command) and make sure English (United States) is the second language. Otherwise after rebooting, the inkPalm will reset your language changes and run through a factory test (in Chinese)...

Anyway.

There's a new minor release of the launcher which lets you change the system-wide setting of automatic screen refreshes after 𝑥 page turns:


It can be accessed by tapping-and-holding the Settings icon. As far as I know (and I hope this is the case or I wasted time for nothing ), that setting can't be changed anywhere else on the inkPalm 5 across its three settings applications. The original setting is in the Device Settings section of the Moann Settings application which always crashes (the application was made for MiReaders and makes wrong assumptions on other devices). The other settings that section exposes can be changed elsewhere.

[qwerty12]

Originally Posted by qwerty12

(If only root was a possibility[...]

Well, I should never say never



https://github.com/qwerty12/inkPalm-5-EPD105-root

[philips]

Originally Posted by qwerty12

Well, I should never say never

I'll try and write a guide in a few days' time...

Nice work! I look forward to the guide.

[qwerty12]

Originally Posted by philips

Nice work! I look forward to the guide.

Thanks! As promised.

---

Since I'm posting, there have been updates to the launcher: https://github.com/qwerty12/E-Ink-La.../tag/0.1.9.2.5

The biggest fix is that the inkPalm won't turn on the Wi-Fi again if you turned it off with the launcher. This is fix terrible code from the Moann team with their silly modifications to Android. Unfortunately, fixing this does requires running adb shell pm grant com.moan.moanwm android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS over ADB once. If you notice nothing wrong with the current behaviour, ignore this and move on.

[rowe]

I'm quite pleased with case that's now on Cect. It's nicer to hold, and doesn't add much weight/bulk.

I also bought 5 more screen protectors from them. They seem the same as the original. I managed to get one on with no bubbles at the 3rd attempt. The pic above is in very bright sunlight.

https://www.cect-shop.com/en/xiaomi-...iive-case.html
https://www.cect-shop.com/en/xiaomi-...protector.html

[michel24]

I found a solution to remove the dust from the protector :
Take 2 post-its,
Put them back to back, shifted 5mm one from the other, their sticky parts also back to back.
Fold this resting 5mm wide band of the sticky border of one post-it, and stick it to the sticky part of the other post-it.
You should end up with a double sided post-it. Like a double sided tape, but with post-its.

Then pull the protector up, slide the post-it between the screen and the protector, press, and this should remove the dust

My protector was messed up with a lot of dusts, and I could totally clean it. It takes time though.

Don't hesitate if it's not clear (this description was hard to write )

[michel24]

Small question: how is the battery usage for you?

I didn't make a full test, so i may very well be wrong, but it looks like I can use okreader 10 hours (during one week), and that's all (with wifi off)

Do you have the same?
Do you think it's acceptable for an ebook reader?

thanks

[rowe]

I use mine for a couple of hours a day. No WiFi/Bluetooth but light on low all the time.

I charge it about every 3 days when it dips below 50%.

I’m fine with that, as one of the reasons it’s so small and light is a small battery.

[treo]

Just added a wireless charging to my InkPalm.
It’s super thin and charging fine for now.

From 50% to about 100% in 1 hour.

So, can recommend it - Baseus 1000 mA Usb-C.

Added bonus - it’s micro fiber and it gives nice grip

[treo]

My InkPalm screen is turning on when plug in for charging and when plug out…

Any ideas how to keep it off?

[Quoth]

That's an annoying Android feature. I've never seen an overide (Android stuff from V2.x to 8.x). You have to hit the power / sleep again when connecting or disconnecting and every time there is a supply glitch. There is sometimes an override to stop screen going off when external power, which is useful, but not a solution to this stupid feature. It would be fine if it was an option.

[michel24]

Does someone know if it's possible to put the whole device in landscape mode?

In the pocket app, web view doesn't allow to change font size, and it is too small. Putting the android in landscape mode would be a solution, since the pocket app itself doesn't have a landscape mode.

Thanks