Open Book Touch - A pocketable, front-lit, open source e-reader

[ZodWallop]

Someone is attempting a homebrewed ereader: The Open Book Touch, a very small (4.26") ePub reader in a 3D printed case. Both the hardware and software is open source.

It can handle ePub and plain text files and reads straight from SD card. There's only enough internal storage for the firmware.

480 × 800, 4.26" eink display. I didn't see if the particular version was listed.

You can send books to it via calibre or through web browser.

Surprisingly, it has a frontlight and a warmlight.

Runs custom firmware that is or will be uploaded to Github.

It's not for me, but the guy's heart seems to be in the right place. I wonder if he wouldn't be better off using KOReader instead of his own custom firmware, as fixing bugs and handling the hardware seems like a lot to take on.

Here's a link to his crowdfunding page. I wish him all the luck in the world with it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Someone is attempting a homebrewed ereader: The Open Book Touch, a very small (4.26") ePub reader in a 3D printed case. Both the hardware and software is open source.

It can handle ePub and plain text files and reads straight from SD card. There's only enough internal storage for the firmware.

480 × 800, 4.26" eink display. I didn't see if the particular version was listed.

You can send books to it via calibre or through web browser.

Surprisingly, it has a frontlight and a warmlight.

Runs custom firmware that is or will be uploaded to Github.

It's not for me, but the guy's heart seems to be in the right place. I wonder if he wouldn't be better off using KOReader instead of his own custom firmware, as fixing bugs and handling the hardware seems like a lot to take on.

Here's a link to his crowdfunding page. I wish him all the luck in the world with it.

There is a chart comparing to some other Readers including the Kobo Clara BW. They got one thing very wrong. They show the Clara BW won't run custom code.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Someone is attempting a homebrewed ereader: The Open Book Touch, a very small (4.26") ePub reader in a 3D printed case. Both the hardware and software is open source.

It's an old project relaunched.

I'm keen on Open Source, but things shouldn't get support just because they are open.

A 3D printed case is horrible.

The CPU is far too slow and basic (ESP32).
The resolution is too low at 480 x 800. The ancient 5″ ereaders had 600 x 800

By the time you add VAT it's more expensive than many larger ereaders. It's nearly double what it's worth.

It's not like an open source OS, or test gear (the most successful OS HW sector). An ereader is a niche appliance and the Kindle & Nook are about the only ones that can't easily be customised.

Pocketbook, Kobo, Boox are all better.

The new X4 with added touch is also 4.3" if you want small.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=374231

[nana77]

Originally Posted by Quoth

The resolution is too low at 480 x 800. The ancient 5″ ereaders had 600 x 800

The new X4 with added touch is also 4.3" if you want small.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=374231

Not to cherrypick, but scrolling the page it shows that both the X4 and this one has ~220 ppi, 600x800 on a 5" would be 200 ppi.

Do you recall what was the old project?
It'd be keenly to post it imho (btw, I'd only once took a fiasco within the YouYota Sailfish 2.0, but that doesn't says anyone wouldn't be genuine; also there are real difficulties that the baker kindly noticed - imho).

[Frogm4n]

There were two previous variants in the Open Book project, both were very basic devices with button-only operation. This is a new touchscreen design with new software and is an open hardware competitor to the Xteink devices.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Quoth

...things shouldn't get support just because they are open.

Obviously. And this is not a project for me personally. But there is a lot that I like about it and could understand if someone else thought it was for them.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Frogm4n

There were two previous variants in the Open Book project, both were very basic devices with button-only operation. This is a new touchscreen design with new software and is an open hardware competitor to the Xteink devices.

At over x3 the price!

[cellaris]

It’s going to be very difficult for it to compete with any of the Xteink models (including the upcoming X4 Pro and S4). Only the major e-reader brands could compete with them if they decided to bring out e-readers with those specifications. But at the moment, they’re focusing on other things.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by cellaris

It’s going to be very difficult for it to compete with any of the Xteink models (including the upcoming X4 Pro and S4). Only the major e-reader brands could compete with them if they decided to bring out e-readers with those specifications. But at the moment, they’re focusing on other things.

I don't think he's looking to dethrone Kindle or anything. It's just a proof of concept thing.

It's not for me, but I hope he does well enough with enthusiasts to keep him going.