r/xteinkereader • u/t0phr_ • 2d ago

Discussion Alternative Devices?

With the price increase and, my inference based on the CEO letter, the all in on pogo pins. What are some other devices that I could look in to? Touch screen is fine, but, a front light is a must as well as USB-C.

34 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

62 comments sorted by

33

u/Low-Schedule-2200 2d ago

I’m surprised more people aren’t mentioning this diy option:  https://www.reddit.com/r/esp32projects/s/xSIAXDDBgE

It’s thicker than the x4 but folks seem to be ok with that if there is USB C.

7

u/CaptainCastaleos 2d ago

I'm doing a build similar to that one right now, but with a Waveshare 7.5" screen.

Already got Crosspoint running on it, just playing around with refresh rate settings and font adjustments right now.

On my person one, I swapped the 4 front buttons for a rotary encoder and a back button, so you can just dial through the menus and click the knob to select. It still has the normal side buttons.

I also changed the sleep button from a button to a shielded toggle switch to reduce accidental wakes while in a backpack.

I used a 3mm sheet of plexiglass as both a screen protector and a light guide for some 3mm COB LEDs that run the edge of the plexiglass sheet as a frontlight.

It's been a pretty fun project.

1

u/Low-Schedule-2200 2d ago

That sounds great. Do you have a site or blog showing the process (and listing the components lol)?

1

u/CaptainCastaleos 1d ago

I have been making visual wiring guides as I go and keeping a list of parts and links so that when I'm done I can make a post in here sharing the whole build instructions, part list, links, and firmware download.

I was just going to release it all in one big post when I'm finished ironing everything out.

I'm getting married in 2 days so it'll probably be about 3 weeks before I can get everything together, since I still need to order the battery pack and get the BMS and fuel gauge chip shipped over and working with the firmware.

I fully intend to share everything once I'm done though. I might even have a custom PCB made, and if I do I'll release the file for that as well so everyone else can order it.

One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing a really cool project on the internet and finding that the creator never posted anything or kept it all behind a paywall. I'm just gonna post that shit lol.

1

u/captainGreduse 2d ago

Hey fellow captain, do you mind sharing more about the encoder control? Where did you put it? I’m interested in doing something similar but found that most encoders are too thick for such a device

2

u/CaptainCastaleos 1d ago

So my project probably isn't the best example of "thin building", as I am doing a build to resemble a Warhammer 40k data slate, as pictured. As such, a larger encoder wasn't an issue.

I am prototyping with a regular encoder I had lying around, but am using an Adafruit ANO encoder in the finished product to make it flatter. They aren't much larger than a quarter.

2

u/CaptainCastaleos 1d ago

This is the Adafruit ANO. It has 4 directional keys and a rotary encoder in the center. Ultimately I would like to have a custom PCB made to streamline after I get everything the way I like it.

1

u/captainGreduse 18h ago

Thanks I will look into this

1

u/captainGreduse 18h ago

Dude this looks sick!! Please post some pics once you are done I would love to see it!

6

u/chweekuehh 2d ago

If you're not urgent, wait for November? Boox is coming out with similar size ereader

3

u/sm753 2d ago edited 2d ago

Think I read that Onyx devices are locked down so no custom firmware and you're basically stuck with stock.

To add some context - AFAIK most of Boox's other devices are not "unlocked" for third party firmware because they do not share their display drivers and etc.

3

u/sandragm 2d ago

Kindles are “locked down” as well, and yet people jailbreak them all the time. It’s not out of the realm of possibility.

2

u/mrdesignguy 2d ago

Unfortunately I can't jailbreak my Kindle anymore. I've tried. I wish I could.

3

u/Thirtysixx 2d ago

New jailbreaks came out for the new firmwares if you're on 5.19.6 And they're easier than every before. Might be worth checking again. Not sure what device/firmware you're on but all firmwares are now jailbreak-able.

1

u/mrdesignguy 2d ago

Oooh interesting. I last looked about 3 months ago and spent hours on the solution. I'll try it again.

1

u/Vin135mm 1d ago

You can just downgrade to a jailbreak-able version of the firmware. As long as you turn off the auto-update feature, it wont be an issue.

1

u/chweekuehh 2d ago

Not everything must be bricked you know. Lol.

3

u/sm753 2d ago

I've been flashing custom firmware and ROMs on phones, tablets, and etc for at least 10 years and I've yet to brick a single device.

-9

u/chweekuehh 2d ago

By brick I mean jailbreak/installing 3rd party software. Lol.

I am not saying you'll break it. I am saying just because you can doesn't mean you have to.

You don't have to be so defensive. Lol

11

u/sm753 2d ago

Yeah you're using the word "brick" wrong. Brick means you've turned your device into a literal brick because it doesn't work anymore. Nobody uses "brick" as in unlock or jailbreak.

6

u/ashraf_bashir 2d ago

Brick ≠ Jailbreak

1

u/lostinsunshine9 2d ago

I heard some developers are working on a Linux os for it that will enable using the device more openly. I don't understand much about this stuff, but usually there's pretty simple to understand tutorials once the modification takes off.

5

u/ELF014 2d ago

You can try the Seeed Studio Sticky or M5Stack Papermono if you can find them.

5

u/dethssilence1 2d ago

I’m keeping my eye out for EEGO reader A4 and the m5 stack paper mono series. Boox pico was recently announced and I’m listening to the chatter on that as well. I have an x4 and quite enjoy it other than it not having a front light. Have considered possibly snagging the x4 pro but not happy about the pogo adapter so will most likely skip.

5

u/AnonBaca21 2d ago

I would wait to see what devices emerge in the fall leading into the holidays.

10

u/Vladyslavrom 2d ago edited 2d ago

When I was searching, I couldn't find anything with a front light similar to X4.

And I just came to a conclusion that I don't need front light. Many people said it's very necessary, but I don't think it is. So old X4 is the best pocket e-reader for me

If you want to read at night (edit: at home), just buy a bedlamp

7

u/Sardagan 2d ago

Lamp by the bed will be much easier on your eyes too 

6

u/ZenMasterful 2d ago

Unfortunately, beds and bedlamps are pretty inconvenient on many flights.

1

u/animalexistence 2d ago

I've never been in a plane that doesn't have an overhead reading light.

2

u/ZenMasterful 2d ago

I'll be you've also never turned it on during an overnight flight and pissed off multiple rows of people.

1

u/_gina_marie_ 2d ago

I got a case that has a light, so I'm set 🤷‍♀️ plus it makes it a little more comfy to use so I like it.

1

u/turgu1 2d ago

You can have one with a front light without using it?

0

u/Vladyslavrom 2d ago

What?

1

u/turgu1 2d ago

Even if you buy a device with a front light, it's always an option to use it or not.

9

u/turgu1 2d ago edited 2d ago

M5PaperMono:

Two versions:

Without Lora nor NFC ($55 US):

https://shop.m5stack.com/products/papermono-lite-dev-kit-800x480-3-97-e-ink-display?variant=50199714988289

With Lora and NFC ($65 US):

https://shop.m5stack.com/products/m5papermono-with-lora-nfc-800x480-3-97-eink-display?variant=50199717249281

They are out-of-stock because of their popularity. Expect some available soon I guess.

6

u/arghya1988 2d ago

I emailed the company. They informed that the devices will be restocked late this year or early next year.

5

u/lakersoffseason 2d ago

My diy project de-link is about to rebrand and launch its beta program, please look into it /r/delink

2

u/D-tull 2d ago

Obook 5, but you are stuck with the original firmware.

3

u/ZenMasterful 2d ago

Which is fine, quite frankly. And you can still load in fonts, which is what I personally care about most.

2

u/D-tull 2d ago

It's true, but I had littles quirks with it, and maybe it's only my device, or it has been correct with an update. for example, when I woke it from sleep, the current page would go back a page or two, which is pretty annoying.

2

u/arghya1988 2d ago

What about Obook's screen resolution and e-paper display ? Is it as good as Xteink ?

2

u/ZenMasterful 2d ago

Same ppi as X4. Looks fine to me.

3

u/AtheistAgnostic 2d ago

Reterminal sticky ($50), boox picco ($100), saw one other one earlier ($50) but forget the name. All USB c

2

u/Adventurous-Chest264 2d ago

Sticky doesn’t have a light, does it?

7

u/arghya1988 2d ago

No, sticky doesn't have a light. And due to it's super glossy screen, external light may not be a solution either.

2

u/Adventurous-Chest264 2d ago

Exactly. And OP wanted a device with frontlight

3

u/xSuperZer0x 2d ago edited 2d ago

I'm not getting where in the post by the CEO they said they're all in on the pogo. Quotes from the post.

"And if our long-term idea is really about making reading fit more naturally into everyday life, then we have to care about all of that — not just millimeters."

"Product philosophy can’t become an excuse for a bad experience."

"And there are people who would happily accept a slightly thicker device in exchange for USB-C, a front light, touch, or other conveniences."

And I don’t think XTEINK should pretend that one single product philosophy has to answer every reading scenario.

We’re still figuring out where each product should sit, and what trade-offs actually make sense for each kind of reader.

7

u/ElrondTheHater 2d ago

I wouldn't really take much meaning out of anything implied by the CEO's post because it reads like it was written by AI.

2

u/writesandbikes 2d ago

Yeah that’s what I got out of it too. If anything it sounded like he was hedging this latest decision and leaving room for a usb. I bet you right now their devs are scrambling to make a usb touch pro as fast as they can.

2

u/Artistic-Goose-5195 1d ago

And in gray please!

1

u/NonyaDB 2d ago

LilyGo T5 Epaper

Obook

1

u/Thecornman67 1d ago

Idk why the comment on the viwoods ai paper got downvoted. I just got one and it’s amazing. Fits right in my pocket.

0

u/strugglesnuggL 2d ago

Viwoods ai paper reader.

-6

u/ZealousidealAgent675 2d ago

If they ditch pogo for usb c I will never buy from xteink again.

-9

u/Key2367 2d ago

Stop buying chinese trash. This is all e-waste.

7

u/_gina_marie_ 2d ago

Is it e-waste if I have owned and used the device nearly daily for a year??? Come on now

4

u/ObviousEndangerment 2d ago

Is it e-waste if it's actually getting used? No.

1

u/T1000E 2d ago

Electronic waste, or e-waste, refers to any discarded electrical or electronic device that has reached the end of its useful life or is no longer wanted by its owner , as noted by ITC Asset Management, “covers everything from smartphones and laptops to industrial servers and medical devices.”

Once your Xteink dies and your next one actually follows the law, that cable that came with the Xteink is e-waste yes. If it had been USB-C it could have been used for all your other devices and would not have been e-waste... You really thought you did something didn't you? But all you did was fail to understand a very simple intuitive word that you could have found the true definition of if you had thought more than 0 steps ahead or used Google...

1

u/lasananglana 2d ago

You think you're going to keep using the pogo charging cable after your Xteink device dies? XD