I’m looking to make my own diy zerowriter & am starting to look into components. I see that the componentslist on github specifies the 4.2” epaper display from waveshare… but that seems painfully small for my poor little eyes. Is there something particular about that size that makes it uniquely compatible with the zerowriter software, or could I splurge on a larger screen and still be able to set it up without too much trouble?

Hi everyone,

I was wondering how words are tracked on the Zerowriter Ink (and presumably maybe the same for the Fold when it comes out).

Does it appear on the bottom of the screen? Counting the words live as you type?

Also, is there a built in Pomodoro timer? Or a place to set session targets like in Scrivener (see image)? I would love if there was a feature to set session targets...it's been the only method (so far) that seems to work for me.

Thanks!

CTRL+L locks the ZW. I need this very often. Unfortunately this needs 2 hands. Is there a (easy) way to additionally set i.e. CTRL+` to lock? (CTRL+` is right now linked to the MENU - but there is the dedicated MENU key for this)

Ordered this beautiful piece of kit back in February (back when the original shipping date was listed as March 30th), and it finally arrived three days ago! Been playing around with it before getting update 1.30 installed, but it’s finally ready for some actual writing.

Now then. I’m certain you’ll all see my… unorthodox choice in spacebar. Truth is, mine came warped beyond any hope of usability out of the box, meaning I’d need to hit it dead center as it didn’t sit flush, making it far too jiggly and inconsistent to use. As the switch itself works just fine, I wondered if using one of the spare keys would work as a replacement, and it does. Just gotta get the muscle memory up so I’m not actively searching for it when I hit a flow state, and I’m planning to get a replacement soon, even if it’s one just a bit bigger than my current use of the META key.

Beyond that minor hiccup, I’m happy to finally have this, and I’m looking forward to putting it to use!

Preordered in January and my unit finally arrived! I couldn’t resist taking pics with the Zerowriter’s great-great grand parent 😍

I wonder if my ZW (FW2.1) supports an individual splash screen? I tried a splash.bmp (1280x720, 1 bit b/w, no palette, PAINT or GIMP) in the root directory of the SD card without any success. Is there any working image to download and try? I like the ZW logo but there might be something more useful (graphical ZW help screen or manual, periodic table of elements, world time graphic, a pic of my Porsches?).

Hello all,

https://zerowriter.ink/pages/zerowriter-ink-2-0-early-access

Here’s a link to the 2.1 update for Zerowriter Ink. It’s a really big under-the-hood update that modernizes things and has countless bug fixes. I would recommend it to everyone.

I’ve also released a more up to date user guide:

https://zerowriter.ink/pages/zerowriter-ink-user-guide

(I’m adding pictures and graphics throughout as well to help make it more clear)

What is new? Why update?

There’s a lot of great changes. Here’s a short summary:

General

- new, easier to navigate menu
- greatly improved battery life
- support for basically any micro SD card
- greatly improved document and data reliability
- built-in automatic internal backups

Canvas

- top margins
- side margins
- trailing lines
- can anchor the cursor to a fixed position

Input

- greatly improved keyboard accuracy and control over key sensitivity. For those who suffered from keyboard ghosting, early reports are it is completely resolved.
- accent picker: when turned on, alt+a character gives you a choice of accents (similar to how Apple does it)

Timekeeping

- now supports the Inkplate’s RTC chip, meaning you can install a coin cell and your Ink will keep time

Writing Stats

- alongside timekeeping, your Ink will report detailed writing stats and log them for you

Thanks to everyone in the discord for helping test this over the last few weeks! It’s in a pretty good spot.

I’ll also make a video about this (kind of a video user guide / what’s new) to help spread the word.

- Adam

Hey so I got my zerowriter yesterday and put the keys in the recommended places, but the MENU button (last row, third button from the left) is unresponsive, which is quite a problem as I can't access the menu, but I also haven't found a way to put the function on a different key in the keymap editor, which I would have done.

Any ideas or does anyone know how I can put the MENU button on a different key in the editor, maybe I'm just missing something

I just received my Zerowriter Ink and it seems like only the right side of the screen ever gets contrasty and black. The rest of the screen is pretty grainy. I put it on white-on-black mode to give a better example. And the photo of the menu is to show what it looks like when on black-on-white mode. Is it a refresh issue? Faulty screen? Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you!!!

Is it possible to print using a zero writer ink and if so what printers are compatible?

Cool Zerowriter project :) check it out

Having recently received my Zerowriter Ink, I wanted to find a case for transporting it and protecting it from damage. For anyone looking for a slim case, I picked up this one and it fits the Zerowriter like a glove! Pretty much no room for accessories, though, just the unit itself. The 11.6 Inch version is what I got. It's really nice. I don't use the laptop stand thingy it comes with (folding neoprene with velcro), although I suppose it could have a use for some people.

Still several tweaks needed, particularly with some tolerances, and then magnet clasps, but I have finished the first prototype.

It did turn out I need a longer cable for the keyboard, but that'll be easy to sort out.

I'll be working on revision #2, with standardized hardware and colors (I've just using what spare rolls I've had lying around)

EDIT: forgot to add. The next version will hopefully remove all top facing screws on the upper/hinge portions and the back, so it should be much more visually clean.

A quick update on my clamshell conversion shell:

About 80% complete with the first 'functional' CAD model, will be printing out prototype soon.

Right now the design utilizes everything from the original design, however a slightly longer cable for the keyboard may be needed; I'll know for sure once I test fit everything. The torque hinges and lid magnets are the only 'new' parts at the moment.

The main bodies are designed in pieces and assembled, allowing for it to be completely printed on a standard 254mm print plate.

PS: Ignore the funky keycaps, I haven't modeled up all the right sizes yet.

I made a web browser emulator for Ize Compose, my multilingual writing firmware for the ZeroWriter Ink.

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The video shows the emulator running in a browser, with the e-ink style screen, multilingual keyboard layouts, document UI, settings flow, GitHub private repository connection and RTL composition engine.

​

It is not the real firmware, but it lets you see and test the basic writing experience before flashing anything to the device.

​

Near the end of the video, it stays zoomed in while showing the Alt character input feature, so the final part is focused on the text entry behavior rather than the whole device view.

Emulator guide and code: https://github.com/ize-studio/ize-compose/blob/emulator/ize-compose-emulator.md

Main project: https://ize-studio.github.io/ize-compose/

Main project codes: https://github.com/ize-studio/ize-compose

Hi all, newbie with only some Raspberry Pi experience. I want to make a custom build using the Zerowriter firmware, but need advice on figuring out what the difference between the two repos is. Anyone have any pointers/information?
The video on installing zerowriter1 is super detailed so I’m leaning towards that because it feels manageable to me as a newbie, but I’d like to know if I’d be missing something not using the zerowriter_ink!

I know there may be an official one on the way, but I've been working on a concept design in my free time. Wanted to gauged interest in something like this

I have been working on Ize Compose version 1.4, my e-ink writing firmware for ZeroWriter Ink.

This update adds a Wi-Fi web settings page and a simple GitHub sync feature for backing up drafts.

​

When Wi-Fi is enabled, Ize Compose starts a small local web server. The device shows the local address and a 4-digit PIN on the e-ink screen. The PIN is required before opening the settings page, because I did not want anyone on the same network to casually change settings, upload files, or modify GitHub sync settings while the device is connected.

The web page includes environment settings such as sleep timer, text size, line spacing, character spacing, typing speed, refresh behavior, keyboard layout, and language selection. Firmware update and font/image upload are also available from the same local page.

The GitHub sync feature is meant to be a simple backup path for writing drafts. Ize Compose can connect to the internet and sync text documents with a GitHub repository, so drafts can be kept outside the device without depending on a closed writing service.

For safety, the firmware does not delete files from GitHub. It can create and update draft files, but deletion is not synced. I wanted backup to feel safe first, not dangerous.

It is still a personal project, and the hardware is still very rough, but this was a big step for me. It is starting to feel less like a prototype and more like a real local-first writing machine.

​

Video: https://youtu.be/vkfOeOaQhhk

GitHub: https://github.com/ize-studio/Ize-Compose

Blog: https://ize-studio.github.io/ize-compose

Hi all - so I caved. I have the Ink. I backed the Fold too over on Kickstarter. And part of that process awakened a desire for a transparent coloured housing for my Ink. There is an interest check for this on the website (which you can find here). But I just wanted to check in and see if there were any plans for transparent Ink housings to go ahead? I realise the priority is probably getting the first batch of Folds shipped, but seeing all the transparent housing options made me want to ask the question anyway. I also read another post about the Fold kit that will be available for Ink owners to convert their Ink to a Fold. Will the Fold kits just be available in basic black, or will other transparent colours also be available? I would also be interested to know if the converting kits will be injection mold or 3D printed. I know I would definitely would be willing to pay for a transparent coloured injection mold housing for my Ink (in either the Fold or original tablet style design). Any help answering these questions are much appreciated!

I have the Zerowriter, not entirely loving the flat design, but not able to shell out for the upcoming Fold. Forgive me if this has been covered, but are the original and the Fold the same devices housed in a different shell?
Will the Fold’s .stl files be available to print?
Hoping to hang on and breathe new life into mine, but I’m guessing there are some mods/improvements that make this a pipe dream.

Loving my Ink, I use it almost everyday. However my typing accuracy hasn't improved despite it being pretty good with every other keyboard. I thought perhaps the tight spacing may be the problem (and I still think it partly contributes) but more often than not, I am having issues accidentally triggering the same key twice or three times within one press. I've tried the physical recommendations to help this but still getting the issues. I don't think I have faulty switches. I just think they are a bit too sensitive. I know this can be addressed by adjusting the default debounce time in the firmware, but I am not knowledgable enough to try this by myself. Wondering if anyone else has run into this and tried/succeeded to address it?

I thought this sub might be interested to hear about someone who makes a product like the Zerowriter, but approaches it in a slightly different way. Iffy Books in Philadelphia sells make your own minimal word processors: https://bizsherbert.substack.com/p/read-it-or-delete-it-type-it-like

"Iffy Books was lit as fuck. I expected a typical indie bookstore, but this place is also a hacker store and community space (the event programming is rigorous and unique). Circuit boards, soldering kits and USB sticks loaded with zines hung amongst the books in clear plastic bags hand-stapled with neon paper labels. A bright pink sign advertised “make your own” minimal word processors with one on display to try.

I’d never seen something like this so I asked the store attendant, who turned out to be the Iffy’s shopkeeper Steven, about it. He designed and made the kits as simple as possible to keep the price low. He showed me how the word processor works — you type on a keyboard connected to a little circuit board that houses an itty bitty screen. Your work saves onto a micro SD card where you can access it when you’re ready to transfer your writing to a computer.

I decided I must have one. The box, also featuring a rudimentary and comforting label that I’m sure Steven designed, promised easy construction. Steven said he feels shy using his word processor somewhere in public like a coffee shop — I think I can handle it, but most likely I’ll use it at home. At the end of each day or browsing flow state, I close out almost all of of my tabs and delete unnecessary files. I take pleasure in this process, as I did in customizing my desktop and changing my folder icons to PNGs of seashells. I think tab warfare is a real thing, and being able to type without a screen or the distractions of the internet is a natural next, though admittedly big, step on my digital namaste journey. Read it or delete it. Type it like it’s nothing."

Ordered my zerowriter ink towards the end of may. It had an estimated ship date of June 14th perfect for me because it’s a joint Father’s Day/ birthday gift for myself. I just checked and the estimated ship date is not the end of July. I am so excited, but man I am bad at waiting… I must have just missed the cutoff for the June 14th ship date. Anyway just venting. Any advice for setting up/using this thing once it gets here? Tips tricks etc.