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

[Aki]

Originally Posted by Aki

Anyone willing to help me with how to set up this device (uninstalling the apps, installing ULauncher, etc.)? I am trying to follow the GitHub directions but can’t get adb (from the ask platform tools download) to open for some reason .

Edit: I’m able to follow all instructions on this site here (https://github.com/philips/inkpalm-5-adb-english) up until trying to install an English Launcher. Seems my device is recognized, as it responded when I tested changing the language. That’s all I could do though. I also can’t uninstall the apps for some reason. Please help.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by Aki

I also can’t uninstall the apps for some reason.

Well, you're disabling apps. You can't uninstall system apps through ADB.
Is it permission problems? Please quote what it says.

[tudoapampa]

Originally Posted by jlynton

Using koreader it is possible.

I insisted on this question because I’m still using kindle app and found it: an small app called “setorientation.apk”, installed on inkpalm and it forces landscape on all apps, very useful! Now I can read kind app on landscape

[Arconte]

Isn't just better to buy a eInk phone and have all the functionality it comes with it? Even a second hand one, being the old Yotaphone2 or any Hisense. Don't understand those really small eInk limited devices

[Extricated]

Originally Posted by qwerty12

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I just saw yesterday that even my barebones, locked-down ISP router has the option to override the DNS server addresses it hands out. I would change things there but I don't want to break anything for anybody else on the network. I was going to set the inkPalm to AdGuard's servers to make up for the inability to use AdAway on this device or run another app that sets up a VPN.

I've honestly never had an Android device before that had locked down that part. I can't for the of life me understand why... I now suddenly see the value in having a Pi-hole set up



Hey, congrats, it's a great e-reader



No. I'm not an expert in security (or networking for that matter) in the slightest. There could be innocuous explanations for everything too. Like I've said that NetGuard doesn't work, and I'm quite sure of that too. NetGuard relies on the VPN functionality of Android, and that does seem broken here - when NG was active, the device's settings still said the VPN was off and it wouldn't let me turn on the always-on setting (this works without issue on my Samsung phone and Nova 3). Since this is a device meant to be sold only in China, Xiaomi may have to intentionally prevent the VPN functionality from working. But I haven't tested any other program that uses Android's VPN functionality, like Blokada or AdGuard or Intra or DNS66.

And I do find the locked down network settings annoying, but a DNS leak test shows the device using my ISP's DNS servers so there's no privacy issue there.

I still maintain the inclusion of a microphone without a corresponding speaker is odd (I might have damaged mine in my attempts to boot this thing into FEL mode and I'm not even sad about it) but it could be just easily be a compromise to include dictaphone functionality without compromising the weight of the device.

I haven't done a proper analysis (and I'm not sure I would be able to) but according to this device's logcat, http://captive.v2ex.co/generate_204 is contacted much like connectivitycheck.gstatic.com/generate_204 etc. usually is on a "normal" Android phone to check for Wi-Fi networks where you have to sign in. iotapi.adups.com is contacted every time the Wi-Fi is connected to check for firmware updates - from what I can see, there is nothing excessive sent at all.



I've not seen any evidence of this device trying to siphon data from other devices, for what it's worth. To be honest, the only reason I would connect it to Wi-Fi in the first place is to let Moon Reader sync book positions so I can pick up on my Boox. With a gig of RAM, browsing sites isn't probably going to be a comfortable experience.

---

This device does seem to use PWM for its backlight but for the price, I guess that's no surprise:

virgo-perf1:/proc/lm3630a $ zcat /proc/config.gz | grep PWM
# CONFIG_INPUT_PWM_BEEPER is not set
# CONFIG_SENSORS_PWM_FAN is not set
# CONFIG_REGULATOR_PWM is not set
# CONFIG_BACKLIGHT_PWM is not set
# CONFIG_LEDS_PWM is not set
# CONFIG_COMMON_CLK_PWM is not set
CONFIG_PWM=y
CONFIG_PWM_SYSFS=y
# CONFIG_PWM_FSL_FTM is not set
# CONFIG_PWM_PCA9685 is not set
# CONFIG_PWM_SUN4I is not set
CONFIG_PWM_SUNXI=y
virgo-perf1:/proc/lm3630a $ ls
debug_brightness leda_brightness ledb_brightness on_off_ramp runtime_ramp
debug_enable     leda_max_cur    ledb_max_cur    pwm_level
virgo-perf1:/proc/lm3630a $

Is there any evidence other than this that it actually uses PWM? PWM gives me huge headaches, but my Inkpalm doesn't, and I can't detect it using my phone camera.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by Extricated

Is there any evidence other than this that it actually uses PWM? PWM gives me huge headaches, but my Inkpalm doesn't, and I can't detect it using my phone camera.

Everything in the world uses a TI LM3630A for backlight/frontlight. It does a fine job providing boost voltage for two chains of LEDs and allows exponential control of current. It also has a PWM input pin. But why would anyone ever use that? You'd have to waste a PWM output on a Timer/Counter for no purpose.

I don't have a Eink phone or any photo sensor to hand. I also don't have anything open right now to scope out the boost voltage.

[Extricated]

Originally Posted by Renate

Everything in the world uses a TI LM3630A for backlight/frontlight. It does a fine job providing boost voltage for two chains of LEDs and allows exponential control of current. It also has a PWM input pin. But why would anyone ever use that? You'd have to waste a PWM output on a Timer/Counter for no purpose.

I don't have a Eink phone or any photo sensor to hand. I also don't have anything open right now to scope out the boost voltage.

I have an Inkpalm on hand - is there any way I can check if it uses PWM or not?

I thought I saw some slight flicker the other night, but my eyes were incredibly tired so I'm wondering if it was me or the device.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Extricated

I have an Inkpalm on hand - is there any way I can check if it uses PWM or not?

I thought I saw some slight flicker the other night, but my eyes were incredibly tired so I'm wondering if it was me or the device.

Does it matter if anything uses PWM if you cannot tell? It doesn't matter as long as you cannot tell.

[Quoth]

You can't see properly done PWM. Or hear the audio version (often called Class D) unless it's really poor, like speech or music done by turning the PC speaker on and off.

[rowe]

You can use an Opple Light Master to measure the PWM. But as others said the only thing that really matters for an individual is whether the PWM on the device affects you or not. For this reason I've never bothered buying one as I quickly tell whether the PWM is affecting me or not.

The only readers I've ever known marketed as DC-dimming are Hisense. But even though their lighting is probably the lowest risk for uncomfortable PWM, even DC-dimming lighting sometimes uses PWM between steps.

Ereaders that don't have negative PWM affects for me:
Hisense, old Boox (Poke Pro, Nova 2/3), various Kindles

E-ink devices whose PWM lighting is unusably uncomfortable for me:
Dasung monitors, newer Boox (Palma, Page, Tab Ultra C, Mira)

This will vary across users as different people have different PWM sensitivities.

Edit: Boox say their lighting is DC-dimming so maybe it's another issue for me on their devices, or I'm also sensitive to some between DC steps PWM

[Renate]

Originally Posted by rowe

E-ink devices whose PWM lighting is unusably uncomfortable for me:
Dasung monitors, newer Boox (Palma, Page, Tab Ultra C, Mira)

Hmm, well, I'll have to reappraise this stuff. I'll go see what I can set up with a photodiode and an opamp. I've got 3 Onyx and I've got programmable PWM sources that I can use for verification.

Edit: Nope, I don't have any photodiodes here. I'll see if I can pick one up locally.

[Quoth]

Cut top off a metal can transistor (TO18 or TO5, e.g. BC107). That works well.

A reverse biased LED does work as a very poor photo transistor.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by Quoth

A reverse biased LED does work as a very poor photo transistor.

Yeah, I was trying that, couldn't get it to work. TL082 and 470k feedback, 12V supply.

[Quoth]

I think the Zener voltage is about 5V on some old LEDs and maybe over 170V on others. Many seem to be 20 to 40V.
I'd connect an LED to a 0 to 30V PSU via 100K, DMM across LED (decent ones are 20 M Ohm) and measure.

[Renate]

All the LEDs I threw at it show effectively open circuit at reverse 10 V (12V - 2V) even with a desk lamp on them. The one that didn't was an ultraviolet LED that apparently had already blown through. Blue and UV are the most prone to static.

I'm not allowed to play with over 12 V.